Still Busy on the Island

Strange to think we have been back for over 2 weeks. looking at the forecast it is still cold in Dorohoi with -13C forecast for tonight. Today we had the sad news that one of the fathers (age 35) from a family we help in Romania died suddenly in his sleep. He was a lovely man, please pray for his wife and 7 children.

We are busy here, yesterday I was talking to a group of lovely ladies at the Salvation Army. They had been busy collecting things for us and also knitting some beautiful blankets and baby clothes, all will be welcome in Romania. On Thursday evening we will be attending a members meeting and updating our church (Ramsey Baptist Church). The folks there are a real Blessing, supporting us with prayer & in practical ways.

Busy on the Island

We have been back for over a week now and life here is as busy as when we are in Romania. It is also great to have time with our family & friends.
Last week we were taking part in the Manx festival of connections where around 20 charities had displays of their work. It was good to meet up with many friends and see what wonderful work is being acheived by IOM charities around the world.
We have also had various meetings and been collecting items donated for us to take to Romania. Thank you everyone for your support and encouragement.

Back in UK

We left Dorohoi on Sunday morning, the temperature was minus 25C. but despite that the roads were all clear and we had a good run across Romania getting to the Hungarian Austrian border in 14 hours. The weather warmed up as we travelled west and by the time we were in Belgium the fields alongside the motorways were green rather than white with snow. Looking forward to a few days with family before we go back to the Isle of Man on Saturday. Hoping that all our friends in Romania are keeping warm and safe we heard that the temperature in Dorohoi dropped to minus 30 on Sunday night. Hard enough to cope with if you are living in a warm and dry home with plenty of food to keep you going, but many folks we know are living in one room shacks, with low stocks of firewood, food cupboards bare and have to go outside to get use the earth closet toilet & get water from wells!

Ready to go

Its been a busy few days and a lot colder, about minus 12 now with minus 26 forecast for tomorrow. we have been out and about delivering food parcels and firewood.saying good bye to familes and friends, The Pajero is a star car and copes with all. though the condensation on the inside of the windows has been freezing as we have been driving even with air con on.

Aiming for an early start in the morning and all being well will make the Hungarian/Austrian border.

Food Parcels

Babies born with low birth weight or in very poor familes often are not thriving at home. the babies can then spend time in the baby hospital to build them up. Each year Hands of Hope supports families for up to a year after they have gone home with a monthly parcel of food and cleaning products. The parcels are not just giving extra nutrition to the very poor, but are also an opportunity to offer counselling & advice on health and parenting concerns. Some families come to collect the parcels but for others in outlying villages this is just not possible especially in the winter. Yesterday Chris and I went with 2 of the social workers to deliver parcels to 5 families. We covered 103miles and as you can see from the photos we had a lot of snow. The Pajero was brilliant and got us much closer to the homes than the car the girls normally have to use for deliveries. Each family was just living in one room and in very harsh conditions.

Snow & Frozen veg

It is chilly out this am, -9C and snowing. The local roadsweepers were out and about, but facing an uphill struggle. Chris cleared our apartment steps of about 3 inches of snow this morning but when we came back it was just as bad. Earlier this morning, Chris went down to the market to get some veg so I could make a casserole but the market was almost bare. He came back with a few hard frozen carrots, parsnips and onions. It is interesting to chop frozen onions! Casserole cooked and we took it to one of the families we help, a mum with 7 children, the youngest was born by caesarian in November 1.2kg. He is home now but very tiny and mum works hard looking after children etc. I was glad we remembered to get some water from the well while we were out. We use if for hot drinks and cooking with in the apartment as the tap water here is not good.

We are aiming to drive back to the UK at the end of the week, and the forecast is.. snow and...
:-)

Saturday Night
Clear. Low: -27 °C . Wind light.

Sunday
Clear. High: -14 °C . Wind light.

Sunday Night
Clear. Low: -25 °C . Wind light. Windchill: -31 °C .