Romania 2001

More stuff from Timisoara (pron TeemeeSHWArra)

21 June 2001 09:33

A bit of background for those for whom (sorry) this is the first newsletter. Another volunteer named Sandy and I arrived in Bucherest on the same plane from London on 22 May. We were met by a small troup of volunteers, long-term missionaries, and Romanians, who took us to Ramnicu Valcea, a place I have since found out is about the most communist place still in Romania. A few days later I caught a bus to Timisoara, a lengthy journey made even longer by the bus getting a flat tyre in Craiova and a 3 hour wait at the train station in Timisoara.

I'm staying with a couple named Cerbu and Nadine who run Mana Ministries, which helps the streetkids and has a home for former streetgirls. Nadine is a NZer, Cerbu is not his real name and actually means a small deer.

We just had some people come see this apartment. Cerbu and Nadine have bought a house in Sanandrei, a village a few kilometers outside of Timisoara. (Sanandrei is the village with the youth group the girls go to.) They still have to sell this place but no one has seemed particularly interested so far. The new place has a lovely big garden in which I helped plant tomatoes etc the first week I was here (with Don and Ellie, for the information of those folk in Ramnicu Valcea). So that's something I've done. The plan is for the veges to be eaten when the boys' home is started in Sanandrei. So far Mana Ministries only has a girls' home in Timisoara itself.

The following week we went out there again and a full moon was just rising as the sun was setting. It looked really amazing, with vapour trails catching the last light of the sun, but to recognise the moon I had to put my head down by my knees (resisting the temptation to put my head between my legs). I then exclaimed "It IS the moon!" but no one I was with got the joke.

On the subject of veges, when feeding the street kids at the day centre a salad is eaten as a second course after soup. Because the kids don't very often get veges, and because they know they should eat them to stay healthy etc, it's more like they're having desert than a salad. Some of them are very practiced at Oliver Twist-type "Can I have some more?" looks.

I think I've mentioned there are streetkids and kids on the streets. The streetkids are the ones that sleep under bridges and have a tendency to sniff glue and paint thinners. There are many reasons for these children living this way. Some want to and some don't but were forced by circumstances to do so. The kids on the streets live at whatever home they may have (parent/s, grandparent/s, etc) and spend the day on the street. Some of the kids are sent out to beg (and can earn the average wage in just a couple of hours each day) and some just seem to like the freedom. The kids on the street are better dressed and cleaner than the streetkids.

Some of the kids know a fair bit of English, with the kids on the street generally better than the streetkids. One is very good at asking for candy, and I've got a Chupa-chup lollypop reserved for him next time he asks. (Mostly the kids just ask me for balloons.) Another of the kids says "You kill me" (in English) when he's tickled. No one knows where he lives or who he lives with, and no one knows why he won't say.

There is a camp being planned for next month, to last for ten days. Please pray for this. It'll have things like rock climbing etc. I've got about 30 or so balloons left (thanks Nigel!) which I think I'll finish at the camp.

That's all for now. Any questions, please reply to [my own email address] rather than the address you'll be receiving this email from. My father is relaying the newsletter because my webmail doesn't have an address book (yet?). Paradise is very slowly (and carefully) working on it.

Oh yeah. The hot water to this apartment block has been turned off for a couple of weeks to allow the pipes to be fixed or something. Brrr. And the weather has NOT been as warm as it normally is.

Please pray for good health for everyone here and in Ramnicu Valcea. NO ASTHMA at all for the last month!!! (Maybe I've been cured miraculously!?!) God bless.

Ian
8 )

Previous | 2001 Index | Next

Contact:
Return to ianman HOME | Return to top