Well, much has been happening in the month since I last wrote from this Transylvanian land where it is still light until 9:30PM but we can’t seem to get out of the 50’s, the LOW 50’s, that is! As you can imagine, it has not been dull!
First of all, I may not have shared with you the great news of a $5196 donation from Mission Projects Fellowship for the Romanian Hearing Project. They accepted me as a project in the fall and raised the monies for equipment in record-breaking time. Thank You, Father! It will give me the opportunity to get some portable equipment so that I can test people in various locales.
I have been meeting with professionals and doctors in the area and it appears that the Lord is directing my steps to primarily work with children at a children’s clinic, as well as continuing to work with those who need hearing aids and cannot afford them. More places than I previously realized already sell hearing aids but at prices that not everyone can afford. This week I dispense my fourth hearing aid and I have already made my first business contract ordering an earmold from an earmold manufacturer in a city 1 hr. away from here. I will be meeting with the two pediatric ENT doctors this weekend for further plans for the future. I may have the opportunity to help them design their new testing area for kids. Exciting how the Lord has me doing so many things that I have never done before! Definitely stretches me and takes me outside of my comfort zone!
My team has been busy this past month – Tracey from New Zealand has been here since March for a 6 months’ term, 2 nursing students were here from England for a month, as well as a 2-week short-term team of 14 Canadians and a Frenchman. Whew! My apt. was full for a while with Tracey and the nursing students staying here. We all visited a special-needs kindergarten and “it just so happened” that one of the kids in the group I visited had a cochlear implant (a surgically-implanted hearing device for the deaf). She is in great need of further training and therapy for her speech development and I believe the Lord will be using me to empower the parents with greater skills to help their little 5 year old named Stefi. Further stretching outside of my comfort zone!
My friend, Rachel, was also here for 4 days and I had an opportunity to help her go across the Hungarian border to get her passport stamped for a longer stay. Sure, I “helped” her a lot by forgetting my own passport! It was an adventure to say the least and we did accomplish it, even though Rachel had to walk across the border by herself while I waited on this side.
Plans are already moving ahead for a 6 week trip home this summer. I will be arriving home in Philadelphia on July 16th and plan to travel to Arizona to attend my sister’s wedding from July 22nd to August 3rd, visiting Mike Webb in AZ as well, then visiting, meeting with folks and returning to Cluj on the 3rd of Sept. These travel plans were not put in my original budget, so if you have any frequent flyer miles which can be transferred and/or sense the Lord’s prompting to contribute for my travel while in the US and for my stay home, the costs will probably come to around $1000. Checks can be sent to International Teams. Thanks!
Re: never-dull health issues! Recently sustained a corneal scratch and I need patience in the healing process with the power of your continued prayers. Thank you!
Blessings to you all!
