Sagas of Equipment Demons, Moths and More!

As usual, things ain’t been dull! I have had some equipment demons lurking around trying to throw me off-guard as well as moths trying to drive me crazy. They have not succeeded as yet!!

At the clinic, after protecting my equipment as best I could, there was still a surge after they installed a voltage regulator for the whole building which blew out my vitally-needed programming box for my newer digital hearing aids. After thinking the worst, some guys here in Cluj familiar with the equipment were able to replace the fuses and re-install the software to get me up and running. Praise the Lord for that!! There was also a 7-week saga with my otoscope for only replacing a bulb – Hello!! Something which would have usually only taken me ONE telephone call in the States!! The moth saga led to a wool rug under my bed as their munching ground. I do not like seeing those critters!!

Regarding the non-profit, I am finally seeing my way clear and feeling like I have a handle on the book-keeping and accounting. Previous to that it felt like a huge insurmountable task but the Lord has helped me to get organized, understand the Romanian system better and to manage all these new administrative hats I get to wear.

A recent patient was 16-year-old Samuel from a family of 13, five of whom have significant hearing loss. He wanted so badly to wear an in-the-ear hearing aid because the kids made fun of the behind-the-ear models which he had which were now lost or stolen. I normally cannot accommodate this request but I was able to realize his dream because of a donated, digital, in-the-ear hearing aid from Dave DeHuff donated from his father’s estate after his father’s death. Thanks, Dave! We arranged for another digital, in-the-ear model for his other ear. Also please be praying along with me for the success of the double eardrum repair surgery of Ioan Gorgan. Appreciate it!

Happy Resurrection Season of Christ and of His Spring! Gotta get my balcony flowers out!

News from your ears in Romania!

Had a lovely Christmas with Madeline here – we covered 1200 miles traveling from Budapest to interesting places of Romania, always just a little ahead of the snow.

We are now well into 2010 and progress has been made here. I found an excellent accountant who gave me the most comprehensive information I have received about what I can and can’t do financially, legally and visa-wise with my Romanian non-profit. So helpful!! The learning curve will already be great and I needed someone who would help me to learn along the way and I certainly found one.

Three weeks ago I started seeing patients again at the Petros clinic. One day a week is enough for right now since each patient can take a lot of time – some are very complicated and I get to be their patient advocate helping them put pieces of their medical puzzle together and acting a little like Sherlock Holmes investigating what the best approach would be for them. One patient, in particular, might be having the same surgery I had on my ear on BOTH of his ears and he has had the problem for 40 years! The other option for him will be to research a bone-implanted hearing aid. We will see. The interesting part is – even without advertising the patients the Lord ordains for me to help always seem to find me. My beautiful red business cards have become an advertisement!

While learning how to manage the financial aspects of the non-profit I have also been able to make sure that the audiometer at Petros is protected from the electrical irregularities that exist in the industrial area where Petros is located. This week I had an excellent electrician help me to get a dedicated line put in, as well as getting a stronger voltage regulator. With such good accounting and electrical advisors, it makes my job easier, praise the Lord for that. I am wearing enough hats as it is!

Our International ladies Bible study of about 20 ladies is also enjoying the book of Ephesians, a powerful book for all of us. Remember the hope we have in Him, the only Hope for the future.


PS. Here is a pic or two for you. For more pictures, go to Facebook.

Blessings of that Peace that came 2000 years ago!

Praise the Lord with me – my visa papers are finally all in!! I will be getting a year at a 50% price reduction - the best bargain in town! I have still been “hunting and gathering” business and accounting information and advice on how best to process donations through my Romanian-style non-profit (and believe me – it is different from an American-style non-profit!!) To that end, I decided to only start seeing patients into the New Year. I am still learning what forms need to be filled out for what and the importance of the stamp in this stamp-based culture! An inventory still has to be set up along with an accounting program as well as many other things for me to be up and running, but at least progress is being made.

At the beginning of December I got a quick visit from an American audiologist, Julie Peterson. We will see what the future holds for some collaboration. For now she will be busy studying for the same clinical doctorate that I have.

I am looking forward to my sister, Madeline, visiting me over Christmas 10 days. I hope to pick her up in Budapest on the 22nd and to show her some of Cluj and then visit Sighisoara, Sibiu and Brasov in the middle of the country. It has been snowing for 3 days straight with temperatures in the 20’s so the roads will have to be clear over the 100 km of mountains for me to drive to Budapest. Please pray along with me for good weather, health and strength to prevail for us to have a blessed time with one another. Healthwise, I have been fighting something for a while now and my sister Madeline as well.

I pray that you all are abundantly blessed this Christmas season of Christ’s birth and that He will be with you all into the New Year of 2010.

October Update - 6 years and still not dull!

It has been five weeks since arriving back in Romania. We have already fast-forwarded into winter this past week with snow and some freezing temps. Getting re-adjusted to time and place, though, felt like I was going in slow motion reverse for a while, not good if you try to drive around here. By driving too early, I unfortunately dented my car going into my own garage! In my second week back I also caught a GI bug which also slowed me down a bit.

Right now I am concentrating on getting the business aspects of my non-profit up and running. Forms need to be written and translated and new protocols established. Most importantly, I am gathering information and meeting with folks with non-profit experience or bookkeeping and accounting experience. I want to process the monies accurately using some sort of accounting program and with the very different Romanian rules and regulations regarding finances, I know I cannot be too careful. The learning curve is great but little by little things are becoming clearer. I am also starting the visa process under my non-profit and will meet with the lawyer for help with that. Please pray along with me for all the decisions that need to be made – that I will rely on the Lord’s help. Thanks! At times it all feels overwhelming but He has seen me through everything so far and He is a God who does not forsake His children. We made it through the doctoral studies so anything is possible. Right?? Of course right!!

Rejoice with me that it has been six years this month since starting on this Romanian audiological and spiritual adventure. I said it would not be dull when I embarked on this journey and it certainly has been anything but dull!

Heading to the other side of the Pond!

The hour of my departure is quickly approaching! I will be leaving on Thursday, Sept. 10th at 6PM. Every day here in the States has been very needful and necessary for health, vacation with family, rest, business development for the new initiative of purchasing hearing aids, personal fund-raising and equipment-raising, and last but not least, for my own new hearing aids. Ask me about my new, cool Bluetooth hearing aids. I can talk on the phone through them!!

Incredible things have been accomplished in my 4 months – I will be leaving with 23 new hearing aids (half of them were purchased through the charity concert at my church, COS, the other half through donations directly to the Romanian Hearing Project). I have also been able to develop business relationships as a 501 (c) 3 umbrella’ed under International Teams with many hearing aid manufacturers. Also, a husband and wife team has graciously offered to help me set up a website, so stay tuned for that. Which country do you think her family comes from?? You got it – Romania! Health has improved as well – my thyroid is now better balanced and my sleep has improved. Praise the Lord for both of those things. I was also blessed to be able to go to a nutritionist while here to build up my immune system.

It was great meeting with many of yous (Philly speak for the plural of “you”). For those of you considering supporting me in this ministry or increasing your present support, NOW would be a great time to start. I appreciate you all for your partnership with me in this ministry. The next time you hear from me I will be on the other side of the “pond”.