Greetings from on again and off again rainy Southern California,
First things first. I decided to re-open my facebook account because there are just so many people that you can get in touch with. A lot of friends and acquaintances are re connecting through this thing. Ah, modern technology.
Also, I am going to Romania!!! Some of you might not know, I am taking 2 weeks vacation time and spending it with my guys in Romania and at Betania, for the most part. Costel, Johanna and I are flying together. It’s Costel’s first trip back since he left in 2000. We are a bit on the anxious side, but I think it’s a good anxious! I will keep both my facebook page and this blog up to date (hopefully on a daily basis) of our trip. Please remember to keep us in prayer.
Alin is making room for us at the house in Petrosani and I can’t wait to see his and Catalina’s little girls. Of course the adults as well. I have posted latest pictures of the girls on my facebook page. They are getting so big already. Alin tells me that Miriam (the younger of the two) just has conversations (baby talk) with anyone.
Since my last update, both issues with the pump and the sewer line have been fixed. Alin wanted to get these all taken care of before we arrived. All this and his wife is expecting…due in May. Please keep Catalina in prayer, they just shared with me that the Doctor told them one of the baby’s kidneys is larger than normal, and that she should come back to him after Catalina gives birth to avoid any infection. The same visit showed that “it’s a girl.”
Here are a few of pics of the girls…
As I mentioned before, there are times when I can sit on a Saturday morning and just chat. This particular time, I was able to spend a little time with Alex Ciuciu from Betania (Alex used to come and spend weekends at my house in Petrosani with others from Betania) and he sent me some pictures. I can’t believe how fast these guys are growing. It breaks my heart that I am missing all of this. Below are some pictures of the kids from Betania Christian Orphanage. I can’t wait to see them.
Again, lastly, I want to share a morning devotional with you all.
God’s Love And Ours
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. —Romans 5:8
Franklin Graham regrets it now, but in his youth he was wild and rebellious. One day he went roaring up to his dad’s house on his Harley Davidson motorcycle to ask for some money. Dressed in his leathers, dusty and bearded, he burst into his father’s living room—and walked right into a meeting of Billy’s executive board.
Without hesitation, Billy Graham identified Franklin as his son. Then he proudly introduced him to every member of the board. Billy did not apologize for his son or show any shame or guilt. Franklin wrote later in his autobiography, Rebel With a Cause, that the love and respect his father gave him that day never left him, even during his rebellious years.
Our children don’t have to earn our love. To withhold love for our own selfish purposes is to follow the enemy, not God. God’s love for us is undeserved. We did nothing to earn it; no good in us merited it. “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). In all our relationships, especially with our children, we must genuinely show that same kind of love.
We are called to treat our children, and all people, with love and respect. It helps to remember what we were when Christ died for us. David C. Egner
Help me, Lord, to show respect and love to others,
always mindful of the fact that each of us is created
in Your image. May Your love shine through my life
and bring praise and honor to You. Amen.
God’s love changes prodigal sons into precious saints.
Taken from Our Daily Bread Devotional
Until next time, Pa!
