SUNDAY
APRIL 17th 2011
Did I tell you yesterday that there was a
bazaar here at the Casa Mabel site? Next to their warehouse they have now got a
small building which will be dedicated to items for the bazaars. There are some
items which they receive from us in Jersey that are allocated to the bazaars.
This is an arrangement which is beneficial all round. For the people in this
village and the surrounding villages it means there is the opportunity to buy
good quality second hand clothes and other items at a low but fair price without
the expense of travelling to Oradea (close of 40 km and involving either a train or bus journey and a fair walk). For people
who have some resources it means they have their dignity and they can buy – not
always receiving gifts. For Mustard Seed Romania it is a valuable way to raise
funds for Casa Mabel’s running costs, they plan to have one every month now
they have this dedicated shed. (To clarify the matter I would estimate that less
than 5% of the total aid consignment is sold to raise funds in this way – over 95%
is given away at no cost to those in genuinely serious need).
This morning I learnt from Alex that they
raised the equivalent of 600 dollars yesterday. Certainly more profitable than
the car boot sales we run in Jersey to raise funds!!
Today is Sunday. We had planned after church to
go out to the villages 70 kilometers
away where we have relocated some needy families, but Phil was not very well
this morning so I cancelled that plan. A shame but just one
of those things.
I went to the Berechiu
church in the next village. A very small but friendly and
clearly sincere loving group. Of course with it being in Romanian it was
difficult to understand much of it but you could feel the welcome coming from
the people.
I had intended taking Flori
out this afternoon but she said that after lunch she felt quite ill and sick.
When she goes for her dialysis tomorrow she is almost certain that the doctor
will keep her in hospital for a few days for blood transfusions as her results
show this is needed again. She is painfully thin – 37 kilos she tells me.
I have assured her that I will ask Alex to
take me to the hospital to see her on Tuesday and Wednesday if – as she
suspects – she has to stay in hospital for a few days. She will possibly end up
coming out the day we leave which will be disappointing all round.
Flori is such a special
person, so loving and affectionate, with a strong belief in God’s care and
protection of her. We are privileged to
know her. I am glad she had such a good day in Oradea with us yesterday.