School and vocational orientation was the key word at the Deborah House this year. Alina, Ana and Brenda graduated the 8^th grade and they applied for high-school. Simona graduated the high school, third in her class, and in July she has the graduation exams and college application. Gabriela, Victoria and Dana, finished their vocational training in textiles, and all three of them have passed exams which allow them to continue their studies for two more years and equal the high school diploma. Gabriela and Dana start their apprenticeship as hair-stylists in one of the best beauty salons in Timisoara, while Victoria will continue her education and she will also start in September her training in cosmetics. All the girls finished the school year, and the ones who don’t have to worry about exams can start relaxing, thinking of the fun they will have in the camp at Alpinis with the Christian Life Fellowship group, from Baton Rouge, LA, USA, working along with the Mt. Bethel UMC, Marietta, GA, and the visit in Northern Ireland at the beginning of August.

This spring we enjoyed the wonderful flavor of the strawberries planted last summer in the green house. We had a very good first harvest, finalized with 73 kg of strawberry jam. Over 3,600 fruit trees, irrigation system, a milling and a mowing machine we’ve purchased through a Rotary Foundation Matching Grant, following the application submitted by the Perrysburg Rotary Club, OH, USA and Ripensis Rotary Club, Timisoara. We have also purchased a tractor, funds being donated by Task Force Romania.

While the whole World deals with the financial crisis, God has raised new people to provide for Deborah House. Hillsborough Presbyterian Church, from Northern Ireland, initiated a matching grant of $20,000.00 for the operation expenses.

We are also grateful for a debut: the first grant awarded by a Romanian company. In May 2009 MLI – Deborah House received a grant of 10,000 Euro from BRD-Group Societe Generale Bank. The grant is for education and vocational training costs, for one year.

Lorena Rusovan

The beginning of the school year was full of emotions and satisfaction. I could say that we can see even now the fruits of the five (5) years since we opened Deborah House Center, because in the school year 2007-2008, four (4) of the girls from DHC are high-school students and all four of them study at some of the best high schools in Timisoara. Alina entered the School of Arts and she will specialize in sculpture. Three of the girls are in middle school in Giarmata, and five of the girls are at Apprentice Schools.

Other results that we can see: the first girl who came to Deborah finished her school two years ago, now has a job and a family, and two other girls finished their schools and now have jobs of their own. Esther has moved with her older sister’s family and works at a multinational company that produces electric cables, and Gratiela has moved in a small apartment in Timisoara and works at a factory for textiles and clothing.

For this autumn we have plans to do the thermo-insulation and the facade at Deborah 2 and also the auto access and paths in the courtyard at Deborah 2.

Many of the girls come to the Deborah House Center with little or no schooling.  There is much catch-up that needs to be done in only a few years to prepare the Deborah girls for reintegration into Romanian society.  The following gives a brief update on some of the accomplishments of the Deborah Girls.