For children time is not measured in hours or even years. For children time measures in moments of joy, smiles and happiness. This is true for our own children as well as for the over 358 children assisted by MLI through the Children at Risk Ministries.

Thanks to our faithful partners and donors on one hand, and a committed and professional team on the other hand, the moments of memorable delight and happiness for the children assisted by MLI have increased in the past six months.

DEBORAH HOUSE

The summer began with many exams for the girls, and with high-school and university applications. In September three of the girls (Alina, Ana and Brenda) started high-school and Simona started the University. After a few weeks of stress and excitement, the girls had a week with lots of fun playing in a camp at Alpinis with the Christian Life Fellowship team from Baton Rouge, LA, USA. Coming home, they attended a basketball camp in Timisoara organized by Christ Church of Oakbrook and Lawndale Community Church from IL, USA in partnership with Bethany Baptist Church from Timisoara. Good times didn’t stop there: a team from Mt. Bethel UMC – Marietta, GA visited us. While part of the team worked to fix and replace the showers at Deborah 1, the women did Bible studies, crafts and music with the girls. At the end of July, Bryce and Vio Norton, from Mt. Pisgah UMC – Atlanta GA, USA came to DHC. At the beginning of August, all the girls from the DHC with the staff and the staff families spent two weeks in Northern Ireland at the generous invitation of Christian friends from this beautiful country. In the evenings the girls visited the churches and sang as sign of appreciation for all the generosity and during the day they visited the beautiful land of Ulster. Invigorated by the fantastic care and love they had experienced during the summer the girls returned home and got ready for a new school year.

In the fall, a team from Task Force Romania, England, visited DHC and continued working at the attic of Deborah 2. We very much appreciate their effort since in the past two months three new girls came to DHC, and today the center exceeds its capacity.

HARMONY

While the children from Recas and Lugoj Children Homes were on vacation, some of them being on camps or visiting the few relatives they keep in touch with, Doru and Rodica continued to visit them and the boys from Buzias Juvenile Prison. Doru organized a trip to the ancient Roman capital – Sarmizegetusa and the girls from DHC were invited along with the children from Recas, Lugoj and Buzias. This kind of common activities have become regular for MLI – Children at Risk.

At the Buzias Juvenile Prison, even during vacation when the boys have a large range of activities, approximately seventy boys (from a total of one hundred and twenty) voluntarily choose to attend Doru’s classes.

At the beginning of the school year the total number of children who receive assistance from MLI in rural areas was of 134. The children come from very poor families, often they are left with the grandparents while the parents immigrate to Western Europe looking for jobs. 134 children receive protection from abuse, neglect and school abandonment.

ASPIRATIONS

After months of prayers and concern for their daughter’s life and health, Dragos and Florica brought their baby girl Daria to a service of dedication in church. We all, along with the Mt. Bethel UMC Team had the honor to rejoice with the young family. We are grateful for them and we have the responsibility to continue to keep them in our prayers and to walk with them.