Time with Friends

Hi all,

I'm back. A litle tired, but having spent some good time with my friends Katie and Costel in Romania.

I met some new people and caught up with some old friends. Among my new friends I would like to mention Alexandra and Valentina who live near Katie and Costel and come round to play most days.

As well as being on holiday I took the opportunity to spend a day with Costel (Katie's husband) and Lenus from the Miriam foundation and we visited two families who have teenagers with Aids.

We always take food and clothes with us on every visit and stop to chat and pray with each family. (donations are always welcome write me a comment if you are interested).

Me with Michael + delivery of food and clothes.

Costel , Me, Lenus (with the glasses) and one of the families we visited.

Katie, Costel and I also took a day off to go to the mountains and visit a Romanian castle. The weather was beautiful in Romania while I was there. Which is more than I can say for the weather in England when I got back it was snowing - yikes.

Costel and I in the castle grounds

I really enjoyed staying with Katie and Costel, Costel is very skilled in working with wood and has made their house a beautiful place to be.

I stayed in the house just across from them with Costels mum, who made me feel very welcome and makes the most fantastic pancakes!

It was also good to be able to help out a little in the garden. Romanian families tend to grow most of what the eat in the garden. So we planted lots of onions and some salad seeds. This is the season for putting in your vegetables so it was nice to do some real gardening as I only have a small area for Veg at home.

I was also really pleased to catch up with Katie as she is now approx 6 months pregnant and I am so excited for her and Costel. hopefully I will be able to take a short visit over once the baby is born.

I must introduce you to another member of the family- this is Bobby, the guard dog. He is a fantastic dog who likes to have hugs- once he gets to know you.

Here, There and Everywhere.......

Hi all,

Now that I'm back from Cornwall I've planned another trip away....... 13th - 19th March to Romania.

Some of you will know that I have been visiting Romania and The Bread of Life church in Ploesti for around 6 years. I am very much looking foward to catching up with my friends old and new over there. I will be staying with my very good friend Katie, who went out with me just over 2 years ago for a visit and found her now husband Costel.

Picture taken by Zec Larkin.

I also hope to spend some time visiting families and children who have Aids, through The Miriam Foundation. The Miriam Foundation supports those who have HIV or AIDS and has particularly in the past worked with young children. Typically when I am able to be in Romania we will arrange visits to families where we take food, clothes, vitamins and toys and spend some time talking and praying with them. This kind of trip costs about £10.00 for each family we visit, week by week there is a drop in policy at the Miriam Foundation Office where families can come for a chat when they are in town (this is usually for hospital appointments). The drop in is primarily manned by Costel (Katie's husband) and Lenus (who is a member of Bread of life church) a fantastic lady who I care for very much. Lenus lives in ploesti with her husband and 2 children. There are many great people in Romania who I am looking foward to catching up with.

So 2 weeks of work and I'm off again........