OUR THOUGHTS IN ROMANIA


WE FEEL PRIVILEGED TO HAVE BEEN WELCOMED BY SO MANY BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE. THEY HAVE ALLOWED US INTO THEIR HOMES TO WITNESS HOW LAWSIDE ROMANIA PROJECT HAS ENRICHED THEIR LIVES.

WE VISITED “NAZARETH”, THE SISTERS OF MERCY HOME FOR FIVE LITTLE ABANDONED BOYS. THERE, THE “PARENTS”, MR & MRS BUCURA CARED FOR THESE LITTLE ONES AS THEIR OWN FAMILY. ACTUALLY THERE ARE THREE SONS OF THE BUCURAS LIVING IN
NAZARETH TOO AND THEY, IN THEIR TURN, TREAT THE LITTLE BOYS AS THEIR BROTHERS AND ARE PROUD OF THEM. ONE LITTLE BOY HAS A TALENT FOR SINGING SO HE IS TAKEN WEEKLY TO THE “CHILDREN'S PALACE”, WHERE TALENTS OF VARIOUS KINDS ARE DEVELOPED.

WE THEN VISITED A VERY POOR FAMILY OF ELEVEN CHILDREN WHOSE MOTHER IS QUITE ILL WITH PARKINSON'S DISEASE. THE HOUSE CONSISTS OF TWO SMALL ROOMS, THE ROOF WAS “LEAKY” BUT BOTH ROOMS WERE SPOTLESSLY CLEAN AND WE WERE VERY IMPRESSED BY THE RESPECT THE CHILDREN HAD FOR THAT SICK MOTHER AND BY THE LOVE FELT IN THAT HOME. THIS FAMILY, ALONG WITH OTHERS WHOM WE VISITED, RECEIVES “MEALS ON WHEELS” DAILY FROM THE LAWSIDE ROMANIA PROJECT.

AND THERE WERE VISITS TO THE ELDERLY PEOPLE...

OUR FIRST VISIT WITH RITA AND TONY, FROM THE LOCAL PARISH CHURCH OF ST. THEREZA, WAS TO AN OLD LADY WHO APPRECIATED THE HOT MEALS AND THE WEEKLY VISITS FROM THE YOUTH OF THE PARISH. ALTHOUGH POOR IN HEALTH, HER LITTLE HOME WAS WELL KEPT AND SHE WELCOMED US AND THANKED US AND THE PROJECT FOR THE SUPPORT AND FOR THE GOOD WORK OF RITA AND TONY.
OUR NEXT VISIT WAS TO AN ELDERLY COUPLE WHO WERE IN ILL HEALTH BUT WHO WERE SO GRATEFUL FOR THE DAILY MEALS AND FOR TONY'S WEEKLY VISITS. INDEED, WE COULD SEE THE LOVE FELT ON BOTH SIDES.
ANOTHER GREAT PRIVILEGE WAS TO BUY PYJAMAS AND OTHER NEEDS FOR THE LITTLE ABANDONED CHILDREN IN THE HOSPITAL AND ALSO FOR NEEDY PARENTS AND CHILDREN THERE. THESE CHILDREN HAVE TOUCHED OUR LIVES IN A VERY BIG WAY AND THE MEMORY WILL STAY IN OUR HEARTS AND MINDS FOREVER.
WE HOPE TO GO HOME AND INSPIRE OUR FAMILIES, FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES INTO SUPPORTING US IN OUR EFFORTS FOR THE LAWSIDE ROMANIA PROJECT.
LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, WE THANK SISTER ALOYSIUS AND TRAIAN FOR ARRANGING TO FIT SO MANY ASPECTS OF THE PROJECT INTO OUR VISIT THIS WEEK AND OUR GRATITUDE ALSO GOES TO DOCTORS, NURSES AND VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE SHARED THEIR TIME WITH US.
WE PRAY THAT THIS PROJECT WILL GROW AND CONTINUE FOR MANY YEARS TO COME!

CAROL IRONS & ANNE HAMPTON LA REVEDERE. PE CURAND