Confession

Thanks for coming on this brief journey. Even if no-one actually read this they say confession is good for the soul and it helped me to write it.
I love this country's young people and I love the pace of life here. I hate the rudeness and I hate the food. I love the sense of community. And I hate leaving again. But I'll be glad to get home.

I think the best we can hope for is that we gave these kids a little glimpse of God's kingdom for a couple of days. Thanks everyone for your messages and support. Until the next time.

Wednesday 7.33pm

The third group have now left. It never seems to get much easier saying goodbye. Right on cue almost as soon as they left a huge storm looks like engulfing the place. The sky has darkened big time and the thunder is rumbling.

Nature seems to speak much louder of Gods power over here or maybe it’s just that we’re more receptive in this environment.

As usual I now have to square the circle of going off to America on holiday next month – moving from one Universe to the other. It always leaves me feeling guilty.

We’ve made new friends this time as always, a lot of little ones who have lit up our lives. But we’ve also consolidated a lot of older friendships, friendships which are now five years old. We’ve earner the right to speak into lives. But I think in many ways they speak into our lives almost as much.

In the early days we are tempted to think that in bringing our wealth we are doing all the favours – actually we have so much to learn from them about community. I will miss them dearly.

Lightning

2.55am. Boy those beef fajitas go through you like lightning!

Because of the delay in a shutter firing I had to take 120 hopeful photos to get this one. Hope you like it. And so to bed.

Only in Romania

It’s 1.45am. Today’s been one of those “only in Romania days”. We booked Norman to bring the group to Brasov in his bus at 11.00am. 10.30 he calls to say it’s his birthday and he’ll send someone else (he only just remembered?). At 10.50 he calls and says the police are in a crackdown on mini-buses and now no-one can do it, but he’s trying to find someone. At 11.15 he says he’ll be here in ten minutes, he promised us someone so doesn’t want to let us down. It’s good of him. He misses most of his birthday and risks losing his license if they catch him apparently.

First stop the chair lifts in Brasov. We’re all excited. They close all day Tuesday. Shoot. Ah well, we’ll go to the market. When we get there, they’ve bull dozed it. Remember it’s over 30 degrees here in a hot car and packed mini-bus.

From there it improves. We get the cable car up Brasov – they all walk to the big sign which is only five minutes but my hip wouldn’t allow me to go.

Then on to bowling – where I beat the ever competitive Nico on my last bowl J.

Then the highlight of the day – the Bella Musica for dinner – the famous Mexican restaurant. Amazing Beef Fajitas as always. It’s great to catch up with Nico and Flori. And great to get a good meal.

And everyone LOVES their food.

Back to the villa via Zizin for the NI team. But we don’t get out of the car as we can’t locate any friendly faces. But they get a little taste of Gypsy life as we drive through.

Back at the villa I have deep chats with four of the Valenii girls and realize in a new way just how deeply they love and care for us (and need us). Some have sent me letters with sisters and friends. They move me to tears. They so need us to keep loving them back.

As I sit here sweating as I type, a huge storm is coming over the mountains. The lightning flashes are lighting up the sky at a frantic pace but in total silence as they are still in the distance The air is turning cooler. God is in this place, this country, these kids. In me. In our community here. And although I now yearn for home after eight days, already I long to come back.

(And Norman got a twenty quid tip. He was stunned!!!!!)

Bears

About a week before we arrived a bear killed a US back packer in the mountains above Sinaia. The bear approached the girl's camp, where she was with her boyfriend, and apparently the flash's of them trying to photograph the bear agitated it. It killed her and badly injured her boyfriend.
Well tonight, it visited us. There it was about 30 feet outside the conservatory window. An absolutely HUGE grizzly. I don't think Hanna will sleep tonight. No photos I'm afraid, but what a sight. The bear I mean, not Hanna!
We've all gotten very tired now. Tonight I saw Erika lose it with a group for the first time ever - nothing major went wrong, they just wouldn't listen and she exploded. Didn't do them any harm! I was quite proud of her.
Tomorrow off to Brasov, up the seated mountain chair lift, then bowling then hopefully the Mexican restaurant. Boy do we need a good meal.
A few things to bring back memories for those who have been here - Danny de Vito, Midge bites, Joes, Cappucino, fried eggs, Norman, Maxi-taxis with 40 people, bad breath, smelly feet, too warm to sleep, lay lady lay, Santal, beautiful water melons , nectarines, fresh bread, dogs barking, starry skies, mountain dew, pizza americana, cheese triangles, rough toilet paper, come on, you know you miss it!!!!!

Pleasure and privelege

So, soon it will be group 3. This has been a very sweet little group, big beautiful smiles that hide so much pain underneath.

We have several incest victims, rape victims, children of murderers, physically handicapped, mentally challenged and some kids who were just too poor for their parents to look after them. But as I was reminded last week, God doesn’t see the labels. He just sees the people and he loves them.

It’s been a privilege to share time with them and I’ll miss group two. But then I already miss group one as well.

As going home starts to loom on the horizon there are always mixed feelings. Family and good food beckon us home, needy and empty little lives plead with us to stay, or at least to come back soon.

If only we could raise up some young people here in Romania who have this heart for these kids, who would be here and accessible. Maybe one day soon.

Oh and continuing in the Herron tradition of bad pictures while sleeping, here’s one of Laura. Sorry Bo.

One thing we are very proud of is introducing major water fights to these deprived children!?! There's nothing quite like it. We have initiated firing sqauds where the leaders (mainly me!) volunteer to stand against the wall beside the container and anyone under 14 gets a free shot. Just look at the mischief in that face....(never mind the size of the bomb)

pictures

For those parents watching this here's a wee picture of your babies! Hanna has had a bit of sunburn - but nothing major so don't worry.


Lauras wisdom teeth are giving her truble, but she seems well able to cope with it.


Here's a picture of Antonia if the Carson clan are looking in - she's growing up so fast.



Here's a self portrait by Rita for Elaine...



And here are the little angels that we have during week 2.



They are the cutest, sweetest kids. So today, Sunday, we are headed for the zoo. But more inportantly for my team, to McDONALDS!!!! Boy did that make them smile.