Have you ever made plans that at the
last minute had to change? How did you react to it? Did you panic
or stay calm? Well, I like to think that I’m a strong woman, but
still there are times when I feel soooooo weak! Then and not only
then, I have to depend 100% on God’s power.
August is a month that I love
generally! I have lots of reasons to celebrate. A good end to
a successful summer mission trip season. Time to give holidays to
my colleagues …and me, my birthday , and many other small things
that makes me happy!
Still, what do we do when our plans
change? Well, let me give you few examples within Smiles Romania!
Many of you will have heard looooots about Rapa in the past
two years especially! Many of you have raised money for this
project to improve the living conditions of the community. Many of
you have heard us talking about the dream of building a church and
have it opened by October this year.
Well yes, we had many things planned,
everything on a good time schedule. Until this past week, when I
called my main construction leader there, Claudiu, to ask
him "how the day went?" His wife told me "we are at the emergency
room at the hospital, waiting for Claudiu to have an operation".
He had a ruptured appendix and he was in a bad situation. With
God’s help he got there right on time. Amazing that I saw him
driving on Sunday, planned to meet on Monday! So PLEASE PLEASE
pray for Claudiu. Pray for his recovery and pray for his wife who
is naturally concerned.
With all this news, our plans need to
change! So please pray for us to still be able to move forward
with all the things on the drawing board. We have a few options
and Claudiu wants to help but is limited what he can do. BUT, in
the end of the day, everything is in God’s Hands.
I’m sure that HE will make it work, we
just need to be faithful and stay calm when the storm comes! It’s
not easy, but not impossible, especially when we know who is at
the rudder of the boat.
Another situation that had "plans
changed" is our US development plan. After 2 and half years of
working with Smiles, 3 months this year spent in America,
Emilia told us when she came back from America this past month
that she was leaving Smiles.
I never like people leaving Smiles, no
matter what the circumstances are. In my mind I see us as a ‘big
family’ and I get very emotional when I have to say bye. BUT I
understand that each person has their own reason, and like
Ecclesiastes says: "each thing has a time"
to move on. I know that God will take care of the "plans he has
for Smiles" and He will provide. He never disappointed me over the
years, even though I sometimes thought ‘that’s it’. I think that
no matter who it is, including even me, when God has a plan and a
purpose for His work He will provide. Until then I’m happy that I
can be used by Him in His service! So I pray for Smiles, for
Emilia and I am thankful for what she did for Smiles until now!
Back to the projects ‘changed plans’.
Tileagd; Last month I gave you a
full report on Tileagd. Because it is the summer holidays I have
the kids in for just 2 days a week. When we finished the academic
year we said ‘let s enjoy the holiday’. BUT as soon as we
finished, in the UK you had the Brexit. The decision on
that and the drop in the pound really affected my budget in
Tileagd…..and a lot of other things.
So I had to cancel a few things like
ordering the wood for winter, doing some repairs in the school and
nursery, repairing the school bus that broke down in the last week
of school! All these things need money! At this moment in time
I am having to think what is more important for me? To repair the
car or to have the wood for the winter? My plans are a bit
messed up, BUT I pray for God’s provision. So please do that too.
It is the first time in 15 years when I have not been able to buy
the wood during summer, when it is cheaper! I’m sure God will find
a way, but until then I need to stay still, and believe.
Also in Tileagd I have my craft
project continuing. The ladies are doing very good. The
project is going well. I am proud to see them in church each
Sunday and to see a better attitude. Please pray for us to find
places where we can sell our supplies. IF you can help us with
that, please let me know. I can send you some supplies on a sale
or return policy and that will help me to provide for the ladies a
small income every week. Please pray to see this project continue
from October onwards too. As I have to take a small break in order
to take care of the baby, please pray for me to find things that
the ladies can do without me being there every time they meet!
With July month being soooo busy
with the mission trips I forgot how fast the time flies! Last year
in October, Claudia came in to help us with the mission
centre for a one year commitment! I can’t believe we are nearly
there and at the end of August Clau is going back to Timisioara.
I’m soooo thankful to her for helping us with this huge task, when
I thought that there will not be any other option after Rita’s
departure. Claudia made lots of new friends during this year and
I’m so happy to hear her saying "I’m coming back for the October
mission trip to say hi to a few people". Thank you for everything
you did for us during this time.
So dear friends when our plans
change, GOD HAS new ones for us! Let us trust Him completely and
not let the enemy destroy us! It’s not always easy, as I already
said, but we know THE MASTER of everything.
Please pray for me and I am praying for
you.
Be blessed