I was very nervous at the beginning of our summer program this year. First of all we were doing things differently—we were not taking the girls away to camp but doing the program in the Amos Center instead.   The Amos Center is a big facility but on a hot summer day the place can become very small!

Secondly, for the first time this year we had boys as well as girls. It also was the first time we have cooked the lunch for the kids which I saw as an extra challenge.  In fact I think I saw the whole thing as a challenge, but I decided to take it one day at a time.

The help came from the most unexpected place—the children themselves.  They enjoyed themselves so much and they were so glad to be there with us, that they made the days pass by very quickly.

This year the teaching was about the gospel.  We spoke about sin, separation from God and what we have to do in order to go back to him.  We spoke about the narrow road and the broad road, and we asked the kids if they wanted a personal relationship with Jesus.  Nine of them raised their hands, and we prayed with them. We told them to consider it very seriously and they did.

They worshiped every morning and they prayed to God.  They read from the Bible and they told the stories they remembered.  I think the teaching time never passed so quickly; they really enjoyed it and looked forward to it.

We had four volunteers from the UK working with us this year: Linda, Sue, Derek and Godfrey.

One of the best projects was sewing, another thing that I was nervous about, but it turned out to be one of the most popular activities, even among the boys.  In fact one of the boys, Ionuţ, was a natural tailor in our opinion!  We also did beads, cards, stuffed toys, and other crafts.

We spent two afternoons in the park with our children and I was amazed again at their generosity. They were sharing their toys, playing with smaller kids, and giving away the crafts they had made.

Time flew by very quickly and too soon we had to say goodbye again.

Thank you so much Linda, Sue, Derek, Godfrey, Marinela and Elena, for all your work, your dedication and your heart for our children. We at Shelter of Care thank you for all you’ve done.

Thank you so much Romania Task Force, University Presbyterian Church, Seattle, WA for all your financial support for this project that you have faithfully sponsored for years!

Thank you Newbold Baptist Church, First Christian Church The Dalles OR, and Second Presbyterian Church Louisville, KY, for all your help and support in prayers and financially!

And most of all thank God for helping me to see what I thought was a challenge as a blessing—it was a blessing to spend two weeks with these wonderful children, a blessing to be able to serve with such wonderful people, and most of all a privilege to serve Him in these children’s lives!

To Him be the glory!