Today We Felt True Joy

Today we discovered why we are on a mission.

We both had the very special experience of feeling Heavenly Fathers love for His Roma children in Parcani, Moldova. It was as if we were conduits of His love coming from Him through us directly to these wonderfully happy children. It was humbling. The afterglow of the experience lasted well into the night and I can feel it even now as I type this.



We first visited this poor, isolated, and forgotten school at the Deputy Prime Minister's request. This rural village school still uses outhouses for bathrooms and the pigs, geese, cows, and chickens run all around the school yard. It was very cold so most wore coats & hats because the heat wasn't on yet. Mr Negrei asked us to help the Parcani Roma children and their school with some clothing, furniture and sports equipment. We took photos of their "playroom" which had absoltuely nothing in it. (see photo) The lunchroom had tables that were held together with wires and so few chairs the children had to eat standing up. The desks in the rooms were made of wood and were bowed and painted over and over. The chairs were falling apart. The school director said she would be "the happiest director in all of Moldova if she could make the playroom a place where the children had stimulating toys and books, some shelves, a carpet, and maybe a curtain so they could do puppet shows, story time, or concerts.




We set to work first of all to bring clothing and shoes to the children. They were so happy to get them. Each of them were full of smiles and giggles and hugs as they were being fitted with clothing & shoes. We had been given a list of their 20 most needy children to clothe but ended up giving to almost 60 children who were at school that day. It was the miracle of the fishes and the loaves but we call it "the miracle of the shoes and clothes". The children kept coming and yet we kept finding clothing to fit them. Our van should not have had enough clothing for that many children- but it did. As a matter of fact we still took home several boxes of leftover clothing and shoes. Who says miracles don't still happen?!!
Then we ordered new desks, chairs, lunch tables with benches, 8 bookshelves to be made for the school. While they were being made we shopped and shopped until we filled the shelves with what they call "sports equipment". We bought a tug-of-war rope, cd player with cd's, fitness balls, soccor balls, huge amount of craft supplies like crayons-glue-scissors-paints-paper-markers (thanks Kathy!!), puppets,a pile of storybooks and poem books, a google-eyed clock, 25 lbs of modeling clay, chess/checker sets, hoola hoops, volleyball net with balls, and lots more. We gift wrapped everything for fun! We made candy bags with candy, cookies, M&M's, and a pencil for each of the 80 children enrolled.



We stretched the budget to the limit by installing a "theater curtain" across the end of the room. Kesli Aiken, a friend from church, made the curtain (see photo) and Suren Gaghikean, another friend from church, made and installed the curtain pole. The pole installation was no walk in the park--the supports had to be attached by drilling through about 8 inches of concrete! Suren's drill bit got totally stuck when it was nearly all the way in and we thought it there for good but he finally got it unstuck and Kesli hung the curtain.






The big day finally arrived and the full sized carpet was delivered with the furniture. Then we arrived to install the curtain and set up the tables in the playroom. The children were so excited to see us again. We noticed that about 1/2 the children were wearing the clothing we had given them earlier. Several of the girls came up to me and smiled that "remember me?" smile. Very sweet.
The children were laughing and smiling and wanting to help so Tom took them all outside and let them carry in the gift packages one by one. (see photos) They were so HAPPY and so kind to each other as they filled the shelves in the playroom with the packages. There was such a level of innocence and joy about them that was amazing. The boys wanted to help roll out the carpet and set up the furniture and they laughed the whole time they helped. They were all so well mannered. We filled mugs with M&M's and put balloons on sticks in the mugs to add to the festivity.












Then Mr Negrei arrived. The children were in awe of him. The school director gave him a tour of the school to show off all the new desks and tables. In each classrrom he told the children they must study and learn. One child about 8 yrs old stood up next to his new desk and told Mr. Negrei that he would take extra good care of his new desk. Another child stood and promised to study everything his teacher told him to study. We visited their "library" (see photo) where Mr Negrei found 2 manuals that he himself had either written or edited. His name was on the cover. He is such an educator - not really like a politition at all.





We then went to the playroom at the end of the hall and he couldn't believe the transformation of the room. We had a ceremony with all the children and teachers. We spoke of how we believe that their families can be together forever and also that they can and should learn and learn and learn forever and how we were so happy to help them. Mr Negrei even had a little chokey sound when we spoke to the children this time. Then we had the children take turns going to the shelves and selecting a package to open up. What fun!! After opening the packages 4 year old Ryli Aiken helped me pass out the goodie bags. You should have seen their faces light up! You should have seen Mr Negrei's face when he got a goodie bag too!





After the ceremony Mr Negrei asked to meet with us and 4 gentlemen that also attended the closing so we went to a room where he introduced the 4 men to us. He explained that he had invited the leaders of other Roma communities to come see what we had done for this Roma school. You see, the Roma people (sometimes called gypsies) are not treated very well by most people. They thanked us one by one for helping their children.



All the adults then were served a wonderful lunch of cheese placentas, zeama soup, breads, and vegetables. Ryli brought his own lunch then went outside to play with the children.








As we drove away the afterglow in our hearts of what we had just felt and seen was incredible and indescribable. These children who live in a VERY poor, isolated, and seemingly forgotten village are so loved by Heavenly Father. We know this; because we delivered that love to them today. We will remember this day throughout all eternity.