John Durham - April 4, 2022
Update from Romania
On Monday, April 4, there was a steady flow of guests getting food. We went to the store Sunday evening and purchased $400 worth of food and then Dragos, our preacher went back and picked up another carload Monday morning yet, by noon the pantry was beginning to look bare again and by the end of the day 350 people had visited!
The picture above shows a tireless (and tired) servant of the Lord. This is Dragos who makes seemingly endless trips to the market to keep the food pantry stocked! Here he is at Metro - a European version of Sam’s club - at 9 PM in the evening getting ready for the next day’s visitors.
Despite everything that has happened to them, the ladies who are staying with us are such a blessing! They pitch-in and immediately begin to help with everything from unloading and stocking the pantry to helping our visitors. May God bless each one of them!
We have ministered to approximately 1000 people this week! I also continue to be amazed with the kindness of the Romanian people! Even when we approach the checkout buggies filled to overflowing, the cashiers still smile!
Here is a most precious visitor to our pantry!
Here’s a picture of the medicines that Sorina, Dragos’ wife purchases for our guests.
Boys everywhere have a universal love for vehicles! Here’s some of our friends with their new toys!
This is my new friend Julien. He and his mom, Alena, stopped by and asked if they could use the microwave at church to heat up Julien’s breakfast. He suffers from epilepsy and has problems with his speech. He and his family - he has two older sisters who are studying in school here in Cluj - are from Odessa. They ran a flower shop before having to leave. His dad of course had to stay behind.
Julien & his mom, Alena
Here is Elena, giving Julien some of the toys which were provided.
The Charis Foundation donated three boxes of toys for the children who visit.
We have also been asked to conduct an English class for children this Friday. I will attempt to help with this - again, with the help of some wonderful Ukrainian ladies who speak English.
Here are some pictures from Friday’s English class for the children!
This is my number-one assistant, Lena who helps explain (in Ukrainian) what I am trying to communicate to the students.
Lena and I were apprehensive over the prospect of teaching children especially since we didn’t know the number of children that would attend, their English abilities or their attention span!
They were wonderful; well-behaved and seemed to have a very good time.
In addition to learning the Lord’s Prayer in English, coloring and enjoying refreshments, we also made “witness bracelets!”
