Favorite Pictures of the Spring!

 Sometimes some of the best ways to show what I've been up to is to post some of my favorite pictures.  Spring means teams and the picture above is a team out of Maryland.

 I have 5 clarinet students that I've tried to keep playing throughout this school year.

 On a field trip day for some of the kids from Rdv, this group of boys and I had an intense game of whiffle ball going!  It was a fun day!

 Easter at Pipera means Transition Graduates coming home.  It is always fun to have the family together!

 Baby Karla's first Easter!

 The Canadian Team also hosted a baby shower for Alex and Ioana.  Another fun event to celebrate our growing family!

 Grandpa Jim

 Costel turned 65!

Christmas in April?!?!

Each Spring we have a team that comes from Canada.  They are led by Dan and Luella Hewson, who head up our H2H Canada branch.

Each year they come prepared to do a project and this year we decided that their project would be to help with Christmas presents.  We usually give out between 600 to 1000 presents each Christmas and, as you can imagine, this takes a lot of planning and organizing to get accomplished.  Usually we are working about a year ahead of Christmas, because of the logistics.  Up until this point, we have been very low on gifts for this coming year.  I had very little stocked up from the year before and no transports scheduled to come in before this coming Christmas.  So when H2H Canada asked for a project we said "let's go shopping."  Fifteen hundred dollars and 8 carts later we put a major dent in what we needed.  God provided once again!  Thanks H2H Canada for being willing vessels!

Baptisms!

Sometimes when you are in relational ministry God surprises you!  There are times when I look at some of the kids that we work with and I think, "this one is so close to following Christ,"  and other times I think "this kid is so far from following Christ."  One thing that I've definitely learned is that I can't always predict whose hears are being softened and turned to Him. 

In the past couple of months we've had 2 of our Transition Graduates make professions of faith and be baptized.  Nicolae Toader is a guy that I've known since he was a small boy.  I've seen him grow and be moved around to 3 different orphanages and then he went through our Transition Program.  He has had a heart after God for many years, but it has been a joy to see that now that he's out of our house he has made his faith his own and persevered through many of life's challenges.  

I didn't meet Marius until he was in high school.  He has been a kind and sincere guy since I met him, but when he entered our Transition Program, he told me that he didn't know if he believed that God exists and if He does, he didn't know if He is trustworthy.  Two years later, with great joy, I got to see Marius be baptized. 

 For both of these young men they've had to work out their faith.  They both struggled to learn to forgive parents that abandoned them and instead of being bitter towards God, recognize that He's been with them through their journeys.  Both are living independently and working and volunteering with us when possible.  This "breaking the cycle" is what our ministry is all about!

La Multi Ani!!

A few years ago we discovered that one of the boys from one of the centers that we work in has the exact same birthday that I have.  Since that point Fernando always counts down until "our" birthday.  This year was no exception and he was especially pleased that March 3 fell on a Tuesday, which is the day of the week that we are at his center to do classes with him.  So I would be there exactly on our birthday!  When we arrived the whole center was full of energy and excitement to celebrate our birthdays, so it made the day extra special. 

 Our most recent "birthday buddy" photo!

 To add to the day, we had a team here from Mission Possible. This is a team that comes back each and every year the first week of March, so a couple of these people have celebrated the last 5 birthdays with me!

Jenny made a scrumptious ice cream cake and David, one of our grandkids, helped me blow out the candles! 

Introducing Karla Vaduva!!

On February 26th, we were pleased to welcome into the H2H family, baby Karla.  Robi and Alina are proud parents and Ruthie is a proud big sister!

Valentine To God

What would you say if you made a Valentine for God?  That is the challenge that I issued two weeks ago at our Jr. High and Sr. High youth groups in two of our orphanages.  We spent the lesson talking about love, an appropriate and "normal" theme for the month of February,  But I wanted to challenge the kids to think of it from a different angle.  We "know" that God loves us, but why do we love Him?  I hope that these words bless your hearts.  Pray with me that each of us, and each of the kids that we work with will have these truths embedded on each of our hearts daily!

Here is what some of our kids said:

 "I love you Jesus because you created me and you gave me peace and life."

 "Lord, I love you because you were there when I really needed you.  I love you because you take care of me and you created me."

 "Lord I love you because you are always beside me."

 "Lord Jesus, I love you so much and I thank you that you care about me."

 "Lord, I love you because you care about me.  You bless me.  You guide us and you love us exactly the way that we are."

 "God, I love you because you are always with me and you give me strength and faith."

"I love you because you are beautiful.  You fulfill all of my desires and you are good to me."

H2H Turns Twenty!

After my furlough in Kansas in December, I returned to Romania to host the Holiday Team.  They were here for 10 days and in that time we visited the orphanages, handed out Christmas presents, celebrated New Year's and spent lots of good bonding time with the kids.  

On January 8, the entire Romanian based staff headed to the US for the long awaited 20th Anniversary celebration.  The first 10 days were spent with the staff scattered around the US to speak in different churches, small groups, and missions committees.  It was a busy time, but full of so many blessings as we were able to visit many people who have spent time with us here in Romania, and have become important parts of the H2H family!  

My first 6 days were in Reno, Nevada.  We have had a team come to Romania each year for the past 10 years from Reno.  The first evening, there was a dinner in which past team members and their families were invited.  There were over 30 people, many of which are near and dear to my heart.  I was able to stay with my good friend Katy, and see her world in Reno, as well as visit with many past team members and missions committees from 2 different churches. 

From Reno, I spent the next 5 days in Sacramento, California.  I stayed with Shannon and Mark Toews and their little one, Mariana.  It was so fun to be a part of their family, as well as meet with past team members and speak in 4 different church services at the Bridgeway Church.

Then it was time to head down to Southern California.  On Tuesday, the 21st the festivities kicked off with a trip to Disneyland!  What a fun day!  The staff was joined with some friends and past team members.  Going to Disneyland and riding rides with our Romanian Staff was a riot.  I laughed so hard that there were tears at times.  It is so rare that we get to just have fun together!  It was a priceless day that I will not soon forget!

The rest of the week flew by with day trips to visit sights around San Diego and also speaking engagements with different small groups. Each day the number of guests from out of town increased.  In a blink,  it was Friday, and time for the celebration banquet.  In true H2H fashion, we prepared the meal and spent the day preparing the location.  It was a special evening with too many highlights to name, but in the end we were able to accomplish what we had set out to do, which was to be able to come together and reflect on God's faithfulness to us over these past 20 years!

The current staff and some of our retired staff that were able to attend.

 Speaking during the program.

 The staff presented Jim and Jodi with a quilt made by Sally Lepley and friends from Indiana.  It was made out of H2H t-shirts from past years.

Saturday and Sunday were spent with guests around the San Diego area.  It was so nice that many people were able to spend the whole weekend so we had a better chance to talk and catch up.  My parents were able to come out for almost a week and it was special for me that they were able to be there to experience this important event with me.  

The sunset on our time.  Our guests returned home, and the staff returned to Romania.  But the memories made during this time will last a long time!  To God be the Glory, Great Things He has Done!