ADOPTION COMPLETED/ GOING HOME:

SHOUT TO THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART! SING BEFORE HIM AND PROCLAIM GLAD TIDINGS UNTO HIS NAME! REJOICE FOR THE LORD, HE IS GOOD AND HIS LOVING KINDNESS IS FOREVER AND EVER.

What is all the praising and shouting about? Our God is always faithful to His promises. On February 26^th, Barbara and the girls are going home to America. Six years ago God prompted our hearts to take into the foundation Alex who was only one month old and was living in the dump of Cluj with her family. She was very sick at that time from the freezing conditions that surrounded her. When God placed this within Freddy and my hearts to take Alex into the foundation we did not know that a few months later God would send Barbara to volunteer with us. Nor did we know anything of the path God was setting our feet upon. However, in our spirits we knew right away that God had a special plan for Alex. Still, it did not stop with her, for sometime later God sent Manny and then Sarah to the foundation which brought about what is now the “Center for Chosen Children.” Through the process of time Barbara Caver, the centers coordinator decided to adopt the girls. It has been a long and strenuous procedure for us all at the foundation.  Of course, many of you know of all the battles that have been fought to rescue these children. If it had not been for the strength and power of God we might have given up hope. Nevertheless, God’s Spirit kept strengthening and prompting us onward. Long before we ever were aware of His plans, and before Freddy and I ever became full time on the mission field God allowed us to come on some short term trips. On those trips we meet governmental leaders that have been key instruments in the lives of these girls and for God’s wonderful purposes. What a wonderful and awesome God we serve!

 Yes indeed, we all rejoice for this awesome victory of the final adoption procedures of Alex and Sarah. In fact, by the time you get this newsletter Barbara, Alex and Sarah will already be left Romania for their new lives in America. Their new home will be in Prattville, Alabama. Thank you all for your prayers and standing faithfully with us to help rescue these two girls. Also, thank you for your financial support that helped each month to provide for the girls. PRAISE TO THE LORD OUR GOD!

However, even though we at Calea are overjoyed with the finalization of the adoption. We cannot help to feel sadden too. As we think about Barbara and the girls no longer being here with us, our hearts break. All of us who have loved and cared for the girls over the past six years will indeed miss their merry, carefree and giggly presence among us. Not to mention, that we will be losing Barbara as well. Barbara has been a faithful volunteer to the foundation over the last six years. She has endured many hardships and  set backs. Yet, she persevered to the end! What's more, Barbara always knew when to induce laughter on us when it seemed to be our darkness moments. She always would come up with the funniest things to take our minds off all the happenings of the foundation, allowing God to use her to bring the needed medicine that laughter can bring. 

Barbara, Alex and Sarah, we will miss you all very much and through tears we say good-bye. But not tears of sorrow even though we will miss you but, tears of excitement. Our prayer is that God will continue to bless and lead you in everything you do. We know that God has a plan for Alex and Sarah and our desire is that it will come to completion all the days of their lives. Barbara, we thank you for your service and dedication to the foundation the past six years. You did a super job!

 MANNY’S BIRTHDAY PARTY:

Manny turned six years old on February 20^th and was totally taken by surprised with her birthday party at school. We had arranged everything with the teacher and Manny was assigned projects in others areas of the school so that we could get everything set up for the party. In fact, all of her classmates were flabbergasted when they too received a small gift bag packed full of small toys that we had in the humanitarian building. You should have seen the smiles and heard the laughter as they received their gifts too. Plus, what excitement roared through the room as everyone dove into the cake, candy, chips, and milk. Not only was this enthusiasm from the children who were partaking of the milk but the teachers commented on how nice it was for the children. Milk is too expensive for the school to purchase so we wanted this to be a blessing to all of Manny’s classmates.

Satisfaction filled the hearts of everyone when we saw the joy in Manny eyes as she felt especially loved on this her special day.  Actually, at the closing of the day when Manny and I were saying our prayers she prayed, “God, thank you for allowing me to have such a wonderful birthday. I thank you that Nana came to school and for the party that I had and thank you for just a wonderful day at school. Thank you for Mr. Freddy being here because you know God, Nana needed help and thank you for allowing them to be here to care for me. Thank you God for Miss Trudy and that she is here for me too and thank you God for all our many blessings. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen!”  I am sure you all know what I was doing, “Crying” of course. If only we could see the simple things in life that amaze and touch the lives of kids and how they view them as special from God. Wouldn’t it be good if we adults could remember to thank God for the simple things in life?

 FREDDY’S ARRIVAL:

Freddy made it safe and sound to Romania, all his flights went great. What a joy it was to see him! In fact, he has already been such a help with lots of maintenance projects around the foundation. I had forgotten what it was like to have him around fixing all those broken things. Yet, most importantly I had forgotten what it was like just to be with him “sitting around and shooting the breeze” as Freddy calls it. In other words, I have missed having him with me. Pray that he will stay healthy while he is here. 

A SPECIAL THANK YOU:

We want to thank Pastor Gary and Kay Lentz for the surprise gifts of two laptop computers. Of course, they sprang this on me. I was aware of them getting Trudy (our secretary) one. However, I was totally taken by surprise when Freddy handed me mine. In fact, as Freddy presented Trudy with her computer and being the computer lover that I am, I suddenly found myself wooing and awing over it. Not long afterwards Freddy said, “I’m glad you like it so well my dear because here is yours.” WOW! Yes indeed this was one time that Freddy had me speechless. Thank you Pastor Gary and Kay for such a wonderful gift! May God return unto you a thousand times!

 THANK YOU:

Our continued thanks to you for your monthly financial support and for all your prayers! We thank God that not only did HE choose to use us to help in the lives of Alex, Manny and Sarah but, you too have been the support in making a difference in these lives. Thank you so much!

Yours in Christ,

Freddy and Rita