We pray that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. Even though we at Calea did not have turkey like most American families probably did we all had a wonderful time fellowshipping together and giving thanks to our Lord for all our many blessings. As we enter the Holiday season we want to wish you a very Merry Christmas and may your hearts be filled with the joy of the Lord as we celebrate the birth of our King.

Our Special Prayer Need:

Those of you who receive my email updates already know that this month has been a month of great opportunities. However, for those of you who do not receive our updates through email I would like for you to be in prayer with us for Alex and Sarah (Andrada). Through the years you all have been praying for Alex and Sarah (Andrada) who has now been in our care for 5 years. They both came to the foundation when they were only babies and have continued to be in the care of the foundation since that time. On Nov. 15th I was notified by the "Children's Protection" that I needed to report to their office regarding the girls. During the meeting I was informed that the biological parents (Andrei and Rodica) had gone to "Children's Protection" and filed a written request for the children (Alex and Sarah) to be returned to them. Under the new law (regardless of past history of the parents) they favor that all children be returned to their biological parents when possible and the government has even offered money to the parents who take back their under age children. “Children’s Protection” requested that we submit to their office a report within one week’s time on each child from the time they have been in our care and also a report on our affiliation with the natural parents over the last 5 years. And too according to “Children’s Protection” we will have to appear in court as the legal representative of the "Center for Chosen Children."  “Children’s Protection” assured me that they were fighting on our side but it would be the judge who will make the final decision on where the girls will be placed.  

This has been a spear that has pierced all of our hearts here at the foundation. But as you can imagine it has definitely been a hard blow for Barbara. If God does not shine His favor and rain down truth in this case and if the court rules for these girls to return to their biological parents this could completely destroy Barbara, not to mention, the serious ramifications for the 2 children (Alex and Sarah). They have never known any other life except what they have experienced here with us at the foundation. Barbara has been their mom and Lyn and I have been their grandparents for all their lives. To think of them having to live in freezing conditions, lack of water, lights, and food every day would be devastating to us all.  

"Children's Protection" is anticipating the court date to be sometime around Dec. 8th. We need prayer warriors to lift up these girls in prayer and pray God's hand of protection over them. It seems that there is something special that God has in store for these girls because every time we get at the doorway of the adoption moving forward satan throws another arrow. However, we are declaring God's Word and favor over them and His perfect will to be accomplished in their lives. Thanks for your prayers. During this trying time the Holy Spirit encouraged our heart with Luke 18:7-8; “And will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off? I tell you, He will see that they get justice, and quickly.”

Gutters:

Humanitarian Aid, Manna Ministries:

Manna Ministries has for years been sending humanitarian aid to our foundation to help in the distribution of clothes, toys, and other items to families in need. This month we were able to go into a small village in our area to distribute clothes and toys to 16 families. This village is dear to my heart because it is one of the first areas that God pressed my heart to take food when Freddy and I moved to Romania. However, back then we had no transportation so we walked to the site carrying bags of food in hand. Not long ago God once again pressed our hearts to reach out with a helping hand. I had been putting it off because of what happened there in 1998.  I was inexperienced then and did not realize that I could not just go in with food without a concrete plan. An angry riot developed because some families thought they were not receiving the same as other families. Praise the Lord, the Holy Spirit is our teacher and He gives us Wisdom for even day-to-day tasks. Over the past 8 years, we have learned valuable lessons in carrying out distributions of aid and have also learned the valuable lesson of waiting on God to speak again.  There have been many changes in that area since 1998. My only desire is that God will open their eyes to His love that is being offered to them and that they will see that His love looks beyond everything. He does not care about the condition of their house. His only concern is the condition of their hearts. Our prayer is that God’s love overrides everything material (the clothes and toys) and through this distribution all they will be able to see is the love of God extended to them for one brief moment even if it is only through a single gift packet. Thanks “Manna Ministries” for your continued support in sending humanitarian aid and for helping us touch the lives of many of Romania’s poor and downcast. 

Diane Smoot’s Team, “Christmas in Romania”:

Our “Christmas in Romania” looks like it is going to be really great this year. We have already purchased food -rice, flour, meal, sugar, butter, oil, and shampoo– for the Christmas packages that will be distributed by Diane Smoot’s team.  Many of the items for her “Christmas in Romania” program were purchased here since the cost of the team bringing all of their goods with them on the plane has increased tremendously this year. Diane Smoot and team members will be bring both of their luggage packed full of hygiene products, candy, gloves, hats and many other things that will be distributed at their ministry sites this year. We will be going into Ferma Larga and Cojocna, Agape Elderly Center, Miracle House Handicapped Center, Genesis Kindergarten (Manny’s school) and a new village, Messeni de Jos. Lots of different outreaches have been scheduled for the team. A lot of time and effort have gone into praying and seeking God on where He would like the team to minister the Gospel of Jesus this Christmas season. He has already remarkably rearranged our initial schedule and shown through prayer and His Word the areas of the most critical need. We sincerely covet your prayers for first time team members who must battle cold temperatures and muddy roads while ministering the love of Jesus. We are all looking forward to seeing how God will display HIS glory in each site and how HE will once again bless our hearts as He uses each of us to touch others with His love. 

Thanks for Hearing the Call:

Thank you for your faithfulness to our ministry for another whole year. Your gifts have allowed us to minister to the poor and needy of Romania for yet another year. Just recently as I was reading in my Bible I noticed on the side margin a note I had written in red ink back in 1994, my heart began to melt with the warmth of God’s compassion as I read the words “I have called you to minister to the poor and needy, will you be willing to go, will you answer my call?” As I read that note my heart burned within and I found myself saying all over again “YES, LORD YES, I AM WILLING.” Many of you have answered that call too as you continue monthly to say, “Yes, I am willing to help support the poor and needy of Romania along with you.” Thank you for your generous gifts and for your love to God as you serve HIM through your financial gifts and prayers. 

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