Birthday Boy

Wow my boy is 8 years old!! His birthday was yesterday so we went to the thermal baths in a village a half hour drive away with Auntie Rebecca and 3 of the sisters. It was lovely and VERY hot!! But, Rebecca had brought the factor 50 so we escaped the day unburned! 
Today we celebrated with the boys and our Herc Family. Cristi wanted a fancy dress party in the forest playing hide and seek and tig - so that's exactly what we did. A great party with great friends and a very happy 8 year old boy.

Poverty

At the dinner table the other night we were talking about Africa and the poverty and famine that exists there. Cristi's response was "Is it really so poor do they not even have bins to find their food in". I laughed at first but this is what he sees everyday, poor people who, as soon as we place our bags in the bin are searching it to find the scraps of food we have thrown away. Today as I left my rubbish at the bins I tried to help the man who was waiting there to search the trash by telling him which bag had the semi-edible food in it. He told me to give him the ruined food because then he could feed the pig that they had at home. I feel like without trying we are put in to a hierarchical roll. I am glad that nothing is wasted but I find it so hard to take my rubbish out because I know someone is always waiting there torn clothed, bare foot and empty bellied. 

Of course not all of the poor people here search the bins. A friend of mine visited a young girl who now works in another country as a prostitute and when asked about her current life and if she wanted to change it and come home she replied: I have searched the bins for food and I will never do that in my life again. It is so sad that we live in a world so degraded that young girls have to sell their bodies in order to feed themselves as a preference to digging through trash. Sometimes, I feel that poverty is everywhere you look here, especially just outside of the town where a family of 8 live.

(I know many of you know this story already but let me just recap). When I came here in 2006 we at the school were responsible for 4 boys. 2 of these boys were brothers from a very poor family who lived in the next village to us. They have touched my heart over the years and I continue working with them twice a week at school. Time when I can play with them but also bathe them, give them clean clothes and lots of love and encouragement. They are so big now I can not believe how much time has passed since I first met these 2 timid boys with whom I now have so much love and laughter for and with. I try to visit their home at least once a week to take a small food package and check up on their family. They have 4 younger siblings who do not attend school but 2 have been signed up to start attending our school in the fall. I am excited that they will be able to interact with other adults and children and develop their social skills which are severely lacking for children their age. I am also excited to be able to spend some more time with them. Here are a few pics from our last couple of visits.

Their house on the outskirts of town.

The eldest boy with one of the lambs

The 2nd eldest and I

The youngsters

This was her first time on a bike. I could see her watching Cristi push it through the field and when I asked if she wanted a turn her mouth nearly hit the floor.

Some of the family with Cristi and I.

Nest Building - Day 1

In the Autumn they put up some outside insulation around the flats so they knocked down all my bird nests. However, today as the cats have been crazily watching the side of the house I realised that the birds are back and building again. Ah it makes me happy!! I love this time of year :)

 

 

 

As does Cristi aka Robin Hood who rigged up a nifty sun blocker for Martin and him to lie under. Yes it includes umbrellas, blankets and a 'fancy dress' dress. 

Stana de Vale

On Saturday we drove a few hours South to the picturesque mountainous region of Stana de Vale, known for skiing and hiking and home to one of Romania's mineral waters Izvorul Minunilor. It was a lovely day with friends. We enjoyed some tranquil waters by a smokey fire where we roasted hot dog's wrapped in bread dough to make our very own sausage rolls. The children loved playing in the stream in an idyllic setting which we all needed as a break from our everyday lives. I just want to share a few snaps from the day because the scenery really was beautiful and breath taking. I hope you too can appreciate it's beauty.