I visited Alina last week with Sarah Horton, for the first time since Alina and Robert moved into their new apartment.  It impressed me very much.  It was very cozy and clean and nice.  It is perfect for a newly-wed couple.  When I arrived at her place, Alina was very attentive.  She served us with cookies and juice.  For a moment, I forgot that she was one of the girls from the GTH.  I felt as if I were just visiting a friend.  We talked a lot about the baby.  Her name will be Ruth, but I like to call her Ruthie.  Alina decided for the baby’s middle name to be Christina or Jodi, because she will be born on Jodi Sorrels’ birthday.  Alina was very glad to show us the clothes she has for the baby.  She was very happy about the gift she received from Sarah for the baby.  I think the baby will be well-received in her family.  I can’t wait for her to be born!  Alina keeps asking me if I will visit her more often after she has the baby.  I think she will need someone to help her to teach her how to take care of a baby.  Alina has started to go to the baby hospital with Corny to learn more, and she is very excited about this.  Praise the Lord for all things, and the way He turns things around, and that this baby will have a mommy and daddy!

This year for Corny’s birthday I decided not to buy her anything, and to just take her somewhere.  So, we went to the Wailing Waterfall.  This is in Busteni.  On July 7^th we went there.  We climbed up to the waterfall.  Then on our way back down, Corny was very happy.  She would run ahead, and then come back.  Then she came across a very tall wall.  We went over to it and climbed it.  I suggested that we pray and thank God for all of the beauty because it was such a beautiful place.  While we were praying, Corny thanked God and started to cry and said that no one had ever done something so nice for her.  That humbled me a lot, and it encouraged me.  I didn’t feel like I had done very much, but I was so glad to be there for her.  It encouraged me that in the future I should do things like this, not necessarily something big, but just be there for people when they need someone.

Every romanian that past the age of 14 years old needs to have an ID with an address on it that shows where they stay. For the majority of the kids that grows in orphanages, it's a big problem. We struggled too with this kind of problem, us that works at GTH. Silvia has been in the orphanage since she was a little girl, she had an ID that expired this year, although Catalina never had one. Together with them we went in the South of Romania to try to solve this problem that seemed impossible, specially concerning Catalina that least didn't have a CNP. We left trusting that God will do a miracle this time too. First, we went in the village where Silvia was born. At the maire house, God put special people on our way to help us. They gave us right away a birth- certificate and told us a lit a bit about Silvia's family. They also asked us if we wanted to go to Silvia's family house so she can meet them. I talked a lit a bit about that with Silvia, i asked her if she wanted to meet har family and she was agree with that, so together with the bookkeeper from the maire house who offered to come along, we went to Silvia grandma's home. When we got there, Silvia's grandma recognized her right away, even though she has never saw her, she started to cry and said that she was really sorry for what her daughter did. She asked us to let Silvia stay with her, even though she was very poor. We told her about the problem that we were having concerning Silvia's ID and she offered right away to give her address, so Silvia can have a new ID. More than that, she was also willing to help with Catalina's ID.

After we left from the grandma, i tried to show Silvia that God is the one who does all things for our good. If she would've stayed with her mother, she would've be in many needs and maybe she would endure a lot of suffering.

We left the GTH together with Silvia and Catalina prepared to spend three days in the South of Romania, not knowing how we were going to solve the problem with their ID's. All we could do was to trust the Lord and again He was on our side, helping us solving this problem in only one day.

Nothing is happening by coincidence, but all things has a purpose and they're allowed by God for our good.

I myself, should live every moment with this thought in my mind, to be thankful for what i have, because God himself, is providing for all our needs.

"God, you not only brought us your salvation into this world, but you have given us so many things, much joy and more than that you have taught us to share the joy you've given us with those around us.  Thank you for the people you have put around me that I can share what you have given to me."

Together with the girls and boys from the transition houses, I was able to go Christmas Caroling and to take the good news of the Savior's birth.  It was such a special time.  We went caroling to the girls that went through our program and took them a small gift.  They were so happy, and even Eugenia (from the first group at GTH) was thankful because H2H remembers them and hasn't forgotten about them.  It made me so happy to hear this affirmation from Eugenia.  I was able to see that through something very small that you can bring much happiness and more than that you can provide others the love God has for them.  I didn't do a big thing, but I took the joy that God put in my heart and I shared with others what God gave to me.  You can do the same thing.  Through a simple gesture, you can bring much joy, even through a simple presence you can show one of these children or young adults that they are not forgotten and that God sends His servants with open arms to a place where they can find comfort and encouragement.

Doina and Eugenia 

Christmas at the Pipera house was a special time that I had with these young adults from the transition houses and those that have graduated from our programs.  One of the boys from BTH, Puiu, said that this day was the best time he had ever had.

Puiu

The girls from GTH were so happy about the presents that they received which made their happiness touch all those that were present.  Thank you everyone who contributed to their happiness!  May God bless you!

Catalina, Silvia and Mihaela

Andreea

Lord Jesus, am I where I supposed to be? Am I doing what I supposed to do? Am I glorifying You through my life?

We ask ourselves these questions when we’re tired and lose heart. But God is so good and encourages us by showing us that He is with us and blesses the work of our hands.

Friday, Nov. 6, I did the last lesson from the 4 spiritual laws with the GTH girls. At the end Catalina said that she wants for her life to be organized too and to have the Lord Jesus in the center. So we prayed together to receive Jesus in her heart. Mihaela and Andreea prayed for her and encouraged her a lot. It was a victorious day when God wanted to encouraged me showing me how He works.

Catalina

Last week the GTH girls finished the probation period and as a reward we took them to the mountains in Sinaia on Saturday, Nov. 7. When the girls found out that they were going in a trip, they were very happy. Mihaela was very excited because it was the first time for her to see the mountains. And her enthusiasm was contagious. I felt very blessed to be with her. We visited the Peles Castle. It was a day full of joy.

 Mihaela

On Nov. 10, I stayed home only with Catalina because the other girls started the beauty school. At lunch time Catalina said that it is so good to be at GTH because they have always plenty of food. Before she came in to our program she didn’t have food everyday. What else can we say when we hear this, just “Thank you Lord for putting me in this place and for blessing me with these young ladies!”

Silvia, Catalina, Mihaela & Andreea

Thank you to all of you who support this work! May the Lord who is so good reward you and provide for your needs!