We started our 3rd full day in Romania by visiting the children from the Darius Houses and Amy’s House. Their disabilities, mental and physical, range from moderate to very severe. RCE is working to place the younger children from Darius Houses in a Christian family. The children in Amy’s House are older and are learning the skills they need to live and work semi-independently in an RCE group home.
After the visits to the homes, we took the children on an outing to the ruins of a 13th century medieval fortress in Soimos outside the city of Lipova. It was a long, steep hike, and many of our team members assisted by carrying some of the children. The biggest challenge was finding a way to get Angeline, an older boy in a wheelchair, to the top. It was difficult, but we were all blessed and inspired by Angeline’s positive attitude and by a group of our men’s willingness to carry him in his chair up the mountain. We knew we couldn’t let him down, and we all rejoiced and cheered when he reached the summit! Once on top, some explored the ruins and others rested, but everyone enjoyed the breathtaking views of the Romanian countryside. At the end of the hiking trip, we were rewarded with water and a picnic of fruit, meat, and bread by the banks of the Mures River.
After the RCE children returned home, our team continued our day with Ovi by learning about the Project Caring ministry of RCE and by visiting families who are currently being served. Project Caring works to sustain and prevent the break-up of economically disadvantaged Romanian families by creating business loans and grants, helping them to find work, and building or rehabilitating housing.
We visited five wonderful families today. The Maxims have been in Project Caring for the longest and have greatly benefited. They have a good home, have paid back all their loans, and are now helping other families in need; the husband recently built a bathroom in the home of another Project Caring family. Other families, such as the Bisas and the Harbuzarius, are just getting started by working on new business plans and by beginning their plans for new, sustainable housing.
The generosity of these families who have so little was so extraordinary. RCE has helped the Filips start a small farm with sheep, cows, horses, chickens, eggplants, and tomatoes. They put out quite a spread for our team of fresh cheese, bread, eggplant salad, and tomatoes. Another family, the Timciucs, allowed some of our team members to ride their work horse (purchased with an RCE Christmas grant) and even gave us a skinned baby goat to eat!
We finished our busy day by dining at the home of the Luchians, a mason who is helping with the construction projects this week, and by playing a friendly game of volleyball with our Romanian brothers and sisters. We continue to be amazed and blessed by the faith and generosity of these people. Please continue to pray that our energy will be sustained as we head back to the construction sites tomorrow.
– Bruce and Walker Haynes
Adventures In Arad 
Wow – you all really pack the day full! I love the image of Angeline at the summit – thank you for telling us about that.
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