Tamyra Crossley's Romanian Report
September 2002
It’s hard to believe
that we have lived in Romania for over a year now. Our family has grown
from 6 to 13. All of the older children in our home have come to
know the Lord as their personal savior. Just this last month we
had a new addition to ourfamily. A young man named Alex. He is the
same age as our Son Colter in the States, has just graduated from High Schooland
is starting College this fall for computer programming. Alex’s mother
abandoned him at age 3 and his father died a few years ago.
We have thought a lot of Alex, invited him to share holidays with us and asked
him if he would like to be a part of our family. He accepted.
Because he is older we know that he may not be with us long, however, he needs
a family and place that he feels like he belongs and we wanted to give that
to him. I am sure he is in for many adjustments. Now, not only does
he have a family, but a very large one with more brothers and sisters than he
can keep track of! J
Casa Plina (Full House) has grown from one ministry to two.
We started Mica Turma (Little Flock) this last month; this ministry is designed
to minister to the "village/street kids". So many from the "sewer" have
been coming to Casa Plina on Monday’s and many of our "street kids" are fearful
of them and quit coming. We decided to start this new ministry for the
"village/street kids". Many of these children are not allowed to
attend school and we would like to start some basic classes for them to help
them learn to read and write. Three of our children are helping with this
ministry.
The Evangelism Team
continues to flourish and souls are being saved as a result of this ministry.
We have had several visit the Brasov work on Sunday morning and attend the Thursday
evening bible studies. It is rewarding to see so many give of their time
to be a part of this ministry.
The last few months
have been very busy ones for us. We found a new house to rent but will
be moving again in a few weeks (the landlord really doesn’t want us here and
has made life very difficult). Our rental expenses have gone up
(they know they can charge whatever they like because finding someone to rent
to 10 kids is next to impossible). Even though the area is much nicer
and the children have more room to play the moves have created some insecurity
in them. We have seen first hand that while all children go through an adjustment
period after a change, the children with pre-existing problems will have a harder
time adjusting to any change and with that adjustment we can expect behavioral
problems and insecurity. From what I have read this is to be expected
with children that have had "trauma" in their lives.
On the bright side,
we recently had an answer to three years of specific prayer. We have prayed
all along that a Romanian would donate the land. We have felt like
this would be an awesome testimony to the Romanian’s that God can use whomever
he chooses to provide their needs. While buying cherries one day we met
a man that spoke very good English. After talking we learned that he lives
in America most of the year and comes to Romania to spend his summers.
All of our children were with us and after asking us a few questions he offered
to give us a piece of property he had bought years ago (specifically with the
purpose of building a children’s home on it someday). To say
the least we were dumbfounded. Last Wed. all the paperwork was finalized
on the property and we can now start the planning stage for the Home.
DO WE SERVE AN AWESOME GOD OR WHAT!!!!!! We are very thankful to
all of you who are contributing to a permanent facility for the Children’s Home;
we are hoping that we will have the funds to complete the building within a
year or two and that the next move we make will be the LAST! J
Travel to church on
Sunday’s has been interesting to say the least. Bran is about a 30-35
min. car ride from Brasov making taking taxis to church impossible. We
leave the house about 8:10 (not as easy as you might think with this many people).
Walk 20-25 min. to the local bus station, wait for the bus (which can be 10
min. early or 10 min. late, you just never know), make sure everyone gets on
the bus J, take a 40 min. ride to Brasov, make sure everyone gets
off the bus, then walk another 25 - 30 min. and we are there. We
usually eat lunch in town after church then repeat the process.
Some of the adjustments
I have had to make this last year have come easy but I honestly have to say
there are things that I just don’t understand and probably never will.
I have mentioned to you before that there is a lot of prejudice against the
gypsies. Two of our children are of gypsy decent and I am constantly shocked
at the different treatment they receive from so many, even those who are suppose
to be unbiased.
While life has been
very "different" here, and we have had our share of challenges, I can honestly
say I "LOVE" my life. There is no such thing as boredom, never a dull
moment (although I wouldn’t mind one or two now and then J) and each day brings new challenges and fulfillment.
This last year has been an eye opening one for me. I have been stretched
(at times to my limits), learned many new things, had to readjust my way of
thinking and adapt to the culture I am in. The Lord has lovingly revealed
many areas in my life that need improvement but He has also been patient, given
me encouragement when I need it and a real fulfillment that only comes from
KNOWING you are doing exactly what He wants you to do. I am fully
aware of my own weaknesses but draw comfort knowing that the Lord never asked
someone to do something that He did not equip them to do. He has His work
cut out for Him, with me J.
Love ya all,
Tamyra
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