Well, 6 months ago today, I got on a plane in Cincinnati for my 25 hour journey to the little Romanian town that has held such a special place in my heart since April 2011. I miss it like crazy. I miss the chaos of the orphanage. I miss the kids like crazy. I look at some of the pictures I have of them hanging up over my desk and man, my heart aches for them. I look at the picture of a dragon that Beni drew me and I long to hold him in my arms. I long to hold them all in my arms. I've been back in the U.S. for 2 months now I can't wait to get back to the country I love so much.
Right now, the question is when that will be. Well, I'm not completely sure at the moment. Four days before I left Romania, I hurt my shoulder. I waited until after the holidays to have it looked at, and now having the diagnosis, well, it's going to take some time. At this point, I can't pick up more than a few pounds with my right arm, which is a problem. I wouldn't be able to pick up any of the kids or George (Fr. Remus and Iulia's 2-year-old son). I recognize that I can't do my job without more strength and less pain in my shoulder. And I can't really get adequate orthopedic care for it in Romania, so I made the decision to stay in the States until things are at least to where I can pick up the smaller kids. I'm hoping that I can be back by the end of March, but I honestly don't know. Please pray I can heal correctly so I can get back.
Onto the REALLY good news! I wanted to raise $10,000 so that we could begin putting in the foundation for the new orphanage when I get back. Well, at this moment, thanks to some very generous donors, I have raised $14,100!!! Praise the Lord! It's so amazing. And I could not be more grateful to God, our donors, or St. John Bosco (I prayed a novena to him. Looks like we're going to be naming the orphanage after him after the way he came through for me). Of course though, I still need to raise $50,900 more to make this happen. If you can donate, even just $5, please go to https://www.egsnetwork.com/gift/gift.php?giftid=F7E26965-8FDC-4418-863E-EF472F4950E9 and choose the "Romania Orphanage Fund" designation.
I wanted to share this song with you. It was written by the guys of Audio Adrenaline about the kids at the orphanage that they built in Haiti. So much of this song resonates with me, having gone to Haiti on a mission trip last March and also with our new project. Check it out and get even more pumped up about the building of Casa de Copii "Don Bosco"!!
Please continue to pray for me and for the kids at the orphanage in Halmeu and the kids that God will place into the care of our new orphanage. I will be praying for you.
