You know that saying, "If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans"? Well, that's definitely been the epitome of what's gone on the last couple weeks. At the end of February, I was cleared by my orthopedic to go back to Romania. A few days after that, my shoulder popped funny and I was in excruciating pain. I went back to the doctor and he told me that I need to have surgery. So, on Thursday, I'm having surgery on my shoulder with an expected recovery time of 10-12 weeks. PLEASE, PLEASE say some extra prayers for me. I'm actually really nervous about this surgery (it's not the first time I've had surgery, so I don't really know why). My return to Romania has been postponed to June. As extremely frustrated as I have been with all this, I'm doing my best to see this whole situation with eyes of faith. God has a reason for needing me to be in the U.S. for a couple more months. I don't know what it is and I may never know what it is, but I know He has His hand on this whole thing.
Yesterday, I spent time with the Newman family. Mark is the one who interviewed me on Radio Maria in August and then again in January. He's been a huge support in my mission work and knowing him and his family has been a huge blessing to me. Yesterday, we recorded my conversion story and some stuff about missionary life for a podcast for Mark's internet radio station (www.crossroadsradio.us).
Click here for the podcast.
Last week, I was very humbled to find out that a little blurb had been written about me and my mission in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati's Missions Office news letter. I was also interviewed by someone from Franciscan University's alumni magazine for an upcoming article. Right now, I'm working on an article for my parish's newspaper to hopefully be published in June. I'm currently in the process of scheduling some talks around the country. Trying to get to Illinois, Las Vegas, and Minnesota. Pray those all happen! I'm so excited that the word is getting out about this. I LOVE sharing my love of Romania and my kids with people!
Casa de Copii Don Bosco update: At this time (6:02pm on Monday, March 11), I have raised just over $20,170! Praise God, that's so glorious!!!!!!! He has been so amazing and the benefactors have been so generous. Oh my goodness. It's been so overwhelming to me. I wasn't expecting this amount of support this quickly. My initial goal was to raise $10,000 so that I could put in the foundation of the building. Then my next goal was $15,000. We hit that the other day. Then it was $16,250, which was 1/4 of the total cost and today, I received a very generous donation that took me over that to where we are right now. Praise God, He's just so good!! Only $45,000 more to go! If you can help make a dent in that $45,000, please go to the link on the side bar to my donation page and choose the "Romanian Orphanage Fund" designation.
Jesus (very smartly, I mean duh! He's God, remember?!) said in the Gospel of Matthew "Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day's trouble be sufficient for the day." I'm clinging to that verse and the promise of Philippians 4:13 - "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."
Pray for me, but most especially, pray for the people that this mission serves. Pray for the kids God will place in our care. I'll be praying for you.
St. John Bosco and St. Raphael, ora pro nobis.
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