October / November Update

November 2007

123 Auto Drive
Boise, ID 83709
208.321.7440

Str. Ion Vidu Nr. 25
Bistrita -JUD BN Code 4400
Romania, Europe
40.075.118.3962


October started off with a women’s conference in Bucharest hosted by the Calvary Chapel there. Ladies from allover Romania met at a local hotel for a day of teaching on the subject of worship. The theme was “Now is the Time for Worship” and a team from California brought beautiful decorations, gift bags, bookmarks, and journals for each lady with a special gift for everyone at the end of the conference…a watch to remind us that now is the time to worship. There were several speakers, some great food, and a wonderful time of worship as well as time to visit with each other and meet new and old friends. We took 14 young ladies from our church and it was an adventure for all of us.

Since it takes about 9 hours to get to Bucharest, we stopped in Brasov and spent the night with the Hoe’s who are the pastors at the Calvary Chapel church there. After the conference, we had time to visit a huge mall where we found some fun stores, a McDonalds, a Starbucks, and a movie theater. The next morning we visited some famous landmarks in Bucharest and then headed home. The highlight of the weekend was the huge slumber party we had in the church in Bucharest where all of us girls slept on mattresses in the same room. We talked about what we liked about the conference and most of the girls confessed that they had a whole new understanding of worship. It was a great opportunity to further explain and discuss what the Bible says about worship as well as a bonding experience for all of us.







I also began teaching my English class again the first week of October. I was shocked and pleased to find that 36 teenagers were interested in attending my class! Last year the most I had in my class was 17, so this was quite unexpected. For the entire month of October I had over 30 students each week, but I’ve been averaging about 20 in class now. I do have a great group of regulars and I am building relationships with them. I also got to attend a retreat held by the Community Center where I was able to spend some quality time with 6 of my students.




Another highlight for October was an answer to prayer for me…we found a teacher willing to give me and Brian (our pastor) Romanian language lessons. She prepares lessons with handouts, worksheets and quizzes and we are meeting two times each week. It’s been amazing! I can actually put together sentences now and I understand much more than ever. I still have a long way to go, but I am so happy to be able to communicate a little better.


My work at the orphanage is going really well. When I first arrived back in September I was very disappointed to see that the children had regressed significantly while I was gone. Georgel (the blind, autistic boy) was hitting himself so severely they actually had to restrain his hands so he wouldn’t hurt himself. It seemed nothing they did would alleviate his agitation. We began praying for him and for the past few weeks he has been dramatically improving…so much so that people are scratching their heads in amazement. They ask me what has caused the change and I tell them it has to be God answering our prayers because there is no other explanation. It’s been a great testimony! He will actually play with the toys now (which he’s never been interested in previously), and he smiles and laughs again. The biggest change of all is that he rarely hurts himself now. I’ve also been able to talk to the other workers more now that I have acquired a little more understanding of the language. It just thrills me to be able to have a conversation or even understand someone talking to me. I’ve found that they are accepting me more and more and actually want to talk to me where previously they pretty much just ignored me. And you’ll never guess what else…they want to give me the “Volunteer of the year Award” later this week!


During the month of November I spent a considerable amount of time working with the Open Doors program; the after-school program for underprivileged gypsy kids. The children come after school and we feed them, let them take showers, wash their clothes, help them with their homework and give them additional exercises to help them actually learn what they are being taught in school. We also do crafts with them, teach them some English, and take them on special outings. I have been helping with a lot of the administrative stuff and Thanksgiving week I spent the entire week working with the new girls who have been hired to help since the founder of the organization (Clare) is back in the states attending grad school. There are 11 kids in the program and it requires so much work…the girls meet with their teachers and parents on a weekly basis, prepare extra lessons, crafts, activities, etc. We also work hard to keep the kids motivated and disciplined enough to actually do all the things we have planned…this is the hardest part of all!! The wonderful part of this program is the opportunity to share the love of Jesus with them in practical ways. Most of them have accepted our invitation to come to church on Sundays and I have the pleasure of teaching them in my Sunday School class each week as well.





We had a wonderful Thanksgiving here in Bistrita! We had our Thanksgiving dinner on Friday due to everyone’s schedules and the fact that it is not a Romanian holiday. There were 16 of us who enjoyed a traditional Thanksgiving meal including Turkey that we were able to buy in pieces (couldn’t find the whole bird except those walking around in our neighbors’ yards – ha!).





We ended the month of November by welcoming a social worker named Stephanie who has come to spend time in our family centers observing the families in action. She is spending 3 weeks at each location with a week off in between each visit. Two of her friends came to visit and I have enjoyed having them accompany me to the orphanage, my English class, and Open Doors. They have some great ideas and it’s been fun having them hang out with me while they are here. On November 30th we had a “girl’s night out” with the foster girls in our family centers. We made chocolate chip cookies, played games and watched a Mary Kate & Ashley movie with Romanian subtitles. We had a blast! Nothing like having a house full of giggly girls!
We’re now gearing up for Christmas…preparing for the children’s Christmas programs and parties, decorating, planning, etc. It’s such a wonderful time of year! I wish you all a very blessed and happy Christmas!!!

Please continue to pray for:

• Leaning the Romanian Language
• Teaching the conversational English classes at the Community Center for Youth
• The children at the orphanage…that we will be able to help them develop to their full potential and for the workers to actually show them love.
• For God to continue to heal Georgel and that I will continue to learn to work with children with special needs.
• That I will have a greater servant’s heart to be a blessing to the Romanian people


With His loving grace & peace,
Natalie Bridges
natalie926@hotmail.com


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