Poiana day 1

The Church and our home for the week in Poiana

 

As long term followers of this blog will know Alison and I have been long term supporters and friends of the work of the Church here in Poiana (near Constanta, Romania). Run by the Pastors, Alex and Heather Chalmers, it is a real privilege to visit each year and help folk who'se day to day lives are a constant battle for survival.

The bulk of the work this year is to insulate a house and so, as a team, we got underway yesterday morning in very hot weather (although it's not the hottest of summers just now, they still haven't had rain for 3 months).

The house before we started.

When no-one on the team has ever done anything like this before (& particularly when you're as unskilled as I am) Alex had to begin by teaching us what to do. Given that the houses themselves aren't built with straight edges or smooth walls it's quite a feat to achieve. More photos of the day………………..

At 5.00 we were back at church to begin the children's work based on the Biblical injunction to “run the race”. It was great seeing the children again and being invited to be a part of their young lives; despite the difficulties they face they always come with beaming smiles on their faces wanting to learn and have fun. Graham, Scott and Marcus played football with lads while the girls descended onto the swings.

Then David led the teaching with fun activities and ending with cooking pasta and tomato mix, before Alison spoke about the dedication of the child Jesus and his later baptism as an adult.

The youngsters enjoy eating …………….

 

All the work carried out by the Chalmers family is funded by church and individual donations and it is remarkable what they achieve for the Kingdom of Jesus, but some would say that house building, playing with children isn't missionary work. However I would say that the Jesus I follow is concerned about the WHOLE of our lives, physical as well as spiritual and so anything which serves to improve the lives of others is bringing the blessing of Jesus to them.

Anyway, I'd better go now as breakfast and day two of the house beckons……………..

 

Feel free to share this if you think it will be of interest

 

Posted with Blogsy