During March I continued the meetings with the women's Bible group.

The children came almost every day to our house. My husband, Mark, and I went to Sibiu to collect the mini bus which has been donated from a brother living in Germany. We have decided to name the bus ‘Joy ‘because we believe it will bring much joy to the children. Our confidence was not misplaced and on our first outing to a park in Caracal the bus proved very popular with all the children. Twenty six children came with us.  We had so many come that we needed other cars to transport everyone! The children enjoyed beautiful weather and in between games were asked to sit down in a large circle so we could give them a drink and a light snack and hear the Holy Word of God. After five hours were spent together the children went home very happy, ‘Joy' is a model of reliability and has been suitably named.

As you are aware every year our church Speranta holds a special ladies' meeting for only Mothers Day. Of course the main reason for this event is to celebrate Mother's Day.  But it is also a great opportunity to bring God's Holy Word to so many. Even though many invitations were sent out we were very surprised and delighted to see so many women had made an effort to come and take part. At least eighty women turned up (fifty seven did not normally attend church).  In fact, so many came that we had to go and rent some chairs so that everyone could be seated!

The night before and on Saturday morning many hours were spent decorating the church and making a presentable and welcoming site for our special guests. All our hard work paid off and the ladies seemed to really appreciate what was done for them. Five ladies traveled from and back to Alba Iulia and the very same day just so that they could be with us. This is a round trip of some 700 km!

The talks centered on Mary, mother of Jesus, and her role not only as the mother of Jesus but as a family women. We spent at least three hours together and during this time sang songs, read poems and enjoyed wonderful fellowship. I felt the Holy Spirit was with us that day and believe some hearts and minds were changed for the Lord. Amen!  Please pray for the seeds that the Lord planted in their hearts that day .

Before the ladies returned to their homes they were each given a Priscilla Christian magazine for women as well as a box of chocolates and a carnation. Everyone went home happy and many expressed a desire to return next year!

After church the following day Mark and I went to the village of Stoenesti where George S.has his family home. George is also a mission worker and pastor in the village. He asked me if I would talk to a group of about twenty ladies at his house and I was pleased to do so. I spoke about two very different women in the Bible. The first story related to a woman who thought in a negative way and lived as such, and the other was very positive in her thinking and this showed in the way she lived out her daily life. A local nurse said she enjoyed the meeting very much and confessed that the reason she had never come before was because she was afraid of what people may think of her. She also said she would like to attend church in the near future. Another woman told the group that the talks had been like fresh water for her soul.
These ladies were also given the same gifts as the previous group for which they were very
grateful. Cake and hot and cold drinks were also served at both meetings. Please keep these women in your prayers so that one day they may receive the Lord Jesus as their Lord and Savior.