Kirsteen's Romanian Orphans: February 2012

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Winter Wonderland

Well, there was no white Christmas, but it has been snowing for the last 3 weeks. This is Lenuta and me shovelling snow again! NO MORE SNOW PLEASE!!!

Friday, February 3, 2012

A Romanian, American, Scottish Burns supper!

After being back from furlough for a week and still in Scottish mode, I organised a Burns supper with my team to celebrate the life and work of Robert Burns, probably the most famous Scottish poet. We had all traditional speeches, I gave the Immortal Memory, Mark gave “the Toast to the Lassies” and Hayley the reply. Ghita carried in the Haggis to “Scotland the Brave” played on the bagpipes via the computer!! Maybe the first time in history that the Haggis has been carried in by a Romanian!! Americans and Romanians alike tried some Haggis along with mince, tatties and peas followed by bannocks and cheese, shortbread and tablet. After the speeches and letting food go down, I tried to teach them some Scottish dances. Hilarious!! “The Gay Gordons” proved a bit too complicated for some, so then we tried the “St. Bernard’s Waltz” and “The Dashing White Sergeant”, both of which seemed to be a bit easier. Two of our boys (graduates) were outside shovelling snow, but managed to finish just in time to learn “The Dashing White Sergeant”. It took some gentle persuasion, but once they got in full swing – there was no stopping them!!

A Scottish Furlough

I have been back from my furlough for nearly two weeks now and in some ways it seems so long ago. I had great time with my parents and friends. I managed a lovely wee visit to Monifieth, near Dundee to visit my friend Mary who bought a wee cottage nearly two years ago, which I hadn’t seen. I met two new wee people, Finlay and Alexander who are both gorgeous and were born since my last visit home. I went to the beach (all wrapped up in winter woollies, I might add) for a brisk walk after lunch with my friend Lorna. A shopping trip with my friend Kirsty to the January sales and many wee cups of tea and lots of cakes, breakfasts, lunches and dinners out with many other friends. I had several opportunities to formally speak about my work here in Romania. Firstly, I spent an afternoon talking to some lovely ladies from Milngavie. On the Saturday before I came back to Romania, Val (who came to Romania on a tenderfoot trip last May for the first time), hosted a fundraising lunch in her home for around 70 people. After a couple of meetings, a BIG shopping trip, and a crazy night preparing Romanian food in Val’s kitchen, the lunch was HUGE success. On the evening of Sunday 8th January, many people from my church and others in the area gathered to hear about my work in Romania over the last year. I know from the conversations I had afterwards, that the stories of the children I work with, touched their hearts. Thank you Lord, for giving me the opportunity to touch the lives of these wonderful children, for your Kingdom. Thank you ALL so much for making my visit home such fun.