Success Beyond Imagination!

 Our first chapel was fantastic!  Our theme for the year is "God Loves You".  Sami, the youth minister at Providence Baptist Church (the original dreamers of the Ruth School) provided upbeat, simple praise choruses for the students.  They loved singing!  Next Boulevard Baptist Church team member, Justin, and CBF Student.Go'er, Anna, acted out a skit with a passenger wanting to go in a taxi to the Ruth School.  With laughter this

gave us the segway for the Boulevard team to present the story of Ruth.  Then we were able to explain how the Ruth School got its name.  God blessed us with the talents of several people to offer a worship time on the right grade level and that kept the interest of the students. 

Sewing club has begun!  We had 14 students, mostly girls with a few boys, come to learn how to sew.  As

Toni, Boulevard team member, instructed the students on how to begin, you could feel the excitement.  And it grew considerably when she moved them to the machines!  You could hear the motors running and exclamations as the students began practicing.  They learned the basics of sewing a straight line, pinning seams, sewing on buttons, and how to do corners.  At the end of the session the students modeled their fleece scarves.  Unfortunately the machines couldn't take the wear and tear.  Of the 30 donated machines we could only get 9 to sew the day before club.  By the end of sewing club only 2 still functioned.  But the students still had a great time and are already asking when the next club will be! 

Thank you for praying for these two activities.  God's hand was upon us and the blessings were immeasurable!

1st Chapel - Prayer Request

Dear Prayer Supporters, It's a big week here at the Ruth School.  Tomorrow (Wed Sept 28th) is our first chapel.  This will begin our weekly time of introducing the Ruth School students to the love of God and helping them to grow in that love.  With the help of a team from Boulevard Baptist Church in Anderson, SC, we will begin with the story of Ruth.  Please pray the students are attentive and that they participate.  Pray we will plant seeds that will grow over the school year.

Also tomorrow we are launching our after school sewing club.  One of the Boulevard members has come prepared to teach a project to the upper level grades.  Pray all will go well with no fingers caught in the needles and that the students will not only learn about sewing but have a good time too.  Pray our machines work.  Of the 30 donated we are down to 9 that actually sew. 

Thank you for praying!

Moms' Club!

We had 20 school moms make their way to the library on the second floor of the Ruth School Monday morning.  Our school nurse gave a presentation on breast cancer since next month is awareness month.  The ladies were attentive and asked several questions.  We talked about the importance of caring for one's health.  One of the Boulevard Baptist team members, visiting to help out this week, said, "You're young women now.  You have to take care of yourselves so you can be old ladies in the future!"  Everyone had a hearty laugh.  Lastly we decorated picture frames and handed out the pictures we took at our last Moms' Club.  After cookies and drinks the moms headed down the stairs to collect their children.  It was a fun time.

Prayer Request - September 26

Prayer Supporters:  Please pray for our 1st Moms' Club being held Monday, September 26th.  We are teaching on Breast Cancer since October is International awareness month.  We will also being doing a craft with picture frames.  I was optimistic and bought 51 frames!  Please pray the Ruth School mothers will come and begin to build a fellowship.  Pray God's love will be seen and heard as the team from Boulevard Baptist Church in Anderson, SC, interacts with the moms.  Thanks!
**Sorry for the short notice.  Due to other scheduling conflicts we had to plan this quickly.  We're expecting great things!

Romanian Culture Lesson #2

Friday afternoon the Ruth School administration team took a trip to the country just outside of Budapest. Imelia, our secretary and PE teacher, invited us for a Romanian grill at her parents' place. It was peaceful and relaxing. Romanians certainly know how to do a backyard bar-b-que!  We had 4 kinds of meat along with red peppers, mushrooms, egg plant, and tomatoes.  We are grateful for the opportunity to get to know the staff better and to learn first hand about Romanian culture.  I know Ralph really likes this part! :)



Learning to skin a red pepper

One Year Mark

One year ago today we moved to Romania.  Thank you for praying for us during this time of transition.  The year has been one of learning - language, culture, making new friends, discerning what direction God would have us go, enjoying the beautiful children at the Ruth School, getting to know the Roma leaders, and so much more.  We feel blessed and are looking forward to the future.

New Wheels - Answered Prayer

Prayer Supporters - Thanks for praying with us about our car situation. As you know when we moved from Hungary last year we brought our little Skoda car. We thought it would be easy to transfer the Hungarian plates to Romanian plates. After all both countries are members of the European Union and that's suppose to make those sorts of things easier, right? Wrong! After several visits to different government offices and speaking to various "officials" the word finally came that it would cost nearly as much as the car was worth to transfer it.  So we made the decision to return the car to Hungary, sell it, and use the money to buy a used car in Romania.  It worked out great.  We got nearly the same style of car, a Skoda, with a darker color.  The added bonus is we could request what we wanted the license plate letters to be.  Ralph chose "Rut" which is Ruth in Romanian.  So we are now driving the Ruth-mobile while working in partnership with Project Ruth.  Thank you for praying with us through these decisions.  Come serve with us - we'll take you for a ride!

1st Day of School 2011-2012

Patiently waiting to enter

 The 2011-2012 Ruth School year has begun!  The students and their parents began to arrive around 8AM to await the opening ceremony on the soccer court.  They excitedly lined up by grade with flowers for their teacher in hand.  Giggles and shouts of greeting were heard over and over.  Our former director, now art teacher, Ms Tita, introduced our new director and 1st grade teacher, Ms Virginia.  Each class and their teacher were recognized with applause.

4th grade made an arch of flowers - very festive!

The 4th grade formed an arch way on the front steps of the school. Each class paraded down the sidewalk and into the building through the waving flowers.  It was very festive!

In the 1st grade room there were a few tears as parents left their young ones in "big" school for the first time.  Ms Virginia reassured them their children would be OK.  I was struck by the thought that parents are the same the world over -

Our 2nd Preschool class!

that first day of 1st grade is traumatic no matter what culture you live in!

Ms Angela, our preschool teacher and social worker, lined up her little ducklings to see the "big building" they all have the goal of attending in the future.  Then they prepared to go to their class room in the smaller building a few blocks away.

It was a wonderful start to a new year. Join us in praying for a great year for all!

Ruth School Teachers Are Back!

Teachers' Meeting

"Are you ready for the new school year?"  The Ruth School teachers have reported back to work and today we held a meeting to welcome them.  We started with snacks, drinks, and fellowship.  Then Oti Bunaciu and Mishi Ciopasiu, administrative leaders, gave a brief overview of Project Ruth and plans for the new year.  Virginia, our new school principal, was formally introduced and Angela, our school social worker, gave a report on the families of the students.

Project Admin speaks to the teachers

We're looking forward to a new year and exciting things to happen among the Roma children of Ferentari!

Happy 24th to Amy Lee.

Our grown up daughter

 Our daughter turns 24 today.  For the two of us it seems like yesterday we were bringing her home from the hospital and wondering, "What do we do now?"  Since both our children are grown and doing pretty good, I guess we did OK.

We are thankful for God's blessing on our family.

Bringing Amy Lee home

And we wish Amy Lee Stocks Gallaher a very happy birthday!

It's Your Birthday!

Happy Birthday to Ralph!  Here he is acting goofy - a rare sight - that's usually me (Tammy).  Two of his favorite things are Duke basketball and Crunchie candy bars (a childhood memory from Zambia).