Beauty From Ferenatari

Ferentari is the name of the neighborhood where the Naomi Women's Center is located.  It is a poor area of Bucharest characterized by trash-strewn streets, homeless dogs, a very large Roma (Gypsy) population, and mostly gray, drab buildings.  The Naomi Center strives to empower the women of Ferentari to help themselves and their families by offering counseling and sewing classes.  The classes are more than merely instruction.  The core group of women have learned to support and care for one another as they run their machines, cut their material, and sew on buttons. 

This past Sunday we displayed the items made by the Naomi ladies for sale at Providence Baptist Church.  There was a general excitement as the members looked over the handmade flower brooches, hair bows, flower vases, and cosmetic bags.  One of the customers asked, "Can something so beautiful come out of Ferentari?"  Yes, it can and it wasn't even on display.  Something beautiful happens every week as the Naomi ladies gather to not just sew but to support one another and improve their lives and with that, those of their families.  Beauty from Ferentari...

Who Knew Tom Made Boots? Not Me!

I confess I don't keep up with all the fads in the USA but I do know about Tom's Shoes.  When you purchase a pair, Tom donates a pair to a child in need.  We've welcomed the gift of those shoes at the Ruth School.  I didn't know they did boots!  Not just any boot but a fleece-lined, rubber soled, durable-looking boot.  This week the Ruth School was privileged to receive Tom's Boots through World Vision for our younger students and the timing was perfect!  We had already planned a sweatshirt distribution because in Romania we can easily have cold weather through March.

On Friday the weather was cold with heavy snow.  A perfect day to get a new warm sweatshirt and waterproof boots.  Many of the students put their boots on and happily wore them down the street.  And our girl students were gifted with (spoken in a whisper) new underwear.  It is not uncommon for a staff person to request socks or underwear for a student so we try to keep a supply.  These two items you can put into a child's backpack and preserve their dignity in front of their school mates.  On this day we took the girls over to a section of the lunch room and let them choose.  They giggled and giggled as they looked over the

undies in pink, purple, and white with bows and flowers.  We are grateful for all who support Project Ruth and give generously to provide for the students.  Perhaps you would consider sponsoring a student, contributing to our (say in a whisper) underwear/sock fund, or helping us fulfill the dream of a playground for our younger students.

 

My Little Mario!

I am so blessed!  The Ruth School has a scholarship program to help defray the costs of a student attending.  It's not just the teaching.  We also offer hot meals, classroom supplies, backpacks for 1st & 5th grades, clothes, shoes, health services, and other things.  For only $30 a month anyone can help the Ruth School to be a beacon in an extremely poor, depressed neighborhood of Bucharest.  OK, enough of the commercial.  You can see how much Ralph and I believe in the mission of Project Ruth!  As the old saying goes we "put our money where our mouth is" and have sponsored a student. 

His name is Mario, he's in the 2nd grade, and this is his Christmas picture.  Oh, Mario doesn't know I'm his sponsor.  However, I know he's my student.  I get to see him in the lunchroom and say, "Hey Mario, how's it going?" and hear his sweet response.  I get to see him in the classroom bent over his schoolwork or on the soccer court kicking the ball.  I get to give him a hug or a high five as I do with many of the little ones.  I feel blessed to see nearly everyday the difference the Ruth School Scholarship program is making in the lives of students.

 

How about you?  Want to make a difference? 

 

"Learning about Mark & Genesis" Gypsy Smith in January

"Evangelia, evangelia..."  A favorite song of the Gypsy Smith students means "Good news, good news."  This week one could hear the words of the song being sung with gusto from the library of the Ruth School.  24 men from around Romania, leaders in Romany churches, were gathered for a week of studying the books of Mark and Genesis.  During their breaks a guitar would appear and soon the men would be singing "the good news brings power, power..."

Tyler Tankerseley, 2nd Baptist Church, Liberty, MO, and Tiger Pennington, FBC, North Kansas City, MO led the men through the daily sessions with scripture reading and thought provoking questions.  Harold Phillips, CBF Heartland's (formerly CBF Missouri) also helped out by filling in whatever gaps were needed. Most days this included washing over 200 bowls in the Ruth School lunchroom!

Despite the language differences, the conversations and fellowship continued around the lunch tables as the Roma and American men challenged each other in their Christian walk.

 

The temperatures outside were frigid but the camaraderie inside was warm and inviting.  Thank you CBF Heartland for helping with the Gypsy Smith School.

 

Spreading the Good News...

 

December Celebrations Galore!

All the Ruth students got shoes.

December was a busy month of ministry for us.  It started with all the students receiving 'new-to-them' shoes.  Fitting 200 students for shoes was quite a job!  This was followed by the December session of the Gypsy Smith School.  The students led in chapel and the Ruth students were enthralled.  Is there any better example in life than a Roma who has chosen to lead a Christian life and be a leader in his church?  The men also went home with new dress shirts and ties (thanks to leaders Courtney Krueger and Jack Couch from South Carolina) and new sweatshirts for their children (thanks to supporters in  England).

Next we began decorating and trees seemed to pop up everywhere.  The largest one in the cafeteria is traditionally decorated by our 8th grade class and we celebrate with cupcakes.  We covered the walls in snowflakes and added lights here and there.  It gave the big room a warm feeling.



Dec GSS students leading in chapel

Then it was on to parties and gifts!  We had to sort and label all the Christmas boxes for distribution to the Ruth students.  Definitely a highlight of the year is seeing their smiling faces - especially the little ones.  We also celebrated with the staff at a luncheon where laughter was abundant and the food was delicious!  The Naomi ladies celebrated too with a Christmas craft and pizza.  They were ready to fellowship after spending several weeks sewing crafts for sale to make a little extra money for their families.


Naomi Christmas party - making wreaths

We also made Christmas bags for a pastor friend's prison ministry, distributed clothes to needy families, decorated at the church, baked lots of cookies, and did a host of other activities for the Advent season.  By the time Christmas week arrived we were ready to be still and enjoy the beautiful Christmas music at the Providence Baptist Church worship services. 

It has been a wonderful celebration of our Saviour's birth...  Now on to 2013!




 
 

Ruth staff party - lots of laughing!



Ruth students receive Christmas boxes

8th grade decorated the school tree

Thanksgiving - A Feast for Friends

Like most Americans the third Thursday of November our thoughts turn to giving thanks.  We actually start thinking about it weeks earlier as I begin the search for the ingredients to make the traditional holiday foods.  Last year Ralph, Brittany, and I began a new tradition of making Thanksgiving lunch for our Romanian friends.  As you know the celebration began  many years ago when the Native Americans helped the newcomers from the Old World survive their first winter in their new country.  So the Europeans repaid the Native Americans by hosting a feast.  We tell our Romanians friends

that they are our Native Americans (they laugh wholeheartedly at this!).  They help us survive in a country and a culture that is not our own.  So we invite all those who have befriended us and helped us over the past year.  Let me say the list of guests gets longer and longer as we are blessed with such wonderful friends!  This year we feasted on many of our traditional Thanksgiving foods followed by the kids playing Wii while the ladies made bead bracelets.  I think I can honestly say a good time was had by all!  Happy Thanksgiving!

  

 

"And You Clothed Me..."

 One of the wonderful things about serving at Project Ruth is being around the children and seeing their joy over simple things.  This past week we distributed warm clothing to nearly all 220 kids from the tiniest of the preschoolers to the tallest of the 8th graders.  Project Ruth has always been a cooperative effort with many entities contributing.  Nothing proves this more than the clothing distribution.

Through partners in England a uniform company (American readers FYI - British students wear uniforms to school) sent us boxes of warm sweatshirts, soccer jerseys, and blazers.  World Vision contributed girls blouses and jackets.  A group of ladies knitted warm hats and scarves.  A church in North Carolina donated thick, cozy socks.  Several groups with the same purpose - to provide warm clothing for disadvantaged children living in a part of the world where winters are harsh.

We sorted the clothing into sections and allowed the students to choose.  While this took longer than the usual way of simply handing them a shirt, it was worth the effort.  The students giggled and "shopped" while trying on the various articles of clothing.  Each child went home that day with a bag of items to help keep them warm during the frigid temperatures to come.

We at Project Ruth are grateful for the support of so many who take seriously sharing God's love with others.

"And You Clothed Me..."