Happy Birthday Joshua

Ralph and I want to wish our son, Joshua, a very happy 23rd birthday today.  This picture was the first birthday he celebrated in Hungary - #6.  We passed out cupcakes to all his friends in the kindergarten and he received kisses from all the girls.  He was not too happy about that!  We are very proud of the young man he has become.  If you are traveling through the Greensboro, NC airport look for Officer Stocks on patrol.

Happy Mother's Day

 Taking a personal moment here to say Happy Mother's Day to my mom - pictured on the left with my siblings and me. 

Living in another culture faraway from extended family has given me a deeper appreciation for all those who have played maternal roles in the lives of my children and other children that needed a hug or a word of encouragement.  Thank you.

Tyler, Amy, & Josh

Naomi Center for Women Opens

On April 24 Project Ruth officially began our newest program - The Naomi Center for Women.  This outreach to the community offers individual and group counseling with child care and sewing classes.  It is designed to empower the women of the community to improve their own lives as well as the lives of their families.  We are excited for the future!

Random Thoughts or Perhaps Spring Fever?

1st grade at the United Way banquet

Ministry as with many vocations has its great moments and its frustrating moments.  I admit I had one of the not-so-good ones this week where I wanted to scream, shut myself up in my apartment, drink coffee at the sidewalk cafe - anything but try to teach English to a group of wound up 7th graders.  The Ruth students have spring fever and it seems the sunnier the day, the crazier the kids.  How do teachers do it?!?! 

Our wonderful God knows what we need and he sent me a dose of sweetness in the form of the little 1st graders.  This group was singing for the Romanian United Way banquet and I had to help transport them from the hotel.  One little "sweetness" we have affectionately nicknamed "Crazy Girl" because she just can't sit still.  Sabina's (her real name) mom works in Italy so she lives with her dad and a few other assorted relatives.  Knowing this I try to hug her every chance I get.  As Sabina was practicing her song she spotted me watching and shyly smiled, then waved.  I beamed back and imagined I was her surrogate mom for the evening proud of my little Sabina singing her heart out.  The whole group sounded so cute and represented our school well.  The ride home was rowdy since I had four boys in my car!  It was a gentle reminder that this is why I'm here.  To help these kids have such opportunities, to give hugs, to be the presence of Christ as I can.  Thanks for the reminder, Heavenly Father!

One Girl With a Big Heart + Silly Bandz = Lots of Smiles

Sarah Ramsey had an idea.  Silly Bandz (little rubber band size bracelets in many shapes) were fading as a fad.  She and her friends had lots and lots because they were fun to trade.  What to do when a fashion statement no longer speaks?  Sarah decided to collect as many as she could and send them to other children who could appreciate the silly fun of the bands.  She was very successful in soliciting her school and church friends. Now, what to do with the several thousand she collected?

Sarah's church, College Park Baptist in Greensboro, NC, is our sending church.  And more importantly they have been long time supporters of the Ruth School where we now minister.  An email arrived from Sarah's mom, "Would the students at the Ruth School like some Silly Bandz?"  With a little help from couriers coming our way from CBF MO we soon had more Silly Bandz than we could count.  And Sarah, being so thoughtful, had categorized the Bandz according to their shapes, making it easier to figure out what they were.  (I confess I am not very knowledgeable about Silly Bandz.)  Now how could we best distribute them?

This past week we had a team from Bonsack Baptist Church in Roanoke, VA doing Club for our students.  One day the story was about Joseph and his coat of many colors.  Suddenly it all made sense!  We couldn't give each child a coat but we could give them multiple bright colored bracelets to wear as a reminder to ask God for help during those difficult times.  Each child got 10 and soon they were trading back and forth, grinning from ear to ear.  They loved their bracelets!

This is a great example of people working together and God using several groups to bring about a wonderful thing.  One girl had the idea to collect bracelets and carried through with it, many contributed to the stock, three men from Missouri carried them a cross the ocean, and a team of youth distributed them reminding the Ruth Students of God's love for them.   Thank you Sarah Ramsey for being the caring young lady you are.  Thank you God for working in our lives to bring about such a happy moment.

Praising the Father for Answered Prayer! Day 7

Day 7

Join us in praising God for the following ways He is at work with the Romany.

*A young man who graduated from the Ruth School four years earlier returned to school, successfully completed high school, and received a scholarship to Polytechnic Engineering University in October 2011.

*A small group of believers in Detva, Slovakia, were touched by the ministry of Romany believers from Cinobana. The group in Detva asked to have regular meetings, modeled after the one in Cinobana. The first meeting took place this past January 25.
Praise the Lord for this next phase of the partnership where a successful model of ministry is going to be reproduced in another community.

*Women in the Romany village of Vulcanesti, Moldova, have begun making and selling handicrafts.

*The Ruth School in Bucharest,  Romania, has a new principal,
Mrs. Holban. Weekly chapel services started this year for children and staff.

*The last two sessions of the Gypsy Smith pastors’ training school have been filled to capacity. More Romany church leaders want to attend the sessions than can be accommodated.

*Jon and Tanya Parks have been commissioned to join CBF’s Romany Team. They will be teaching English at a Romany elementary school in Slovakia.

*Even though Sinti Romany traditionally oppose having their language written down, Sinti leaders in Germany are not only becoming convinced of the need for God's word in their own language, they are also spreading the printed New Testament as
language-learning material among their own people.

*An outreach to Romanian Romany immigrants in England is growing. The local pastor is partnering to produce appropriate media materials in this language.

*Yet another Student.Go team touched the lives of many Romany children during their ministry this summer.

*Various team members faced health issues this past year . . . and can rejoice in on-going healing.

*A Romany leader in the Czech Republic shows Christ’s love to others by running a Roma Education Center. A side benefit:  increased understanding between Romany and Czech in his home community.

A new commandment I give you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:34-35

Praying - Day 6

Day 6

Poverty/Transformation Ministries

The first time Keith Holmes visited Romany Christians in Moldova, they asked him if he could help them support their families in a way that honored Christ. After several false starts, three believers received microeconomic development loans. Three years later, none of those businesses still existed. Believers still dreamed of being positive examples to their non-Christian neighbors. Keith’s wife Mary arranged for micro-economic development loans for two other believers to expand businesses they were already involved with. Due to the economic crisis, one had to leave the country to repay this loan. The other earned enough to support his family, but not enough to buy their own home. He chose to earn more money faster in a way that resulted in his leaving the church. Another training session was organized. Everyone interested in the training had left the country to work abroad. Over a decade after that first visit, even with no visible success, loving our Romany brothers and sisters means continuing to hope with them and work with them. Together, we have faith that more is being transformed than meets the eye.

Mary van Rheenen & Keith Holmes, Resource Coordinators

Prayer requests:
-At least three Romany will actually attend the next training session;
-Long-term help to develop employment opportunities in Moldova;
-That each Christian, wherever we live, will use our daily economic choices to show our love for one another—shopping, working, employing, planning, giving.