Rev Kev and team back in Romania

Some thoughts over coffee at Bucharest Airport

2011-06-04T11:00:00.001+01:00

'Maximise your experiences'.....Colin

'A week of incredible contrasts'.....Jane

'Romania is different from eight years ago when I last came'....Jane

'A privilege to work with the FAST team'.... All of us

'What Daniel is doing is bringing hope and hope is a good thing'......Phil

'I love (working with) you George and Avram'......Kevin

'How can these things be happening in Europe?'....Emily

'A Roma sees a beach and children playing in the water, I just see a very dirty river'....Marie

'The more we have, the more selfish we become!'....Em

'Some of the Better Homes houses in the village looked good, but sad that many live in poor houses, some using mattresses for walls'...Patrick

'Remarkable that we kept free of accidents and illness all week, considering what we have done and how far we have travelled
....thank you Lord'

Faith, Hope and Love remain.....and the greatest is Love.

Ready to leave for home.

2011-06-04T06:46:00.000+01:00

Just a final check of the engine and Daniel finds something loose under the bonnet.

Final team photo on Saturday morning before the drive over the mountains to Bucharest.

Last night, meal out with Daniel Ema and family.

2011-06-03T21:08:00.001+01:00

Colin had tripe soup tonight, Ciorba de Burta, and really enjoyed it.

Daniel's Singing Stars

2011-06-03T20:30:00.002+01:00

Last night celebrations culminates with two of Daniel's daughters singing Karaoke. Real stars!
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Kevin's favourite...... !!

2011-06-03T16:39:00.000+01:00

She is not only the maker of endless cups of tea, the mother of a mattress mover, and the mother of an oily fence painter, Marie has helped two families this week by sharing her faith story through alcoholism.

Alcohol is a big problem amongst the Roma, with very little help for them in knowing what to do, how to confront their addiction or how to change their lives.

Maybe, just maybe and by God's grace, Marie has sown some seeds of hope that may begin a recovery for men like Peter.

Please pray.

Another Phil skill

2011-06-03T16:07:00.001+01:00

Eat your heart out Ferguson, Phil has built about forty teams this week, pitch and stadiums as well!

Phil, many different skills this week!!

2011-06-03T15:53:00.002+01:00

What did Phil do this week?

He was a Horse and Cart driver

he was a Wood Shifter

A Shed builder

a Chain Saw operative

and on the first day he just sat there wondering what he had let himself in for!!!

Mission House and Muriel's Kitchen

2011-06-03T15:49:00.000+01:00

The Mission house is the larger building in the centre

The front of the Mission House, with a new Alarm fitted by Colin and his helpers.

at the back of the Mission House and attached is site of the Kitchen, complete with brick Chimney, and oven, cupboards and plenty of space etc Muriel's Kitchen

Final day

2011-06-03T15:17:00.004+01:00

Here is our Shed, at the back of the Church (which Daniel helped to build)

This is the old Shed, at the back of the Church. It has been used to store firewood for the Church Wood Stove. Apparently someone could be taking it down and using it as a little house somewhere else in the village!

Kevin and Phil, fell quite satisfied with their weeks work!

Reverend Roofer on Thursday Morning, putting battens on ready for ther sheets.

Oh, and its really hot again!!

George and Avram, they get all the sheets fixed on the roof by lunchtime on Friday.

They said it could not be done, but in four full working days.......guess what!!!!!

Nice one boys.

Final day!

2011-06-03T14:49:00.001+01:00

Daniel finally sits down

2011-06-03T13:59:00.002+01:00

How much fun can one ice cream be?

2011-06-03T13:58:00.004+01:00

Natalia daughter of George and Simone, enjoying an ice cream (a special treat).

Mission House Alarm

2011-06-03T12:18:00.001+01:00

Daniel said 'just put a burglar alarm in the Mission House, oh with sensors inside and out!' Oh, and can you put a fuse box.' Junuts and Colin sweated all week on ladders over wires and cleats.
Last night it was set and only triggered when Sorin's horse grazed too close.
Colin.

Biscuits

2011-06-03T12:00:00.001+01:00

Emily and Marie helped the children bake biscuits this morning. They made two each. We were surprised that they did not devour them when they had the chance, several of them wrapped them up to take home for their siblings, we thought it a lovely gesture. One of the boys told us that his two little brothers were crying when he left home this morning. The teacher explained that they could have been crying because they were hungry, the boy comes from a very poor family.
Marie

Muriel's Kitchen

2011-06-02T16:43:00.002+01:00

If any of you reading this blog have ever met Danel, you will know he is the inspiration behind the wonderful work of FAST http://www.fastcharity.ro/.

Daniel is always thinking ahead!! He has now built a Mission House in Tarlengeni, where Colin has been fitting a burglar alarm this week. But another idea that Daniel has, is that the Mission House have a kitchen attached to it, this could be useful in many different ways, especially providing food in the winter months for some of the needy people and children living locally.

So we have a plan!

The wonderful donations given recently in memory of Kevin's Mum who passed away at the end of April can now be used to help create this new structure, with brick chimney, ovens etc, and there is enough money to provide food until Christmas. What a great idea and fitting tribute, it can become a place of Hospitality, Welcome and Good Food and called 'Muriel's Kitchen'.

End of the fourth day of Shed Making!

2011-06-02T14:43:00.003+01:00

George putting the roofing felt on our trusses!

Phil helping Avram put up the last few panels, only trouble is they are quite high up.

We have actually only had one ladder all week, and some short folding steps.

Finiushing touches on the roof, before putting the sheets on tomorrow!

Its now 5pm on day 4. Phil (The Shed) and Kevin have been amazed how its all gone this week.

And just as were about to go home Alex and Raul, son of Avram, make a cool pose in front of the camera.

The best shed Phil and Kevin have ever built in Romania, that's cos it's the only shed we ever built together.

Kevin's slave chain gang

2011-06-02T13:01:00.002+01:00

Just help move one or two mattresses, said Daniel.

Up high ladder

2011-06-02T11:31:00.003+01:00

Never, ever, climb a ladder Colin they said. But that's where the alarm is!

House groups, hills and thunderstorms

2011-06-01T21:05:00.002+01:00

Five of the team arrived safely back at the Centre after a visit to Anca's family home. She lives in a village, the house(in daylight) seemed to be the last one up a hill with fantastic views of the country side.

Anca is director of the Centre, a lovely Christian and tonight's meeting was a small group of the staff who work with Daniel and Ema, along with their children.

Marie told her story of her faith journey through Alcoholism and out the other side, it inspired and helped us, especially Anca's father. He also spoke movingly about his father's addiction(now died) and his sister's current problems.

All the time, it was thundering outside, with many cracks of lightening.

It would be impossible to put into words here, the precarious journey after the meeting ended at 10:30pm, down to the minibus, on foot, in the dark, in the rain, on a very muddy slope, with no rain coats, unsuitable shoes(Marie), and a car out of control(Avrams, and his family inside) coming down the same slope behind us.

Wow is one word, we'll tell you more about it when we get home!!

What, we have no Margarita pizza tonight.

2011-06-01T17:03:00.001+01:00

Patrick, a young man with Gastronomic limitations tonight failed to have his preferred choice for a meal, and ate Jane's Spag Bol instead......under sufferance.
Well done Jane, she panelled a shed this morning and rustled up evening tea with ingredients from the local shops.
A Multi talented Mrs Vicarage!!

Oily Emily

2011-06-01T12:48:00.002+01:00

Emily yesterday after her oily day down in the village, amazing that she managed to get herself clean again!!

Today

2011-06-01T12:47:00.003+01:00

Wednesday Morning and Phil 'the Shed' gets to work putting the trusses up.

Look who joined the team of builders today, she's younger than Kevin and better looking than Avram and George!

Below...we wrote our names inside the shed before the walls get covered up. Notice Phil has taken to his new name.....Phil 'the Shed Calcutt'

We started work again at 7 this morning and did not stop for lunch until 1:30pm, a long shift, but really good to see how much has been achieved.

Tarlungeni Mission House

2011-06-01T11:15:00.002+01:00

Tarlungeni is still very poor. This is the Roma village where Daniel is building Better Homes. He has also built a Mission House, with much help from Margaret Smith and team from Plymouth. The House will be a base for volunteers to run groups, eg bible studies and music. Children from large families (often 10 or more children) will be able to do their homework. There will be a soup kitchen and washing machines. Colin.

Marie and Emily get well oiled

2011-05-31T20:49:00.002+01:00

In Romania they use burnt old engine oil to preserve fences. Emily used up most of our supply on herself.
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First meeting of the ACM parking ticket

2011-05-31T19:04:00.003+01:00

Minutes taken, to be published forthwith.

Actually, this is three Methodists trying to put money in a Romanian parking meter in the middle of Brasov!!

Marie last entry is wrong!!

2011-05-31T18:32:00.001+01:00

We are not going to McDonald's....oh no!

Concerns grow about Kevin

2011-05-31T18:28:00.000+01:00

Just ordered dinner after waiting 45 mins for waitress. It is pouring with rain we are in the middle of Brasov square. Waitress announced 45 min wait for food. We're off to Mc Donalds.

George and Avram send a message home.

2011-05-31T17:48:00.002+01:00

Dean and Steve enjoyed working with Avram and George last year, here they send a message home to Kevin's Tata(that's Father in Romanian).

It's a pity Steve and Dean are not here this year.

Ladders and old engine oil

2011-05-31T16:44:00.002+01:00

Colin can't get DIY insurance and has been told not to work on ladders!

Lunchtime on day 2 of Shed Building.

2011-05-31T13:56:00.001+01:00

Phil and Kevin made eight of the nine roof trusses, hopefully they can be finished and put in place tomorrow.
Another coffee break and plenty of chainsaw activity until we ran out of petrol. But not as much sunshine as previous days.
A good day so far.

Caption Competition

2011-05-31T05:21:00.001+01:00

Suggestions please for a suitable caption!

Random Pics from Sunday evening

2011-05-30T20:04:00.002+01:00

Fork Handles ......Four Candles!!!!

Patrick was encouraged to jump by his big sisiter

but he ingnored her.......again!

Raul, son of Avram and Natalia, daughter of George,

two lovely children.

and finally....

Marie's two lovely children, helping to shop on Sunday afternoon,

found these deck chairs outside the BricoStore too tempting!!

Does this need any explanation?

2011-05-30T17:32:00.001+01:00

Cheese in what?

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What to eat?

2011-05-30T17:30:00.000+01:00

Patrick got busy with the Shed this afternoon!

2011-05-30T16:44:00.003+01:00

Patrick enjoyed being with the lads, Phil, Kevin George and Avram even though it was very hot this afternoon.

And he never hit his thumb with the hammer!!!

This is the progress on the Store Shed at 4:30pm having started on site at 7am this morning.

A good days work.....and nice coffee and cake from Simone!!

And Jane helped Colin fit a burglar alarm.

2011-05-30T15:40:00.003+01:00

Colin was asked to bring a Burglar Alarm complete with cable, sensors and Battery. This is being fitted at the Mission House near Sorin's House in Tarlengeni.

We thought they might have difficulty letting him through Customs etc at the Airport with 'dodgy' stuff in his bags.

Today Jane was Colins apprentice!!

that's Jane up a ladder!!

This is the best burglar alarm Jane has ever fitted, that's cos it's the only one she has ever fitted!!

Busy building the Shed at the church.

2011-05-30T11:41:00.002+01:00

Its 12:30 on our first Shed building day and this is the progress so far. Phil and Kevin arrived at Georges house at 7:10 five miles from the Centre and long before Colin had even got up.

Don't tell the rest of the team but we had a natter and nice cup of coffee made by Simone before loading wood and tools and going down the road to the site.

Simone later brought more coffee and lovely homemade cake(not Lemon drizzle), again, don't tell the others.

George is seen swinging his Chainsaw up a rickety ladder.

Health Safety.....don't think so!
By the way its still hot here.

Colin meets a lady!

2011-05-29T15:51:00.001+01:00

In rare moment of good fortune Colin met a young lady who was entranced by his charm and struck dumb by his humour.

At Church, inside and outside!

2011-05-29T12:22:00.003+01:00

This is the morning congregation at the Church in Zizin at 11am this morning when we arrived as guests, they had already been in their service since 9am. Now there's an idea, services that last over two and half hours. By the way, ladies sat on one side and men on the other!!

Daniel helped with the interpretation as Kevin brought greetings from church at home!

Sorry about having to turn your head round to see this pic, but after the service we went outside at the back of the church to see the foundations of the Church Store shed that Phil and Kevin will be helping George and Avram to build.

Here we are debating whether it should be a pitched or sloping roof, hence the 'pose'.

and finally this morning at Church.....

we would think of this group back home as the Church Council!! We are stood on the foundation of the new shed.....watch this space all week.

Soon we are off to the BricoStore to get some building materials, and then out with Daniel and Ema for meal near Bran Castle.

See you later.

Football, football, football.

2011-05-29T07:59:00.001+01:00

ING have donated forty of these small table football games all in un-assembled in boxes. We have been asked to put them all together by Wednesday as that is International Childrens Day, and there is going to be a 'bit of a do' here!

So....three down, thirty eight to go.
Competitive pitch building, current score Kevin and Jane two, Phil, ably assisted by Emily and Patch one. Instructions read nil.

Best team won!

2011-05-28T21:58:00.001+01:00

Quote of the day from our youngest team member and a Man Utd fan..'The best team won tonight'

Thanks Daniel and Ema for letting us watch the Champions League Final in your flat. Though the commentary was in Romanian, it was obvious even to Colin that Patrick was indeed correct with his quote.

Good night all!

Big job breaking out!

2011-05-28T14:45:00.002+01:00

This is the moment when Daniel and George told us they wanted Phil and I to help build a 7x4metre Store Shed next to the Church in Zizin, with a pitched roof.

We plan to start work on Monday morning soon after 7am. My dad would be really pleased to be up that early.

By the way.....its really very hot here!

Boys are tooled up

2011-05-28T14:18:00.001+01:00

Kevin, Avram and Daniel are ready to go. We are just checking out what needs to be done next week.

Patrick teaches Kev a card game

2011-05-28T11:21:00.002+01:00

Patrick thinks he has to pay £20 to watch the match tonight, last of his spending money, will he?
Kevin lost the game, what a surprise. Patrick displaying card shark skills beyond his years!
Marie

Colin and his battery!!

2011-05-28T11:04:00.001+01:00

Colin nervously has to open his hand baggage to show the security man that he is carrying rather a large burglar alarm battery, he was not arrested and all is well.

It's late and dark!

2011-05-28T07:25:00.002+01:00

Are we nearly there yet?
At 3:30am we all 'hit the sack' having arrived safely.
The flights were good, even the four hour wait in Schipol seemed to go quite quickly. Playing cards, newspapers, pizzas, coffee and an interesting conversation with young Afrikaans guy en route from Sth Africa to Cork, all helped to pass the time.
Liz met us at Bucharest airport in the minibus. Once we had managed to clamber in (broken side sliding door) over the seats from the front we were on our way.
Quite a surprise to see so many cars and lorries on the roads after midnight.
Patrick found it all too much, as you can see, and wins the prize for being the first team member to be heard snoring, and we all thought that award might have gone to Colin!!
Not sure what time everyone we will emerge from their beds this morning?

Tulips in Amsterdam!!

2011-05-27T16:41:00.000+01:00

As we got off the plane, we joked about who would be the first person to see a Dutch windmill and tulips in Amsterdam Airport!

Now we have to wait a while for our flight to Bucharest.

And this picture show us what really look like!

2011-05-27T12:42:00.002+01:00

Airport check in

2011-05-27T12:36:00.001+01:00

So we managed to Check-in at the Airport without too much difficulty. Despite carrying cables, batteries and other interesting items for fitting a burglar in Romania, we got past the rather joyless 'operative' at the desk.
All we need now is plane from KLM to pull up outside the departure gate and no ash clouds in the sky.
Goodbye Manchester!!

Back to Romania

2011-05-24T09:49:00.001+01:00

So here we are again.....'blogging the blog' and preparing to fly out to Romania for an 8 day trip.

We fly on Friday May 27th from Manchester to Amsterdam and then on to Bucharest. We shall have a four hour wait in Amsterdam and hope to arrive in Bucharest at midnight. Then we have a 3 hour drive to Sacele and our accomodation, so it will be a long day.

Sadly my Dad and Steve will not be with me this year, but I will be in good company. Our team is Phil Calcutt, Colin Skelton, Marie Tierney and her two children Emily and Patrick, and last but not at all least, my wonderful wife Jane.

We hope to make best use of our skills and abilities whilst in Romania working with the Roma people. If you need reminding of the work then click on this website for the background to FAST and the amazing way they are making a difference to peoples lives. http://www.fastcharity.ro/

THANKS TO ALL those who helped with fundraising during the last few weeks in many different ways. We have gathered together just £2500 from Altrincham, including Marie's Royal Wedding Afternoon Tea, a sponsored Walk, Church Quiz Nights, and Steve's Calendars, Saturday Cafe and many other efforts, all really appreciated.

We shall also be able to donate to FAST another £2500 which was given in memory of my Mum who died unexpectantly at the end of April. (A wonderful tribute to a very special person and I know that these donations will make a difference.)

You might want to scroll through this blog to see the kind of work we got up to last year!!

Welcome Home

2010-05-15T09:55:00.000+01:00

Did you know that in July 1973, Peter's and Lee had a number record with 'Welcome Home'. Thought not!!!

Well it was fantastic for us three to be welcomed at Luton by Jane and her placard saying Happy Birthday at 12:15 last night. Capt Wizz actually got his plane and passengers in on time after all our doubts. However what we saw of Bucharest's 'second' airport yesterday left us hoping we would be on our way without any delay, and so it proved.

I drove non stop and dropped Dad at Holmes Chapel and Steve in Altrincham and I am sure their other halves are delighted to have them back

So back home now, another year older, I became 53 in the queue at the UK Border Agency at Luton. Very very thankful for an amazing experience for all of us, no major calamaties, safe travelling etc etc.

Homeward bound

2010-05-14T14:50:00.001+01:00

So that's just about all from Romania, if you have read the Blog and seen the pictures you will know that all three of us have had a wonderful time out here.

At the beginning when we arrived, I think it's fair to say that we were all taken aback by the conditions in the village. We looked into the houses, both existing and new and found the situations of each family quite challenging and so very different from ours. But over the period we have been here, in a strange way we have become accustomed to what's around us. Each day we go into the village we have been greeted with an engaging smile and friendly handshakes, even high fives from the children. The children are always the most enthusiastic. We have therefore become much more relaxed about what we have been seeing.

The pictures don't tell the whole story of the incidents, family stories, and tensions that exist amongst the Roma.

All in all, 'The Firm' have been given a very special welcome into the lives of the people, (I think that is true for all volunteers who come out here) but we feel that has definitely happened to us.

As thoughts turn to the Wizz Air flight from Bucharest and arriving home, I can say that there is hope here amid the poor people. Some of the Roma are working really hard to improve their lives and lift others up. Daniels dream and vision for the Roma people remains strong through the work of FAST, so long as he can inspire others and share the heavy load he carries with others, then hope will burn bright.

So our time is up here in Romania. We are due to arrive in Luton on Saturday just after midnight, Jane has promised to meet us and we have a long drive back north in the early hours!!

It will be wonderful to be home again with loved ones and friends, we have all learned so much from each other and the people we have met. Thanks for the prayers and the gifts of money which you can now see being spent on Better Homes.

Thanks to Liz, Daniel and Ema, Petr, George and Avram and many others for wonderful kindness and generous hospitality. Thanks to my two companions, Tom(Steve) and Walter (Dad), I was going to come here on my own but you gate crashed my trip, and I am very glad you did!

And Finally..... thanks to readers of this Blog out there, wherever and who ever you are!!

Over and out.

Zeii pacea fie cu voi cu toţi

Gods peace be with you all.

I believe in the sun, even when it is not shining.
I believe in love, even when I feel it not.
I believe in God, even when He is silent.

Hat's off, hats on!

2010-05-14T14:39:00.001+01:00

Here is the family (Cornel and Mariana) who will be very soon living in the new house

that we have made and erected this week.

Inside the work of putting up plaster board has been manfully (oops sorry Kathryn, well done for coping with all the men!) done by the team from Plymouth. Inside walls insulated, plasterboarded and ceilings nearly finished, windows fitted and door also, well done guys.

Meanwhile, ‘The Firm’ have come to the end of their work, it’s 4pm and we have knocked off early (typical Friday afternoon) so that we can take the three hour trip to Bucharest.

So we had a special ceremony this afternoon with Petr, Avram and George outside the house.

Actually it meant handing over our trade mark hats to our three fantastic work colleagues who we have enjoyed working with all week.

Hats handed over to the new "Firm"

No longer are we Tom, Walter and Jack, long live ‘The Firm’ hats off to them.

Just look at the face on George!!!

Hats on to welcome the new ‘Firm’.

Go boys, onwards and upwards!!!

The little house on day 4

2010-05-13T14:17:00.001+01:00

Obviously....... if its Thursday it must be time to put the roof on!!! Progress continued really well. Tom and Walter both left me and went shopping, yes you heard it right....shopping!

Meanwhile, with hammer in one hand, nails in pocket etc, I climbed the ladder and helped Avram and George put the felt and battens on. A bit hairy at times but the jobs got to be done and my mates have left to go shopping.

Eventually the rain came and felt quite weary and with a headache. So I had a lift back and warm bath and a 'chill' time reading 'The Shack' again.

Putting the lid on it!!

2010-05-12T15:40:00.000+01:00

Progress on the house today has been pretty impressive.

All hands on deck, four extra builders from Plymouth including a female builder called Barbie the Builder real name Kathryn. I have only met today so perhaps I best be careful what I say!!! They all worked really hard on insulating the inside of panelled walls.

The outside walls in place and so it was time to put up Trusses. So with our expereince of lifting and lowering a loo earlier this morning, putting up trusses presented us with little problems.

Something to go on!!

2010-05-12T15:32:00.001+01:00

‘Something to go on’….. a subtle title for our first job this morning.

This is a bit difficult to explain when we are so far away from home. But at Goerge's house like so many house they have an outside facility, if you know what I mean.

George has created a new recepticle for his family ‘convenience’, so this morning he wanted us strong men, Jack, Tom and Walter to lift and lower again the shed that is his loo.

As you can see from the pics, everything you need in the new loo was already in place, I simply tested it to see!!!

Is that what we came all this way for.......??

Answer please!

And finally, ten minutes later....Queueing up at the grand opening of the newly sited convenience!!!!

Just another day!!

2010-05-11T15:50:00.001+01:00

We made all eight Trusses at George's house, then we put a new shoe on the horse, Stella, like you do!!

As you can see, Dad kept her company at the head end whilst drinking coffee. Using phrases not found in his handy pocket Size Romanian phrasebook, he had an intimate chat, mean while....

Avram and I got to grips with taking old shoe off and putting new one on. Never done that before! Ever!

My Superman shirt today was a gift from Cloverlea Primary School in Timperley who raised 350 pounds with a non uniform on the theme of "Super Heros'.

With Stella shod and cart loaded with 14 panels it was off to the site of the new house two miles away in Tarlengeni. Great fun.

George was in charge and we just sat back and were thrilled and amazed to be delivering the bits of a new house in such a place as this.

It was such fun we were oblivious to the tail back we were causing. A bit like your worst caravaner who holds up the traffic on a Bank Holiday!!!

Dad is trying hard to shout to Stella and George that we should have turned left, Dad knows the Romanian word for left, its stinga, and it's actually in his handy pocket size phrase book.

Go Dad!!!

By 4pm today, at the site, the panels were in place and also the roof trusses had arrived by Cart and Stella.

A good day again. Tonight we move out of the Centre into a nearby B&B cos there are new volunteers arriving from Plymouth.

Christ has no Body now but yours

2010-05-11T04:59:00.002+01:00

Helpful words below from Teresa of Avila and Oscar Romero

Christ has no Body now but yours
No hands, no feet on earth but yours
Yours are the eyes through which he looks
Compassion on the world
Yours are the feet with which he walks
To do good
Yours are the hands with which he blesses
All the world.

Yours are the hands
Yours are the feet
Yours are the eyes
You are his body

It helps, now and then, to step back and take the long view.

The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts it is even beyond our vision.

Lord, we know in whom we believe.

We accomplish in our lifetime only a fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work

Nothing we do is complete, which is another way of saying that the Kingdom always lies beyond us.

Lord, we know in whom we believe
No statement says all that could be said.
No prayer fully expresses our faith
No confession brings perfection
No set of goals and objectives includes everything
Lord, we know in whom we believe.
This is what we are about.

We plant the seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted knowing that they hold future promise.
We lay foundations that will need further development.
We provide yeast that produces effects far beyond our capabilities.
Lord we know in whom we believe

We cannot do everything and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that
This enables us to do something,
And to do it very well
It may be incomplete but it is a beginning,
A step along the way, an opportunity for the Lords grace to enter and do the rest.
Lord we know in whom we believe We may never see the end results,
But that is the difference between the master builder and the worker.
We are workers,
Not master builders,
Ministers, Not messiahs.

We are prophets of a future not our own.

Lord, we trust in you to eternally renew our belief in you
In ourselves and in each other, in this is our joy and our hope. Amen

Second Monday

2010-05-10T16:24:00.002+01:00

Today in pictures, here is the concrete base in Tarlengeni where the house will be built.

We spent the day at George's house very nice house in Zizin, complete with workshop and a very good set of tools etc.

Steve and Avram took some of the huge pile of wood, which has been purchased since we have been here with the money raised, to the nearby village of Tarlengeni. He was back safely later in the morning with no mishaps!! His horse was called Stella.

After lunch Steve was back at the centre, varnishing.

Meanwhile, Walter and Jack, with a little help, spent the day making 14 wooden panels which when put together make the walls of the new house.

George made us feel at home in his garden, and the impression given by these pics is of a very nice house, he built it himself, and now uses his skills to work for Better Homes.

You can't work with George for very long before having some fun and laughter!!

That's him still in his orange T shirt, but he tells us he has about six T shirts all the same. His wife Simone made us cups of coffee throughout the day which was very nice.

By 3pm today all the 14 panels were made and it was on to the roof timbers. The Romanian for roof truss is yet another word that Dad could not find in his handy pocket size Romanian Phrasebook. But we quickly got the idea and tomorrow its our job to make another 7 just like this one!

George says it's no problem!

So that's it for today, goodbye for now

Working as a team!

2010-05-10T05:48:00.004+01:00

One of the great things about having a Sabbatical (holiday!!)is the opportunity to do something different in order to refresh and renew body, mind and soul. I am very grateful for this gift of time and being here, even though it's my third visit to this country, it certainly allows me to see closely how a different culture live. As a volunteer with FAST you are welcomed into a family of people who work so hard to make a difference, Daniel and Ema, and all the team are an inspiration in all they do.

At times we have been very challenged by what we have seen, but at the same time also felt it to be a special experience. I will not forget Sorin's face when I managed to tell him that Dad was my Dad (Tata), what his age is, and that he had come to Romania to help, he was gobsmacked!! (By the way, that's another word that is not in Dads Romanian Phrasebook).

We are having great fun working as a team. If you want further evidence or have not seen it already on this blog, here we are carrying the steel reinforcement frames which are used in the shuttering for concrete foundations for the houses. George is leading the way.

Click below to see video
Working as a team

Problems with Holmes Chapel!!

2010-05-10T05:36:00.000+01:00

Here is Dad yesterday morning. Having been invited by the Korean Pastor at the church to speak, Dad got up and gave a great account of the week we had spent in the village etc etc since we were last in Church a week last Sunday!!!

Only one thing(no two) made me smile about what he said.

He explained that he was from Holmes Chapel……

Now to any readers of this Blog who live in Holmes Chapel, as far as the thirty or so who were in Church two problems…..

It does not translate into Romanian very well, and then when the translator had got it, then no one had ever heard of it.

However, you can be sure you will hear more about Romania in the next few weeks.

Captions invited please!

2010-05-09T15:46:00.003+01:00

Here are a random selection of pictures from our two cameras, your suggestions for suitable captions most welcome!!

Picture 1

Jackie said....'Dean uses his new found Romanian language skills to ask for a pint of milk.'

Picture 2

'Rev Kev crossed Europe in a Matiz trying to sell the last pew from Hale Methodist Church, but instead of cash, a geezer on a horse & cart swaps it for some 4x2. Here he is just setting off back, expect him in UK late Friday evening, the wood to go to Ted's shed at AMC!!'

Picture 3

Picture 4.

'Dad, I told you to sit on the naughty step,

you can come down when you can say sorry to Steve for teasing him about his flip flops!! '

Picture 5

Picture 6

Jane said... 'Don't think much of this speed dating!'

Picture 7

A prayer for today

2010-05-09T11:00:00.004+01:00

Greetings from Romania on our second Sunday.......the following is a prayer written to unite us today!

O God of the new day,
thank you for all your gifts.

The gift of life,
for the gift of love
and faith
and hope.

Thank you for the wonder and beauty of the world around us,

for the snow capped mountains,

the wooded forests,

and the rich variety of all that you have made.

Thank you that your love is not contained by earthly boundaries,

but is high, wide and deep.

Thank you for all you given us through your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.

On this day of worship, accept our prayers for our world,

those elected to govern,

for the church of Christ in its proclamation of the gospel,

for our families and special people in our lives,

wherever they are today.

We hold in our prayers the poor people of the world and pray that the Kingdom of God may come on earth as it is in heaven.

We put our lives in your hands and ask our prayer in Christ's name...Amen

Thank you to all for your prayers over the last week, it's great to keep in touch in this way. You will be amazed to know that I have now given Daniel 14,350 pounds, for the work of Better Homes in the village of Tarlengeni. Your wonderful generosity means that peoples lives can be changed, and hope can be offered to some of the Roma people. Daniel was flabbergasted (his words) last night when I gave him the money raised from AMC Quiz night last week.

Tomorrow we start to make the timber frames for the next house and I can't wait!!!!

Click here for a hymn for today.....Be thou my vision

Well done Steve, new skills learnt!!

2010-05-08T10:27:00.002+01:00

I am sure you be amazed to see how well Steve got on with his first attempt at ‘driving the local form of transport’.

Click on each of these links below in order, keep an eye out for Daniel rushing by in panic, the little Roma boy holding on for dear life, and the likeness to a well known TV sitcom.

Steve on the cart. Part 1

Steve on the cart. Part 2

Steve on the cart. Part 3

Steve on the cart. Part 4

We are on the map!!

2010-05-08T06:10:00.002+01:00

City of Brasov to the left, Sacele (where we are staying) lower down and in the middle, and Tarelgeni (where we are working) is to the right along with Zizin where George and Avram live.

This map (below) shows clearly the layout of the Roma village as taken from Google earth. If I was clever enough I would put an arrow to the houses where we have worked, but over to the left of the map near to the river, and just below the centre of the map you can make out two dark squares. They are Simones and Forlicas houses.

I think the google earth pics were taken before we arrived, so am unable to point Steve and my Dad out from the statellite view!!

Waste not!

2010-05-08T06:04:00.001+01:00

I saw these boys digging a hole near a new house so that they could connect a water pipe from the house to new mains pipe. As I looked closer I realised they were actually trying to dig through layers of waste, plastic and other things. Clearly, and Daniel confirmed it, this part of the village had been a waste dumping ground over many years, and many of the houses at that end of the village were all built on it. The river which is only 20metres away is, as you can see, still a place to leave things. In the distance you have the mountain range, which feeds the river, but you just wonder what all this is doing to health and pollution. As with all things here, it's a world of contrast and challenge at every turn!!

So far so good!

2010-05-07T16:42:00.002+01:00

Week one Progress Report on ‘The Firm’

Tom Walter and Jack

Floor laid/ Stair & Handrails fitted at Simona and Andre (Damiens parents)…tick☺☺

Floor laid Stairs repositioned & Handrails fitted at Floricas next door….tick ☺☺

Stair Handrails fitted at Peter's house…tick ☺☺

Work moving door on Siron and Lucica house…tick ☺☺

Dad, Basic language understood using Romanian Phrasebook for beginners…tick ☺☺

Steve, NVQ level 1 in the use of a Jigsaw…tick ☺☺

Steve, NVQ level 2 in using a paintbrush with some varnish…tick ☺☺

The Firm, No cuts or bruises in 7 days! …tick ☺☺

The Firm, unload two wagons of 200 pcs of wood ready for next week house construction…tick ☺☺

Kevin, most time spent on internet blogging…tick ☺☺

Steve, most time spent on 'tinternet' checking such things as the Election, Weather in UK and Golf score on Sky website etc etc…tick ☺☺

Steve, most bowls of Tripe Soup eaten this week..only one I think! …tick ☺☺

Dad, most time spent texting his 'better half' back at home (Hi Mum, he's fine)…tick ☺☺

And few more things besides, definitely God has been good to us and kept us safe. ☺

Steve, most successful horse and cart rider from ‘The Firm’ …tick ☺☺

Steve, best three ~~pint~~ (oops that should have said) three point turn whilst in charge of a four legged animal…tick ☺☺
Steve, best impersonation of Steptoe in flip flops whilst driving Shank’s pony…tick ☺☺

Best caption for this picture please, add your suggestion to Comments!!

"This horse has just left a mess on the ground and I ain't clearing it up"

Ziurel Centre in Sacele

2010-05-07T05:27:00.001+01:00

Here are few picture of the Ziurel Centre. When I came with a team from STEPS in October 2006, this building was still very much a site undergoing its redevelopment. For me now, it is quite unrecognisable from then. It is a superb facility, with accomodation upstairs, along with a Music room, down stairs there is the main room with storage, a stage with lighting and projector, kitchen, lounge area, and showers and toilets. It’s here that children come for two separate ‘shifts’ from the Roma village s of Garcin, Zizin and Tarlengeni, (where we have been this week).

Look into my eyes

2010-05-07T05:01:00.001+01:00

Every Thursday, Daniel and Ema have a time of fellowship and food with members of the team here who work for FAST. Obviously the work they do is amongst children and famlies in the Centre (in Sacele) and in the three outlying village s of Garcin, Zizin and Tarlengeni, (where we have been this week).

There were more than twenty of us all together last night, even the children of those who work for FAST came along. We sang, well they sang in Romanian and we listened, prayed and then Daniel had asked if I might lead some discussion. I used the story of the Good Samaritan, highlighting several points. Who is my nieghbour? Do we pass by on the other side? What do we mean by compassion and going the extra mile? It was great that there was a conversation about these things, even though we use different languages.

Prayers and lots of Pizza followed before they left for home. A really good evening and a joy to be part of!

Blanket arrives from Handsworth

2010-05-07T04:33:00.001+01:00

Yesteday I delivered the blanket made by residents at Handsworth. I took it to Sorin and Lucica’s house where they have ten children. As you can see the children were excited to have received it. I am not sure whether they realise the story behind it but they were very grateful.

I also took a few clothes for their little boy who had his second birthday yesterday. It was amazing to think that these clothes and blanket had made a journey from Hale barns and Bowdon, and I am sure that they will be useful to the family.

Here is Sorin, with some of his children!

It's not in Dad's phrase book!

2010-05-06T16:43:00.004+01:00

Click Here for

Dad and George looking at Phrase Book with helpful suggestions in the background from Steve!

Perhaps today's funniest moment came when we had to go to George's house in Zizin. George is pictured in a previous blog yesterday with orange shirt, he is a real character and Dad and he have something good going between them.

Anyway, we spend quite a while looking round George's house, his parents house next door and see his fathers livestock on the hill. The farmer in Dad is awakened, so he asks George, whose English is not much better than our Romanian, ......'How old is your horse before it's knackered'.

You need to know that up til now Dad has been heavily reliant on his little pocket size Romanian Phrasebook which is ideal for tourists.

Obviously, to Steve and I, Dad is not going find his phrasebook to be of much assistance with such a question.

What is knackered? said George. And so it went on with Dad trying every means possible to get his answer out of George. Even resorting hand actions.

Parents.......embarrassing or what?

Hope is a good thing!

2010-05-06T05:14:00.002+01:00

'Hope is good thing maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies'.
A quote from a favourite film, Shawshank Redemption.

The other night while we ('The Firm' Tom, Walter and Jack) were in more serious mood, we got onto the subject of hope. I was reflecting that it would be really interesting to know what some of the Roma people we have met this week thought about when they heard the word hope.

We all have hopes for the future, some of them drive us on, other hopes feed our relationships. My faith in God and my family are central to my hope. The world as it is and the world as it could be as seen in what Jesus said and did, are reasons to hope.

Sometimes life's events can severely alter our view on hope. Jesus did also say that tomorrow has enough trouble of it own, indicating that really all we have is now, but that we should seek his Kingdom wherever possible.

So what might hope be for some of these people here. There is a church here, we have met Christians in the village, the man in the house we are working in today is a believer.

Clearly Daniel and Ema, and the FAST team are a sign of hope. When I asked Daniel what they might say about hope, his answer was simple, to have enough for the day. Nothing more than that. That's sounds like 'give us this day our daily bread'.

So how do you raise these Roma people out of the poverty that many experience. Valuable contributions from FAST, from teams from UK (STEPS) are making a difference. I would want to think that in some small way, people, perhaps the younger ones might see something in these contribution that would give them hope and in turn change the way they see the future!

These are rambling thoughts jotted down early in the morning having been woken by dogs barking outside!

More work to be done on Hope and Roma peoples thoughts.

I think it's Wednesday!

2010-05-05T16:50:00.003+01:00

Damien is Simona and Andre’s son, he is three and suufering from cancer. I have already written about him. He is having treatment following surgey which involved having a kidney removed. He has to go on the train every Monday (6hour round trip) for chemo. He is a lively little chap, and his house was the first place we worked on Monday.

Here are few pics of him enjoying Ciorba (that’s soup to us) made outisde on the portable woddburning stove. It was outside cos Kev the Rev the Joiner was in de house!!

And today was a momentus day in the DIY life of Stephen Walker, at last I was able to teach him both how to use a jigsaw, and also how to lay laminate floor in Damiens house. I am very pleased to report that he passed his NVQ level 1 Jigsawing with flying colours. The only mistake he made was asking me early on, how many pieces were in the Jigsaw. He woke up with ten fingers and he will go to bed with ten, I counted them just to make sure.

So Steve (alias Tom…..see earlier blog) and Kev alias Jack got the floor down in three remarkably efficient hours. The only reason we had Steve with us today was because the Day Centre in Sacele was closed to children today because staff were away on training.

Dad made himself very useful back at the Centre this afternoon, Dad is very task orientated as many will know, so we hatched a plan. Daniel is wanting to make some Charity Boxes, using simple perspex boxes, but mounted on sanded and varnished wooden bases. So over to intrepid Dean alias Walter who has the task in hand as you can see. Even wearing the essential headgear, though I am not sure what his Romanian side kick thought…..don’t know his name either but Dad probably does.

Here a few pics (below) of the third house we will be working on tomorrow, this time it’s a family of ten children, not sure how spell their name but I thinks it sounds something like Sorin and Lucica. Any way, the money we have raised will help finish the staircase and also hang a door. Can’t believe ten children. Serious issues for us three here as we reflect on what we see and hear. Is there a need for community health advice and even issues of contraception to be addressed??

Finally, Daniel employs two great guys who help with much of the Better Homes work, they are Avram and George, Avram Grant as we call him is in the green, and George, who laughs a lot and actually is a really likeable/affable guy in the orange. Obviously that’s me in my Man City top cos tonight is a very important night for my beloved blues.

Of course mention City round here and wear the shirt with pride and you find that no-one in the Roma gypsy community of Tarlengeni has ever heard of them. What's wrong with these people?

I did find one man who knew about Rooney…….how very upsetting.

Come on City against Spurs!!!!

And finally.... one more time. Here is the concrete base laid today of a new house. The big plan is that we start work making the wooden frames and fit them all together on site next week, along with Margaret Smith's team who arrive from Plymouth. So we will build a Better Home while we are here.

That’s all folks, but please add any comments if you have enjoyed this blog. Tom Walter and Jack would love to know that you care and are praying for us!! God Bless

Just one family we are trying to help by providing a better home.

2010-05-04T16:59:00.000+01:00

Here is Forlica with some of her seven girls. One called Alina, came inside and helped Dad and I for a little while. Every time I handed a wood screw to her she said thankyou, both in English and Romanian, the others looked on with great curiosity as we two complete strangers invaded their space and started banging and sawing etc. Penny for their thoughts? Or should that be lei!

I cannot say we are getting used to what we are seeing, but….after a while you are not as surprised.

Another step in the right direction

2010-05-04T16:24:00.000+01:00

Another very warm and sunny day here, up early even though my snoring father has now moved next door where he can make as much noise as he likes!!

After breakfast provided in the Ziurel Centre we travelled three miles back to the village of Tarlengeni. This time we were to completely refix the stairs and then fit handrails (or railways as Daniel once called them) to a recently built house right next door to yesterdays. We were to work in Folrica and Tibi’s house, and they have seven girls, probably all under the age of nine. I guess they would like a son!!!!

Any way here are the pics from todays efforts. Dad and I worked hard in two shorts bursts, with an extended lunch break because we needed more wood. We removed the stairs refixed them and then put the handrails, tomorrow they need sanding and varnishing. As you can see in the pics.

Oh by the way…..Steve has been promoted to being the driver, fetching and carrying, and right good job he is doing as well. We have probably not seen the best of his DIY skills, that may yet come because Daniel would like us to start/finish a new house next week. The concrete base is already being laid down.

The Firm!! Jack Tom and Walter

2010-05-03T16:49:00.000+01:00

When I was 16 I worked as an apprentice joiner with a firm of builders called Smethurst Brothers of Ollerton. I was there for four years and gained a well rounded education in all things wood and joinery!! The three brothers who ran the business were Jack, Tom and Walter. Each of them respectively were ‘experts’ in Joinery Plumbing and Bricklaying. They were three wonderful characters and I used to come home every night with stories/antics (mainly humorous) of what they had done during the day. It has crossed my mind as we are here loosely in the capacity as three 'builders' that we might now be referred to as the Firm. With our matching head gear, wide ranging knowledge of the building trade and Shanks pony in close proximity, here we are.

And many happy memories come flooding back of my apprentice days.

Steve is Tom, Dean is Walter and I am Jack!!!!

Bank holiday Monday

2010-05-03T16:45:00.003+01:00

Here we are then. First full day at work and it seemed really intrusive turning up at a recently built house where the family have moved in. Six children and parents live in the house, one of whom is Damien. He is three and has just come back from hospital in Bucharest where he was diagnosed with cancer and as a result is now continuing to have treatment.

It was a priority that we fit the handrails to the stairs as you can see from these pictures. Also Dad was able to help George and Avram, ( Roma men who for FAST), together they laid insulation on the floor of the lounge and tomorrow it will be finished with laminate floor.

All the while we are surrounded by amazing sights, that I guess we will become familiar with over the next few days. But as far as a comparison to home, there really is not one we could give.

The river is very near to the houses and a lot of different things happen in the river, if you know what I mean!!!!

Washing, swimming, waste disposal etc.

So the pictures probably say more than I can say.

Water pipe

2010-05-02T16:45:00.000+01:00

Last year we raised money so that a water pipe could be laid through the village, well now here is a trench being dug in very stony ground so that connection can be made to a house to the mains pipe. This is next door to where we will be working tomorrow.

3 Men in a Bricostore

2010-05-02T16:42:00.000+01:00

We not done a right lot of actual work yet, but we are now ready for tomorrow. We sorted out a toolbox and put some decent tools together.

Then we went dow to the Bricostore for van full of supplies and we mean van full, as you can see.

It was amazing how Daniel was so confident it would all fit in.

Only problem when the stuff was in, how were going to get in as well. The old man led the way and crawled under to his seat and Steve(the Tripe soup eater) and I got.

Great stuff and a hilarious drive back to the centre.

It's Sunday and I am not taking a service!

2010-05-02T12:31:00.000+01:00

Yesterday in Tarlengeni . Goats on a mound of earth caught Dad's attention, and a horse drawn cart went by.

And later in Brasov, there was a May 1st Celebration which seemed to involve a few men dressing up in costume, led by three musicians who at 6pm climbed the clocktower and played there instruments!!

Today we went to Church in Brasov with Ema and Daniel, there were about thirty people including Chinese, American, Romanian and Brits. It was great to worship together and I was asked to bring greetings from the Methodist people in Altrincham and beyond.

All in a day.

2010-05-01T18:40:00.001+01:00

Earlier this mornng we went with Daniel to Tarlengeni, which is about three miles from Sacele and the Ziurel Centre where we are staying. We were greeted in the village by a few children and Peter who works for FAST as part of the Better Homes Team. He is a Roma, and along with his family live in one of the new houses. We were invited in to see his house and then we wandered past several very simple and quite crude dwellngs. It was noticeable how quiet we three were as we took in what we are seeing. It is hard to describe the very basic nature of these houses and to think that even though some were living in new houses, still families of seven and ten children all in one small space.

Some of the children came to talk to us and we managed a few simple greetings and a smile!!

It looks like our first job on Monday is to help finish some staircases, with handrails etc, in recently built homes even though the families have moved in. Dad and I are trying to contemplate how we go about actually turning up and trying to work around a family already there. I guess we presumed these houses might have been unoccupied. Later in the week, there is more to do in the way of construction but suffice to say that today we came face to face with a completely different culture, and poverty in way that we don't ordinarily see.

By contrast this afternoon, because FAST Charity workers tend to have the weekend off, we went into the local city of Brasov for a few hours. There the Square was crowded with people enjoying the very warm sunny weather. Dad and Steve went up the cable car on the nearby mountain, leaving me to wander round and snooze on a bench in the sun. You cannot really believe that the Roma village and the crowded city are probably only seven miles apart.

We have just had a good meal and now relaxing before a hopefully a good nights sleep!!

A new day!

2010-05-01T08:42:00.001+01:00

It's fair to say that we did not all have the best nights sleep! Local dogs were barking in the early hours and kept two of us awake. Steve however managed in his own huge bedroom which he is sharing with no-one, to sleep through til 7am. I was very thankful that the threats of having to listen to my father snoring nearby did not materialise.

I think I know why Steve slept so soundly....Last night on the journey to Brasov, we stopped off for some food, and Steve enjoyed a large bowl of tripe soup with some garlic sauce. Now that could be the answer!! It's also the reason why he is sleeping in a room on his own.

During the meal we were treated to four fine Romanian folk singers who sang traditional music for enjoyment.

We are off now into the Roma village with Daniel to plan our fortnights work!!

Well done all those who went to the Quiz night last night.

Quiz Night - Great Success

2010-04-30T23:44:00.000+01:00

So, whilst Kevin, Dean & Steve were settling into their accommodation for the next two weeks in Sacele a fundraising Quiz Night & Hot Pot Supper was taking place at AMC.

The night was a great success with 70 people taking part in the church coffee bar and £355 being raised for the Better Homes charity.

Sue Taylor's Magnificent 7 were the worthy winners with Gordon Willmotts most unappropriately named 'Sexy 6' finishing somewhere in the middle!!

Many thanks to all who supported the event and those who gave up their time to prepare the superb hot pot and veggie alternative!

Posted by Steve E...

Touch down!

2010-04-30T15:24:00.002+01:00

It's 25 degrees here on the outskirts of Bucharest, we landed safely and on time, great trip and Daniel has travelled down to meet us. However it is Friday late afternoon and just like home, the traffic is really very busy. I think it will be four hours before we arrive in Sacele. Steve is driving Daniels car! Dad and I are taking in the sights from the back seat, keep your eyes peeled Steve some of these drivers look a little irratic!

Today's the day!

2010-04-30T11:24:00.002+01:00

Great journey down to Luton including time for a breakfast stop along the way. Arrived at the airport at 9.45 and went straight through 'Check in' without any problems. Dad set off the alarm buzzer at the security check, but what else can you do with a knee replacement! We then caught a reassuring site of our Wizz Air plane through the window. At quick glance everything about the plane seemed to be in the right place,a wing on each side and wheels underneath, you know the kind of thing!!

What to take!

2010-04-29T10:39:00.001+01:00

Passport, tick
Tickets, tick
My Clothes, tick
Boots, tick
Money, tick
First Aid, tick
Childrens clothes from local Charity Shop, tick
Blanket from Handsworth, tick

Anything else....oops.....

Postal vote, cross, tick

Staircases!!

2010-04-29T08:27:00.000+01:00

Dear Kevin,

I send you some photos of how the staircases look like at the moment. We need to come up with an idea of how we can make them safe for the children.

We will buy the materials after you arrive and visit the places. After that we can make a plan and a lits with the materials we need to buy.

Daniel

This time tomorrow

2010-04-29T06:35:00.001+01:00

So the plan is this...
Jane and I drive to pick Steve up at 5.45, then to Holmes Chapel to pick Dad up at 6.15. Drive to Luton, yes Luton Airport but hopefully have a bacon butty on the way. We have already 'Checked in' on line, so we should be there in plenty of time to fly at 11.15.

Now some people are raising eyebrows (Peter Hardy) when I say we are flying with the strangely named Wizz Air. Shirley was kind enough to pray for them and us last night. We shall see tomorrow if they can deliver us and our luggage on time to Bucharest. We 'should' arrive at 4pm where Daniel will meet us.
From Bucharest we will have a three hour drive to our digs in Sacele on the outskirts of Brasov.

But that is all for tomorrow and today has only just begun. With packing still to do, a meeting and service at Handsworth tonight and Ron's Funeral its quite a busy day!!

Todays good news

2010-04-28T22:19:00.001+01:00

Here is a message from Daniel to confirm that £13700 has safely been traNsferred!

Just to let you know that the funds arrived at our bank today. This should keep us busy for the whole year, will keep you updated on how the project is going.
Many thanks!
Daniel
FAST Charity in Romania

Knitters at Handsworth

2010-04-27T16:27:00.000+01:00

Residents at our nearby Methodist Home (Handsworth) rose to the challenge of helping a family in Romania and have been busy knitting. Kerry who helps the residents with lots of different activities has encouraged the wonderful ladies to make a blanket. So here thay all are and also the finished blanket. Hopefully you will see a picture of the blanket arriving with a family. Thanks to all for the hardwork.

My two apprentices

2010-04-24T21:02:00.000+01:00

Look at the surprise on my face when my Dad asked if he could come with me to Romania. Good news.... I said yes and he is coming along with Steve Walker.

Some say Steve had not even seen a paint brush until January this year, now he is let loose on a Romanian Building site!

Please remember to pray for us while we are away.

Volcano and Wizz Air!!!

2010-04-24T20:51:00.002+01:00

People have been saying to me that maybe there are more reliable airlines to fly with than the unfortunately named Hungarian (only fly from Luton to Bucharest) company called Wizz Air. Well we'll soon see, Friday April 30th at 11:00am.

At least the Icelandic ash has gone now. Apparently it was a combination of Volcano dust, and the Cleaner at City tidying out the trophy cupboard on a windy day a couple of weeks ago!!!

Amazing Response from generous people

2010-04-24T20:45:00.000+01:00

People have been so generous in giving money to support the work of FAST in Romania. I have been amazed that £13,700 has been raised. The money has been given by individual donations, gift from Church groups, even two local Primary Schools have helped. Navigation School in Altrincham had a non uniform day and all the children came dressed in any of the three colours of the Romania flag, you know what they are (yes you do!!!). Cloverlea School also had a non uniform day and this based on a theme of ‘Super Heros’, that was the children’s own idea. Between them they have raised over £600.

Even our son Matthew got in on the act and he cooked a fabulous three course meal (posh nosh) at Church with two of his mates who also full time chefs. I know the whole evening was a great success, even the waiters and waitresses enjoyed it as you can see from these pictures. Thank you Tom Andy and Matthew, we are very proud of you all and the evening raised over £1200.

Why go to Romania?

2010-03-24T17:54:00.000Z

From the beginning of May 2010, Rev Kevin Johnson will be on a three month Sabbatical. This is a gift of time given by the Methodist Church to take a break from the regular activity and experience something different, relax etc. As part of his Sabbatical Kevin is planning a two week trip to Romania at the beginning of May to work as a Volunteer with a local Charity called FAST. This is a Romanian charity which Kevin (and STEPS Romania) have

been supporting for the last three years. In particular Kevin hopes to work with FAST on the Better Homes Project. The mission of the Better Homes Project is to improve the lives of the poorest members of local Roma communities by providing them with safe and reliable shelter in which their families can live in dignity and their children can grow in good health.

Together with the local authorities and members of the Roma community, FAST aims to provide new homes for families living in critical poverty in deprived rural areas in the local villages.

Many Roma in Romania live in functionally segregated settlements, on the outskirts of ethnically Romanian areas, in rundown or ramshackle homes that lack basic amenities such as plumbing or electricity, as well as insulation

to keep them warm in the winter. The Better Homes Project addresses the need for safe housing in local communities, while employing members of the local Roma community to build this housing.

How the Project Works

Utilizing a team of local Roma construction workers, as well as FAST staff and visiting volunteers (like Kevin) Better Homes build simple, prefabricated homes in the community with pieces constructed in our local workshop. Better Homes use their knowledge of the local community, as well as input from local leaders, to select the families in greatest need. Families with many children in extreme poverty are at the top of the list. Construction of each home takes approximately two months. In the first two years since the project's inception in 2007, Better Homes have built nine new homes, and have helped several other families obtain either the materials, labour,

or financial support needed to build or add necessary improvements to their own homes. In 2008, 36 family members benefited from the Better Homes Project, including 26 children.

Images of Romania

2010-03-24T17:38:00.001Z