How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me! ~ Psalm 139: 17-18

With all our lives there are are both joys and struggles, blessings and pain, times of thanksgiving and sorrow and these past months have been full of all of life's ups and downs as the Lord has been refining me and teaching me to trust Him more. The personal struggles are difficult but the Lord is good and I am thankful for it all. The young girls' study that I am helping with is going through the book Healed and Set Free from Lingering Hurts which has only added to the Lord's working in my life. I must go through the book along with the teen girls and have been amazed at how the Lord has used it in all of our lives to work out the troublesome areas. The girls have been surprisingly open about their own pain and sorrows and we are praying that the Lord would continue to reveal Himself to these girls and heal them – that their lives may be a testimony of God's salvation and goodness to their families.

In October we showed the Jesus video in the girls' village and had a nice, small turnout. The girls came and brought friends, cousins and one dad came along. Afterward, we went into a house to sing, share testimonies and answer questions. Once a month we are bringing the girls and the dad from the village to church here in Bistrita. Many of the girls attend other churches in their village at times. We are eager for the Lord to open up a door for a Bible study in that village and for the Word of God to take root in their lives, producing good fruit.

After prayer and some difficulty in having approval and a schedule set up in the hospital children's play room, the Lord has moved on my heart to seek approval to volunteer in the cancer ward of the infectious disease hospital here in Bistrita. I have thought about it often and recently went to this hospital to find out if volunteering would be a possibility. With the Lord's grace, I was able to communicate with the guard at the gate and one of the doctors about this desire. They have referred me to the main hospital (where the children's play room is located) to speak with the director who is also in charge of the cancer facility. A friend has offered to go with me to help translate with the director so please pray that I find favor with him. From what I can tell, there are no volunteers at the infectious disease hospital but the staff was very friendly at the idea of help. There is a possibility to be able to visit with the cancer patients, share the gospel, do activites and also help with practical needs such as washing and brushing hair, etc. While I do not naturally desire at the hospitals, I know that the Lord has placed this particular facility in my heart for a reason. Please be praying for the Lord to clear the way for me to bless these particular patients with love and the gospel.

Additionally, I am taking intensive Romanian language/grammar classes twice a week. I desire to be fluent and be able to fully communicate with others. Please pray for the language to take root, for a full understanding of the language and cultural and to be able to communicate God's word, love and encouragement to others in their native tongue.

One of our family center boys changed homes this month. He is now living temporarily with a Romanian couple until we can find Christian house parents. The situation was unexpected and he came to stay with me for a week until he could be placed with the couple. It was a challenging time emotionally for both of us but the Lord used it for His good. I love my apartment being a place of ministry to kids and others. My dog, Jasper, was such a good companion and comforter for him during his stay. Jasper even curled up and slept with him each night. Please be praying for good relations with this couple, for this child to grow in Jesus and for the Lord to protect his heart, mind and thoughts. For there to be healing in his life.

I'm continuing to counsel and mentor a couple of the family center girls and love it! I meet with them weekly as well as have them over to my apartment for activities. I am excited to be expanding this during the Christmas holidays to other children from our foster homes and to work further with our social worker to help support the parents and kids. The social worker and I have become good friends and it is so nice to have people with a like heart and mind in all they do to serve the Lord. God is good!

A good friend invited me to help in an English class in a nearby village. I really enjoyed my time there with the 6^th , 7^th and 8^th graders and was able to share about why I am living in Romania full time. Two of the boys have messenger pigeons and were excused to bring them for ''show and tell'' in my honor. One of the pigons continually flew into the blackboard, slid down it with nails screeching on the board and then proceeded to try again with the target being to sit on top of the board. So sad that the pigeon was too big to actually support itself on the ½ inch ledge! 

Calvary Chapel Bistrita held a women's tea with topic on contentment. It was a time of laugher, games, good food, fellowship and teaching. It was a time of refreshment. Please pray for my neighbor who came to hear the teaching. She is not a beliver but has expressed a desire to change in certain aspects of her character. Pray for opportunities for me to speak with her and to minister effectively to her.

I made a quick trip back to Brasov this month for birthdays of a friend as well as two of our family center children. They are doing so well and I am so proud of their faithfulness to the Lord. They are developing God's good fruit in their lives and a gentleness where there used to be such a hardness.

Thank you so much for your continued faithfulness in your prayers for me! I appreciate each one of you more than you could imagine and am encouraged by your letters, support and prayers. I am extremely grateful and overwhelmed by the sacrifices you make to help me remain in the mission field and to bless me personally. 

Immediate Needs for Provision:
1. Christmas evangelism gift baskets (includes Bibles, essential foods for the holidays, etc)
2. Bibles for our Bible study girls from the village
3. Several unexpected car repairs
4. Monthly Support