Monday, July 11th, 2011

The second mission team to Romania from Lafayette and Houston accomplished much during their time in Romania. The team split up into three groups upon their arrival in order to accomplish everything.

Group Number One:

One group of dedicated men from Lafayette stayed in Tarnaveni everyday and renovated three rooms on the third floor of the Child Developmental Center. Currently, only the second floor of the building is in use. It has been completely remodeled for the use of the kindergarten and after school programs that the CDC offers to the kids of the surrounding neighborhoods. The men’s hard work every day from early in the morning until late every night paid off and the end result is not only functional but also beautiful because of the artwork by Mrs. Lisa Jenkins! She and her daughters were able to paint a large mural of Noah’s ark on the third floor so that it is the first thing that can be seen as you enter the third floor. Because there will now be three additional rooms available, they will be able to take more kids into the program.

Group Number Two:

One group spent a few days in Tigamorish and remodeled the Buckner Transitional Home. The transitional home is a place where three older girls from the orphanage live as they are paired with a mentor who helps to teach them basic skills they need to survive once they leave the orphanage. The program is designed to help the girls durinf the “transitional phase” of their life as they leave the orphange for the first time and they are forced to survive on their own. They learn tasks such as washing dishes, taking care of an apartment, keeping up with school, balancing a checkbook, and looking for a job. While the apartment building was in good condition, it was in need of some serious sprucing up and Mrs. Judy was the perfect person to make it happen The team was able to remodel the two bathrooms of the apartment, put a fresh coat of paint on all the walls of the kitchen and bedrooms, recover the chairs, and make the place much more enjoyable for the young woman as they try to figure out life on their own!

Group Number Three:

 The third and final group of the team worked with the kids from the CDC everyday. The team was able to bring the kids out of Tarnaveni and into Tigamorish daily to do different activities that most of them would never have the opportunity to do otherwise! Most of the kids had never left the city and never experienced a bus ride so needless to say, the week was full of new experiences for everyone!

The kids as they toured of the TM fire station and then on our picnic in the countryside. 

The kids during “movie and McDonalds” where everyone got to watch “Tangled” and  enjoy happy meals. It was such a huge treat for them and everyone wanted to save their boxes and toys!

The kids as they enjoyed pony rides and visited a petting zoo at a local Tigamorish Ranch. They had the biggest smiles as they each hopped on their pony!

The kids as they toured the TM zoo and played on the jungle gym.