VBS Day at the Point of Hope Development Center

I first want to apologize for not making a timely posting to wrap up days 5 & 6 so I am now in catch up mode. On Monday the team was to meet the children at the local airport so the children could see some real live jets up close. Once again the day could not have had better weather. The team once again woke up to cool air and bright blue skies. Temps eventually got up into the low 70's. God has blessed up with glorious weather so far but the forecast for Tuesday and the zoo trip seemed in danger with a not so good forecast. The team started off going to the Fundatia Buckner office here in Targu-Mures to start the week off in their weekly prayer meeting with the Romanian staff. Upon arrival at the office we met another staff member for the Buckner Group Home by the name of Lili. We all talked about what the prayer concerns of each of had and then prayed in our native languages to God. The largest portion of the prayers was for the imminent rain to hold off until we could complete the trip to the TM zoo on Tuesday afternoon. After the prayer meeting the team headed off to buy the paint supplies needed for the work project at the Point of Hope. Once the team got those supplies we headed to the airport to meet the kids. While we missed the landing of the airliner coming in the kids did get to visit a fighter jet and see the WIZZ AIR jet from the windows of the terminal. The kids were amazed at the size of the plane and just how many people could actually sit on such an aircraft.

The team then enjoyed a picnic lunch with the children before finishing the day at the Center painting the Noah's Ark mural on the wall. All 3 (Dawn, Trisha, and Kaitlyn) did a great job with this while Dennis and I did a fabulous job supervising the work. The night ended up at dinner with another Buckner staff member Ali. Ali has been with Fundatia Buckner for 7 years and has done a great job translating and working in the office and the Point of Hope Center.

Day 6 ended better than we had hoped or prayed for. After some big thunderstorms on Monday night the team woke up to  a gloomier morning. Clouds were thick but the rain was holding off  for now. Since the zoo trip wasn't until noon the team immediately started painting again. The mural is looking very good and I am sure the kids will enjoy it tremendously and it sure brightens up and brings life to the room. After cleaning up the team was told that the trip to the zoo was still on because the rain was still holding off. The children and the team loaded the bus at noon and off to the zoo we went. The zoo was very impressive with many of the large jungle animals able to be seen. From an elephant, to lions, bears, tigers, snakes the kids loved it. However, the monkeys seemed to catch the kids attention the most. The laughed as the monkeys swung from limb to limb as if there were showing off for our kids. After the 2 hour tour the kids enjoyed another picnic lunch courtesy of  ACF's long term missionaries Dennis & Swanna Lofton. After the kids played on some very nice playground equipment it was time to head home. As the whistle blew to round the kids up it started to rain. By the time we all took a bathroom break the rain had us all wet but it did not take away the fun we all enjoyed. It was as if God said to us "I am in control of all of this, even the rain." After the team did some more painting we finally got to go to the local feeding hole called Pizza Motors. Pizza Motors has been a favorite stop for many of the ACF teams who travel to Romania. The team enjoyed some good pizza before retiring for the night. Wednesday the team has prepared a VBS for all 90 kids at the Point of Hope Center. Please keep the team in your prayers, Things seem to be going smoothly and God is obviously with us as we continue on this exciting journey of bringing HOPE to some children who desperately need it. We all have to remember that HOPE CHANGES EVERYTHING! So, please pray that we do not get complacent in our work and also that God may move your heart to consider helping ACF continue to make a difference by sponsoring on of the 8 children who still need sponsors. Thanks for reading!