Kathy Langston

Kathy Langston

Kathy Langston and the Hosanna Children

There are many people in Canada who, motivated by their love for our Saviour Jesus Christ, are doing extraordinary things for the good of human beings in various places and situations. One such is Kathy Langston.

Kathy Langston is the daughter of Job and Marina (Margaret) Mantle, who formerly lived in Toronto, Ontario, but subsequently moved to live in Calgary, Alberta. They had also a son, Paul. Those who have known these 2 parishioners of the Church of Saint Peter the Aleut, the Martyr, in Calgary would attest to their deep love for the Lord. The information that follows is material partly from the web-site (edited), and partly from Kathy’s mother, Marina.

Jesus said to the apostles that they should let the children come to Him : “But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the Temple and saying, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David !’ they were indignant and said to Him, ‘Do You hear what these are saying?’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Yes. Have you never read, “Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise”?’” (Matthew 21:15-16)

Kathy Langston initially travelled from Canada to Romania in the summer of 2000 for a three-week vacation, in order to volunteer in the Oradea Children’s Hospital, and to care for abandoned babies.

Oradea is a city in northwest Romania, in the Crişana Region, and very near to the border with Hungary. (Because Oradea is so near to the Hungarian border, it is in a region of Romania which has a lower population of Orthodox Christians than most of Romania. In this part of Romania, there are more Roman Catholics and Protestants than there are Orthodox.)

After one week of feeding, holding, loving and helping the babies, she felt in her heart that she had to move to Romania to help ease their suffering. She moved to Oradea a few months later, in the autumn of 2000.

In the beginning, Kathy volunteered in the hospital, where she cared for abandoned babies ; but after nine months, she learnt that the best way to help them was to get them out of the hospital and give them a loving and nurturing home. She took children into her own home to give them loving care and to find them permanent families. Because of the imposition of a ban on international adoptions, and the difficulty of finding national adoptive parents, Kathy changed her mission in order to give abandoned children the love and care they so desperately need. She focussed on caring for the children in the hospital and in the understaffed government-run group homes.

Even though such children are often brushed aside by society and are almost invisible on the world scale, they are precious in God’s eyes, and somehow the children know that to be so.

Kathy has kept in mind and lived in accordance with these words, “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this : to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27).

Children

Florina

Florina was the first baby to come into Kathy’s care when she first moved to Romania in 2000 and volunteered for 9 months in the Children’s Hospital. At that time, Florina was 10 months old and she weighed less than 10 pounds (4½ kilograms). She was malnourished ; she had anaemia, rickets, and a [en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staphylococcal_infection staphylococcus infection]. She was also labelled as being retarded and handicapped, and she was unable to hold her head up for more than a few minutes. Within a couple of months of loving care in Kathy’s home, Florina blossomed into a happy, healthy, normally developing baby and nine months later she was a beautiful little toddler.

Florina was adopted locally by a Romanian family when she was 19 months old.

Sylvia

Sylvia didn’t come into Kathy’s care until she was 15 months old in November 2001. All she did at the time was rock back and forth on all fours in her crib and chew on her clothes. She clearly had not been fed adequately as she would eat until she threw up ; it took Kathy and her care-givers a long time to determine how much little Sylvia actually needed to eat. Sylvia was also full of staphylococcus infection from being in the hospital. Sylvia became a delightful, hardworking, industrious little girl, who loves to laugh. She has a wonderful sense of humour.

Sylvia was placed in her adoptive family in October, 2004. Kathy, Codi and Andrea still see her from time to time ; she is thriving in her new family.

Official approval

In August, 2001, Kathy was approved to be a foster parent in Oradea, Romania. She hired care-givers to work at home and help with the girls. That month, she took 10-month-old Florina home. In September, she took 9-month-old Codruta home ; and in November, she took 15-month-old Sylvia home. All were abandoned in the hospital. In May, 2003, she brought home 8-month-old Andrea who was abandoned at birth. She hired a woman and students to help with the girls.

In September, 2004, with Florina already adopted, Sylvia about to leave for her adoptive home, and Codruta and Andrea very stable emotionally, Kathy decided to have her full-time helper work in the Children’s Hospital with the abandoned babies.

Because of the ban on international adoptions and the difficulty of finding Romanian adoptive parents, Kathy decided to not bring any more children into her home. Rather, she changed the focus of her mission in order to bring love and care to abandoned babies and children in the hospital and in the understaffed government-run group homes. The women she hires are loving mothers to the children there.

In 2011, Kathy adopted Codruta (Codi) and Andrea, since they absolutely needed a mother.

Codi

In September, 2001, Kathy took home Codi ; she was nine months old and had just been abandoned. Codi was sad when she first came home, although she was only at the hospital for a month (a much shorter period of time than the other children). Babies know when they’ve been abandoned. Many gypsy (Romani) women carry their babies around in slings all day long, and it must have been a very dramatic transition from being continually carried to just lying in a crib when she was left in the hospital.

Codi, now 15 years old, is a real teenager. She’s happiest going out with Kathy to the state group homes where the women work, any chance she gets. She loves taking care of small children and the children from the orphanage that spend weekends with them. Codi plays the flute and she loves swimming.

Andrea

In March, 2003, Kathy met Andrea for the first time when she was six months old and weighed only 7½ pounds – she was just a skeleton. Andrea had been abandoned at birth in the maternity hospital and she had lived her entire life in the Children’s Hospital. She was too sick and weak with malnutrition, pneumonia and various infections to leave the hospital, so Kathy and two friends took care of Andrea in the hospital in shifts for a month. She showed only very little improvement ; she never moved at all, and she smiled only once, on Easter Sunday (Pascha). But then, when Andrea was allowed to come home, after only 2 days she began moving around her crib ; and after a month, she had made a miraculous recovery – God healed her completely.

Andrea, at the age of 13 years, played the piano beautifully. She liked most to improvise, and she liked anything to do with computers and art.

Kathy’s Ministry with Abandoned Babies and Children

There was (an may be even now) a shortage of staff in the Children’s Hospital. Rather than hold the abandoned babies to feed them, the staff propped bottles with blankets, and didn’t pick the babies up to burp them, but just flipped them onto their stomachs, where they often vomit or scream from gas-pain. Picking up a baby and loving him or her was rarely done in the hospital ; there was a serious problem of neglect. The babies were rarely if ever taken out of their cribs to sit in a seat or to be standing up in a walker. The children could become handicapped simply from spending most of their lives lying in their cribs.

Kathy has been involved in this ministry since 3 November, 2000. In September, 2004, Kathy began to hire Romanian women and students to work in the hospital with these abandoned babies. The first women moved on, and the following team was been in place for a number of years. They did amazing work. Vera and Dora later worked with abandoned babies in the hospital, most of whom came literally starving to death. With their dedicated love, they helped these babies thrive. Rodica, Dorina, Zorita, and Cornelia went to work in 3 state group homes with neglected abandoned and handicapped children who have been institutionalised all their lives. Then David joined this group. He worked in a fourth state group home with abandoned teenage boys, with different levels of mental disability. Because of his contribution, the boys made amazing progress. The women and David gave the children the joy of being loved, and tought them the joy of interacting with each other. Without their efforts and influence these children would have had a very bleak existence.

The primary purpose of the team was and is to love and help abandoned babies and children. However, through this work Romanian adults who are desperately in need of jobs were also helped.

The staff have been extremely thankful to the many generous supporters who gave them this opportunity to work. Babies and children recovered and thrived under their care and love. Babies were prevented from becoming handicapped, and the handicapped ones developed to the very best of their abilities. Donations also provided extra formula, cereal, bananas, and yogurt to combat malnutrition.

Soledad, Rodica

A very beautiful story unfolded with Soledad (a severely handicapped child), and Rodica, a young woman who worked with children with Down’s Syndrome but who had been let go due to lack of funds. Since 2004, Soledad (who was resident in one of the state group homes) had been making great progress from Kathy's hospital visits where she was in Kathy’s section. Kathy’s women care-givers gave Soledad warm baths and long massages because her body was like a piece of wood. With these therapies, Soledad loosened up and she was able to bend her body in order to sit, and she loved having her arms raised over her head. She also got her fingers unclenched from her palms ; and Soledad, who was blind also, was able to feel for things. After a three-month hospital visit in 2006, Soledad was sent back to the group home. Kathy heard that the people working in Soledad’s group home didn’t want her back ; and when she went to visit her 2 weeks after Soledad had been back, Soledad was completely shut down and unresponsive – it was just heartbreaking. Kathy hired Rodica to work with her and the other children in that group home. Soledad became lively and happy again, and she knew she was loved. The other children there in that house also benefited from Rodica’s energy, love, and song.

Over the years, supporters have provided funds for surgical operations for abandoned children who otherwise who would not have received them.

From the beginning, Kathy’s ministry was supported by private donations, and she is very thankful to God for providing funds so that she could hire loving Christians to impart His love to these very needy little ones. Kathy is not “superwoman”. She is a normal human being who shares the love that our Saviour gives her with those around her. The Lord increased her offering. In the same way as others like her, she did not take days off, because doing the work of love is not a job. It is her way of life. She and the others pray for all their supporters every day.

Some anecdotes of developments from the web-site

Anecdotes from 2014

February, 2014

These past few months music was givento the children in one of the state group homes where the ministry's women work. Two teenagers with the disabled bodies of 7-year-olds, Cornel (who was blind), and Lavinia, discovered with Cornelia’s guidance, a game that made them very happy. Cornel held a musical pull toy near Lavinia who pulled the cord. This was quite a feat for her, and when it worked, Cornel took it back and held it to his ear. And he laughed out loud. This game went on and on, and they were very happy. This and a battery operated foot-long piano kept him so occupied that he wouldn’t let go of them at mealtime. There are no words to explain what music does for these children, and especially for the blind children. Fifteen-year-old Alexandra got into terrible moods and couldn’t express herself. Music was the only thing that lifted her out of the blackness. A little radio was available that played music off a stick, and the care-givers recorded beautiful music. Often, Alexandra greeted Cornelia in the mornings saying only “musica, musica”.

Kathy saw 15-year-old Florina with a huge smile on her face, and walking with Dorina. It used to take two women to carry her. Dorina’s massaging and exercising of Florina enabled her to walk, but she walked reluctantly. With lots more massaging, Florina’s muscles wre working very well, and she became very happy.

It was amazing to see Aurica lift her arms and play hand games. Rodica’s diligence and loving exercise with Aurica greatly decreased her pain, and she began walking Aurica every day, which the child enjoyed, and which is so necessary for muscle development.

In the hospital, there was a 3-week-old baby girl, abandoned at two weeks of age. At 7 months old, Bogdan was developing little cheeks. He loved the bananas and cereal they gave him to eat. Rodica, also 7 months old, and who had been with the group for half her life, left to go home with Vera and Dora. Like Beni, whom they took home in the summer, Rodica had no place to go, and the months going by living in the hospital without sunshine, fresh air or good food were not good for her. Then, she was blessed to be adopted into a family.

Five-month-old Noemi was again abandoned. This time, she was suffering from flea bites, and other sores. Still, she remained her same sweet self. And they also had a beautiful 4-month-old Filip. Adrian, the 1-year-old handicapped boy who was unresponsive, began to smile, and to respond to love. No one thought it was possible. Love always surprises us.

April, 2014

We were so happy when tiny Radica, whom we received this winter at 2-weeks-old, was adopted. She recently left for her new family. The beautiful twin girls we got last month are doing fine. At 3-months-old now, they’re developing normally. We’ve had a number of 3-month-old babies that are very much lacking and needing love.

The children are doing well in the state group homes where our women work, because of the love they receive. Istvan, who is 17 and autistic, has opened up to our Dorina. He doesn’t interact with anyone, but now when she gives him her hand he holds it to his chest. He’s happy knowing he’s loved. I’ve just had the same experience with Maria, an autistic 8-year-old. Usually when I visit, she grabs my hand and heads for the door. Last week, when I got down to hug her, she hugged me back and wouldn’t let go.

Last month, we made it possible for 6-year-old Amalia to have treatment at a rehab. hospital. Abandoned children don’t get treatment because they need someone to be with them night and day. So our Cornelia and Naomi took turns taking care of her, sleeping in the same bed with her in a room with four other older noisy children and their mothers, for the three-week period. Amalia is now able to sit better holding her deformed body straighter and her stomach is not ballooned out. She’s more talkative now, and we’re appreciating her alert mind. The intense togetherness with Cornelia and Naomi was healing in itself.

Naomi is a student in her 2nd year of university, and studying to teach children with special needs. I’ve known her for years and she has a lot to give. She had recently lost her part-time job, and she was devastated because she’s on her own (coming from a very poor family). So it’s a perfect match that she should work part of the weekend, when the children are especially neglected. They love her very much and she’s wonderful with them, usually having one of them in her arms.

Seventeen-year-old Darian who is blind, sings now for long periods. Cornel, also blind, who stays in the same bed, won’t let anyone take the music toy out of his hands, he’s so happy. The constant music must be inspiring Darian. Cornelia makes a special effort to take these boys outside. No one else ever takes them out of bed.

June, 2014

The twins Tibor and Lajos are almost 2-months-old, and they were recently abandoned by their 18-year-old mother because of poverty. Andrei is 5-weeks-old, and he just loves to be held. Florin, a perfectly healthy abandoned baby who was doing so well with Vera’s and Dora’s care, sadly was moved to another hospital, where there is no one to give him the time and love he needs. Octaviana who is 3-months-old, and who has been with us most of her life, is doing very well.

In the state group home where our Naomi works, a 16-year-old girl has had an amazing emotional break-through. Lacrimoara has her arms tied together because of auto-aggression, and Cornelia’s love over these past two years has brought her to life. Before Cornelia, Lacrimoara would never get out of bed. Well, this girl just loves Naomi too, and one day after Naomi had taken all the children outside and they were sitting on a bench, she began inching her way to Naomi and then she put her head on Naomi’s shoulder. This is the first sign of affection Lacrimoara had shown in her life, and we are overjoyed.

I was able to hire back Estera who worked with the children 2 years ago before having a baby. The children really love her, she knows how to give them activities for their level of development, so that they can have success and be happy. Her goal this summer is to get 4-year-old Andrea who prefers crawling, to walking. Already, the supervisor of the houses is impressed with the progress Andrea has made with Estera’s help. Also the social worker is impressed with how the 36 children’s health and disposition has improved since we began taking fruit, milk, yogurt and eggs a year ago to supplement their poor diet.

The beginning of the month, my girls and I started taking out children from the 80-bed orphanage in town, for the weekends. We were given 7-year-old Florina and her 4-year-old brother Cristi, who are not doing well there. After a few weeks, we were asked if we could take out another child. They just love to get out, if only for the weekend. So now, 5-year-old Laura has been joining us, and Codi and Andrea are a wonderful help with them. Codi loves to teach, and she really applies herself — Cristi doesn’t know numbers, nor does Florina know the letters of the alphabet.

August, 2014

In the hospital, we have 2 babies that have heart conditions. Adam is one month old, and he is not expected to live much longer. No-one knows the birth-date of the other baby, Erno. He seems to be a few months old, and he is very hungry. He finishes his small amount of formula and cries for more. Vera has been managing to get him more. Sandor is a thin 3-month-old and Reka is a 9-month-old who fortunately has finished kidney dialysis.

It has been a very good summer for the children in the state group homes, with both Estera and Naomi working part time, filling in hours that weren’t covered. The children had more hours of love and care. Estera accomplished her goal of getting 4-year-old Andrea, who prefers crawling to walking ; and now the child will get up and walk on her own, something she never did before. Andrea is also talking more now.

We are giving Amalia another round of treatments at the rehab. hospital. The treatments from the spring had a lasting effect, thanks to the fact that Cornelia and Naomi continued to exercise and massage her limbs. The hospital staff there were impressed to see the good shape that Amalia was in.

We visited Canada this summer, and I met with a sponsor who wants to take on a state group home of 13 abandoned teenage boys. These boys have different levels of intelligence. They need activities, sports and most of all, love and direction. Each one complains of being hungry, and the food provided is not sufficient. Therefore, we’ve started to buy them supplementary food, and God has provided a young man David to work with them.

In July, when we would go to the orphanage to take out our three children for the weekends, we were asked to take more. Quickly, we found ourselves with five children. They very much enjoy being in our apartment in a home environment with toys, games and things to do. They also very much like to eat plenty. Our relationships are deepening which we hope will help them.

October, 2014

Five-month-old Sandor is much stronger and happier now that we’ve been giving him cereal for 2 months. Alexandru who is 2-months-old has been with us before. He was taken home, and then two days later brought back to the hospital extremely sick. Unfortunately, this is the pattern for babies that are not wanted. He rebounded quickly, being very loved by Vera and Dora. Three-week-old Izabela is up for adoption. We’ll be able to give 3-month-old Cristian cereal next month and, he will be able to grow bigger.

The results of Amalia’s 3-week treatment at the rehabilitation hospital had a fantastic effect on her. She is sitting up very straight now, and she holds her head up well. Now, she can sit and colour and do things with her hands.

We were given a walker (something we had been hoping for for a long time) so that Erika could walk on her own. Her legs cross in front of her when she walks ; nevertheless, Dorina and Zorita walk her because she loves walking. I have never seen her so happy walking alone with this walker. She was laughing, and the other children watching her seemed to be about as happy as she was.

David is bonding with the abandoned teenage boys, and they are very glad to get out daily now that’s he is there to take them. All 14 sing when he takes his guitar over ; and when he takes some of the older ones to church with him Sunday nights, they get up at the front and sing there too, feeling very good about themselves.

December, 2014

It was a very happy Christmas time at the state group homes where the women work. A week after the children received their presents, Gisela is still dancing with joy after she threads a bead necklace. Blind Cornel is laughing out loud with his new music toy. Alexandra is colouring almost non-stop in her own colouring book. Claudia and Roxana are very carefully taking care of their dolls. Amalia is delighted to make shapes with plasticine. When she makes a puzzle (although needing help), she gives a shout of joy with every piece successfully placed.

The children are now so used to activities and to the pleasure they bring, that right after breakfast they each ask for their favourite thing. It is wonderful seeing them function to the best of their ability. Naomi has started working with them with a game of faces to help them recognise their feelings. This is something of value for those who have trouble speaking. We have found some appropriate books which make the children and the teenage boys happy and interested. With success, David is using a reader/activity book with Andrei who is still trying to learn the alphabet and to read. And it is not as painful for Andrei. It was touching to hear the boys sing carols. They take their singing very seriously, and even the boys that barely talk will sing.

The children being thus loved, love in return. When Ilu and Maria give a hug at the same time because neither can wait, it lasts a long time. They don’t let go.

The cereal provided for the abandoned babies in the hospital has really helped Sandor, Alexandru, Cristian, Cosmin, Razvan and Maia these past few months. We started them early on it, they’re so hungry. Tiny Bobi came without a birth certificate, and he still sleeps a lot. We’re very happy that Izabela (whose picture was in the newsletter) was adopted.

Anecdotes from 2015

February, 2015

It can be seen how happy the bigger babies are, from the pictures in the photo gallery on the web-site. They don’t cry from hunger because of the cereal we give them. Leonardo at four months old just left, and we hope that he will not be abandoned again. Victoria, who was found in a garbage container last month, was placed in a family ; and now Vera and Dora are loving four sweet babies : 6-month-old Marius, 2-month-old Lacrimoara, 4-month-old Larisa, and Bobi. Bobi who is now 3 months old and who we’ve had since 1 month of age, has learned to smile. Although very small, he’s coming along well, being loved. He’ll be able to start eating cereal very soon.

Rodica and Estera’s love has made such a difference in Sebi’s, Sami’s and Roxana’s lives : three tiny, very handicapped children, who depend on them for everything. The boys are paralysed and they can’t speak, but they know they’re loved and respond with smiles. Years of loving Roxana have made her want affection, and she responds to it with smiles. This child used to react negatively when anyone even got near her.

Four-year-old Andrea, whom Estera helped to walk this past summer, is now feeding herself because our women had the time and desire to teach her.

David has been teaching the boys responsibility, and getting them involved in repairs around their house. This is something really new for them. When he takes them out, their behaviour improves and they see that they are treated without prejudice. They love being accepted by the youth group at church. Their integration in society is crucial to their development. The couple of times it snowed brought the boys a lot of joy because David got them out to play snowballs. He repaired an old computer that we were given and he installed some games on it which, like any boys, they like most of all. Everything he does with them helps them to get along with each other, learning healthy ways to interact.

April, 2015

Our three young babies are 1-month-old Maia, 2-month-old Lacrimoara and 4-month-old Diana. Iosef is 8 months old and Dragos is 10 months old. The boys love their cereal and bananas, and now Diana has started eating cereal. Dragos had part of his intestine removed, and he has a colostomy. He is abandoned because his mother doesn’t want to learn how to change the bag. He’s happiest when up in the walker, and he follows Vera around when she’s taking care of the babies. We’re not sure what will happen to him but our women are giving him all the love and attention they can.

In the state group homes, children who are rarely taken out of bed get the chance to experience love and companionship because our women do get them up. A very special thing happened recently with 18-year-old Mirel who needs constant supervision when he’s up because of his aggressive behaviour. The other day, when Dorina got him up, he went directly to another child, lay down beside him and stayed that way quietly for an hour. This is a first for him, and Dorina will be giving him that chance again. With spring here, our women are getting the children outside to play again. They are very happy outside, and a bench swing we received is a huge source of joy, especially for the extremely handicapped children. They have little joy in their lives, our women being the main source, and to see these silent children laugh out loud is just the best. For some children, this is the happiest place for them to be.

Seven-year-old Angela, who recently came to one of the houses, has had a difficult adjustment. She can only speak a few words, and she doesn’t know how to play ; but she laughs when she watches the children playing outside with a ball. With a lot of encouragement, Naomi has taught her to use the slide in the backyard. She enjoys looking at pictures in books, and Rodica often sits with her doing this. Angela is starting to feel better about life. She comes for hugs now.

David got some of the boys out to the extra services over Easter, which they really enjoyed. Once in awhile someone from the church gives them a little money so they can go out for a bite to eat. This makes the boys feel even more special. David has discovered that “music is the best refuge for them” in his words, and he makes soul-enriching music available for them on the CD-player and gives them the opportunity to sing. He writes out the words of their favourite songs and accompanies them on the guitar. They are very enthusiastic about singing. He has started to take a couple of boys at a time home with him after church for a meal and the afternoon, and they are delighted to be in his family with his wife and baby.

In the last month or so, we’ve noticed how 5-year-old Cristi’s anger is receding. He is one of the children we’ve been bringing home weekends from the orphanage since June. He is much happier and quicker to smile, and he gives very long hugs when we take him back Sunday evenings. We’re very glad that spring is here and the children can be out taking turns on the in-line skates and scooters.

June, 2015

Five-month-old Daniel has become a delightful baby, and he is learning to sit. One-month-old Rosalinda has already been home and brought back and left in the hospital. Cristian is 2-months-old and it’s clear that the mother doesn’t want him ; so maybe he’ll be signed off so that he can go to a foster family and start a new life. Paloma is 1 month old, and she came in quite ill. Her parents grew up in an orphanage and it seems that no-one told them how to feed their baby properly. They are clean and loving, so hopefully they’ll come back for Paloma who’s healthy now. With the doctor’s instructions, they could manage better with her. We hope that she won’t be abandoned as they were.

Abel is 19-years-old and incapable of movement, but he is content watching the children from his bed or the chair. He doesn’t chew his clothes anymore, and he has learned to sing following Cornelia. He had started to move his head to the music from the CD-player, so Cornelia, knowing that children who can’t do or say anything can sing, wanted to see whether he could sing. Sure enough, when she tried to get him to sing after her, he did. How wonderful that he can connect with someone in this way.

Our women have a special interest in teaching the children, and they work daily with them, making the most of what they can do. Claudia is 10-years-old, and she can sound out syllables ; the next exciting step is to read. Alex is 8-years-old, and not mentally challenged, but he has been dreadfully neglected at school. This often happens with abandoned children. Our women are working with him to be able to count to 10, something we didn’t know that he couldn’t do. The children’s favourite stationary activity is colouring. Eighteen-year-old Baron is half-blind, but Cornelia has discovered that he gets a lot of joy out of drawing lines with crayons on paper.

With the school year ending in mid-June, David is giving the teenage boys a good summer with lots of trips to the park and the local swimming pool where he takes 2 or 3 boys at a time. They are extremely happy playing with a ball in the water. The boys are really enjoying a swing that David mounted from a tree in the backyard. The boys are becoming more helpful in repairs around the house, which David initiates and involves them in. They’ve planted a garden in the backyard, and they are seeing how hard work pays off. Some of the boys have shown behavioural progress from David’s counselling.

August, 2015

Our staff helped the children in the state group homes through a very hot summer where temperatures were in the mid to upper 30s. They had the children outside every morning and did activities with them inside - puzzles, colouring, plasticine and “working” in number and vocabulary books when it was too hot to be out.

David took the abandoned teenage boys regularly to the local swimming pool, which they enjoyed the most. He took them to the park in the evenings when the temperatures were bearable. This summer, David and the boys were busy in their garden, doing repairs in their house, and when it was too hot to be outside, he played games with them.

In the hospital, we have been taking care of two young babies, 6-week-old Paul and 3-week-old Natalia, as well as Diana and Paloma. Sadly, Diana who is 8 months old, has been taken home twice by the hospital staff and brought back sick each time. She is behind in her development, and she rarely smiles. Paloma, whom we’ve had for most of her 3 months of life, was taken home by the hospital staff (her parents both grew up in an orphanage) ; but they brought her back to us sick after only 2 days. It’s so disappointing when the parents don’t want their babies and let them get sick so that they can be admitted to the hospital again. However, Vera and Dora love them more than they’d be loved anywhere else, and they help them develop so that they are not so far behind.

October, 2015

This has been a month of changes. It was decided that children of the state group homes 18 years old and older would move out. The more handicapped ones were transferred to a ward of a large institution, and the older boys in the house where David works were moved to another state group home of young adults. David will keep in contact with Bobi, Victor and Adi who loved to be taken to youth group on Friday evenings. We can’t forget them.

So far, Bobi who previously lived in the state orphanage, and Marius from another institution have come. Marius only says a few words, but David is working with him.

Three 15-year-old girls have come to replace the children who left, in the house where Cornelia works. She is discovering what they like to do, and she is trying to make them comfortable in their new surroundings.

Little Roxi, who has become more sociable from Rodica’s love, is one of the children who got moved from that house to the one where Dorina and Zorita work. When Dorina had her in her arms and started singing, Roxi began to smile and then to laugh. We were pretty amazed at how far this child who used to scream when picked up, has come.

We have 3 little babies at the moment in the hospital : Isaac and Florina, both 2-months-old, and Iuliana who is 1-month-old. Florina is making all sorts of cute noises, she really wants to talk.

We’ve all adjusted to the orphanage rule which allows us to bring our children home only 5 days per month. We usually do 1 weekend and 3 Sundays. That way, every weekend we see our 6 beautiful children. One of the things that I like best is the way the girls quietly sing together when they are walking or playing. Last week, Florina was alone in the living room and singing to our birds. She was happy and at peace.

Return to Canada, to Calgary, to care for parents, and continued work in Romania

September 2017 – Codi, Andrea and I arrived in Calgary our new home, this summer. It is time for me to be with my elderly parents. I am still working on our mission, keeping in close contact with our devoted people. They still want to keep on loving the babies and children, and the babies and children still sure need them.

August was busier than usual this year in the hospital. We had up to 5 babies. Now we have 4 month old Milan who has been abandoned before, 7 month old Janos, 6 month old Marius and 2 month old Narcisa. The doctors discovered a heart condition in Narcisa. Three of these babies are eating cereal. It really contributes to their health and happiness.

Cornelia is going daily to the state group home where she says "11 little souls are waiting for me". This is the place where abandoned children with health conditions live and she is often left alone with them. She has had a great summer working with them, and because of her efforts 4 year old Iza is now walking. Iza has hydrocephalus, and now has the freedom to walk alone. Roberta who is the same age with the same condition, is now much more stable on her feet.

Adam who is 3 is not having emotional breakdowns anymore, is learning a lot of words and is now playing nicely with the other children. And 4 year old Costica too - he has Down Syndrome and wouldn't let anybody near him or touch him, he must have been really hurt, but now he only wants to be playing with the children. The younger and quite handicapped children Adriano, Isac, Marimar and Boby are all so happy simply being taken out of bed. They are learning how to play, and love the attention they are getting, to not be left alone.

There is a new boy 12 year old Cornel, in the state group home where Dorina and Zorita work. He has deformed limbs and other problems but understands everything and is happy when our women spend time with him, teaching him to count and playing with him.

David had an excellent summer with the teenage boys, gardening, swimming, taking them into town, ping pong (the table is outside in the summer) and getting them out almost every day to play soccer with the neighbourhood boys. One time a friend of David's organized a game with his friends on a special field. It was a great experience for the boys to play there, and with David's friends. The 30 children and staff at the Day Centre had an excellent summer too. The children all recovered their failing subjects, had a hot meal every day and got the encouragement, support and preparation necessary for them to start the school year off well, and help them stay in school. Now, they are coming after school for their meal, and will have help with homework all afternoon. The focus is to help them keep from failing which makes it so easy for them to drop out. Being at the Centre will also allow their mothers who want to find work that extra time.

July 2017 – Radu who is 9 months old and who has been in the hospital for more than half of his life, just left with a foster family. The best part is that they intend to adopt him. Three month old Marius is being treated for syphillis, and 6 month old Gabriela and 1 year old Armando though very small are happy and doing well. A very sick 6 month old boy was just brought in, he is full of sores. Unfortunately he comes from a community who often leaves their babies in the hospital while they need diapers and then when they get bigger, put them out to beg.

Cornelia sees that when she brings all of those children with health issues out to the common area they are extremely happy to be with her and each other. She tells stories and they sing. When 4 year old Iza who is getting better at walking, hears the music that Cornelia puts on, she likes to try to dance. They just love to be up out of bed which happens only when she is there. A dear little 1 year old Isaac, has just arrived. He has a heart condition and deformed arms and legs. Like the other children he really responds to Cornelia's love and attention.

David is getting the teenagers outside every day he can, and now the boys of the neighbourhood regularly come and play soccer with them. This is very fulfilling for our boys.

Thirty severely poor chldren are now going daily to the Day Centre for a meal and learning. Even though this is summer vacation, the children enjoy coming so much that they arrive early. Without this help they are likely to drop out and join the 12% of Romanian children who drop out of school before grade 8.

Carmen, a very poor but intelligent young woman is teaching the children in grades 1 - 4. Because she now has a job, she is enrolled at university. Raluca is also from the community and has done supply teaching at the village school, but not having the possibility of permanent employment, she has been working in a factory. She was very happy to leave her factory job and come and work at the Day Centre with the grades 5 - 8 children.

The women have created a non-shaming environment and it's working wonderfully. Children with behaviour problems behave very well because of this. A grade 6 girl who couldn't read aloud now does. The teachers from the village school come by with books and excercise papers, and are very supportive. One day one of them stood unnoticed and listened. She was very suprised at the children's behaviour, attention and progress.

May 2017 – Our 4 babies are all enjoying cereal – Gabriela who is 4 months old, Radu and Maria who are 7 months old, and Armando who is 10 months old. There has been a chickenpox epidemic in the hospital so pictures will come later.

Two months ago the children in the state group home where Cornelia works started to go to school more, and we found out about abandoned children with serious health problems who go often to the hospital. Where they live, it's the same situation of too few staff. In these past 2 months that Cornelia has been going to these children, a lot of progress has been made. Iza and Roberta, both 4 years old and with hydrocephalus are walking better. Iza used to walk on her toes but now walks on the soles of her feet so she's more stable now. Cornelia is teaching 3 year old Adam who has a heart and lung condition, songs, to write numbers and to look at books. Three year old Costel who has Down syndrome calls her Mami and calls out with joy when she arrives. He is always on his back in bed, and he loves it when she takes him out, gets him to sit and plays with him. Marimar and Sebi are children with bodies the size of babies and they also love to be taken out of bed and listen to stories. Two year old Maria has an intestinal deformity and is the happiest when she's singing after Cornelia. The boss of this institution told Cornelia that every child with whom she has worked has shown progress.

We have become involved with a Romanian foundation that has started a Day Centre for extremely poor Romanian and Roma (gypsy) children in the village where they live, about 1/2 hour from us. Because of not having shoes,many of these 50 children didn't go to school. They now have shoes, clothes and school supplies but are in desperate need of help to stay in school. School abandonment is a serious social problem in this country. The plan is to bring the children to the Centre right after school, feed them and then help them with homework. This will also guarantee that they receive a meal a day.

The Centre is open on Saturdays now and the children are so happy, they want to learn. And very uniquely to this community, the parents want to learn to read and write. They are saying "please get the children's program going so that then we can learn too." When there is enough money for food, the children will start coming daily. They are all failing a few subjects so the summer will be used to recover. We are involved because something needs to be done to break the cycle of poverty which creates baby abandonment and despair. These people who want to change need only a hand up.

March 2017 – We still have armfulls of babies in the hospital. Ten month old Bobi has been with us for a few months. He is quite underdeveloped but greatly benefitting from the cereal we give him. Four month old Giulia got cleaned up from her lice and is a happy baby. Maria who is 5 months old has been with us before. She has such a beautiful smile when she receives attention. Antoniu now 4 months old has also been with us before. He has a voracious appetite and loves his cereal. Three month old Nicolas and Antonio, and 3 week old Daniel complete this group of little souls who we are caring for and loving.

In the state group homes another milestone was passed for Evelin who can now grab toys hanging from the mobile above her and play with them. The emotional and physical state of these children who previously had no muscle control, improves so much when they can actually play.

In the house where Rodica works, these handicapped children are now going daily to school, so she goes to them on the weekends and in the afternoons. She takes some of them to church and they love it, just to get out and be in a beautiful environment.

David was recently praised to me by the woman in charge of the state group homes where we work. His work with the teenage boys is so good for them on many levels. It has been a good spring and he and the boys have been doing yard work and repairs to things outside as well as inside the house. He has initiative and this is one of the most important things for the boys to experience. Their fun with hours of Monopoly continues.

January 2017 – In the Photo Gallery, you will see Dora holding 2 month old tiny Antonio beside an incubator. The doctor ordered the incubator so that Dora and Vera could take care of very sick premies. The care abandoned babies receive in the intensive care unit is not acceptable. Our other very young babies are Miruna and Alexiu just over a month old. Timea is 2 months old as is Maria, healthy and with an adorable smile. Five month old Zsanett abandoned in another hospital came recently, and she has disabilities. She requires a lot of care and patience with feeding.

It is so good to see Romanians get involved with the children in the state group homes and the orphanage, especially during the Christmas season. Acquaintances have gone with packages and this always makes the children happy. Friends have gone caroling and this is also so great for the children. In the house where Cornelia works, 2 new children have arrived. Monika who is 9 and Bianca who is 7 have lost their mother and their father is an alcoholic. Cornelia has been very involved with these girls in their painful adjustment. With rotating staff, the children's emotional need for stability is not met. Cornelia gives them the constant love that is so important.

David gave some of the teenage boys their first experience of skating and they loved it. There were special Christmas services at church and the boys received packages.

We had our 7 children from the orphanage for 4 days over Christmas and over New Year's.They were very happy with their presents, with cooking and baking, and playing with the dog. It wasn't too cold so they could also spend short periods of time outside taking turns on inline skates, the bike and the scooter. Lighting the candles we had in the center of the table became a favourite ritual. It was a lot of work but to hear "this was the best Christmas ever", and see the children's relaxed and happy faces made it all worthwhile.

Kathy with Codi and Andrea