Monday
April 18th 2011
We said
Goodbye to Tom and Patty today as they left soon after 9 o’clock to go to
Oradea and then Budapest airport. Did I tell you Patty had the most terrible
cough – yesterday afternoon Florica the nurse made her
a special brew (onion skins boiled up in water, bits strained out and mint
teabags added to disguise the taste) ~ well this morning Patty’s cough is
WORLDS better. [Phil and I had doubted she could fly as she
was yesterday morning, but a new woman today. So next time any of us
have a bad cough I shall try Florica’s brew].
We also
said Goodbye to Flori as she will stay in hospital
for a few days for blood transfusions after her dialysis session today;
hopefully we can visit her in hospital. Her health is fragile and changeable.
Then
Phil and I went off to meet Nelu from FI. We had a
brilliant time with them –Cristina who tells us their baby is due late August
and will be a girl: they have decided on the name which is the Romanian version
of the flower dahlia. They are so excited about the baby.
There a
crowd of people waiting outside the FI office – Nelu
explained they have a bread distribution today at 1 o’clock but people were
queuing before 11 o’clock. The crowd got larger as the time grew closer, and then
the bread van was late. But finally it arrived. It was well organised, Cristina
had a list and called everyone’s name and there was exactly enough bread. Nelu explained that they have only enough money for one
more bread distribution which will be on Thursday.
They
give to about 50 people, some had 2 loaves, depending on their family size – the bread
costs the equivalent of £1, which is half a lei more than was quoted in
February but the cost of flour is going up and up. The loaves are large –
approximately a kilo so good value for money when you think of the cost of our
bread in Jersey. And totally delicious! Some of the best bread I have tasted
ever even in Romania. (Nelu ordered an extra loaf so
we could have a loaf with them at lunch time with pate and salami). So much gratitude to St Lawrence Church for that donation.
So many kissed me and blessed me to thank me for the bread. Somehow we must
do something to raise more funds for next winter.
There
was also a clothing distribution as well there so all in all it was a very good
day at FI.
We did
have some soul searching deciding who to give the mobility scooter to as there
were at least 2 worthy needy recipients who would benefit tremendously. (It
arrived on the trailer last week) There was also one in Romania that can be
used if repaired so Mustard Seed donated some money to repair it so both will
have one in working order.