Morning Thought for Thursday February 12^th

Good morning, this morning I want to share with you about Mustard Seed's new pensioners' home in Cefa.

It was in May 2007 that we launched our appeal to raise £65,000 to build a pensioners' home in Cefa, Romania. Immediately all the Romanian social workers heard of the planned home, there were numerous requests and we knew we could fill the planned 10 beds 10 times over! Sadly since we launched the appeal the 2 ladies who initially inspired us to build the home have passed away – Gizella – a Parkinsons disease sufferer died in November 2007 living in a single room mud brick dwelling in the village of Saceini after a fall and a fight followed by an infection.

The other lady Floare, who was physically disabled, died in April 2008 when we were in Romania. We were deeply distressed to see her alone in a single room with no one to care for her as she died in great pain, dependent on the next door neighbour visiting her twice a day. If she had been in our pensioners' home probably we could not have stopped her from dying, probably we could have helped with pain relief but most certainly we would have made sure she was not alone.

In 2007 knowing it was increasingly difficult to raise money when we were faced with needing to raise a huge amount of money – in fact it was actually the largest amount we had ever tried to raise for a single project - we began by praying and asking God's help. I am thrilled that all the money was raised in about 15 months. By October 2008 the wooden outer shell was built. In December when we were there the workers were working away at the heating, the plumbing and electricity – the target is that by Easter 2009 the home will be open with needy pensioners in residence.

And for one pensioner Florina it cannot come a day too soon. Seeing her sadness and hearing of her difficult situation was one of the saddest things about our trip. While the rest of the pensioners left the church hall smiling brightly with their Christmas shoebox and food parcel Florina was clearly distressed and agitated and kept on talking to Alex the social worker. He asked her to wait behind till the distribution was completed.

After talking to her, Alex too looked sad and troubled and reminded me that he had already told me about Florina. She has no pension and no house. She lives with her daughter and son-in-law but the son-in-law – who is known to be violent and short tempered - does not like having her there and frequently beats her. The only time she is welcome is when she shares her food parcel. The neighbours are afraid of the son-in-law and so are not prepared to take in Florina for fear of the son-in-law's actions. On the day of the distribution, she had been beaten again and wept as she pleaded with Alex to let her stay at the pensioners' home. Alex looked troubled “I have promised her that as soon as it is possible she can move in, but it really is not possible yet – no heat, no water, no electricity there. She is well spoken of by everyone in the village but they are scared to help her for fear of her son-in-law.”

Later that evening as we sat in our comfortable hotel room, I thought of Florina and wondered how she was. Later in the week when I saw Alex we talked again and agreed that so long as her situation remained difficult then as soon as it was possible we would offer her a bed at the pensioners' home before it is finished, but because of concern about the son-in-law we must ensure we were not putting the girls in the hostel next door at risk.

On my mantle piece at home I have a small wooden placque that says “Prayer Changes Things”. I have found it to be true whether for big seemingly insurmountable problems like raising a huge amount of money or for a small problem.

I would encourage any one listening to pray about any problems you may be facing at the moment. I know from my own personal experience that prayer changes things and changes them for the better in the long-run.

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