A Time To
Celebrate, in Reghin.
March Newsletter - Global Outreach Romania
Hi, this is
Margot. Jon and I arrived in mid January from Australia, to live and teach
English in Reghin. What a contrast to Australia!!! There was snow on the
ground, freezing temperatures, traffic driving on the ‘wrong’ side of the road,
and no kangaroos.
Reghin is a large provincial town, 40 kms from
Targu Mures and although the population is around 30,000 the appearance of the
town is more like that of a large village; the rhythm of life here is different
and slower.
Our school was set up in the last couple of
years by Kevin and the staff at the main school in Targu Mures, and Jon and I
have the privilege of being the first teachers to live in the town. Living in
Reghin, has its advantages. Jon was trying to buy some bananas, at the little
shop over the road, using English, and lots of gestures to explain what he
needed. Another customer came to his rescue, and with her help and much
laughter, Jon got his bananas. This lady is becoming a friend and also a new
student for our School.
Our students
have been delightful; they are warm and friendly and have a great sense of
humour. We had our first social event in
March – a Dessert and Games Night, with enough desserts “to sink a ship”, adrenalin
charged games of Dutch Blitz, and heaps of English conversation.
This week the
students had their final tests. This was followed by our Graduation Celebration,
where they received their certificates. It was a time to party. Many of the
students are continuing on, and we are praying for an increase in enrolment for
the next term. Our desire is to see the school flourish, and for us to build
close relationships with our students, and their families.
Comings and
Goings
March brings a new season to Targu Mures, and
the staff at the school is also experiencing some changes. We are delighted to welcome
two new teachers who have come to join us, to start teaching in the new term.
Victoria Prescott comes from Seattle in the U.S., and Sean Fleming, from Belfast
in Northern Ireland.
We are increasingly an international mix of people but in this we also
experience the reality of the scriptures, in Philippians 1:5, where it talks
about us being partners in the gospel. There is a closeness that develops
amongst us at the school which also makes it hard to say goodbye. At the end of
March we said farewell to Andrea Weber who returned home to Canada for a 6
week holiday, and in early April, we say goodbye to Einer Langelett. Einer is
leaving to return to Minnesota, in the U.S. to
continue his studies. He has been on the staff of the school since January 07,
and has worked hard not only in teaching at the school but also in his
voluntary work amongst the disadvantaged in the community. We will miss his
“bad jokes”, his expertise in fast food, his companionship and most of all his
servant heart.
Outside the
Class room, in March.
A lot of
activities happen outside the classroom.
Ø In March we had two social events for the students; a Commonwealth
Day and a Bowling afternoon, and a lot of fun was had by all. These events give
us wonderful opportunities to build meaningful friendships with our students.
Ø Each week this month, staff from the school has visited a group home
for orphans, a government school to teach disadvantaged children, a poor
community in Targu Mures, and they regularly visit the abandoned babies in a
regional hospital and work with disadvantaged teenagers.
Ø On March 18th, Hilya, Alina and Mihai organized to take a
group of young people, aged 10 -16 years, from a poor community they are
working with, to visit a government Technical
School. The aim was to
lift the vision of the young people to other, better possibilities for their
future. The school is free and can take students and train them in many
practical skills and trades. The trip was a huge success as 7 young people were
ready and waiting to go when Hilya and the team arrived. The young people were
amazed at what the school offered. The director of the school was very
supportive of these students as she showed them around and the young people
went home having had a great time. The question now is, what will be the next
step; the staff is praying about possible projects, e.g. a day centre for the
kids to go to before and after school.
Prayer Points
- Please pray for wisdom for the staff
as they are involved in different activities in the community. Also pray
for the young people in the poor community that Hilya, Alina and Mihai
have been working with. Pray that the poverty cycle will be broken, and a
community project will be developed to meet their needs.
- Pray for the new School at Reghin,
to consolidate and to grow. Pray for Jon and I to develop good
relationships with the students and the community.
- Pray for all the teaching staff,
for us to have a Godly impact on all of our students and the people we
meet in the community.
- Pray for Kevin, as Head of our
School, to have wisdom, and Godly guidance, in all the responsibilities he
carries in the School.