Servus. . .We have come to the end of a successful two weeks of feeding those in need out of the St. Basil the Great Cantina which is operating out of Christiana's St. Basil the Great School. But let me go back to that first day.
Monday, June 3, 2002, a milestone in my journeys to Romania. Many of you have followed my Virtual Romania updates and it has been through my eyes, my heart, you have met a few of the people I have longed to help. After years of agonizing over this country that has become intricately linked to the depths of my soul, a vision has been realized on this day. The doors have finally been opened for a soup kitchen (cantina) to feed the poor, the needy, the homeless here in Cluj.
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Sometimes, it was as though this vision was but a mirage, gleaming brightly in a desert, only to disappear the closer I came to it. The frustration I felt became overwhelming at times as I saw the hungry on a daily basis. But slowly, the cocoon began to open up to the wondrous surprise God had in store for the cantina. The more I struggled under my own power to help burst the shell, the more hindered I became. Once I removed my own fumbling fingers, things began to unfold and fall beautifully into place. I look back just a few weeks ago and am amazed at how easily and simply things began to move so perfectly in God's timing.
One of the most important things to happen was the incredible way God gave the cantina a social worker who is so dedicated, kind, discerning, tenacious, young and inexperienced! Cristina Iordanov was one of 6 young ladies we interviewed for this position. She is just finishing social work studies at the Theological Institute, and I was skeptical of hiring one so "green." Yet I find Cristina is wise beyond her years. She seems to be able to see thru the hard luck stories people tell her and can pick out the phonies. It's also amazing to be talking with her and realize we know some of the same people; people who have had impact on both our lives! I've been thinking a lot about how God actually chose this girl for us. If I had had my way, and unlimited funds, I would have hired someone who had years of experience and would have probably had to pay twice of what we can now afford. So, being limited in funding, we had to go in God's unlimited way which is ultimately the Perfect way!
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So, on this premier day of June 3, we had the honor of having His Grace Bishop Vasile from the Archdiocese of Cluj and who oversees the Christiana projects, open the cantina by pronouncing the very first blessing before the meal. Nearly 25 souls were present for this inaugural dinner.
Two weeks down the road now, we're growing and we've even hired an assistant, Iulia (Julia), to help Cristina. We're receiving more people every day which makes it rather hectic. Most of the people who come sit at the tables to eat, others take food home in containers.
You would not believe some of the characters coming to the cantina! One woman, Iutca, has the looks of a movie-star-has-been whose star faded years ago, and she hasn't caught on yet. No kidding! She has long, frizzy, peroxide hair complete with dark roots. She is extremely exaggerated in her speech and every move! She's a loud woman whose clothes are even LOUDER, hot pinks with hotter reds, a splash of turquoise thrown in here and there. The other day she had a marvelous fuzzy, black and white, checkerboard hat perched on her head. She was wearing a shocking pink jacket and red, floral skirt. Iutca is quite the character! She has a 10 year old, blonde headed son, Stefan, who is darling, very gregarious and can get into everything! His smile is as mischievous as he is. Sadly, his mother is schizophrenic. I understand authorities have tried to take Stefan from her, but she manages to fight to keep him with her.
There's a man who comes in nearly everyday who knows a few words of English. He also knows some of the words to "How Much Is That Doggie In the Window" and he sings that "ditty" every time he sees me! And the other few words of English that he knows? "I love you!" Between his "Doggie In the Window" and "I love you," it can get really funny but also a little bit irritating.
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A very dignified looking man named Calin, also comes every day with a container to take food for himself and his mother. The story goes that he had been a respected engineer. I don't know how many years ago this happened but one day, supposedly, his wife just up and left him. This man became so distraught that he jumped out of a window! Evidently he injured his head in the fall and he hasn't been right since then. Its quite shocking to see him stroll in, dressed nicely in sweater vest over a pressed, long sleeved shirt. His silvery-white hair and neatly trimmed beard give the appearance of a man who is out of place in this picture, yet here he is, treading quietly with a plastic container in his hand, standing in line, waiting for his meal to take home.
As I've come to learn, many of these people do have medical and mental problems. One young woman comes to take food home to a husband who lost both his legs to an illness. A homeless married couple we've come to know have simply hit on bad luck, government red tape, home loss, and job loss. Some of these people though are old and have very little means of support. Their pensions average from $30 to $70 per month. It's an on-going process for us, weeding out those who are truly in need from among those who are not.
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Overall, opening the cantina has been rewarding, frustrating, exhilarating, scary, satisfying, humbling and a half-dozen other adjectives that escape me right now. When we were scouting out the lists of possible beneficiaries for the cantina, I told Cristina that this must be how the servants felt who were sent out to the highways and byways for the master, calling people to "Come and eat, the table is ready." And now I know the joy that comes when people answer in the affirmative and partake.
In conclusion, a personal note. I covet your prayers for me and for Dennis. It is so obvious that God, in His infinite wisdom, has me here in Romania, fulfilling a need. However, for a year now, Dennis has been re-starting his business with a new business partner and it has been a really rocky road for us financially. Dennis is working right now on acquiring some new accounts and we need these things to come his way. I know that God is faithful and He will supply our needs according to His riches in Glory. In the meantime, it's agonizing for me to be here, worrying about what is going on there! Please, keep us in your prayers.
Pray for the cantina, pray for Romania. . .
Cu mult drag. . .
(With much love. . .)
Zan