Servus! I thought that the previous Virtual Romania would be
the last one before I head back for the States. There are times here that I
can't go for one week without something quite profound happening in the life
of the cantina that touches my life and makes me realize that what I am trying
to do with the cantina is truly working. I have always said that if. . .IF.
.
.I can but touch one life and make a difference in one person's life, then
my life will have been worth it all.
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One of the things we have been having a problem with at the
cantina has been men who come in and are, well, shall I say, under the influence.
No one has been "falling down drunk" or rowdy, but it's to the point
where it could become disturbing and eventually could get out of hand. I didn't
want to keep enabling these people by giving them a free meal, to only have
them run out and spend what little money they might have left in their pockets
on another bottle of booze. My dilemma was that I didn't want to turn them away
without offering another way for them to obtain help for their problem, alcohol.
So I called on a fellow missionary, Floyd Frantz.
Floyd is a giant of a man, with a gray beard, an easy smile, twinkling eyes,
a ready laugh and a "How are ya?" for everyone he meets. I don't think
Floyd knows a stranger. Floyd is also a recovered alcoholic who has been in
Romania for 2 years, establishing an Alcoholics Anonymous. This is an
absolutely necessary ministry here as there are many alcoholics who, for lack
of jobs, leading to lack of worth, turn to the bottle. In turn their families
harbor the secret and remain in shame because of their loved one's dependence
that also, more often than not, turns to violent behavior. So when faced with
the problem of having some of these men coming off the streets in an inebriated
state, I asked Floyd if he might drop by and lend me a hand.
The next afternoon Floyd showed up at the cantina with two of his workers in tow. We talked quite a bit and decided that the cantina needed to come up with a "policy" toward alcohol coming on the premises.
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The next day I got with Floyd and his social worker to pound out an "official" policy of the cantina, which loosely states that the cantina will not tolerate alcohol of any kind. If someone comes in under the influence, we have the right to refuse them service. If someone is turned away, and wants to return to the cantina, they must seek a free analysis and attend sessions at the clinic nearby where Floyd holds AA meetings. Then we will give one of Floyd's cards with "cantina" written on it for them to show at the clinic. That way Floyd knows they are coming from us. The policy goes on to state that in order to return to the cantina, they will need to bring a note from Floyd. One of the first people we gave Floyd's card to was Constantin, a man who has been coming to the cantina from the first week we opened. He would occasionally show up reeking of alcohol, but he wasn't a distraction. A few weeks later, Constantin disappeared. We later learned that he was hospitalized with hepatitis which was alcohol related! Once Constantin returned to the cantina with a clean bill of health, he told us that the doctors said he could die soon if he didn't stop drinking. We immediately handed him one of Floyd's cards. He assured us that he has quit drinking, totally. We congratulated him, but went on to tell him that he needed the support of a group of people who are going through the same thing he is. A few days ago, Iulia, one of our social workers, had to confront another man about his drinking and said that we couldn't serve him until he sought help with Floyd. She handed this man a card and told him he could come back once he sought help. Now I must say here that Iulia was a bit skeptical about the whole AA program. But, she also saw this as a way to keep these men out of the cantina who would periodically show up drunk. This annoyed her enough to give our new policy a try.
Today, Friday, Iulia came up to me, a smile on her face, tears in her eyes, yet her face radiated joy! As we were looking after the needs of our beneficiaries, Iulia told me, "I had a man come up to me yesterday who told me that I saved his life."
My ears perked up. "What do you mean?" I inquired. "Continue. What happened?"
"I gave this man one of Floyd's cards, and yesterday he came to me and told me that I had saved his life by sending him to the clinic." Iulia went on, "He told me that he had lost his home. He lost his wife. His family. But because he went to a group that Floyd was having, I had saved his life. And today he told me that he is going to be meeting with Floyd one-on-one."
Goosebumps went up and down my whole body! I felt my eyes flood with tears. How incredible. Simply incredible! A life has been saved!
Now I must relate the continuing saga of Daniel and Madalina, their glasses and now a bed. Daniel showed up at the cantina today with his brand new glasses! Of course I had to take a picture of him. He was so proud and looked so grown up in his new wire rimmed glasses. Mada was not with him and I asked where she was. Daniel told me she had fallen down and hurt her head. Seems they didn't get her glasses prescription right. She became disoriented with the glasses and that caused her to fall. Other than a bump on the head, she's doing well.
A few weeks ago I had the offer of a couch that folds out into a bed by Victoria Goodwin my friend and missionary living here since 1996. She wanted to know if there was anyone at the cantina who could use this bed. I had known of a pregnant woman who needed a bed, but then she didn't come back to the cantina and we lost track of her. Through a total "coincidence," I learned that little Daniel was sleeping on the floor because he doesn't have a bed. Constantsa, his mother, said that it was ok now because now, "it's summer," and warm enough for him to sleep on the floor. I told you in my last update that when Cristina and I visited their home, the two rooms they live in are sparsely furnished. I hadn't even thought though that one of the children might be sleeping on the floor!
I contacted Victoria and asked her if she still had the couch/bed. She informed me that I missed it by about a week. It had gone to some other needy family. She did say she'd keep a look out for me though and see what she could find.
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True to her word, Victoria called me at the first of the week, telling me that a man named Ted Gavala of Holy Cross Orthodox Church in Elkins Park, PA had collected and donated some money to the Goodwins. As per his usual request, he asked that the money be used "for the kids." So she told me to start looking for a bed for Daniel.
Since their space is limited, I began looking for a chair that folds out into a bed that is a little narrower than a normal sized twin bed. Today I was successful in locating a new chair/bed combo for about $51 and that included delivery!
I drove to their home first to make certain someone was there. I told Daniel, Madalina and their mother that I had "o surpriza pentru tine" (a surprise for you). But I also told them it would be delivered in about half-an-hour, so don't go anyplace.
Thirty minutes later, I drove up to their place, followed by a Dacia (Romanian car) with the chair/bed strapped inside the open trunk. When Daniel and Mada saw the "surpriza" the grins on their faces were indescribable! I told them that this was for Daniel, to which he kept repeating, in English, "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" We showed them how to fold it out and before I knew it, Daniel and Mada, along with a smaller child all laid down on the bed. Mada cuddled up to her big brother smiling and giggling, the littler one getting smushed in the middle. The excitement in their courtyard with all the neighbors gathering around was like static electricity! Everyone was "oohhh-ing" and "aahhh-ing" over the new bed.
I explained to the family that this was not from the cantina or me but from people in a church in Statele Unita (United States). I specifically told them this because of the neighbors looking on. I already had trouble with some of their neighbors coming to me at the cantina, asking for glasses for their kids like we had gotten for Daniel and Mada. I have to tell them that we're not a bank. It would have been useless to go into the reasons why I've taken this family to heart. Constantsa has never asked for anything! I have discovered their needs solely by happenstance. They have been happy to simply eat at the cantina every day.
As we were leaving I told Daniel, "Noapte buna, somn usor" (sleep well, sleep easy). He grinned and continued his, "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"
It's been a "teary eyed" day all way around today. It is good to know that through the cantina, lives are being touched and changed and saved.
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I thought I had this update wrapped up and ready to go when Floyd Frantz called me today to tell me about the man who said that we had "saved his life." At first Floyd told me that this man was really angry that he "had" to seek help before he could return to the cantina. But with his very first meeting at the clinic with the AA group, Floyd said that this man began to fit right in and became so responsive. He went on to tell me that this man's wife is going to be seeking out the Al Anon group that recently started at the clinic. The man is truly stepping up to the starting gate. It'll be a long haul but he's on the road to getting his life back!
We are going to be working hand-in-hand with Floyd and his AA program. Since the clinic is about 1/2 a mile from the cantina, it's going to be quite easy to work in tandem with him. His social workers are also going to be coming to the cantina on a regular basis to eat, mingle with, and get to know the people. Hopefully those who need the support of AA won't be so hesitant to seek the help they need.
The pictures I'm attaching show Daniel with his new glasses. Floyd with one of the street kids. Twins, Gabriel and Alex, 18 years old and both mentally slow. A cat has adopted us over the summer and comes up to our guests who are always ready with a gentle caress for her. I couldn't resist taking the picture of this particular lady who was waiting for the food to arrive when the cat obviously wanted some attention.
Continue to pray for the cantina. Pray for Romania.
Cu Mult Drag. . . (With Much Love. . .)
Zan