Bells!

2PM at City Hall

Wedding bells rang yesterday as we attended the wedding of a longtime RCE employee-- Simona. She has worked for RCE since 2000 when Darius House opened. Back then she was a teenager and just getting her feet on the ground. Now, 11 years later, she is a wonderful teacher/psychologist and someone who has a HUGE heart for the abandoned and disabled children under RCE's care. The two pictures you'll see here were taken at the beginning of the day and at the very end.  In Romania, first there is a ceremony at the City Hall that anyone can attend. That began at 2PM and lasted till 2:30PM. From 3-4PM there was a service and finally a reception that lasted SIX hours!!!  It began at 4PM and was over at 10PM after the last piece of cake was eaten. And a six hour reception is apparently a SHORT reception in Romania. They usually run up to eight or nine hours, consist of a 5 course meal 45 min to 1 hour between each course)..and every single person stays to the end.

10PM- the reception is over!

Dieter ringing the bells

The other bells ringing this weekend were heard at Golgotha Church in Arad. Every so often some of the children that attend our Sunshine School (both those from families as well as our recuperative homes) visit local churches and organizations in an effort to make the community aware of our mission and heart for the kids. We also hope to generate some interest in adoption of disabled abandoned children.  Several of the Sunshine School teachers and assistants accompanied the kids as they performed a few songs using the bells and sang as well.  Dieter is a 7 year old boy who is in a constant state of tremor. I'm not sure what his diagnosis is exactly, but he does receive PT and we've worked with him for several years.  Ten year old Ioana is a sweet little girl who has weakness in both legs and is also deaf.  When Ioana came to Sunshine School, her parents had given up on finding a place for her to receive an education and the therapy she needs.  Now years later, she speaks some and is able to sign. She is also doing well in school and is the star bell ringer for the Sunshine School group. The kids were taught how to use the bells by a volunteer from the US. Each child is assigned a letter and when a teacher who sits in front of them points to their letter on a song card, they ring their bell. They songs they play are simple but beautiful!

Ioana

Romanian words of the day:

Car= masina  (machine-a)

Ball= minge  (minja)