News from Romania

The weather is changing, so the saying goes here: winter is no longer what it was like: no snow, temperatures above zero. We use less wood but we dreadfully lack water. Here are some of the most important events of our recent history.

A regional TV team has come to make a report on our kindergarten. The lady journalist was very interested in the presence of the animals. The report was published at regional level and a little while later at national level. The journalist wished to all the children of the country to benefit from a kindergarten like ours. With some parents, we organized the animal day. Each parent brought an animal from their home. Our neighbor has even come with a turkey and a goose. A memorable day indeed.

In June, we deposited our accreditation request dossier at Bucarest (for the official acknowledgment of our kindergarten as part of the Rumanian educational system). At the end of November, two lady school inspectors spent two whole days with us going over all the dossiers, visiting every corner of the building. They talked with the teachers, looked at the school work and met the parents’ committee. Mid-December, a phone call from the education department announcing that we had obtained the famous accreditation. For the moment, we are waiting for the official document; we will of course have to go to Bucarest to get it. This is very important for us since, according to the law, finances depend on the number of schoolchildren. In principle at least!

The community is present in the clinic thanks to Sophie. It is gently developing. The doctor and the nurses follow regular formation programs. The elderly and the sick have received their Christmas gifts. The mild weather made the delivery much easier.

Our Christmas feast unfolded as usual… this year however with Mgr Petru Gherghel, the Iasi Bishop among us; he congratulated all of us for the work accomplished and the good behavior of the children. While going from one classroom to this other (70 children), he asked to see the animals. And as the best way to make them come to you, especially the goats, is to give them something to eat, it was what he did: he was delighted.

Our small farm is doing well. We have recently adopted Mitsa, a 15 year old she-ass which we have found tied to a tree in the woods, abandoned by her former master. Bella needed a companion: they get on extremely well.

Soon 2012… May the New Year find you all, ready to set out for a new life adventure!

From Rumania - Sophie, Margaret, Anne Marie DHS

Next page : Meeting of the young DHS of Burkina