Notes from my last visit

I paid a visit to Glodeanu on Saturday, as I told you. I felt a joy that I can’t put into words when I saw them again and they were all happy and smiling. 

I encountered some of the children in the churchyard, right after service. Nicușor held a large plate with koliva and gave it to me in order to taste what his mother had prepared. I was glad to see the kids coming to church, for the service, especially on a Saturday, when we, urban people for example, rarely go to the Lord’s house on Saturday.

In church, I rejoined Mrs. Jenny, the teacher who is dedicated body and soul to the children and helped them together with other teachers to prepare the cards for the fair held in April. She told me about all the miraculous changes that have been happening in the past few weeks. Four of the children who received your and father Marian Tudor’s support and those to whom you have sent gifts are Mrs. Jeny’s pupils. She told me that the recent events have had a great impact on the children’s state of mind. For better. They have more appetite for life, play and books. I saw all this later that day when I stopped by their homes.

First stop was at Cristina’s house, where I saw the big blue-eyed Denisa again. I saw Nicușor, Vlad and Adrian. Cristina arranged our shoes we had taken off at the entrance. When I left, she whispered in my ear "You wear 37" (size 4 in UK).  They looked cheerful and energetic as any children of their age! That clumsiness I saw in their eyes at our first meeting vanished. Back then, they were sad and almost ashamed of poverty and the conditions in which we met, and somewhat embarrassed that we brought food and clothes. Now, the children greeted us with ease.

You can also notice the changes in Cătălin and Michael’s home. We found only Cătălin at home, who fled back into his mother's arms. But the house looks different – the bed is a proper bed now, the walls are lime-washed, the stove is clean, one can notice the freshly washed rugs spread on the walls, there are toys and curtains at the windows. I found some supplies and food in a box and outside, you could smell the freshly washed laundry hanged on the clothesline, waving in the wind. Cătălin's mother was not as scared as the first time. However, you can still read in her eyes the fear that someday, someone may come and take her kids away.

I was strongly impressed with Jeni. Beautifully dressed, she was sitting on a small bench in front of the gate with her sister, Florina and her brother, Bogdan. The minute we got there she told father Tudor that it was a good thing that he had paid for her participation in a French contest because Jeni won the contest, rating "excellent". I entered the room and Jeni got excited when she received a gift from Mrs. Luiza Almangiu, a gift that was wrapped with love and was sent from Bucharest. Her birthday had been at the end of May, so every thing she discovered in the gift prepared for her filled her with delight. Jeni impressed me because she was VERY CHEERFUL. Both she and Florina  were happy. At our first meeting Jeni was hunched an old lady, as if she was carrying the burdens of the entire universe on her shoulders. Now she was as happy as a butterfly, mainly because she had found out that she will go to the summer camp at Tismana at the end of August, by courtesy of a big hearted lady, who will bear the costs of camp for five children from Glodeanu.

When we got to Loredana’s house, we were not able to stay too long because it started pouring and we had to hurry so that our car would not get stuck in that muddy street. Lore received me as loving as always, between us there is a soul bound that can not be expressed in too many words. We both felt it at the very beginning of our first arrival in Glodeanu.

We dropped by Maria’s, who came out disheveled, with a big smile on her lips, looking happy to receive unannounced visitors. Fortunately, I read the same happiness on Marinuș’ face. He will also be going on the camp to Tismana. Marinuș signed like a doctor the document that had to be filled in before leaving for the camp. This kid is special. Not only will he graduate from school with "very good" marks, but he also seems to have developed signs of adult maturity and responsibility. He takes care of his younger siblings, just like a mother does.

This is what Glodeanu looked like on Saturday. I left that place much happier than I did after my first visit when all I could read in those children’s eyes was an immense sadness. I left thinking that things are on the right track, that baby steps were made towards a better life, because these children have THE CHANCE, they have a great chance. What is going to happen to them is the greatest joy of this year to me so far. Because they are the living proof that everything is possible. 

Much can be done if each of us gives a helping hand. Then each of us could mean so much to someone who never had anything. I left Glodeanu thanking St. Philophteia that she took care of these souls and their prayers were listened to especially because she is the patron saint of the village.  I'm sure these children have received and will continue to receive help from Saint Nicholas, from the Mother of God and from our Lord, Jesus Christ.

God will reward those who helped and will not cease to help the children!"

Nicoleta Ţintea

Many pleasant surprises and some good news

The children had a weekend fillew with  joy, laughters and love. 12 of them were from Friday to Saturday in Bucharest, by courtesy of Alin and Alina Mărginean, husband and wife, whom we kindly thank. They have prepared a surprise for the children. They lodged the children in their stylish hotel, 4 Seasons and staged two dreamy days for them. Children went to the zoo, at the circus, in the park, at a playground and to McDonald's. I saw them on Friday night and I can not say how excited they were. Soon, we will share here some pictures of the children taken during their trip. In order for this surprise to come true, we had support from the Chief School Inspector of Buzău who provided them with a bus to take them to Bucharest. 

The surprises kept on coming. On Sunday, Elena and her husband, Antonio Dumitrescu, two people with beautiful souls, came loaded with gifts to Glodeanu. They were helped by you, all those who wanted to make these children happy. They both wrote what they felt there. Their words and pictures don’t need additional details. I invite you to read their impressions and to have a look at the pictures taken by Antonio. I thank them on this occasion for their initiative, patience, effort, sensitivity. Just look at the photo with Jeni, who had a wish come true - that of having a bicycle, in order to realise how happy the children had been after they paid them a visit.

A different balance sheet

Photo source: http://www.fotokolor.blogspot.com/

So far, I have written about the visit to Glodeanu only in numbers, but I have started to write about people, too. In the post on April 16th, I did not write about my feelings and  perspective on children of Glodeanu. the I saw and felt the children of Glodeanu.

I do not know exactly when and how these children were irremediably glued to my soul. In the past month,  I have been thinking about them day and night.  Maybe you think I overreact, but I don’t. Unfortunately, I have not learned so far how to deal with their problem with more disengagement. Usually, I prefer to get to grips with it, fight a silent war, somewhat complicated, known only by me. In my opinion, a problem is a problem in daylight or by night. Because I dream at night, and  think by day, or vice versa, I dream with my eyes open and think by night because I can not sleep.

I thought day and night, as if I would forget, if I lost touch of it  one day. And if I had forgotten, I was afraid that nobody would have learnt about the children from the forgotten village.

During this period, extraordinary things happened. There were people who left me speechless. I do not give names. For instance, a friend’s teenage daughter donated her child allowance to these children. Strangers came with arms full of gifts. Anonymous gifts were left at the fair, even without waiting for a thank you. There were gestures that I can not express in words. There were moments of despair and wonderful moments, because miracles happened and things were better arranged than I had expected or dreamt of.  Another proof angels live amongst us and came to support. Me and the children. What could be more pure than their prayers raised to heaven? Is it a coincidence that the church is dedicated to the St. Philophteia, protector of the poor and children? I think not. Because I do not believe in coincidences. I only believe in miracles.

I thought that if went go to Glodeanu with full arms, in a way something would change. After I went there, I understood that that journey was just the beginning. It may seem strange, but I returned sadder than I left. Sadder because I felt the bitterness of those children. Lord! I do not think I ever saw sad children. Children who are afraid to look in a gift bag, because they never received anything. Children who do not raise their eyes from the ground, as if the entire universe presses on their shoulders. Children that rarely smile. Because they have no reason to smile. Because  some of them do not even know how to use a spoon and a fork. They can not speak because no one spoke to them. And those who know are somehow doomed. The village is about 40 km from Buzău. Now I understand what Jeni said. That she would be a saleswoman because nobody would support her to go to high school. I understand what the 9 year old girl said with a rough maturity, like an adult.

There are at least 7-8 children with  good learning results. Or maybe more. I don’t know exactly how many there are. They learn well, although they do their homework in unimaginable conditions, sitting in the cold and feeling hungry most of the time. They cling to the book as their only hope that could help them escape from their little universe.

I wish with all my heart that the story of the children of Glodeanu would not stop here. To make it possible, we need you all. All of you who gave little or more from what you have and shared with these children. Maybe a few years from now, we will write on this blog the story of Jenny who has graduated from high school and got to college. Or the story of another happy child who lives in the village with a thousand adoptive mothers and fathers. The priest from Valea Plopului, father Nicolae Tănase, who managed to take care of more than 340 children, once said that ancestors took care of the children who remained orphans after the war. People had it in their blood to take care of those children and it did not seem unusual to anyone. To dress, feed and bring up afflicted children. The children of Glodeanu are not orphans. They are just fate-stricken.

Nonetheless, we will try to find concrete solutions for them. Maybe for each family individually. Because I believe that some problems can be solved. And if you change a day in the life of a man, and if you give a piece of bread or a hug in the saddest day of his life, it certainly means more than anything. The first step would be to found a social center with a soup kitchen  created especially for them. I saw the land where the social canteen can be built. Right in the churchyard. Children should be protected by the St. Philophteia, known as the protectress of the poor and the little ones. They would eat hot meals and socialize with other children.  Or could be involved in educational activities. 

We don’t have yet a proper estimate of the costs involved. We will notify you as soon as we clear figures. Until then, the list of those who want to donate building materials for this purpose or money is still open. The money will be kept in children’s account until the start of the the project. Thank you all!

May God enlighten your mind, soul and give you nice holidays.

Nicoleta Țintea

First impressions after paying a visit in Glodeanu, Buzău

Photo source: www.fotokolor.blogspot.com

Fifi and Adi joined us on Saturday to Glodeanu. They helped us with luggage, transport, they provided a car and everything. We also got support from Iuliana, Marius and his colleague, Petrișor, Andrei, Ramona and Gabi. They all are amazing people, who came in as rescue angels with solutions when I could not find one. Fifi wrote about the visit in the village. I invite you all to read his vision on the children of Glodeanu. Also, you can find more pictures on Adi’s blog, fotokolor.