I received my first two tapes of FCPC's church services in the mail and what a blessing they are. To hear Cliff, Marie, Brian, Janice, the choir and to have the bulletin and the music as well makes the whole experience very meaningful. The topic of Cliff's sermon on the 26th inspired me to write this epistle describing the situation with dogs here in Romania. For those that weren't present or who don't attend FCPC, Cliff's title of his sermon was," A Living Dog is Better Than a Dead Lion." This scripture verse could be the national motto of Romania as they have a very peculiar national dilemma of what to do with the hundreds of thousands of dogs co-existing in the streets throughout every city in Romania.

The problem began when their former dictator took over entire villages and burned them to the ground, as well as entire neighborhoods in the cities. The people were displaced and the animals left to fend for themselves. As a quiet revolutionary act very typical of Romanians, the people took care of their displaced neighbors' pets. They fed them secretly and the dogs had pups and twelve years later their are thousands of dogs living on the street. I hesitate to call them wild because every car has a dog living under it. Almost every apartment has two or three dogs living in the doorways or under bushes. The people feed the animals and give them water and clean up after them. You never see doggie remains on the streets. I have an avid curiosity about this entire situation. It seems that the dogs find certain places to relieve themselves that aren't visible from the street. So you can see the Romanians really do believe a living dog IS better than their dead Lion(dictator).

Those of us who are not used to sleeping with howling dogs all night might have something different to say about the situation. During the day the dogs are sleeping because they are up all night cavorting and partying in the streets. The streets are literally ruled by the dogs at night. The dogs are fiercely protective of the apartments in which they live and if you approach an apartment building at night where you don't live, if you aren't with the owner, you will be most likely attacked. This situation would never exist in America because they would round them up and send them quickly, efficiently to doggie heaven...with the dead lions. But the politicians here in Romania are in a bind. True, the dogs are a health hazard and a growing out of all proportion nuisance... But the people protect the dogs and nothing is more dear to the populaces heart than their protection of these dogs. Quite frankly, I have given into the inevitable and take a nap(un nani) in the afternoons when it is quiet. My sister gave me a grand idea. Put food out down the block so the dogs won't congregate under my window... I am going to try this.

Before we think that the Romanians are out of their minds, let us consider another fact about Romania that I have discovered. On the same block as my apartment building there is a very prominent Jewish synagogue. I inquired about the number of Jewish residents in Tulcea. I was told that the congregation has dwindled but during WWII their was a very thriving Jewish community in Tulcea. According to this source of information Romania itself never persecuted the Jews, but protected them. So, it would seem that the same society that protects their dogs now, protected the outcasts of Europe during WWII. (NOTE: I haven't substantiated this fact about Romania's treatment of the Jews during WWII with a neutral source, but the Jews did not flee Tulcea for certain.) In fact I have never met a less violent society in my life. This is probably one reason Romania is such an easy target for the likes of Hitler, Stalin, Ceaucescieu. However, when Ceaucescieu ordered his army to shoot the demonstrators against him, the soldiers couldn't do it. They couldn't take the lives of their fellow country persons. The evil man might still be in power if he had not ordered this slaughter because these people can endure hardship, but they aren't inclined to inflict physical harm on others... BLESSED ARE THE MEEK

So, where do we get these dreadful conditions in these orphanages... It isn't out of cruelty that is for certain. Mostly it is poverty and ignorance. Also, many people think of unwanted children much like they think of their dogs, it is a community problem, not an individual problem. The dogs belong to the community, in a similar way so do the abandoned children. These institutions are another legacy of Ceaucesceu.

Last week in Tulcea 26 infants were abandoned. 26!!!!! Another factor is that abortion is unheard of in this society.. That is good. Obviously, neither is birth control. That is NOT good. In a country with such severe economic problems, they can't afford to have so many abandoned children. One family alone has 9 children in the orphanages in Tulcea. The mother comes to see the children but can't afford them at home. When these young adults are forced out at 18 on their own, it isn't out of cruelty, it is an economic necessity.

NOROC is a wonderful bridge for this county, offering help wherever we can. This week alone we arranged for three young adults to go to junior college to learn a trade. They are provided room and board for $1.00 a day. NOROC is providing this assistance for them It is a miracle to them because the options for the girls would be the sewing factory at $50 per month. The boy would work odd jobs and sleep on a building sight or wherever he could. These three are brilliant (and I don't use the words lightly) young adults. The money we are providing is a no interest loan which they can pay back when they get out of schools and get decent jobs. They understand that when they pay back the money, this will enable the next generation of students to get transitional help. NOROC is also buying textbooks for the few students who are in high school. I feel in a way we are helping these students like the people help the dogs, a little bit but this isn't the ultimate solution. The problem is very overwhelming when you consider it on a national scale. We need your prayers.

Cliff's sermon was perfect for me, because we don't have the most glorious solutions, we just have the barest of help... but that gives hope and that is where the miracle comes in. These young people almost all go to church and pray very deeply. Anna Maria who had been released from the girls home said she had prayed on Sunday because she did not know where she was going to go but she didn't really expect to have an answer. She said no one had ever told her she could go to school before Nina came along. Nina is the psychologist who works with NOROC. I am falling in love with the children and youth and I am learning to co-exist with the dogs.

YES, MY FRIENDS, HERE IN ROMANIA THE DOGS ARE LIVING AND THAT IS GOOD NEWS.

Love,