February 2002

This following an excerpt of a letter from Carolyn detailing her annual trip to Romania. This year Carolyn and her husband Dr. Fred White were accompanied by their daughter, Natalie, Rev. Mike Lane (of First Central Presbyterian Church in Abilene Texas) and Rev. Richard Shemp ( the Executive Presbyter of Palo-Duro Presbytery.)

Carolyn Writes:

"NOW about our trip... This could take pages and pages. We stared our trip at the sea port of Constanta (ancient Toomis) and traveled to a remote area to visit the cave of the apostle Andrew. This is where the Andrew lived when Christianity was brought to this region. This reminded us that this area has been Christian since 60 AD.

Then the rest of the week was in Tulcea. On Saturday and Sunday Fred saw medical patients and on Sunday Carolyn "Martha" started unpacking 17 boxes, 70 pounds each. If you know my husband, you will understand that he does not pack in categories but has perfected the art of getting each box full with 70 pounds each. So each box had to be reorganized after we get there. Huge job!

On Sunday the rest of our group, Mary, Carol and Rev.Richard Schempp from Palo Duro Presbytery and Rev. Mike Lane took a group of kids from the boys and girls homes to the monastery about 40 miles outside the city. It was a wonderful experience for all.

During the week, we visited as many institutions that we could possibly see. As I said, the youth group cooked our meal for 2 different evening. The first evening was amazing... as soon as the meal was over, the kids asked Rich to explain about Presbyterians and theology, and there was a rich discussion (pun intended). There was also a banquet for 100 people from grannies, to teachers, to directors of orphanages, and to friends of NOROC. The best part was the entertainment organized by the director of the boys home using the kids from Mary's youth group and the younger children from the boys and girls home. It turned out that one of the children raised in the orphanage system had her own mother in the audience. Mary is working on reconciliation between this abandoned child and mother.

LASTLY for the best part. Mary organized an ecumenical worship service in the cafeteria of the boy's home. This was the first ecumenical worship service ever. All parts were in two languages. The head priest of the Orthodox seminary, the pastor from the Romanian Baptist Church, Rev Mary (female minister is new concept), Rev Mike from our church, and Rev. Rich from our presbytery. Since Executive Presbyter does not translate into Romanian or into their paradigms, we had to call him our bishop. Rich and his wife sang Amazing Grace and then everyone sang this song in their own language. The choir from the seminary sang Amazing Grace in English and several other songs during the worship. Rich presented the message with Petru translating. Workers in different areas and institutions were dedicated to the job of nurturing the children in the institutions. The gypsy children choir sang and the group of young boys from the orphanage sang. It was too amazing to describe.

The last night was spent in the home of our friends the Dutas in Bucuresti. Here as a small group Mary lead us in the service of communion. A Romanian bread on a Romanian plate with Mary's wine in a Romanian cup on a Romanian doily in a Romanian home - all reminded us that we are in community with all Christians. A visiting lady doctor of Orthodox background and the Dutas, Church of Christ, joined in this special service. This must have been how it was during the early church as Paul or others had to leave a certain Christian community.

Thank you for prayers, thank you for support, thank you for gifts of great variety, thank you for financial support, thank you for encouraging NOROC to grow to meet the ever changing needs of our children in Tulcea County.

Noroc (Romanian for God Bless or Good Luck),

Carolyn

Old News

November 2003
August 2003
March 2003
July 2002
February 2002
November/December 2001
October 2001