The news featured on this page comes from Carolyn White, volunteer administrator for NOROC, and Mary Ferris, Mission Co-Worker for the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. in Romania.

* Mary continues to evaluate the ever-changing needs of the Big-Hearted Granny programs. In the month of October Mary hired new grannies at the baby orphanage to work a late afternoon shift. She learned that during this time of the day there are only 2 staff at the orphanage, who frequently turn off the lights for the babies so that they can sit in the office during their shift. With grannies now working in the afternoon, the babies have more time with a loving granny. Petru and Nina did all the interviewing and training for the new grannies.

* Mary found an ophthalmologist to examine the children in the toddler orphanage. About 1/3 to 1/2 of the toddlers are crossed-eyed. Now Mary is trying to convince people that this eye condition has nothing to do with retardation.

* The weather has been below freezing for over a month and the city of Tulcea has not turned-on the heat to homes, apartments, institutions or buildings. The word is that the heat will be turned on November 15th but coal has not yet been purchased to make the steam for the radiators. The rumor is that the heating company is bankrupt. With donations, Mary purchased portable heaters for the baby rooms.

* Another of Maryıs ongoing roles is as an advocate for the older youth. The past couple of months Mary has worked to make certain that all students from the orphanages were in some sort of school or trade school, and that all young people over 18 years old who exited the orphanages in the last couple of months have had a safe place to live.

* Mary took some older girls and boys to a movie in October. She goes with the kids to some of their sports games (sponsored by NOROC) and to some of the professional volleyball games.

* Mary used donations this month for purchases including eyeglasses for one boy, textbooks for the library at the boys home, room and board for 4 youth to attend boarding school, and shoes for the boys home because there was no money in the county budget for shoes this year.

Mary would like to stress that God is the real miracle worker in all things. The accomplishments of the past few weeks have been possible only through God, and the collective efforts of many individuals working together. NOROC's successes depend on the dedication of all the NOROC team members (Petru, Marilena, Nina, Christina, Nelu, etc) as well as the help of the grannies and the financial contributors of individuals and churches.

* Mary celebrated her birthday on October 30. She received cards and a banner from her friends at First Central Presbyterian Church in Abilene, as well as presents from her relatives throughout North America. Her friends in Romania joined her in celebrating her birthday, and she had a good time. She would like to express her thanks to everyone for making her feel special on that day.

* Mary is taking Romanian lessons and is learning the language. She has hired a young lady to be her translator and to attend meetings with her.

* For spiritual nurturing, Mary listens to and enjoys audio cassette tapes of First Central Presbyterian church's worship services which are sent to her. In addition, Mary attends a Romanian Orthodox church with her friends and leads a bible study with young mothers from All Godıs Children.

* Mary has been eating, giving away, cooking, making jelly and finally forced by friends to make wine (a national pastime in Romania like chili cookoffs in the U.S.) ... all from the amazing grapes that grow on her balcony. It generally takes about 2 weeks to make wine but her 2 bottles are a little slow.

* Mary has finally found a cable company with CNN in English. For the first 2 months, she got the news through a short-wave radio, or in French. All of the Romanians were sympathetic to the United States in the wake of our national tragedy, and the churches in Tulcea held a special service for Americans.