Ode to my Secret Santa

Every year the missionaries do Secret Santa during Christmas. Each person is supposed to do three surprise things for their secret person and then a final big gift on Christmas Eve. My (Rocio's) secret santa was amazing! My first gift was a beautiful painted glass ornament. Problem was Todd and I decided not to get a Christmas tree so we had nowhere to put it. My secret santa soon took care of that by getting us a Christmas tree. Then a few of us had mentioned we were bummed by the lack of snow this winter. My secret santa then left me snow balls (made of the ice from defrosting her freezer!). It was so fun! Then my final gift was amazing. She looked up a funky new restaurant near my parents' house back home, printed out the amazingly yummy menu, wrote out the directions so I wouldn't get lost, and gave me some spending money so Todd and I could go have lunch there. She rocked! Thanks so much Kelsey! You made my Christmas super special.

The Beautiful Ornament

Our Christmas Tree

Please note: all real trees in Romania look like they were grown especially for Charlie Brown

Christmas Cookies

One of our favorite Christmas activities is baking cookies and decorating them. We really wanted to share this tradition with the children we work with but the frosting here is too runny and it would not work. Thankfully, my brother decided to spend his Christmas in Romania with us. He packed up all our cookie cutters, frosting, sprinkles, etc. and made it possible for us to have the kids share in this tradition. Enjoy the pictures below!

Georghe cutting out cookies

Matias (my brother) helping Diana frost her cookie

Alex discovering that frosting is just as good on fingers

Gina, the master decorator

Don't they look good!

Jesus Birthday Cakes

Kelsey and I do a Bible program for the kids at Casa Alba. As Christmas time approached we wanted a fun way to tell them about the importance of Christ's birth. After much searching we found the Jesus Birthday Cake. Each part of the cake building process tells a different reason for his coming. It's quite a neat project. Below is a picture of the finished product from all four groups of kids.

St. Lucia

As many of you know, the organization we work with in Marghita was founded by Swedes and the majority of the missionaries are Swedish. During Christams time, one special tradition they have is the caroling of Santa Lucia. Yet this tradition is not only for the Swedes on the team. Everyone must partake. I can barely hold a tune in English, so you can only imagine what my singing is like in Swedish.

The caroling is to commemorate Santa Lucia (St. Lucy). It is usually celebrated on December 13th, although we did not do it on that day here. St. Lucia is an Italian saint who has been "adopted" by the Swedes. She gave her dowry to the poor. Her fiancee denounced her for this. She was blinded and burned. The flames didn't touch her so she was stabbed in the heart. She is associated with the idea of light. It is said that she appeared during a famine in Sweden in the middle ages carrying food to the farmers across Lake Vännern. During Santa Lucia all the girls dress up in white robes with gold sashes around their waist and hair and go around caroling while holding candles to represent Santa Lucia. The boys also dress up as "star boys," wearing white robes with a cone-shaped hat decorated with stars and also carrying a star wand. We then all walk around caroling in all three languages (Swedish, English, and Romanian). It is quite a sight to see and hear. What an experience!

St. Lucia with Star Boys

Singing Swedish, English, and Romanian Christmas Carols

Picture Perfect

This week the leadership decided to take the Casa Alba kids' annual picture in front of a Christmas tree. When my friend, who was in charge of getting the task done, informed me of their plans I changed my afternoon plans to help her out. Any parent knows how painful it can be to take a child's holiday portrait. Now imagine 21 of them at the same time. It was not easy. We bribed them with everything imaginable and even busted out the candy. Here are some of the takes. I must admit that we had a blast looking at all the pictures we took!

Take 1....not so hot

9 takes later...things started to look up...yet still not perfect!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

As Christmas time nears, we asked these little reindeers to help us turn our Romanian apartment into a winter wonderland. A few stencils and a can of spray snow later we created a pretty cool scene. And the kids loved to wear the reindeer antlers (thanks Jamie)!

Nati

Georghe

*Our Masterpiece*

Interview of the Century

For those of you who do not know, although Rocio has lived most of her life in the US, she is not a citizen.  For the last few years she debated whether or not to become a citizen but decided not to because she couldn't have triple citizenship (Argentina, Spain, US) and wasn't quite ready to say good-bye to her Argentine citizenship.  Everything changed, however, when we decided to move to Romania.  You see, as a permanent resident she cannot leave the US for more than 1 year.  This became quite a predicament went we became missionaries.  There was no way around it she had to become an American.

Before we left the states we began the process thinking we wouldn't have to be back for the interview until late spring or early summer of 2009.  Yet the Lord works in strange ways and not too long ago we received an interview date of JANUARY 2009!  This means the Stophers are headed back to the states for a bit.  Maybe the Lord knew that we might not survive the first winter here....who knows!

The next part of the process includes a pretty demanding interview.  We will be asked regarding our marriage, our ministry in Romania, and Rocio will have to take a test to prove she knows American History and Government.  Please pray that she can learn all the information and that she gets easy questions at the interview.  If she doesn't answer the questions correctly she may not get to become a citizen....seriously.  Then, assuming the interview goes great, she will be assigned a date when she will be sworn in as a new American citizen.  YAY!  After that off we go back to our work in Romania.  A little hectic, we know.  Please pray that everything goes smoothly and that we can make it back to Romania as quickly as possible.  Just for fun here are some of the questions she might be asked.  Would you pass the test?

1) Who makes the federal laws in the US?

2) What were the original 13 states?

3) How many amendments are there to the Constitution?

4) What are some of the requirements to become the president of the US?

5) Name the amendments that guarantee or address voting rights?

Answers:

1) Congress

2)Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Maryland, Rhode Island

3) 27 

4) Be native-born, not a naturalized citizen, be at least 35 years old, and have lived in the US for at least 14 years.

5) 15th, 19th, 24th, 26th amendments

IF YOU MISSED MORE THAN 1 QUESTION YOU FAILED!

Putting Christmas in Perspective

Winter Update

Curious about what exactly we have been up to in the last several months? This video should give you a good picture of some of the many things God is doing in Romania that we are so excited to be a part of. We hope this update video brings a smile to your face and gives you a glimpse into our hearts for these children.

Pizza Party

Kelsey and I run a Bible based program for the kids at Casa Alba.  One of our goals is to have kids learn scripture.  So each month a new scripture is chosen and the kids have four weeks to learn it.  Then on the end of the fourth week the kids who learn the verse get a treat for their memorization.  This past month we had them learn the first half of Colossians 1:16 and every child learned it.  We were so proud!  It brings us such joy to see little ones recite God's word.  We hope that these small seeds we plant will bring fruit later on in their lives and that they too will live for Christ.

Since they all learned it we wanted to do something special.  We decided that pizza was the answer.  But there is no fun in just eating it so we actually had them make it.  It was so much fun!  They loved it!  Since they don't ever get to help with meals at the orphanage this was a great new experience for them.  They really enjoyed making them and were so proud of their final product.  Enjoy the pictures below!

Our assembly line

Cera with her ball of dough

Cristi forming his pizza

Alex adding toppings

Not too bad for 4-9 year olds

Casa Alba Birthdays!

This past month there have been quite a few birthdays at Casa Alba.  And although I will try to do my best to describe birthdays at Casa Alba, it's truly something you need to experience in order to fully understand.  Birthdays are usually an exciting and hectic time no matter where you are.  This is especially true at Casa Alba.  The workers prepare the decorations (usually a birthday sign with the child's name and age) and the cake.  Then during the afternoon snack volunteers (missionaries), Romanian staff and their children, and the rest of the Casa Alba bunch enjoy the party.  The party consists of singing, a very sugary cake, and opening of presents.  Sounds like a regular party, but all this takes place in thirty minutes or less.  It's crazy.  Then all the kids are so hyper off the sweets that are practically bouncing off the walls.  

Yet these crazy parties are amazing for the birthday child.  They are the center of attention amid over 20 kids for a brief time.  They feel special, important, and loved.  This means the world to a child who has been abandoned.  My favorite part of the party is just looking at the special one's face while everyone sings "happy birthday".  Sheer joy is all over their face!  You can see hope and joy in their face if only for one brief second.  And that makes all the craziness worth it.

Roni loved her cake!

Presents!

Happy 6th birthday Roni!

Todd vs. Rocio

Now Todd and I have a bit of a debate going.  Todd believes that only our parents and immediate family look at our blog.  I, however, believe that people are actually taking the time to read it and are actually excited to know what goes on with us.  Let us share with you how our argument plays out.

Todd - Why are you updating the blog again?

Rocio - Because people want to know what we are up to.

Todd - Ro, only our parents and my grandparents read it.  Just call them and save the time.

Rocio - No, other people read it.

Todd - Ok, Kelsey checks it too.

Rocio - Look at the counter.  People do read it.

Todd - Well, if they read it then they would comment.  You're probably going on it just so the counter reads higher.

Rocio - That's lame. People just don't feel like they need to comment.

Todd - Well they should.

Rocio - Ok, I'll tell them.

So there you have it.  Please help us settle this debate.  If you do read our blog...COMMENT!  That way I can prove to him that more than just our parents check this.  Come on, you know you want to.

In one week we will post how many people commented.  PLEASE help me (Rocio) prove Todd wrong and validate the time I spend putting up posts!  Besides comments encourage us (especially on days we miss being back home).

Kittens

I've been meaning to write this blog for weeks now, but other things kept coming up.  About a month and a half ago, Dude, the cat that lives at Herculane (where all the missionaries meet), had kittens.  It was quite exciting for everybody in the foundation.  Dude became the proud mom of four adorable little kittens.  

Now neither of us are cat people but these little ones were so cute no one could resist (not even Todd).  The kids love them too!  They each seemed to have their favorite and came up with interesting names for each one.  It's so neat to see the kids take nurturing role.  Below are some pictures we snapped a few weeks ago.

There are two kittens in this picture.  Can you spot them?

John trying to keep one of the kittens warm!

One down...99 to go!

Today we celebrated our 1 year wedding anniversary and we can hardly believe how quickly time has passed. As we reflected upon our first year of marriage, we were in awe at the amazing things God has done for us and through us in just one year. We are so humbled to be able to serve Him in Romania and are excited to see what else He has in store for us as our love grows and matures. This past year has been incredible and we are excited for 99 more!

Enjoying the sunset on Apple Hill

Gradinta

About mid-September I was asked if I would be willing to teach English at a local Gradinta, or pre-school. At first, I was a little hesitant since my Romanian is still a bit shaky and I had not taught toddlers for a long time. After some prayer and one of the other missionaries agreeing to help me with the class I agreed. The pre-school I am teaching at is the same one most Casa Alba children attend so I thought it would be good to see how they interact outside the orphanage.

After teaching the English course for about two months I am so glad God opened the door for me to teach at Gradinta. I find it is not only a way to interact more with the local Romanian people, but also an amazing new way to serve the children. The children of Casa Alba have had a really difficult time fitting in at school, mostly due to not being brought up in a Romanian home. They do not know many social nuances other children just acquire from day to day living. Out of their frustration they tend to act out and misbehave in class. This leads to the teacher punishing them either verbally or physically (hitting is quite common in the school system here), which leads to even lower self-esteem. It is quite a sad situation.

The English classes, however, have turned things around for them and it is so exciting to watch. Casa Alba kids have heard English quite a bit since their arrival to the orphanage due to so many foreign volunteers coming in and out of their lives. In fact, most of them can count to ten in English without any difficulty. So now, for the first time ever, they are the smartest kids in the room and it shows. They love getting positive attention and having the other students look up to them or ask them for help.

Teaching at the pre-school has also created stronger relationships between the children and myself. I had been having trouble with one particular child listening to me during Bible Time at Casa Alba, but ever since I teach English at the pre-school he has improved. They are also very excited about school. Whenever they see me they ask, "When is the next class?" And they are tso eager to learn! The kids also love to show the other workers what new words they have learned. Now even some of the Romanian workers are picking up a few words!

The pre-school playground, no seriously, this is where about fifty 3-6 year olds play.

Some of the students in one of my two my English classes.

Happy Halloween!!

Today we celebrated our first Halloween in Romania. It was weird walking down the street today. We actually saw quite a few Romanian teenagers in costumes walking to and from school. All the missionaries were amazed because they had not seen anyone dress up in the past. A couple of the kids wanted to dress up so we set up a few trick or treating stations around the foundation. Then we carved our pumpkins. It was fun all around.

Adina, Alex, Antal, Dani & Adi showing off our pumpkins

Kiki doing a great job cleaning out the pumpkin.

Alex dressed up as a USC football player, of course.

OUR HEROS: Spiderman (Dani), Super Caleb (Caleb), and Batman (Adi)

Happy Meals, Happy Faces

It's so fun to have Ron and Jamie here! Ron and Jamie decided they wanted to do something special with Pink Room at Casa Alba. We packed up a car and took three of the kids into Oradea to visit McDonald's. I can't explain to you the joy brought to the kids, especially Diana (it was her first time). Ron and Jamie bought happy meals all around and made soon we had five really happy kids (Todd and I included). What a treat!
After they enjoyed the food, the kids went to play in the outside playground. Soon we ran into a problem. Cerasela, the youngest one, was too small and unable to climb the levels into the playground. So in I went and helped her up each level. The Romanians looked at me like I had lost my mind, but Cerasela had a blast so it didn't matter. Enjoy some pictures below!

Alex & Diana enjoying the slide.

Helping Cerasela Out

Cerasela & Diana chomping down their happy meals.

Alex wondering what's inside?

Pumpkin Picking

One of the things Todd & I have done since we started dating is gone to the pumpkin patch every October and picked out  a pumpkin.  This year we were a little worried we would not be able to continue our tradition.  You see, Romanians aren't really into pumpkins.  In fact, they only grow them to feed the pigs.  And the pumpkins they grow are usually white.   We thought maybe we would have to settle for a white pumpkin, but it's just not the same.  

Then one of our Romanian friends told us his neighbor was growing orange pumpkins and would be willing to give us a few.  We were so excited.  So another missionary and I trekked out to the village of Poiana to visit this man's farm.  I loved it!  It was so neat to be on a Romanian farm.  I've always grown up in a big city so I was amazed by all I saw.  Below are some pictures of my visit.  And by the way, this man had pumpkins even bigger than the ones we got!  We can't wait to have the kids here carve their first pumpkins!

Our pumpkins

Moo Cows!

Cute little piglets

Some of the pumpkins were HUGE!

Jamie & Ron are here!!!!

We are just so excited.  This past week Ron and Jamie (Todd's parents) arrived to visit us in Marghita, Romania.  It is so great to have family here.  We are having a blast showing them our different projects and just enjoying their company.  They were so sweet and brought us some great treats from the US.  Since Ron and Jamie have been here before many of our fellow missionaries are also happy to see them here again.  They have also kept busy helping out throughout the foundation.  Ron even found some "helping hands" in the donation depot that he enjoyed wearing throughout town.

Ron & Jamie with Adi

(notice Ron's hands)

Where did it go?

Last night when we went to sleep our new welcome mat was resting comfortably in front of our door. This morning...it was gone! Todd got up to go to work and could not believe that someone had stolen our brand new welcome mat. He searched up and down the building thinking maybe it was a prank by one of our neighbors, but could not find it anywhere. So sad! It was so nice, clean, and new. We miss it dearly.

Todd said that the next mat we buy will have low jack on it. Only in Romania do you need to secure down your mat to avoid the bandits! I mean, seriously, who steals a welcome mat?!?

Where did it go?

Humbled

This week I (Rocio) went to Cadea after not going for a week or two.  People on our team had been sick so we didn't go for two weeks.  This week I was really tired and didn't really want to go, but thank goodness for Todd and his reminding me how much I truly love my ministry there.  It's true that if I had to pick a favorite Cadea would probably be the one.  It's the ministry that struck me the most during my first trip and what really made me want to come back trip after trip.

Cadea is a really interesting place.  It's a state-run institution for "kids" (young adults 18 and over) who have been institutionalized all their lives and are unable to live under any other circumstances.  Most of these individuals were born normal, but due to being institutionalized all their lives they have the mentality of a 10-14 year old.  Heartbreaking, I know.  Yet in this dark and sad place I find so much love and joy it overwhelms me at times.

It's been really neat working there since we have moved here.  The kids are really starting to open up to me and I am truly able to start disciplining.    I think they feel as if they can let their guard down now since I will stick around for a while.  During past trips there has been a girl, Liu, who never really gave me the time of day.  In fact, if I tried to make an effort she would push me away or ignore me.  Lately, however, things are very different.  It seems she has become attached at the hip.  She loves to tell me about her day and wants me to just be around her.  I am so thrilled!  She is one of the higher level ones and it's great to finally be able to talk to her about the Lord.  During the last few weeks I have noticed a change in her prayer.  When we pray as a group her prayers usually consisted of things she wanted/needed.  Lately, most of her prayer has been of thanksgiving and just glorifying Him for who He is.  So awesome!  

This week when she came to greet me she looked so sad.  I immediately asked her what was wrong.  She told me she had a picture of the two of us posted next to her bed since last December.  She loves the picture and is so proud to have it.  However, this past week one of the other kids during a fit ripped down everything from the walls including her picture.  She was in tears when she told me.  She kept telling me how happy that picture made her since it reminded her someone loved her.  Oh, when she said that my heart broke!  How humbling is it to know that my simply being there brings her hope and love!  In that moment God confirmed once again the importance of our coming to Romania and loving on these precious children.  It humbles me how He can use us in the simplest ways.    

It's a Small World After All

Today we went to church in Oradea.  It was so great to worship there and hear the Word.  We hadn't been able to attend the last few weeks so we were really excited to go today.  There was a team of about sixteen people visiting from the US at church today.  The team from New Albany, Indiana, is here helping our friend Rachel's foundation.  As we were talking to them Todd mentioned that his family is from the same town.  They thought it was neat and started talking about their favorite haunts in New Albany.  Then something really funny happened.  The lady we were talking to told us that her old neighbors' nephew had also recently moved to Romania with his wife to work with orphans.  We thought it was mere coincidence.  Then see said her neighbors were the Meyers, Carl and Rosie Meyer.  We just started laughing because we realized the neighbors were Todd's great-aunt and uncle.  It was so neat!  The team was also excited to go back and tell Carl and Rosie that they had seen their nephew and wife.  We sent hugs their way of course.

The message today was also very encouraging.  First of all, Todd and I were able to piece it together without an interpreter (woo-hoo way to go us!).  It really encouraged us to see that our language acquisition is progressing.  Todd even helped some of the people visiting understand a bit of what was going on!  Anyways, the message was on fears and how we should not have them because God has the victory over everything.  I know it's a message that we hear often, but the speaker made a point that blew me away.  He said that instead of talking or focusing on what scares us or why it scares us we should focus and spend our time thinking about how God will change our situation and make it a victory.  This was so encouraging!  Just wanted to share it with you in case it might encourage you today.

Fall is Here

One of the really fun things about living in Romania is that we finally get to experience Fall. Not that we didn't enjoy the 70 degree weather nearly year round, but there is something really neat about watching the seasons change.

The really cold weather has become milder and all the trees are starting to change colors and shed their leaves. Today some of the kids from Casa Alba really enjoyed playing in the leaves! And it was just so fun to watch them enjoy it.

Look at all the different colors!

Joni raking up the leaves.

Caleb enjoying our new pile of leaves.

Making It a Home

This past week we have been busy doing some much needed work to our apartment. Any free time we have had has been dedicated to fixing, painting, etc. We were almost done last night...and the paint ran out!!! So one more day and we will officially be done. Here are a few pictures to give you an idea of the work we have done.

Before

After

So pretty...and the greatest part is we found 90% of these things in the donation depot!

If you want to see the rest, guess you'll have to come for a visit ;)

See the room is already waiting for you!!