CHRISTMAS TRIP 2010 - New YouTube Clip Added

5th February 2011

How the year flies by so quickly and so on Friday December 3rd a group of 9 headed to Romania for this year’s Christmas Trip with 4 of the group never having been to Romania before.  The members of the trip were Kevin Smith, Jim & Joyce Cork, Sue Wheeler, Terry Mayo, Kathy Flippance, Sara Newman, Joshua Woodcock and Maureen Wykes. 

Trustees Kevin and Jim headed up the group and obviously the principal aim was to personally distribute as many of the Christmas Presents as possible.  The weather in the UK had been the worst for many years and we were praying that the airport at Luton remained open!  The decision was made to leave in the early hours of Friday 3rd and take a steady drive in the snow and ice.  Fortunately all went well and they arrived in Cluj to a ‘balmy’ 8 degrees!
Due to Romania being 2 hours ahead of the UK Friday allowed enough time to deliver everyone to their accommodation and get a good night’s sleep as it would be early morning’s for the rest of the week.  Saturday saw us leave Zalau at 8am to visit our friends Sarah and Ramiz of Romanian Relief at Tinca in the neighbouring county of Bihor.  A good 2 hour drive on the usual pot holed roads saw Kevin dropped off in Oradea for a business meeting with Sarah and Ramiz with the rest of the group going to Tinca.  A day was spent with the children in the Safe Houses, visiting the clinic and spending time in the large Roma village, which gave a good insight into the great work they do in the Tinca area.
Sunday began as a ‘day of rest’ with everyone attending the morning meeting at Grace church then enjoying lunch with Pastor Joldes.  The rest of the day and early evening was spent at the warehouse with Nely and Ioan sorting out all of the Christmas presents into age groups and then organising them for school visits.
Monday to Thursday mornings were the four days spent in schools.  This involved being ready to leave by 8am, loading at the warehouse and then heading off to the schools.  Over the course of the four days we were able to go to schools in Ortelec, Moigrad, Brebi, Brusturi, Lupoaia, Borza, Chichisa, Stirciu, Campia Salaj, Salajeni and Cosei.  It was still great to see the excited faces of the children as they received their gifts.  Joshua took on the mantle of dressing in the Father Christmas outfit and did this so well it became his job for the week!
Although the schools finish at lunch time our days were still full.  On Monday afternoon we visited the Pasi Spre Viitor centre were the young adults had prepared a Concert for us.  This was song and a play with them having translated this into English for us.  We were able to give each resident their Christmas gift and hear how well the young people are doing in training and employment.  In the evening we had chance to have a meal with Dorina Babos - Director of Social Services.
Tuesday afternoon was spent at the C.I.T.O - day centre, visiting our friend Rodica and giving the group chance to purchase candles etc made by the disabled people who work at the centre.  We went on to meet Dorica and Tibi Dan at the APWR centre before Tibi showed us around the construction site of new national centre that has been funded by a grant from Norway.  In the evening we had the pleasure of sharing a meal and spending time with our good friends Pastor Ioan and Otilia Cuipe.
Wednesday was a packed day with us visiting the old and disabled people at Crasna on the way to Stirciu school before spending the rest of the day around Stirciu taking parcels and clothing to many poor families.  We stayed in Stirciu and had a traditional meal with a family in the village.  In the evening Sara and Joshua joined the young people at Grace church for a youth meeting and to look at possible contacts for a group of young people to come to Romania in 2011.  The rest of the group enjoyed a meal with Dorica and Tibi Dan.
After spending a final morning in schools on Thursday we were once again able to take out family parcels and see firsthand some of the difficult conditions in which some people have to live.  Romania is a country of such great contrast in terms of those who have much and those who have very little.
This just left enough time on Thursday evening to get packed ready to leave early on Friday Dec 10th for our return to the UK.  A busy but productive trip, which was enjoyed by everyone.
For photos of the trip, look in the Gallery section.