Friday, September 7, 2007
Community Dinner
We decided prior to coming to Romania that on our last day we wanted to have a dinner where people could wash their hands before eating and get some good food. Cole decided that the easiest would be to grill mici (meech)--which are a mixture of ground beek, pork, and sometimes lamb--kind of like a sausage without the skin on it. It was lots of fun and everyone was well fed. We gave out about 400 mici, plus bread, and just about everyone washed their hands!
Getting Supplies Romanian Style
We were without the van that we thought we would use for the greater portion of the week, so we traveled like sarmale (i.e. like sardines). We actually successfully loaded the remaining lumber that we needed in Pilu's Pasat with 6 adults inside as well! We laughed so hard we could barely contain ourselves to get the lumber in the car.
Final Touches
We were so pleased to return to some of the outhouses we installed to find that they had really taken ownership of the outouses--adding locks, hooks so it closes properly, and putting plastic around the base. We so joyful that God had answered our prayer that those that recieve the outhouses take initiative to dig their own hole and ownership once the outhouse is installed.
We also wanted to install the outhouses complete with a toilet seat for a few reasons: so the hole would be smaller, and so it would be easier to clean the seat. We were worried that we would not have money to buy them, but we were able to get all the seats for about $50. We were so pleased!
Trying out the stencil for the first time. . . Thanks Kim to (our in-house medical illustrator) it worked really well!
Stenciling the rest of the outhouse doors.
The final stencil image!
We also wanted to install the outhouses complete with a toilet seat for a few reasons: so the hole would be smaller, and so it would be easier to clean the seat. We were worried that we would not have money to buy them, but we were able to get all the seats for about $50. We were so pleased!
Trying out the stencil for the first time. . . Thanks Kim to (our in-house medical illustrator) it worked really well!
Stenciling the rest of the outhouse doors.
The final stencil image!
Surprise Outhouse for a Paralyzed Man
As we were installing an outhouse for one family in Soard, and at least 5 people mentioned another paralyzed man who really didn't have any type of outhouse. His wife had to bring him out to their existing outhouse which was basically a hole in the ground with a few 2x4's at the corners offering absolutely no privacy. People who were recieving outhouses and other neighbors alerted us to the situation asking us to give this family an outhouse. Cole and Jamie remarked that this showed a change in the hearts of the Romani people in Soard--before people would have been asking for an outhouse for themselves not for another.
The finished Product.
The family: the paralyzed man and his wife who takes care of him plus Cole, Jamie, and Mischa.
The finished Product.
The family: the paralyzed man and his wife who takes care of him plus Cole, Jamie, and Mischa.
Estera's Outhouse
Estera is a widow who lives alone and is very involved in the Mana church plant in Soard.
The space where we had to fit the outhouse was rather tight. As we were installing it all the neighbors were commenting that the outhouse was so big, nice, and beautiful!
Cole had to climb onto the neighbor's fence in order to attach the roof. As you can see it was quite a tight fit.
As always our activities gathered quite the crowd.
Estera was so proud of and pleased with her outhouse!
Estera also had a few repairs around the house that needed to be done. Her front door had one of the 4 panels missing leaving her open to thieves all year round and cold air during the winter. Cole was able to repair it with one of the scraps of plywood.
Health Education Sessions
We taught two lessons each evening Monday through Thursday in Soard. Danielle taught about preventing dehydration and making oral rehydration solution; and preventing back and knee pain. Mischa taught about preventing contagious diseases through handwashing, getting enough sleep, etc. Jamie taught about preventing chronic diseases (high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes), do's and don'ts in pregnancy, women's health (contraception, STDs, and common women's health issues), the effects of alcohol and cigarettes. We prepared handouts for each topic and had them laminated--which was more than an easy task--and then gave the out during the week. The women were very appreciative of the topics we covered, asked really great questions, and were excited to learn. Estera nailed up one of the laminated handouts in her outhouse as a decoration!
Mischa teaching about first aid. Asia is translating for her.
The ladies practicing the Heimlic maneuver.
Cristina showing off the laminated handout for First Aid.
Rosa and Ana practicing bandaging a cut.
Jamie teaching regarding the effects of cigarettes on the body. Magda was helping with the lesson--very helpful for the occasional phrase that Jamie didn't know how to say!
Mischa teaching about first aid. Asia is translating for her.
The ladies practicing the Heimlic maneuver.
Cristina showing off the laminated handout for First Aid.
Rosa and Ana practicing bandaging a cut.
Jamie teaching regarding the effects of cigarettes on the body. Magda was helping with the lesson--very helpful for the occasional phrase that Jamie didn't know how to say!
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Installing Outhouses
The SAW at work.
The saw was hand made by Pintea, the gent to the left. It was well used and well loved--the blade had been sharpened so many times that it was actually oval instead of round. The breaker was also not used to such electrical demands, so Andy waited next to the fuse box and would unplug the saw when he could hear that the saw was dying.
Our prefab preparations. We made all the pieces (walls, door, & seat) and them brought them separately to the home where we installed the outhouse.
Outhouse parade!
We had a list of 30-40 families/homes that needed a outhouses. We had to prioritize the list so that we provided outhouses to the most desperate, starting with widows, moving on to families with small children. Andy commented later that we were fulfilling James 1:27 (Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.) Such excitement accompanied each outhouse that paraded up this dirt road. Cole would lead the way and the rest of us would just follow along to the next home. It was great to see an outhouse puzzle so to speak fill the road. It was like a flag proclaiming God's provision for these people.
Here the team is installing the first outhouse for Rosa who is a widow and has had no outhouse. She commented when we were installing her outhouse that it was such a great blessing. She said that she never would have had the money to build one on her own. She also has heart problems and asthma and was very grateful that others in the village helped to dig the hole for the outhouse so we could install it. It was the first outhouse that we installed.
Estera (L) and Rosa (R): two of the widows in the Romani neighborhood in Soard that recieved outhouses.
The peanut gallery that gathered as the guys installed the outhouse.
Here the guys are adding the finishing touches to Outhouse #1 at Rosa's home.
The saw was hand made by Pintea, the gent to the left. It was well used and well loved--the blade had been sharpened so many times that it was actually oval instead of round. The breaker was also not used to such electrical demands, so Andy waited next to the fuse box and would unplug the saw when he could hear that the saw was dying.
Our prefab preparations. We made all the pieces (walls, door, & seat) and them brought them separately to the home where we installed the outhouse.
Outhouse parade!
We had a list of 30-40 families/homes that needed a outhouses. We had to prioritize the list so that we provided outhouses to the most desperate, starting with widows, moving on to families with small children. Andy commented later that we were fulfilling James 1:27 (Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.) Such excitement accompanied each outhouse that paraded up this dirt road. Cole would lead the way and the rest of us would just follow along to the next home. It was great to see an outhouse puzzle so to speak fill the road. It was like a flag proclaiming God's provision for these people.
Here the team is installing the first outhouse for Rosa who is a widow and has had no outhouse. She commented when we were installing her outhouse that it was such a great blessing. She said that she never would have had the money to build one on her own. She also has heart problems and asthma and was very grateful that others in the village helped to dig the hole for the outhouse so we could install it. It was the first outhouse that we installed.
Estera (L) and Rosa (R): two of the widows in the Romani neighborhood in Soard that recieved outhouses.
The peanut gallery that gathered as the guys installed the outhouse.
Here the guys are adding the finishing touches to Outhouse #1 at Rosa's home.
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