Open hands

(Hebrews 12: 27)
 Is this really the final day of February? Where have the days gone? The tiny snowdrop amazes me as it  persistently pushes through the hard and frosty soil. So delicate yet determined even though a struggle to make it through.  A reminder of the cold and frosty winter surrounding many I love in the land of my adoption – Romania.  Each day a struggle; unloved, forgotten, acceptance of who or where they are; their true value as an individual, a person. My heart yearns to comfort the suffering, to tell them of the great love my Lord has to offer. He is the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort. May they clasp their hand in His.
Yes, I am still ‘By the Brook’ – questioning in the secret corner of my heart ‘what am I accomplishing?’ What a faithful God have I, no mistakes in God’s timetable. While my heart is in Romania, I am here and here for a reason.   My service is not restricted to time or placement – the call of my heart remains unchanged.  To do what the Lord is telling me to do and to serve where He also leads. The heartbeat of mission is doing as God instructs in His time and plan – the choice is not mine.
February has blown winds of unimaginable pain and suffering. A few days ago, I thought my heart would break in two as I received continuous emails, spoke with Daria, Estera, Monika. ‘The cry of the broken.’  Every situation different with one underlying factor of extreme pain and loss.  Psalm 91: 1 assures us that ‘He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest …’ I have found myself reading this Psalm over and over.   ‘Shirley, is this where you are resting today?’  Possessions can be removed, change is evident but our hope remains in the ‘Things That Cannot Be Shaken.’ We know they will remain. Pray for our ministry, our outreach, that we may point precious souls to the foot of the Cross. Pray with me each day as I list the prayer points for you to write upon your heart.
Sister L (Pentecostal) age 20. On 14^th February this precious Sister was cooking food on the furnace. She placed the pot on the ground and went to fetch the lid, when she returned her little boy of 22 months had fallen into the pot.  An emergency team concluded the burns to be 60% covering his entire body. The little one died.  The pain of loss and separation is personal and real. Thank the Lord we were able to assist with funeral costs. Please remember Gabi and the team of Iochebed, every day they face pain and suffering, we stand with them in provision of medicines for babies, critical needs, heart rendering situations. Let us continue to show the love and compassion of our Faithful God.
Estera (Emanuel Hospice Social Worker) is in daily contact with me as she knows my heart and the love for ‘My Children.’  Little Deborah (3) also lost her battle. Her young mother gave birth the following day after she passed away.  The funeral was five days ago. Emanuel (15) was buried the day before. I am so thankful for the opportunity of knowing the parents and loving these precious jewels who were sent to us for such a short time.  Thank you for your heart in providing food for these families. Your heart of compassion has fed the hungry and dying until their final days.
Little Kevin is stable; Ishmael (6) will have to wait for his 20^th surgery as this cannot take place just now. We rejoice that Ishmael’s father has come to know the Lord and is being baptised in April. This is the true fruit of our labour.  To God Be The Glory! Dada (4) is receiving chemotherapy just now, we wait on results regarding a possible Bone Marrow Transplant.  Her smile remains unchanged – she is adorable.
Denisa wrote to me (I quote): ‘Last month was difficult. After chemotherapy my blood values were very low. I received transfusions of platelets and blood each week but still unable to receive treatment until the values of blood grow.’ Denisa is an inspiration, displaying such courage and determination, please remember this very special young lady whom I have grown to love.
 Daria (Emanuel Hospice Psychologist) telephoned last week updating me on the various patients I know and love. Pray for Daria as she offers bereavement care to the many grieving children who have recently lost a father or mother.  No one can comprehend the inner pain of loss, yet it is clear in their searching eyes as they try to tell you ‘I am fine.’ Please remember Chisty, Carla, Alex, Raul, Luis, Larisa – all different children with one common factor – ‘the pain of loss.’
Sister Elena has recommenced chemotherapy, at present she has a severe infection due to low blood count.
 Sister Nela is trying to regain her mobility after many months of being bed bound.  Her desire is to walk again.
 
 New patients to add to your prayer list:
 ‘A’ a gentleman of  (48) – advanced brain tumour, paralysed and unable to communicate. Pray for his wife and their little adopted daughter (4). His time is short.
 ‘M’  a lady of (48) suffering from breast cancer and recently diagnosed with multiple bone metastases. She is a widow and her son has just commenced university. Pray for assurance in this situation where they feel all is hopeless.
 ‘L’  a lady of (47) dying from gallbladder cancer. Pray she will open her heart to the message of salvation before it is too late.
 People need the Lord; pray for Daria and Estera as they offer counselling, care, food but more importantly as they share the Gospel of the Lord Jesus to these precious people.
 We rejoice with Lajos (husband of my friend Bobby).  A few days before Bobby died, she wrote a letter to her beloved husband and placed it in the Bible we had bought for her during her latter stages. Lajos found the Bible containing the letter and through reading verses underlined, came to know the Lord. He began attending Emanuel Baptist Church and was baptised a few weeks ago. This is the core meaning of our service.  We should never pass by –  we should stop, tell them the old, old story of Jesus and His love.
 Monika (Director, Casa Grace) continues to see God at work as she embraces the sorrow, hurt and disappointment of the desperately poor, the unwanted orphan, disabled child, abandoned baby. At some point in each of our lives, we face trouble, we cannot escape it, it is part of every day living. We have the joy of belonging to the ‘Family of God’ of placing  our fears and sorrow into Higher Hands. Pray for Monika in her role as she encounters the hurt found in the streets of Romania.
 The family of Emese need our love and support. Two beautiful little girls trying to reason ‘Why my Mummy?‘
 My little Adam whose time in hospital seems to be more frequent now, the staff in the abandoned baby wing mourning little Adrian who although nine, his tiny multiple malformed body was wrecked with continuous pain – his cot is now empty – the pain of loss.
 Sister Anna from a Roma village, widowed and four children – awaiting surgery.
 And of course ‘Our Beloved Dora’ loved by so many and who prays for ‘Sister Shirley’ every day that ‘soon she will come back with lots of presents for me.’
We embrace the needs of heartache, pain and suffering. My husband will leave next week for Romania taking much needed resources for the second quarter ending 30 June, 2018.  Pray for Dr. Moore as he visits  those in despair.  We may question, not fully grasp or understand why but we must pour out our heart in trust knowing that in our ‘Dwelling Place’ here is rest, shelter in the comfort of the heart that was broken for us. The threads of our tapestry may be tangled, perhaps broken but in the words of a ‘Golden Oldie.’
 Someday the silver cord will break,
And I no more as now shall sing;
But oh, the joy when I shall wake
Within the palace of the King.
And I shall see Him face to face
And tell the story – Saved by grace.
May this be the core of our mission to tell the story ‘Saved By Grace.’
Shirley
 
 
 
 

‘Sensitive;  Thoughtful;  Loving;  Kind; Tender Hearted; Caring…’ 
Words can be meaningful but are they filled with compassion, comfort?  Are they similar to those spoken by ‘The Good Samaritan’? He did not simply ‘pass by’. He took time, his eyes were opened and he saw and spoke ‘words of compassion’. We live in a world filled with uncertainty, pain, yet the words we speak can define our true character of who we are within. Do we see;  Do we Care; Are we willing to open our heart to feel and share in the pain and suffering placed before us?

This morning in my own private time with the Lord I read ‘Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!  Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits’ (Psalm 103: 1-2)  The words that touched me ‘And forget not all His benefits’.  How could I ever forget the beautiful words of Jesus filled with meaning .  Words.  Loving Words!
 Today my co-workers have been in touch, alerting me to the reality of the day, the list of critical illness is growing.  They need us to stand beside them in prayer.  I am heart broken, I feel helpless, far removed from those I love in their time of pain and suffering. Yet my heart is not removed, it is filled with compassion as I feel their suffering and gladly walk beside them. My attitude, my response must display the character, the nature of my Lord who displayed His love by giving His all. Who is my neighbour?
I smile as I remember my visits with Estera to Emanuel and Dada. Their childlike faith shining through in the hope of a ‘future’, a ‘new tomorrow’. Both Emanuel (15) and Andrada (4) suffer from Leukaemia. Da Da (as many of you will recall) was moved to a hospital in Timisoara. Disappointment followed as a suitable donor was not in place for her transplant  to proceed. Then she fell and broke her arm – the procedure was postponed. Today, it was confirmed she is not able to have the transplant because cancer cells continue to be active in her body. They are trying an alternative treatment with the view of  a future transplant. If this is not a possibility, Da Da will return home.
Emanuel (15) a quiet and shy boy, has undergone a Bone Marrow Transplant in Timisora; his condition is critical, he will be discharged with a palliative care package in place. 
Little Salome was thrilled to receive a Disney Frozen Bag. Her brother Alex is very sick – he had a car accident and has incurred a severe brain injury. He is unable to walk or speak. 
There are many other precious jewels who are very sick in hospital, too sick to return home. They smile gently when receiving the gift of a little handbag. ‘He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart….. Isaiah 40: 11. 
My friend Elizabeth in the care of Emanuel Hospice; her husband John suffered a severe fall and is unable to walk.  Who will care for Elizabeth now ? 
I refer to my recent ‘blog’ ‘I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU’ and ask you to continue to remember:
The children who have lost parents recently, the family of Brother Joseph, The husband and children of my friend Sister Emese ‘Called Home’ last week.; The family of Baby Florin. He is close to the broken hearted.
Sister(s) Elena; Alina; Magdalena; Anna; Denisa; Dora – each with their own individual and specific need.
I recall asking myself the question (in hospital) ‘Am I doing enough?’  For some time the Lord placed the work of Iochebed in Suceava (12 hours drive from Oradea) on my heart. This week, Tell Romania felt exercised to send a donation by Swift Payment.  I share the response received a few hours ago: Sister Alexandra (23) married with four children (aged 5; 4; 2; 2 months) living in severe poverty, the children in poor health due to lack of food and low immune system.  No heat.  Sister Gaby’s (Director of Iochebed) heart of compassion was moved to see, to feel and to do. With the donation, a stove/furnace has been purchased and sent as a ‘Gift from the Lord’ to this family. The provision of heat for the little ones, cooking facilities (when food is available).  This dear young sister wept tears of happiness and praised the Lord that we did not pass by but stopped to show we cared.
We can walk through the storms of life and the winds of adversity because we know that Heaven and Earth will pass away, but His words will never pass away.  Our confidence, our trust is in the Living Word.
Lord, Give me faith for the things that are ‘real’. 
Shirley, 01 February, 2018
 
 

‘Still my soul be still
And do not fear
Though winds of change may rage tomorrow
God is at your side
No longer dread
The fires of unexpected sorrow 
God, You are my God
And I will trust in You and not be shaken
Lord of peace renew
A steadfast spirit within me
To rest in You alone’.
(Words and Music by Keith & Kristyn Getty & Stuart Townend)
 Every breath I breathe is precious, a gift given by my Heavenly Father.  This thought has impacted me during this period where circumstances caused me to know the true meaning of ‘Trust’.  Placing my trust in a heart beating constantly with love.  As I waken each morning, methinks ‘Today is yesterday’s tomorrow’. Yes, a change of plans and suddenly,  yet in the change I came to know the importance of today, moving by faith into the next step of another tomorrow. Fear and faith are not compatible, yet I had to go through a period of fear as I faced overwhelming circumstances of the reality ‘why not me’? When all things appear to be against you, one has time to reflect.  Embarking from the plane in Stanstead Airport and ‘rushing’, suddenly chest pain.  I silently tried to breathe deeply and kept walking. Five weeks into our mission trip although I knew things were not right, I had an unshakable peace.  I knew I must return for further investigation.  What has the new me learned?  God is faithful. His delays are timely as we face the realisation there is still work to be accomplished. My heart has found rest that although ‘By the Brook’ for a season, in the quiet hours His voice, His peace has removed my disappointment, discouragement, turning my fear, hopelessness into a new dimension of focus.  As a child I often heard my Mother sing ‘Many things about tomorrow, I don’t seem to understand, but I know who holds tomorrow, and I know He holds my hand’.  He has stirred the waters refreshing my soul and assuring me He will equip me with strength for each new day (and tomorrow),  His work will be accomplished ‘For Such A Time As This’. ‘The Lord will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail’. Isaiah: 58: 11
Charles Stanley lists some requirements for faith:  Listening to God; Obeying God; Depending on God and Waiting on God.  And so in faith, the project for CIGHID will go forward.  Fifty Adult Orphans need to know they are not forgotten. They need to know and feel loved. Details listed on our Website.
We read in Luke 10: 42 ‘One thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part ……. ‘  What treasures we find sitting at the feet of Jesus. ‘Break Thou the Bread of Life oh Lord to me‘.  We give thanks to the Lord for His faithfulness enabling us to Follow Our Heart in 2018; we must love unconditionally, providing bread for the hungry and dying this incoming year.  During the first ten days of January, nine Hospice Patients died.  Darling Baby Florin lost his battle with Leukaemia and only a few days ago a much loved brother so kind and gentle, Brother Jospeh, received his call to Glory.  I remember my last visit two days before I returned home, he asked:  ‘Sister Shirley, will I be going home soon’?  Joseph is finally home. Moments ago I learned from Estera,  ‘Little Ella’s’ father has died. So important to have met their personal needs but more importantly to point them ‘By the way of the Cross’.  The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh, blessed be the name of the Lord.  I ask myself: ‘How many are the lost that I have lifted, how many of the chained I have helped to free, I wonder have done for my best for Jesus, the One who did so much for me?’
I am home for a season, yet not home.  The Lord is my dwelling place and there I rest. The work and financial support continues. Monika, Dora (Casa Grace), Marinela, Daria, Estera (Emanuel Hospice) are in daily contact with me updating me on current situations.  How precious the bond of friendship.  In the plan and will of God we will meet mid April. I have felt the prayers of the Family of God, humbled by the numerous tokens and expressions of genuine care and love.  Pastor David McFarland has been my ‘Balm in Gilead’.
I find my hope renewed with each new sunrise, mercies sufficient for each day.  His unfailing love is continuous and my hope is in Him alone. Let us go forward together offering hope to those in despair.  As I finish, I end by quoting the words of Charles Stanley: ‘Give me a heart to seek You above all else, Lord, I want to experience Your presence on an intimate level’.
‘I have set the Lord always before me’. (Psalm 16: 8) What need I more ?

August 2016 was the last time Carla (Lorena’s Mum) heard her little girl speak or saw her play in the remote village of Mihai Bravo. Her beautiful dark eyes now dull with pain as she lies day after day unable to

communicate. The only sounds heard are those of pain and suffering.

Lorena was in my heart all day yesterday, the freezing conditions in Romania,

Minus 15. My heart ached and I longed to be near her, just to hold her close.

In Jer 2: 2 we read ‘I Remember You’ reminding me that I am always in His

thoughts. Again as I read in Psa 68: 10 ‘Thou, O God, hast prepared of Thy

goodness for the poor’. How our Lord loves and so must I with complete

confidence in the Sovereign Goodness of God. Last evening before retiring,

I received the attached pictures from Estera; tears filled my eyes as I saw

Lorena’s smile. What a Faithful God we serve, answering my prayer and

stilling my heart. You created this smile through your Gift of Love. ‘You gave

a cup of water and a bite of bread too’. Thank you.

Andrada (4) (affectionately known as Dada) was diagnosed with cancer 2 years ago. Then, aged only 2, this

little darling faced many treatments of chemotherapy. Yesterday her

mother received the news her little one has relapsed and she is devastated.

Andrada needs to start chemotherapy as soon as possible but her family have

no money to pay for the treatment. They are a very poor family who live in a

village 40km from Oradea. She will require two rounds of chemo (each one

costing 2,000 Euros). But they cannot afford or raise this vast sum of money.

The people from the village are seeking to support this family but further

urgent help is required. The doctor expressed Andrada has a good chance of

survival, although a Bone Marrow Transplant would need to take place in

Timisoara during March. These are only two of many!

As I launch ‘GIVE WITH YOUR HEART’ Appeal to run throughout 2017, my ordinary faith needs to become

extraordinary, trusting the Lord, knowing that He alone will support it, increasing my faith moment by

moment, day by day as I depend on Him. It is not about money or asking for money, it is sharing the

passion, the desire of Tell Romania to provide the urgent needs: Monthly Food Provision; Medicines;

Finance for Medical Treatments/Scans. But more importantly to share the hope of the Gospel. I ask that

you stand with us that God may be glorified and the faith of His children be strengthened. The Orphan

without father, mother; the Disabled, weak in mind and body; the Abandoned, crying out just to be loved;

the hungry and dying… We can be instrumental in bestowing blessing to those who have no one to care.

Why are so many of God’s people poor, sick? Not mine to question, I must trust knowing that the Lord has

infallibly foreknown every one of them and is aware of all the needs of His

poor children. I treasure in my heart the words of our Lord: ‘You are poor and

needy, but He has thought of you’. £1,000 is our aim each month to enable

£500 to be forwarded to Emanuel Hospice and £500 to Casa Grace

Foundation to provide food for the poverty stricken families within their care.

Every Home Crusade kindly printed A3 laminated posters for the use of

churches, groups, individuals who wish to organise a specific event. If you feel

the Lord directing you please contact us:

Tell Romania, B5 Ocean Green, Ocean Drive, Portstewart, Co. Londonderry,

BT57RU.

LOVE INCARNATE, LOVE DIVINE, CAPTIVATE THIS HEART OF MINE, TILL ALL I DO, SPEAKS OF YOU.

Shirley, January 10, 2017

God Knows

On Shirley’s and Hamilton’s behalf, I want to thank you for all your love and prayers for them and particularly for Shirley in recent weeks. I apologise that some of you have been anxious to know how she has been doing and not getting answers but you have kept praying. Thank you for that. I have sought to protect Shirley from stress and am more than willing to answer queries and share your concerns for her but will always respect Shirley’s need for privacy. I spoke at length with her today so that I could be better enabled to keep you informed and my over-riding response to you all is that Shirley continues to need prayer.
Her stent procedure was far from straight-forward and she is still a very sick woman and needs to be really careful. The medics have been very forthright in telling her the implications of her illness and Shirley knows in her body how weak she really is.  This is quite a new experience for Shirley who has always gone the second, third, fourth, fifth mile to ensure those in need got help or to raise support or to thank supporters. She can no longer do that and must rest. She is just not fit at the moment to respond to the very many messages she has received.  On her behalf, I say a sincere thank you. But Shirley will not be responding personally for the foreseeable future.
From Hamilton and Shirley and all involved in Tell Romania may I wish you a very blessed New Year.
THE GATE OF THE YEAR
‘God Knows’
And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”
And he replied:
“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”
So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night.
And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.
So heart be still:
What need our little life
Our human life to know,
If God hath comprehension?
In all the dizzy strife
Of things both high and low,
God hideth His intention.
God knows. His will
Is best. The stretch of years
Which wind ahead, so dim
To our imperfect vision,
Are clear to God. Our fears
Are premature; In Him,
All time hath full provision.
Then rest: until
God moves to lift the veil
From our impatient eyes,
When, as the sweeter features
Of Life’s stern face we hail,
Fair beyond all surmise
God’s thought around His creatures
Our mind shall fill.
 
Minnie Haskins

Thank you for praying. Shirley’s catheterisation was difficult and challenging (not to say precarious)  for the surgeons but it has been successful. She has come through the  severe trauma of the past week very well.  That is despite being informed how really ill she was. Had she not had the procedure at this time she had only weeks before something catastrophic happened.
The wonderful news is that she has been allowed home tonight (Wednesday). She is badly shaken and very weak but rejoicing in the Lord. We praise God with her and Hamilton for His goodness and mercy to them.
But please note that it will be some considerable time before Shirley is able to do anything like what she did before. She MUST rest and will be monitored closely over the coming weeks with checks and tests. The problem of the blockage has been solved but this was not some regular stent insertion. Her heart condition has been changed forever but with the right care her health situation is manageable.
Normally I respect people’s privacy and do not say as much in such circumstances but I have deliberately painted just a little picture of what life is going to be like for them for the foreseeable future (I speak with some experience) So please pray for them both. Pray for Shirley’s recovery physically and emotionally and please – give them space. It is crucial that Shirley relaxes for at least 10 days.
They would want me to express their deepest thanks for all your love and prayers. What a wonderful encouragement you are to them. Join with them in thanking God for all He has done for Shirley.
The Lord bless you
David
david@2hearts.org
1 Peter 5:10-11 
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.”