Tuesday, May 10, 2022

Update from America

 

Update from America
March and April 2022 Update
"The Lord replied, 'My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."
- Exodus 33:14
March and April were a departure from our normal ministry in Romania. We were able to travel to the US for six weeks of ministry there as well as plenty of rest and relaxation.

We started our time off with a birthday celebration for Oliver (March 9, turned 1!) and Nicu (March 5) where we got to see many of our extended family members. We spent several days adjusting to the time difference and orientating ourselves to being in a different country. This was Nicu's first time in the US so we took lots of walks and went on many special outings.
One of the outings that we went on was to the aquarium with my mom and aunt. Another night my college best friend and roommate, Megan, stopped by for dinner with our family. One day we went with my mom to Stone Mountain Park and rode the Skylift to the top. We were also able to meet up with my brother and his family for dinner one Saturday evening.
After just a few weeks in Georgia with my parents we took a quick weekend trip to Pennsylvania to see my best friend and former co-worker, Heather, and her family. We were also able to speak at Cochranton Christian and Missionary Alliance Church where Heather's dad is the pastor. We were very blessed to meet people who had been praying for us and our ministry for years.

I had never been to Pennsylvania before so this was a new experience even for me! We got to see first hand what spring in the Northeast means (snow, sun, snow, sun, snow...all in one day) and learned about snow squalls (luckily we left before we experienced one for ourselves).
After we returned from Pennsylvania it was back to Georgia and another full week of activities: going on a Walking Dead set tour, meeting up with family members, having our first date night without Oliver, getting new lenses for Oliver's glasses, speaking at my parent's Sunday School class, and visiting the zoo.
One of the things we were looking forward to the most about being in the US was getting to take a family vacation with my parents, something I haven't been able to do in over two years. We were excited to have the chance to go to Disney World with my mom, dad, and aunt for several days. Oliver enjoyed riding it's a small world, meeting the characters during a character brunch, and singing along to Frozen and The Lion King.
We finished up our time in America with a few more special moments as well as lots of shopping trips to get last minute items. Nicu and I visited my aunt and uncle at their lake house and Nicu got to spend the day fishing...apparently he caught more fish than have ever been caught at their house before! We visited my grandmother, helped with an Easter egg hunt at the preschool where my sister-in-law teaches, had Easter dinner with family, and saw my nephews play baseball.
Our time in America also included local ministry. On several occasions we accompanied my mom to a local trailer park community to work at an after school program for elementary school children run by Path United (The Path Project). We loved being able to serve the kids through Bible stories, games, and crafts. It was a joy to be able to make connections with the kids even if we were only with them for a short period of time.
Our time in America was much needed...since I was last there two years ago we have gotten married, moved to Nenciulești, had a baby, and started running the boys transition program...all in the middle of a global pandemic! We were able to spend time visiting with friends and family and getting recharged for the work that lies ahead.
How You Can Support Us
Here are our current praises and prayer requests:
  • We were able to speak at several churches and gatherings during our time in the US and to meet with current and potential financial supporters.
  • We returned safely from the States and ready to return to our work in Romania.
  • One of the girls from Periș, Ionela, who now lives in București, attended Easter dinner with us at Pipera. We pray that she will start regularly attending church with us.
  • Pray for us as we begin planning and preparing for summer ministry.
  • We hope to continue to gather financial support both for our family and for the transition program.
  • Pray for direction for our ministry as many kids are leaving the orphanage and/or going to other foundations and I look to begin doing therapy again with some of the kids.
  • Iuli and Andrei will be finishing the program soon. Pray specifically for Iuli as he finishes school and finds a job and for Andrei that he will continue to do well at his construction job.

If you would like to partner with us financially through Heart to Heart International please use the button below. If you choose to support us financially be sure and indicate in the memo section that you would like the funds to go to Nicu and Melissa Perghel or the Transition Program. You can check out our Facebook group to receive updates on the program and how God is using us here in Romania.

You can also make a donation through Walking With Orphans using the PayPal Giving link below. The transaction will appear as "Eastern European and Russian Orphanages Project" (the registered name for Walking With Orphans).
                            By using PayPal Giving we will receive 100% of your donation!

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