Tour the Carpathian Mountains Where I Live
Children love camping in the Carpathians!
Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6FHRBBCtF0&feature=share to see Wonderful English Documentary showing the beauty of this crescent shaped mountain range. You’ll see animals both wild, and domestic (watch a sheep being milked), crafts, the people, villages, even Prince Charles who owns land and house here.
You can watch it in segments…you know – watch a little, take a break to make a cup of tea, come back and watch more later. Or set aside 47 minutes and treat your eyes and soul by viewing the breath-taking splendor of God’s handiwork!
This area is truly one of the most beautiful in the world. When God created the heavens and the earth, He displayed His magnificence and love by making Transylvania so special. — Anne
Hungarian Folk Dances in Transylvania
Local youth dancing traditional Hungarian dances at St. George Day Festival
When I find traditional Romanian folk dancing on YouTube, I’ll let you know. The people in this country have many struggles, but they make their life more pleasant with their singing and dancing.
The Lord makes my life very joyful by bringing some of these good hearted people to me…to connect them with Let’s Start Talking to improve their conversational English, or to pass along good used clothing and medical supplies sent by friends in the U.S. who are intentional followers of Jesus, or to listen to them and share what God has taught me during my almost 77 years on this earth. There are many other ways that God allows me to serve the good people here. My life is full, “my cup overflows” with blessings. What a beautiful experience to learn why it is more blessed to give than to receive! Luke says in Luke 6:38, “Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back-given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.” (The Message version) — Anne
This ancient Fortress Church, built between 1100 and 1500 AD, has burial places for thousands of people who lived here. Sometimes, this inspires me to think about the question, "Where will I spend Eternity?" The real answer lis found in the New Testament in The Bible.
A Total Day OFF!
God is blessing me abundantly. My energy level increases some every day. Resting twice a day is routine, but Alva, Adolf and my Romanian team members keep the work going.
I took the whole day off today! We went to a lovely, small festival in Arkus – village 1 mile from Sfantu Gheorghe. Main attractions – 3 free classical concerts – a solo violinist, a solo cellist (both had marvelous accompanists), and a pianist. All are gifted musicians. I have to say that my heart ached when I saw how worn the piano sheet music was. Anybody have classical sheet music in good condition you wish to donate to the students at the Conservatory of Music School (grades 1 – 12)?
The Austrian Kaiser pancakes with fresh wild currants, the fish soup, potato salad maybe tied for first place with the classical concerts. The weather was about 50 F, sunny to partly cloudy, no wind…so peaceful there in an ancient park with restored mansion that serves as a museum today.
The display of antique pottery, farm tools, special embroidery work, wood crafts was impressive. After 3 1/2 hours, I was bushed, but very content! Alva, Maria, Jutka, and the 3 LST Grannies for God (Rosemarie, Wanda, Patricia) had a wonderful time together. God is good…all the time! — Anne
Beautiful St. George, Transylvania, Romania
A Glimpse of My First Week Back in Transylvania Oct., 2011
Neighbors gave me a warm welcome home! From left to right - Adolf & Reka, Guszti, Anne, Aranka!
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Alva is pointing to the stacks of boxes holding the latest shipment from EEM - 10,000 Hungarian Children's Bibles! God is good! Our deepest appreciation to God, and our friends on earth who are making this possible!
Marti and Vivi had brave faces April 27, '11, when they came to say, "goodbye," the day before Adolf and Alva took me to Bucharest, Romania, to take the plane to the U.S. I had cancer. No one knew if we'd ever meet again on this earth...hundreds around the world began praying for my healing. God choose to say, "Yes."
Now we are all smiling. Cured of cancer, I was strong enough to attend the Covasna County Red Cross Volunteers Reception honoring Alva and me because our volunteer work brings hope and light to the suffering people here.
While I don’t understand the mind of God, or why He makes the choices He does, I do know this — He is God, and I am not. Why did He send His son to die for our sins? He has a plan for our lives. All I have to do is offer my life to Him to be a tool in His hands to glorify Him. To do this, I have to know what He wants from me. The only place to learn about that is in the Bible. That’s why I love the Bible. I have hope of life eternal with God because I am now more than a “fan of Jesus.” I am an Intentional Follower of Jesus. Who will come and go with me? — Anne
This Time, God Said, “Yes.
Anne, at Broadway Plaza, Arlington
How many times can I say, “Thank you, God!” Alva and I were led to Dr. Sol Akbani, my oncologist/hematologist at Arlington Cancer Center, Arlington, TX, in response to prayer. Today, after carefully studying the new CT Scan and blood tests. He turned to look at me with a big smile on his face as he announced, “The cancer is gone!” Staring at him, I said, “What???” He repeated, “The cancer is gone!”
What lies ahead? Well, 4 hour chemo infusions on August 9 and 30th. The day after each chemo there will be a 3 hour Rutuxin infusion to build new, healthy bone marrow. Also, blood tests will be made every week, and a PT Scan on Aug. 16.
If God wills, late September will find me in Romania. Maybe there are outstanding Cancer Clinics in Europe where I can get the follow up treatments. If not, there will be trips back to Arlington Cancer Center on Randol Mill Rd. for checkups. God will work all of that out according to His will.
Why did God heal my body, but does not heal some others? I don’t know. But as Paul said in Philippians 1:21, 23, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain….I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.” In 2 Corinthians 5:1, Paul says, “ For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.”
One thing that I have learned from all of this is that I can truly trust God, and that ALL that matters is that God’s will be done. (I knew that, but my “human nature” chooses to forget that sometimes.) Thank you for your support through prayer, visits, cards, FB messages, and continuing financial support of God’s Children’s work in Covasna County, Romania.
Love in the Master’s service,
Anne Boyd, CEO, God’s Children
Tax Deductible Donations may be sent to:
God’s Children
1409 Berne Ln.
Lewisville, TX 75067
or donate online at:
http://gods-children.org
I Can Only Imagine
Tonight, just at sunset, I was sitting in my room, too weak to go to the dining room, having my evening meal alone. Suddenly, sunlight streaming through the double windows made a huge cross on the wall across from me.
At that moment, one of my favorite songs, “I Can Only Imagine,” by Mercy Me, began to play on the Mp3 player a friend gave me! Oh, I was reminded…I am never alone. As I listened to the precious words of that song, I will filled with joy in anticipation of actually being with God one day. Can you imagine?
“I Can Only Imagine” by Mercy Me
I can only imagine
What it will be like
When I walk
By your side
I can only imagine
What my eyes will see
When your face
Is before me
I can only imagine
Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still
Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine
I can only imagine
When that day comes
And I find myself
Standing in the Son
I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever
Forever worship You
I can only imagine
I can only imagine
I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever, forever worship you.”
By the way, friends will take my computer in to the Apple Store in the morning.
Will there be beauty like this peaceful Romanian forest?
Using a new toothbrush to clean the connections made the computer battery charge, but if I put the laptop in my lap…it loses the connection! We live in an imperfect world, but God will help us find our way. – Anne
Beautiful Romanian People
They help God's Children serve their people.
Trust Walk
Hemoglobin is low, white blood cell count it low, taking antibiotic for a minor infection…but everything is going to okay. Really…it is going to be okay. How do I know? Because Jesus loves me. This I know because the Bible tells me so.
Yes, Jesus loves me…even though the power pack to my MacBook quit working. I have about 3 hours of battery power left on my computer…my link to my family and friends around the globe!
Thanking God for all the many blessings in my life anchors me. So, I’m praying someone will be able to take this Mac Book (still under warranty) to the nearest Apple Store to get a new piece to the power pack. Until then, God is still going to take care of me because He loves me. Remember, He loves you too. – Anne
God Never Sleeps
The God Who Never Slumbers Causes the Sun to Rise and Set
Three more chemo treatments are scheduled…one every 3 weeks. The last one will probably be on 30 August. The last two weeks were challenging, but God is always here with me. Your prayers are very important. God loves you and me, and is listening. He is God…He never sleeps. He is always available.
God is showing me, once again, that when there are rough spots in life’s road, He is still with us. We may never understand the WHY, but we can trust that God is watching over us. Remember…the Israelites joined Joseph in Egypt to be saved from starvation. They had a good life until a Pharoah came who did not know Joseph (Exodus 1:8).
They spent four hundred years in Egypt before God sent Moses to lead them out of Egypt…400 years! So, what do you think – if God kept His eye on them, will He watch over us? Romans 8:28 answers – “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.” Does your life, 7 days a week, demonstrate that you really love God?
God has many blessings for those who truly love Him. I am thankful for God’s Children’s Team in Romania, and here in the U.S. They are carrying on the work blessing others even tho I am ill, receiving treatment here in the U.S. God is with us. – Anne
They came to get help improving their English...and found much more than English!
This little girl had no warm coat until God's Children helped.
Half of Chemo is Behind Me!
God continues to smile on me. It’s 8 hours since the third round of chemo was finished. I’ve had two big meals and Haagen-Dazs Mint ice cream since then. Nausea can’t find it’s way to my door! There’s a light covering of hair on my head. A beige baseball cap with a pink flower on it, and turbans are waiting in the wings.
9:00 a.m. Wednesday will find me in the infusion clinic again, but this time receiving Rutuxin, a healing medicine that builds new, healthy bone marrow. The Rutuxin will be followed by a nearly pain free shot of Neulasta – also a “health builder.” After going through struggles about this latest challenge in my life, God has helped me find peace. Why has God favored me with such peace and kept me free from harsh side effects? I’ll believe for the rest of my life that He is doing this in answer to the prayers on my behalf.
A quote by Oswald Chambers came to me from a FaceBook Friend today that encourages me to keep on clinging to God. I dedicate it to all of you who have had your own struggles, or are in the midst of struggle even as I write. — Anne
Sometimes life feels so dark that it's hard to see the Light.
“Sorrow removes a great deal of a person’s shallowness, but it does not always make that person better. Suffering either gives me to myself or it destroys me. You cannot find or receive yourself through success, because you lose your head over pride. And you cannot receive yourself through the monotony of your daily life, because you give in to complaining. The only way to find yourself is in the fires of sorrow. Why it should be this way is immaterial. The fact is that it is true in the Scriptures and in human experience. You can always recognize who has been through the fires of sorrow and received himself, and you know that you can go to him in your moment of trouble and find that he has plenty of time for you. But if a person has not been through the fires of sorrow, he is apt to be contemptuous, having no respect or time for you, only turning you away. If you will receive yourself in the fires of sorrow, God will make you nourishment for other people.” (Oswald Chambers)
Will you let God help you find and receive yourself through rocky times of sorrow?
Day by Day Cancer Is Being Defeated!
I have hope to return to Sfantu Gheorghe where I see this ancient church and fortress from my apple green house
Dr. Akbani’s words were music to my ears! After carefully studying the CT Scan results today, he looked at me with a huge smile on his face as he said, “The swollen lymph nodes are almost gone! Your spleen is REMARKABLY shrunken in size!” He went on to say, “I am 100% confident that we will win this battle.”
What competent oncologists know is that the spleen swollen to twice normal size can be a symptom of lymphoma. I did not have spleenitis! My body was crying out trying to tell us that I have lymphoma. My lymph nodes were so large as a result of fighting the aggressive lymphoma in my body.
Four more rounds of aggressive chemo will take place before September. The battle is not over yet. Please, keep praying that I will be free of extreme fatigue, nausea, sleep well at night, and become all that God wants me to be. Thank you for your faithfulness in praying for me. God is honoring the many prayers for my healing.
God has provided me a lovely room with bath at Broadway Plaza near Dr. Sol Akbani’s office at Arlington Cancer Center in Arlington, Texas. Though the chemo treatment is very aggressive, I have no side effects from the chemo (except for losing my hair). God is teaching me much about trusting Him, about being patient…waiting on God is a choice. God is faithful. We may not like all of His answers to some of our prayers. But He is God, our Creator and our Good Father. He will provide what we need and more IF we will step out of the way and let Him be the pilot…not the co-pilot…The Pilot. Easy to do? No, but it’s worth it. – Anne
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
Melissa, Suzanne, & Alva help take care of me now. Last Summer, they brought Let's Start Talking to Sfantu Gheorghe, Romania! God is good!
Beautiful central Romania
