Tim and Liz

Well folks, sorry, but no pictures. I even talked to a couple of you today and told you there would be pictures, but out of respect for the hospital rules there are none.

The more time I spend in the hospital, the more I love the kids, and the harder it gets. When you get to know them, their stories become personal. The things that hurt them hurt you. The things that make them laugh make you laugh. Leaving on Friday afternoon was so difficult because I knew the babies would be alone until we came back on Monday morning.

I have not told you yet about the long term volunteers who live here and work at the hospital all year. If you check out the Firm Foundations website you can read about Sarah, Steffi, Mary, Alisha, Tim & Liz, and Juliana- all of whom live here in Romania. But today I want to highlight Tim and Liz. They are a married couple originally from California. She taught pre-school and he worked at a publishing house. They were out of the country when I first arrived, so I had already been here about a week and a half before I ever met them. When we finally did work a shift together at the hospital I was struck by how loving and tender they are with all of the kids. The word that kept coming to mind was compassionate. They move through the rooms paying special attention to each kid, with obvious love in their eyes.

They committed to a two year engagement here, which will be up in December and I know they are already wondering how they will leave the kids. I have enjoyed getting to serve beside them and learn from them. I will leave you today with a song that has come to mind so many times as I have worked with the kids- the ones we don't know names for, the ones who cry for so long, the ones who are sick, the ones who are abandoned. I can do nothing but love them for this short time that I am here, and trust the Lord with them. He is the Defender of the weak and He is just.

"He knows my name,
He knows my every thought,
He sees each tear that falls,
And hears me when I call."