Lisbon Free Baptist Church
Ministry Updates from Amber Niemann
WEARS International, Inc.
WEARS Romania Project
GET READY Take a DEEP Breath...
Things are going really awesome doors have opened to us like crazy yet funding
has practically stopped. I know some is as a result of my not being able to
keep in touch like I should. Put it to you like this.. Mihaela and I have
been going like crazy for the last two months. We are about to CRASH.. I can't
imagine Mihaela this year without me here..
Weekly Programs:
Since April:
Monday - Office with clients and preparing for programs
- Youth Program in Soard / Home visits
- dinner and cleaning for next office day /
homework with the girls as they are preparing for exams
Tuesday - Office / Clients / Counseling / and working on administration papers /
resolving client issues / home visits
Wednesday - Office with clients and preparing for programs
- Youth Program in Soard / Counseling hours in Soard
Thursday - Tg Mures / Hetiur / Office
Friday - Strategy planning for following week / catch up on paper work previous
week / staff meetings / Clients / etc...
I know the above schedule doesn't seem much but when you through in curve balls
every other day it has really warn on us.
Okay The last three weeks have been loaded..
April 28 - 30 (current) Mihaela and I were working to resolve paperwork with
our car and also to go to the Shelter we collaborate with to talk about a
problem with one of our clients and also to see how we could help her move on.
This was a mess we are in a vicious cycle with NGO's and Gvt programs lack of
cooperation and passion as well as a lack of professionalism within the Gvt
offices. We have a client in the shelter.
April 30 Mihaela and I had to go to for a Council meeting where the above topic
was discussed... plus other issues. The Financial Crisis is really hitting
hard. The Police Departments are having to cut budgets which has even hit their
gasoline so they have limited Gas for responding to Villages and other rural
areas. Child Protective services the same their cut backs have caused a reduction
in Foster Care payments which is forcing children to reintegrate back into their
abusive homes. Shelters are closing. Foundations are seeking more money which
isn't available anywhere. However out of this particular meeting... God starting
opening doors.
We were asked to participate in an NGO exhibition on May 9 by the shelter who we
collaborate with. We decided we would do it if just to be there and build
relationship with them.
Also we were asked if we could participate in a National School Anti-Violence
Competition (May 15 - 16) where kids from grades 5 - 12 worked on projects in
their schools and communities to bring violence in the School and community to
awareness and then to implement their projects in a campaign and report their
results and impletement a strategy for change. We would provide a special
recognition prize to one team (turned out to be two teams). We were invited
to this Competition by the School Inspector who refused to us to work in schools
so of course we couldn't say "NO" this would just be a start to building
relationship with her and opening a door later.
Week of May 4-9 we had some serious issues to deal with. I can't go into details
with this but it involved possible gang rape. This took about two weeks of
investigation and having to listen to so many versions of the story. We never
could get the truth out.
May 9th NGO Exhibition was great. We even met a Psychologist who works at
the Mures Youth Prison. She has over 200 young men ages 16 -21 who are in
for various reasons but they all come from Domestic Violence Homes. There
are only 3 of these prisons here in Romania and this one is the largest and
serves only the Transylvania Region of Romania. She asked us to get in touch
with her to visit the prison and to talk to the rest of the treatment staff
about our programs.
May 11 - 14 Worked hard on finishing our Project Proposal for another 6 month
Grant that needed to be turned in on May 14 after jumping several hurdles we
finished it.
May 15-16 The National School competition was great. While at this competition
we meet one of the Women who is the coordinator for Psychology and Special
programs in schools works in the the same building as the School Inspector.
She told us the School we were in last year only spoke highly of our program
and really suggested it to be implemented in the School. She asked us to
participate in the County Competition in Psychology for Grade 10. Of course
we said "Yes" it was to be held May 23.
May 20 - I visited 14 of the 19 mom's I will be working with over the next 6
wks on parenting Skills. 15 of the 19 participated in our "How to be better
Parents" program in collaboration with Holt International in Feb and March.
May 21 - We had to pick up Health Sanatation Authorization, met with (the
coordinator for Psychology in Schools) - this meeting was great she took
our report and our evaluations from our program. She said in the fall she
will call together the High School Psychologists to meet with us and see how
our program can be implemented in their curriculum. Door is opening for us
to get in the school legally without the Inspector having to approve of it.
We also met with the Foundation for the Blind in Mures to see about receiving
a manual to learn to write in Brail and to read Brail. This is for a young
woman who has been ministering for at least 10 years through letters and Bible
Studies via mail to prisoners. (Turns out she also corresponses with some of
the kids in the Youth Prison we will be going to). We met with Youth Prison
Psychologist. It was great. We went to the Prison and had a meeting with the
Prison Social Worker and Coordinator for Activities as well as Psychologist.
After our talking they wanted to show us their planned activities for this
month and next. On May 25 they had planned African Day where they would
teach the youth about Africa and they had no information. Well it just so
happened Mihaela and I know of 3 African young men who are in Mures as the
Local YWAM and they have also their own African Band. They do educational
programs about African and we told them we would talk with them so that was
our next stop after our meeting at the prison..From the Prison we were off
to meet up with our African Friends to discuss the possiblity of them going
to the Prison for African Day and presenting their Culture and Countries of
Nigeria and Republic of Congo.
Okay our Weekend. Hahaa
May 22 - We had a ton of work to do to prepare for the Campaigns we are
having on Wednesday - Friday plus we received a phone call about the Grant
we applied for that we needed another paper by Monday morning. Mihaela and
I felt like our day just zoomed by. Not only did we find ourselves running
all day resolving papers, writing reports, answer phone calls, and writing
collaborations, it was Mihaela's brother's Birthday (which Mihaela had to
still find time to make a cake - and I needed to find time to work ADTS
internet job) plus it was Mihaela's Aunt's Birthday. We had to still also
prepare for the Psychology School competition that was for Saturday. Ugh..
Okay Friday came and went so fast we didn't even find time to breath... I
spent the evening rewriting our Brochure for the foundation and helping
build Fundatia BERACA Website (still under construction)
www.fundatiaBeracaSighisoara.tk.
Needless to say I think Mihaela and I got about 3 hours sleep
May 23 - Psychology Competition - WAS GREAT!!! We built better relationship
with 5 of the girls from the High School who took our Course last Fall. Our
day started at 7:30 and then we got home around 9:30pm. Exhausted not able
to sleep because of a local (outside Cafe) that has Karaoke on Saturday Nights
til around 1 or 2 am.
May 24 Sunday We couldn't move. Neither of us could wake up til 1pm (of course
we couldn't sleep til 3am or so Saturday night). Sunday afternoon we were
invited to a Picnic So we packed up our dogs and headed to the local pond.
From 2 - 5 we were with them had a wonderful relaxed afternoon. Ran home and
changed clothes to go to Church where one of our girls was having her baby
dedicated. After we went to her house for a reception and dance with the teens
and laughed really hard until around 10:30pm. No we don't know how to slow
down... Hahaa Got home and Mihaela had to meet her brother about some paper
work and administrative things for the Construction Company they started) she
got home around 11:30pm. BED umm I know it was calling but we couldn't seem
to find time to get in it.. I have no clue what time we actually slept Sunday
night.. but Monday Morning came early..
May 25 7am off on a Marathon run to resolve the missing paper crisis for our
Grant. While there we had to also go by and get the passport of our African
Brothers and one American to take to the Jail so they could send them for
approvals. We got home at 10:30 am. Only to receive another phone call that
they want us to send to them another copy of our file we submitted for the
Grant. haha... (The Grant only Calls for Two copies which we turned in).
12noon Pastor came to visit our office and to asked us if we would be
willing to collaborate with their church (Local Baptist church). They have
several ministries in nearby villages and they have also buildings to operate
out of. They want to bring in Social Services to their ministries and felt
our ministry and social services would be a great asset to the villages they
are working in. Praise GOD. He also made a proposal for us to come join
them where it is a very violent village he calls it a JUNGLE. Two families
have been fueding there for years and even has lead to murder. He feels they
can offer their part in Evangelizing but really wants to bring to the people
education and meet their social needs as well. I had a great conversation
with him testing him on his thoughts about the role of Husband and Wife and
the roles of Women vs Men...Had to make sure we would be on the same page if
we accepted this collaboration... HAD A WONDERFUL CONVERSATION WITH HIM AND
WE ARE ON THE SAME PAGE... not only that but we spoke about our Conferences
we want to hold and about our vision as to reaching the Churched and UNCHURCHED
in the area of Verbal abuse. I liked the fact that he recognized that Domestic
Violence doesn't keep it's head out of the church and that it is a problem
among the Christian community as well as the non christian community. As a
part of our Collaboration we will receive a location to hold our programs
free of rent and at this time also Utilities paid for how not not sure yet..
1400 - 1800 Counseling Hours... Meet with 8 women (one in which we have to
figure out some way to go for her daughter who is being held against her
will by her abusive husband.
May 26
Mihaela and I left again home at 7am. Our Plan for the day was to go to
First the Auto Inspection. Next Stop the Place we need to go with the
Grant papers. Prayed that God would again grant favor. We made it through
the approval part of the grant and our projects were being evaluated I think
for determining how much we will receive for what. Goodnews... one of the
men who was responsible for writing their report for being in favor of
giving us the Grant... had Mihaela help him write the report and clarify
our projects and more about us.
(Let me ask you a question you need a Vacation yet after reading all this???)
I NEED A VACATION!!!)
Okay... NOW
Wednesday... May 27 Hahaha Get ready...
7am head out for another full day including:
African DAy at the Youth Jail
Mini DTS (Disciplineship Training School)
3 of our Volunteers and 4 of the girls will be going to do a
Community Survey on Domestic Violence our goal is to go from
house to house attempting to speak to at least half the village.
This will happen both Wednesday the 27th and Thursday the 28th.
Also everyone they come into contact with will receive an
invitation to come to the Local School for a Presentation about
our Foundation and about our Work with Victims and Teens.)
May 28 - Thursday... Amber to meet with another 8 young mothers to talk
to them about Parenting 2 - 3 year olds. Fun..
Thurdsay afternoon we will take again our Volunteers and go to
continue our Community Survey with also the help of the Baptist
Church.
Tamara will man the Office thursday and also meet with someone from the
Blind Foundation to help her learn how to write in Brail.
May 29 - Friday we will spend the day writing reports and preparing for
our Presentation in community at 4pm.
okay.. this is my life and why you haven't heard much from me lately...
On top of all this I struggle to keep up with my internet job.
We are amazed we have no money and yet... God opens doors ... We have
gas in our vehicle and that is important. Pray for God to not only
open the door for this Grant which won't cover all our needs but will
cover some... And Pray for God to really open the eyes of people to
understand why I just can't keep up with the pace... Newsletters slip
my mind although I know they are important ....
but Mihaela, and I work 24 x 7... between the foundation, emergencies,
paper work, trying to get a Construction business off the ground so the
foundation will have at least a small income, my working my internet
position in order to keep the foundation bills paid and food on our
tables, raising two teenagers, discipling 4 others, running our Violence
Programs, Counseling Courses, looking for funding and writing Grants for
funding, trying to make sure we have a balance with having at least a
little fun somewhere in the midst of stressful weeks, working on building
networking with other foundations and Public Institutions, etc....
Tami works 40+ hours taking care of administrative work in the office,
and takes care of the Social Worker details of our clients and I think
she lives on the telephone bless her heart.
Oh I almost forgot.. we received our Report and Recomendations in the
mail this last week about the Inspection we had in the Social Work
division. We passed but we are required to conform to the Recommendations
within 30 days this means June 17. Below are the Recommendations:
• create a Website (in the working)
• hire or have a signed collaboration with a psychologist
• hire a Legal Consultant (WE NEED A SPONSOR for this position)
• develop a continuing Education Strategy for our Staff (We need
to keep up with Continued Education Units at least one course
per year - Mihaela has done this ... I will do mine in the
states and we are looking for a course for Tamara and funding
to send her to a course on Writing Grant Projects and Managing
Projects.)
• develop a strategy for Funding (basically looking for Grants
which we have already been doing and have applied for one and
looking for others)
okay I need to stop here... Pray for us..
Love you
Amber
Amber Niemann, Pres.
WEARS International, Inc.
1922 Pin Oak Trl
Anna Texas 75409
469-831-7396
www.wearsinternational.org
http://4wears.com
To correspond with Amber Niemann: amber@wearsinternational.org
All other inquiries: headquarters@wearsinternational.org