Lisbon Free Baptist Church
Ministry Updates from Amber Niemann
WEARS International, Inc.
WEARS Romania Project
Prayer request.. HEALTH for us and protection for Ioana not to
get sick from us.
National Agency for Protection of Families made a Suprise INSPECTION:
Friday November 21, we received a phone call from Tg. Mures giving us heads
up that someone from teh NAPF was on their way to Sighisoara to do a suprise
inspection. We had about an hour's warning.. it was so funny, because we
were like okay... the person who called us warned us that the Inspector was
tough. But she wasn't. She had a good visit with us, over viewed our
programs and materials and applauded me on a good job done in the work we
are doing. The reason she was doing an inspection of all the Domestic
Violence Organizations in Mures county was because of our Coalition
Collaboration amoung the various agencies including the Police, Social Work
agencies, Schools, and Shelters. She couldn't believe there was such a good
Collaborative effort going on here in Mures. We are the only County that
workes together from all the counties in Romania. She specifically
mentioned that in Iasi (North Eastern Romania) there are 6 large Domestic
Violence Organizations and not one of them works together with the other but
instead they all do their own projects and none of them know what the other
is doing. SAD... This was a great thing for us because, we had also just
finished our Grant and sent in our Report. Hopefully this will open the
door for more Funding through State Grants in the Future. I need to make a
correction as well to the Grant we received back in June. For those of you
who knew about it. I was in the states when we received the grant and I
miss understood the amount we were awarded. I believe I had stated it was
for 5000 Euro, but it was only for 1000 Euro. Anyway, we completed the
grant and our report was sent to Bucuresti.
So much has been going on here I have no idea where to start.
________________________________________________________________
We have 4 new clients in the past 2 weeks. With Christmas coming up we will
probably have more. The holiday season increases stress which only causes
violence to manifest even more. Three of our new clients all come from the
same village referred to us by the police.
Client 1: Mother, son age 9 daughter age 13. Husband, comes from a very
violent home. The police informed us of his family history: His father was
very violence, his sister killed him some years ago, mother also left the
village and family because she was afraid for her own safety. Two other
siblings of his left the country to get away from them. Her husband is in
agreement to divorce his wife but he is a little to agreeable for my taste
and we are on our guard as to what he will do when he realizes she is really
going to divorce him and take the kids. The 13 year old daughter,
emotionally is responding like a 6 or 7 year old. She is very afraid and
seems to be worried about loosing her mom. The 9 year old seems to be just
going along with things and not showing any effects, yet I think his mother
also has kept him in the dark as to what she is planning and what kind of
papers she has been filling out with us.
Client 2: A return case from spring. Police in the spring came and took
Mihaela to this village where she met with a woman severally beaten and the
children terrified. Mihaela not only interviewed the woman but also spoke
with neighbors who all told her if she doesn't help this woman leave she
would die at her husband's hands. Mihaela took her to a shelter with her 6
children, however, the oldest continued to run away so she finally returned
home to her husband several weeks later. Last week the vice Mayor from a
nearby community called us for this same client. She was desparate and had
run away again. We made sure she was in a safe place, and assured her we
would contact her the next day with information as to how we could help her.
The next morning however, the husband from what we understand threatened her
and she went back home to him. We haven't had any contact with her since.
We can not for her safety make a home visit and we have no way of contacting
her. We are waiting hoping she or the police will contact us again soon.
Client 3: We recieved a call from the Train station in Medias about a
young woman with a 2 year old son. She ran away from her husband from Iasi,
which is several hours from us by train. She had been beaten and had been
on the streets for at least a week. It took us all day to find her a place
to stay and to get her the help she needed. Eventually we were able to get
her into a over night emergency shelter and hand her over to another agency
who could work with her and meet her needs.
Client 4: A young mother with her 7 month old son. We have known this
girl from the days Mihaela worked at Veritas and also she was one of our
volunteers several years ago. She stopped by to talk to us and kept things
on a very casual level. She seemed happy and seemed like everything was
find. But three days later she came back and told us the real reason she
had come. She left her husband about a month ago, because he hit her. We
were very proud of her for not staying for him to think he can control or
treat her or any other woman in this manner. She is starting counseling
with us and we are working on helping her find new living accommodations.
____________________________________________
16 - Day Campaign against Violence against Women...
This year due to a lack of funding we decided not to go all out with this
campaign.
Street Campaign: We held a street campaign on Monday afternoon with two
of the local police officers. We handed out our brochure as well as several
pamplets that help people understand what Violence against women is and how
prevelant it is in Romania. In 2008 first 9months we have already seen a
25% increase in Reported violence against Women compared to the full
12-months of 2007. To read the entire article
http://www.mediafax.ro/engleza/cases-of-domestic-violence-against-women-up-25-this-yr-in-romania.html?6966;3553272
Village Campaign Hetuir: We have had contact with a school in Hetuir for
the last few months, helping some of the parents in this school to register
their children with proper papers. Example: birth certificates, parents
needing Identification cards, and registering children that were born, but
parents failed to register them after they were born. Anyway, because of
this collaboration they called a special parents meeting for us to have our
presentation about Domestic Violence and inform them where they can get
help, inform them of the laws against spousal abuse and also to help them
understand the effects that violence in the home has on their children.
Along with this we also gave to each family a clothing and house holds
package (over 160 packages we gave out that evening). This presentation was
really interesting and extremely inlightening. Many of the women and even
some of the men were interactive with us during our presentation and seemed
very interested in what we were sharing. After the meeting while our
volunteers and Mihaela were handing out packages with the teachers, Ioana
and I visited with various families. We had several come to us and tell us
they didn't know that there were laws to protect them. Others came and
asked us if their husband starts to beat them again who should they call
first, BERACA or the police. Mostly because they found that the police
didn't do anything nor were the women ever informed of other agencies that
were available to provide services to them and their families.
______________________________________________________
Local High School Program: Well next week is our last week of our Domestic
Violence Healthy and UnHealthy Relationships Program in a local High School.
The program seems to be a success we will know in about two weeks after we
do our final evaluation. The teens are participating with regular
attendence which in itself is a sign of success in holding their attention
and interest. The 11th graders actually invited us to their Ball for 9th
graders about two weeks ago however, none of us could attend for various
reasons but it was nice of them to invite us. If the final evaluation goes
over we will be invited back next semester to teach 6 more classes. We
still haven't been able to obtain the School Inspector's approval for our
program however, a colleague from another foundation who really likes us and
believes our program should be in the schools is good friends with the
Inspector and she is going to try to get her to sign our collaboration and
give us the approvals we have been seeking for almost 2 years now.
___________________________________________________________________
Biou Village one of our most Violent Villages in which we had to take a
break from and I mentioned in my last newsletter that several of the Teens
in September had showed interest in us returning to Biou. Well last night
Cosmin came to church here in Sighisoara and he came and asked for prayer.
He has been having terrifing dreams and living in constant fear. We had a
guest speaker who also has a healing ministry. Cosmin asked for prayer. I
asked him out right if he still has issues with Anger and Violent outbursts.
He said yes, he was so afraid last night, you could see the terror and the
desparation to be set free from the torment in his spirit and mind. We
prayed for him and he asked God for forgiveness and also forgave all those
who have hurt him in his past to present. He also, recognized his violence
and asked God for delieverance. He wants to come back to us for conseling
and spiritual development. We wait with Joy for him to come to our door.
He makes this step and I know God will move in mighty ways in his life.
_____________________________________________________________________
I have so much to write about and don't even feel like I have enough time or
energy. If you have questions about anything please let me know and I'll
try to update you in a timely manner.
Financially we are still struggling but God is always faithful. We are
currently in collaboration with another agency on a joint project which will
bring in some funding but won't take place until late Spring if all goes
well and they receive the Grant they are seeking for their project inwhich
we will be offering our services to them. We will be offering Social Work
and Counseling Services to 25 Gyspie Teenagers in the area of Self
Development.
_______________________________________________________________________
Merry Christmas and May the Lord filling this Christmas with Abundant Joy
for the Birth of our Savior that will out shine all the Holiday clamour and
stresses and shine through HIS PEACE.
June 27, 2008
Hey there, Just wanted to personally update you on us..
Mom is still working full time at Vance's Clinic as his Office Manager,
but his clinic has come to a point that he can now start looking for a
full time Person to take part of mom's job, and mom can go part-time
basically helping out on busy days but managing more of the accounting
and dealing with the management area of the clinic. Praise the Lord..
Vance and Heidi sold their house so they have moved in with us temporarily
until they can move into their new home. They have been with us now since
the end of May and will be with us for about another two weeks. This has
been great because we get to see my niece and nephew more often. Dad has
been spending a lot of time with them while we are all gone at work.
I came home to raise funds but gas prices just wouldn't allow for travels.
I have tried several new ways of fund raising but things just haven't been
working out.. so I'm back to letter writing to everyone I know. In the
meantime, God has given me a full time job working about 40-50 hours a week
with an old College friend from Southern Nazarene Univ., Dr. Nelson. His
medical Assistant quit in early May so I started working in her place learning
a great deal about wound care especially for Diabetics. He is a Podiatrist
(foot Doctor) and I'm learning a lot about feet I never knew before. Isn't
God cool...anyway this has been a blessing because it has been basically the
main support for WEARS and our work at this point.. 90% of my pay is going
into the Foundation and the other is paying for gas... On top of this I'm
keeping pretty busy, because I still have an internet data base entry job
which recently I was promoted to Auditing other Data Entry people's work.
This job will continue when I return to Romania. It is my personal support
money.
Exciting news that isn't included in the Newsletter below...
Crina and Daniela two of our girls in Soard (village ministry where no one
expects these kids to be anything more than hired farm labor) have been
accepted into an internship program working in a Geriatrics Hospital this
summer. If they do will this summer they will be offered to go to Nursing
School this next year, I believe they will receive a Scholarship. Both
girls have finished 10th grade and are really loving the internship and
from what I hear the hospital really likes them too.. so it looks like
they will be heading off to the big city of Sibu to go to Nursing School..
Way Cool!!
Also, this week we were asked by the Mayor of Apold to come and present to
their youth in their village and community our program, "Living Differently".
So, this will be a new door for us to minister and reach the Next Generation
of Romania for the Lord and for Healthy Families.
Please take time to read the exciting things that will be happening in
Romania this next 6 months. And feel free to share about our ministry
to your friends, family, co-workers etc.. we need all the help we can
find. I have a defeciet of $24,000 to meet by the end of the year.
If I don't meet it we won't be able to accomplish the plans we have for
2008, and I will also have to return to the states and stay here and
work stateside instead of ministering in Romania, to support the Romanian
ministry. We need you.. We need 400 people to walk along side of us at
$10mo for a 6 mon commitment. Every person who signs up for the $10/mo
will also receive a hand made prayer necklace made by Amber Niemann.
Amber Niemann, Pres.
WEARS International, Inc.
1922 Pin Oak Trl
Anna Texas 75409
***NEWSLETTER***
WEARS / BERACA & You Together WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!
BE A TOOL FOR CHANGE…. $10/mo for 6/mos Campaign
Campaigns against Child Abuse June
• Public Awareness Campaign - Fundatia BERACA-Sighisoara is sponsoring
a Kids Day Celebration at a school for over 100 under privileged children,
playing games, making animal balloons and giving out ice cream. This allows
these children to experience a day of laughter, fun, feeling the Love of God
and the enjoyment of being lavished upon without thinking about the problems
of home.
Campaigns for September - Peace Blanket…
• Fundatia Beraca-Sighsoara (WEARS) will be going into two schools and
presenting the Peace Blanket Project. In this project, the younger children
are placing their hand prints on the blanket and “Hands are for Caring, Not
for HURTING (or Hitting)” will be written around their hand print. The older
kids will paint or draw on the material what, Peace looks like to them.
WEARS/Fundatia BERACA Retreat
Fundatia BERACA was invited to be speakers for a church sponsored ”Power of
Words” one day conferences. The conferences evoked such a powerful response
within the community, WEARS/Fundatia BERACA witnessed the need to provide a
more in-depth therapeutic retreat for women.
Retreat….
• This will be a 3 day and 2 night retreat with activities, therapy,
interaction with each other, studying God’s word and workshops. The goal of
this retreat is for participants to discover one’s self, what messages they
transmit to others through their words and how to make changes in their lives
in order to build others up and not destroy.
• We are presently making plans for this retreat for October 2008,
however funding is becoming a crucial need.
Women's Domestic Violence Group Ministry for Victims of Abuse
This program has approximately 20-30 women each given month.
The Women's DV educational group is really an interesting group, because
not only are these women victims, but they are also abusers called Reactive
Aggression. This means when physical abuse is anticipated, they physically
attack their husbands to try lessening their blows. Sadly, they become
aggressors toward their children with emotional abuse, thus creating an
atmosphere of hopelessness for their children and their children’s future.
Impact of this group February – March, 2008…
• Story 1: One woman told us that she didn't realize how much she
nagged her husband and when she started being more respectful and more
encouraging in the everyday things he does for the family, he drank less
and the abusive behavior lessened. We again reminded her and the other
women that although her husband responded in a positive way to her behavioral
change, this does not mean other aggressors will respond in the same manner.
Victims are not responsible for their husband’s abusive behavior, it is their
choice. Thankfully her choice to be responsible for her actions had an impact
on her husband which has made him interested in participating in our future
program for Men.
• Story 2: Another woman had hopes that she and her husband could come
for marital counseling. Sadly, she came twice to the counseling sessions
without her husband. A short time later her husband came home late one night
demanding she give him the money she had set aside for their daughter’s school
expenses. She refused and he left, but returned later that night threatened
her with a knife and beat her until she gave him the money. This daughter is
in our Living Differently Youth Program and wanted to go to the police and
report him for beating up her mom. Returning two days later, her step-father
heard what she wanted to do, so when she stood up to him, told him she wasn't
afraid of him and that he had better leave them all alone, he left and hasn’t
returned.
Police collaboration: (Woman and 6 children)
County Police Inspector…
We have signed a collaboration agreement with the County Police Inspector,
which authorizes the police departments in the county to help WEARS/Fundatia
BERACA when facing domestic violent situations. The inspector is encouraging
the police to refer both victims and aggressors to our foundation.
• Story: Recently a police officer had a Domestic Violence Case where
the woman and children were beaten horribly. He knew it would only be a matter
of time, before he would be called to the house for a murder case instead of
a domestic dispute. When he called the Sighisoara Police, they referred him
to Mihaela of Fundatia BERACA. Mihaela went with the police officer to visit
this woman to see what could be done for her safety. Seeing the situation
was very serious and that the family wasn't safe and even the neighbors were
begging Mihaela to do something for this woman and her kids before this man
killed them. Fearing the woman had a severe head injury and after interviewing
her, Mihaela made some phone calls. Mihaela was able to give the woman options
of how we could help her and the woman chose to leave the village with her 6
children and go with Mihaela to a Safe House. As Mihaela was helping them get
in her car, the husband returned after hearing his wife was leaving. In the
presence of the police officer he threatened the woman, saying he would find
her and kill her and the children. He was not DRUNK, yet he swore even if he
went to jail for 10 years when he got out he would hunt her down and kill her.
Mihaela finally was able to leave, taking the family to Sighisoara. Once in
Sighisoara she fed them, made clothing packages, then took the family to a
safe place to stay and receive medical care. They can stay for 2 months at
this location with the possibility of a 2 month extension. In the meantime,
the Police officer filed felony charges against the man. If he is convicted
he can serve up to 10 years in jail because of the injuries he inflicted
upon his wife.
Annie's Place:
What about Annie's Place...
• As most of you know, we were able to pay off Annie's Place in 2007,
however the reduction in financial funding has not allowed us to make the
necessary changes to open as a Shelter. Although it is not technically a
shelter yet, we have been able to use it for emergency and/or transitional
housing until we could locate safe and/or adequate locations for families
in need. Between March and May 2008, we have been able to build 4 houses,
renovate 2 houses and provide furniture for 3 other families through a
collaboration we have with an individual who builds houses and another
foundation that brings building materials, clothing and household furnishings
into Romania.
Youth Ministry and Violence Prevention Groups:
Volunteer making a difference…
• We have added a new volunteer to our Foundation. Alina was one of the
first fruits of Amber & Mihaela’s ministry in 1998 when she became a Christian
at age 12. She is actively working with Mihaela with the Soard teens. Alina is
a great asset with her high energy, creativity, discipleship and role model
for these kids. Currently we have 40-45 teenagers developing their spiritual
growth in Christ.
Camp….
• The dates are planned for August 25 - 30, 2008. We believe in Camp and
the great impact it has on our youth, influencing them to make life choices
that are healthy and strongly founded in Christ. Therefore, we are making camp
preparations, trusting God to provide the finances needed for camp this year.
Prevention Groups…
• Interest in our Violence Prevention Groups called "Living Differently",
from communities all around us is exploding. There is no shortage of teens
wanting to participate in our Educational Program on Dating Violence and our
program Living Differently. These programs provide them the resources, skills,
and tools for building self esteem and dealing with relationship conflicts
without using Violence.
Batterers Educational and Intervention Programs for Adults:
Men’s Group…
• The Police in Sighisoara are supportive of us starting our program.
This program will provide the opportunity for the men they have arrested to
change their lives. It has been said you can give a man a fishing pole and
teach him to fish, but it will be up to him to go the extra mile and fish
(or with this program apply what they learn). We believe a significant impact
can be made in the future of Romania one family at a time.
There are about 10 men interested in this program. Plans were to start this
past spring in Soard, but had to postpone until the fall after the last
harvest of potatoes and corn. Although there is no group program established
yet, we have started individual meetings with some of our victim’s husbands
who want to change their lives and their family relationships.
Women’s Group…
• We are making plans to establish a similar program for women for
sometime in 2009.
Financial status of WEARS International:
Provider of Funds for Romanian work under Fundatia BERACA-Sighisoara…
• Many have ask me how this work is funded and if I am paid for
my work in Romania. I tell them it is funded through a few faithful
supporters and God supplies the rest. I do not receive any pay and
99% of all funds received are sent to Romania. My travels back and
forth to the states and within the states are paid by my parents. I
made my yearly return to the states in March with plans to return
to Romania in June, however the inability to raise the needed funds
has moved my return date to August. God unexpectedly provided me an
unconventional fund raising method….a good paying job for the summer,
which 80% is going directly to WEARS for the work in Romania. I
praise God for His enduring strength as I work 40 hours a week
providing for the Romania support. I also work my data entry on-line
job which I am able to do here in the states and in Romania. This
provides me about $200.00 a month for my personal support.
This time of financial crunch is affecting not only WEARS foundation's
sponsorship (which has dropped to a handful of people monthly), but
also other churches and small organizations.
• We are thanking God for His favor and helping us obtain a
$5,000 grant through our county in Romania jud. Mures. This grant
can only to be used for the Women's Ministry, Public Awareness
Campaigns and Romania office bills. This should provide funds for
these ministries through December 2008. We are receiving at this
time approximately $600/month.
To Join us in ending Domestic Violence one family at a time and
become a Tool for Change…in the $10/mo for 6/mos Campaign contact
info below.
Send checks / Payable to: WEARS International Inc
1922 Pin Oaks Trail
Anna, Texas 75409
Memo: $10/mo for 6/mos.
amber@wearsinternational.org
DREAM BIG DREAMS WITH GOD THERE ARE NO LIMITS
Christ’s Ambassador
AMBER NIEMANN, PRES.
WEARS INTERNATIONAL
FUNDATIA BERACA-SIGHISOARA
469-831-7396
www.wearsinternational.org
April 29, 2008
Greetings to all..
Several of you have heard I'm back in the states. I'm hear for several
reasons and other reasons in which I totally don't understand but God is
in control and He is constantly reminding me to "BE STILL" which is
something most of you know is extremely hard for me to do.
I know many of you don't have time for one of my EXTREME Emails....so
I'll get right to the point. If you want to know more about me or be
updated (warning I have a gift to gab) on our ministry in general or
specifically please reply to this email...
How many of you have CELL PHONES laying around your house not being used
because you got upgrades, or because they don't work anymore? If you
don't, maybe you know someone who does. Well, I have the solution for
you to get rid of those CELL PHONES, send them to me. It doesn't matter
how old they are, what condition they are in Great to broken in peices,
dead batteries too.. (no chargers sorry can't do anything with them).
I have partnered with a RECYCLING COMPANY to raise funds. Shipping will
be of no cost to WEARS as the company pays the shipping costs so long as
I send in 10 or more phones at a time.
So please, look around, see if you have any CELL PHONES laying around,
stuffed in drawers, or under the couch and turn them into an investment
in LIVES for Christ in Romania fighting Domestic Violence. The economic
crunch has hit us all and WEARS is struggling weekly to make ends meet
and to provide services to our Teens, Victims and even aggressors who
are receiving counseling and to make sure our STAFF is being paid monthly.
Our monthly needs are between $2500-2800 monthly which we have not been
able to meet in several months. Our Currently monthly income is between
$1200-$1500 monthly, thus we have had to also cut back on newsletters, and
even some of our expenses that go to keeping you informed. Our website
should be totally updated by May 10. www.wearsinternational.org Any
questions please write..
Okay So how can you help..
Send in your unused CELL PHONES
Talk to your friends, co-workers, company, family, etc.. get their unused
CELL PHONES.
If you don't have CELL PHONES - we are still accepting TAX Deductible Donations
for $.01 or more.
I'm in the states til June 24. I'm available to speak anywhere in TX, OK,
MO, IL, AR, MS, LA, TN the month of May and part of June.
I'll be in the Sacramento California area June 5-8. Available to speak on
Sunday the 8th.
Thank you for your prayers, patience, and participation. To furthering God's
LOVE, GRACE, AND MERCY to the rejected, and hurting Men, Women, and Children
of Romania inflicted by violence every day.
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