Bearing fruit and making compote in Tulcea, Romania

Fruits in season here in Romania include cherries–bright, tart yet sweet, juicy cherries. Today, New Opportunities for Romanian Orphaned Children’s administrator Petru Solca had picked and delivered cherries to orphanages and staff. The abundant cherries came from the new gym hall property which has many fruit and nut trees.

Fruits in season here in Romania include cherries – bright, tart yet sweet, juicy cherries. Today, New Opportunities for Romanian Orphaned Children’s administrator Petru Solca had picked and delivered cherries to orphanages and staff. The abundant cherries came from the new gym hall property which has many fruit and nut trees.

These fruits are a new and vibrant gift for everyone involved in New Opportunities for Romanian Orphaned Children’s ministries. As the trees are bearing fruit, the property is being developed for the use of children and youth. 

Orphaned, abandoned and at-risk children in Tulcea County will have a place to gather, to play, to develop healthy bodies, minds and spirits, and to connect with other kids – those from outside the state institutions as well. All this will happen in due season . . . . 

Check out those cherries in the photo! We popped them fresh all day, then pitted the rest for compote. It took lots of sugar but WOW what those preserves do for yogurt!

Pitting the cherries, adding sugar and lemon, and boiling the compote put me in mind of our journey here in Romania. At first, we are fresh, tart, juicy and tasty. To preserve that tastiness, however – the salt and light the Bible talks about – we need to get rid of some pits and insects, mix well with other ingredients bitter and sweet, and have our gifts refined by fire and melded together with those of others.

Don’t want to stretch the metaphor too far, but it also may have something to do with fruits of the spirit  😉 

Lots of time to ponder when you’re pitting cherries . . . . . 

Keep New Opportunities for Romanian Orphaned Children’s ministry of critical care and presence in your prayers, won’t you?

And keep enjoying those summer fruits!

Elizabeth Searles partnered with New Opportunities for Romanian Orphaned Children, Inc.
PC (USA) Mission Co-worker and Global Ministries Overseas Associate,
Common Global Ministries Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
and the United Church of Christ.  She serves as an advisor and youth worker with
New Opportunities for Romanian Orphaned Children, Inc.