We were struck by lightning while we were writing a blog last Sunday night. We were OK but the modem and a card in the computer were destroyed. It took nearly a week to get back on line. Such is life in Romania! Here goes again.

We have reached agreement with a major charity to help children from families in poverty with their emotional problems. This is a very exciting opportunity. The charity helps 150 families a month. We reckon half the children are affected emotionally by poverty, neglect, abuse and parental problems such as alcoholism.  

We also went to the Oradea Flower Festival. It was great to see so many children and young people taking part with such enthusiasm (see the picture). We spend a lot of time with children who have emotional problems. It is great to see children (who are Romania's future) so normal and healthy!

Yesterday we travelled two hours into the Romanian mountains to spend time with an 11-year-old boy with disabilities. We have visited him every week for the past 20 months. He lives in our town but is on holiday now. It's a highlight of our week. He doesn't go to school or get any education (apart from what we give him). We spent the morning teaching him to throw a ball in approximately the right direction. We threw it very carefully so he caught it. Christine reminded him of his colours, just like a two- or three-year-old.

In the afternoon we went for a walk. It wasn't very far but he struggled and was exhausted after walking for 10 minutes. Roger had to hold him up so he didn't fall over. (They look like a couple of drunks staggering along.) He loves to play, and so do we! His mother said to us yesterday that he was bursting with excitement when he knew we were coming. It's such a privilege to make a difference in his life. 

Sometimes it's very frustrating helping families here in Romania. The old view that the father is the boss of the home and the wife and children cower to his command still seems popular. This might work where the children are relatively problem free. The difficulty comes when the children have been adopted or traumatised or have suffered in other ways. These are the kind of children we help here. The reaction from the father, instead of understanding the emotional difficulties, is sometimes: 'You conform to what I want or get out of this family.'

We struggle sometimes. It is a part of the culture that we find difficult to deal with. But we didn't live for years under communism so how can we fully understand?