The Goulds' Story
 My name is Ann Gould and I have just returned from visiting my Godchild, Cuibotani Visan Adrian, who is in the orphanage in Bivolari. Ten years ago, when the horror of the Ceaucescu regime was exposed by various programmes on television, I felt I needed, in some small way, to help the children, who had been abandoned. At the time my four children were all still at school and needed me at home. However, time has gone on and two years ago I read in a magazine an article about the work of Rod Jones and Convoy Aid and the sponsorship scheme for the children in the orphanages. I contacted Rod and started subscribing.
Then this year I was able to make the trip to Bivolari to visit for myself my Godchild. I live in a small town in Herefordshire and my journey took me to Heathrow and then to Bucharest, where I was met by Daniella (Rod's wife, Gabriella's sister), a really lovely girl, who did everything in her power to make me- welcome and help me with the money and language. Our journey then was in a taxi with Costa, the taxi driver. It took us about eight hours, practically the length of Romania, to our destination. The country seems so vast compared to England. It was like stepping back in time to before the First World War. There is no running water or indoor toilets. The water is drawn from wells at intervals along the roads. Flocks of geese are a common sight as are goats, sheep, cows and horses. Also along the roads are many shrines, all lovingly looked after with candles and wonderful icons. The main form of transport outside of Bucharest is horses and carts, which transport everything imaginable.
On arriving in Bivolari I was taken to the house Convoy Aid have rented for the use of the doctor. It was lovely with running water and an inside loo.
Over the next two weeks I visited three orphanages delivering parcels to the children.
The buildings were in various states of repair. On the whole the children all looked well, happy and well clothed. They loved to be hugged and kissed. The aid received from the Godparents really gets to the children and they are so grateful for all they receive. The carers to see if they are within the sell by date check every item of food, biscuits, sweets etc. Please make sure that, when you send sweets etc., they have a long sell by date, as because of the transport difficulties, it is not always possible to get the parcels immediately to the children.
A lot of the time I spent in Bivolari I went with Danielia taking aid to the village children. In lots of ways their need is greater than that of the children in the orphanages. The only way to deliver clothes and food was via the horse and cart, -which was an experience in itself Every bone in your body is jolted and when it rains there is no cover.
Nothing prepared me for the poverty and the living conditions of these families - no running water and outside toilets. The floors in the houses, which mainly had just two to three rooms, were hardened dirt. Cooking was done outside in the summer and inside in the winter. We took many beds to families, who slept on pieces of wood and straw. Some houses had no electricity and no glass in the windows. Even the village school has no running water and outside toilets. The school is at the moment having toilets and running water installed through Convoy Aid, which will make life easier for the children, especially in the winter.
There is no poverty in England compared to Romania. Old people and families are living in what can only be described as hovels, which would not be tolerated here. If a family live in a house here that is damp, they are rehoused. Every family in this country has hot and cold water on tap, electricity and inside toilets, fridges, televisions, cookers etc; food in such variety, we are spoilt for choice. There is no such system in Romania.
My trip was a real eye-opener and, although the people are poor, they have a wonderful sense of community and family life, everyone helping each other. They have faith in God and a devotion to their religion. In the churches that I visited I saw many young people, something that you do not see so much in England.
I am so glad that I went and hope to go again next year. I would encourage all Godparents, if they have the chance, to contact Rod and Gabrielia for details of how to make arrangements. The time I spent in Bivolari went very quickly. I came home with many new friends and lots of happy and sad memories.
Ann Gould.
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