David and Naomi are two of our newest members of the Isaiah Center and we have loved getting to know them and their family.  The children's father, Adrian, is a hard working, loyal, and caring father and husband who works very hard to try and provide for his family of 7 children and his paralyzed wife.  Adrian is also a man full of faith and loves the Lord with all of his heart.  David is 4 and when he first came to the Center a little over a year ago, he was very wild, knew no boundaries and would bite.  Now, David is so loving and very well behaved.  When Naomi, who is 7, first came to the Center, she was painfully shy and had not had any schooling at all. Now, Naomi has made friends at the Center and loves playing with all the different children and is studying hard to be ready for first grade this fall.  We are excited to come alongside this family and work with them as they are a great influence and encouragement to those in the village.  Adrian holds prayer meetings in his home and is a great example to the other Roma (Gypsy) men around him.

BRAND NEW LOCATION DUE TO SOLD OUT CROWD AT 2010 EVENT—GEIS ACTIVITY CENTER

Mark your calendars now!  Plans are underway for FMN's annual fund-raiser.  Through a team effort of corporate sponsors, auction item donors, volunteers and those in attendance, the annual benefit has made a huge impact on this ministry.  Proceeds from these past events, along with a few personal donors and a small loan, FMN was able  to purchase the Isaiah Center.  Proceeds were later used to pay off the debt on the Center in less than two years!  Proceeds also allow the ministry to continue to function with daily costs providing care for the children and their families in Tinca, Romania.  Care provided includes food, medicine, shelter, clothing, and educational opportunities for our children and adults.  With a remodeling project of the Isaiah Center being planned in the near future, as well as having just purchased land and a house to expand the ministry, this benefit is more important than ever!

Little Katie Hall was helping her mom prepare for their yard sale. Katie had heard about Forget Me Not Ministries and she asked her mom if she could do something extra at the yard sale to raise more money for FMN. Katie set up a lemonade stand and approached nearly everyone who came through to see if they wanted to buy some lemonade to help support Forget Me Not Ministries. Sweet Katie raised over $80 with her lemonade stand! How exciting to see even the youngest children understand the many ways you can serve Jesus and help others. A big "high five" to Katie and her tender heart and her willingness to help others.

Children in need of love and care...scared with their new surroundings and strangers...hungry...cold...those were the children I met on my first trip to the Isaiah Center.

Children being loved...children happy...laughing...freely receiving and giving hugs to the people there to love and care for them...children eating good, healthy meals...children being bathed, dressed in clean, warm clothing...children playing together...more laughing...more smiles...more hugs...children praying together and for each other...happy, loved children...those were the children I met on my most recent visit to the Isaiah Center!
When Rachel Ross announced that she was founding her own ministry in Romania and opening a childcare center in the gypsy village of Tinca, I knew that she was committed to changing the lives of the gypsy children in her care. I had no idea just 'how' committed she was! I, along with many others, prayed for God to be with her, walk with her, guide and protect her...He has done all that...and more.

This team from Axiom at the University of Illinois came and served along side of us at the Isaiah Center for 2 weeks in May.  All of our Romanian staff and Roma parents and helpers were AMAZED at what hard workers this team was!  Ben's team of 16 tornadoes were an incredible blessing for us all!  The college students raised their own funds, raised money for all of their projects, plus money to go towards the down payment on the house FMN is currently in the process of purchasing for the lodge.