Western New Yorkers reach out to Gypsy children in Romania

by Rustie Dimitriadis
Grand Island Dispatch, June 3, 2005

A thirteen-member ministry team from Harbor Lights Fellowship on Grand Island is heading to Romania in July to minister to Gypsy children. The team would like to invite the community to help them with their overseas mission by attending Customer Appreciation Day at McMahon’s Family Restaurant on June 11.

The missions trip will take place from July 15 to 31 and is being sponsored by the Times and Seasons Foundation, which seeks to take the love of God to the nations in a practical way.

Leading the group are Pastor Gerry Haberstro, his wife Maureen, and their children, Laura, 16, and Matt, 14. This will be the Haberstros’ seventh trip to Romania to minister to the Gypsy people. The other nine team members, who are all making their first trip to Romania, are preparing by learning Romanian with the help of a CD. All of the missionaries are raising their own support to go on the missions trip.

While in Romania, the team will conduct two week-long sessions of a camp for Gypsy children called Camp Joy. The camp activities will include arts and crafts, sports, skits, and ministry to the kids. In addition, team members will visit area Gypsy churches.

Joining the Haberstro family in Romania are Kim McMahon, Jan Popielski, Natalie Scott, Sam Santospirito and his sister, Terre Santospirito, Chuck Villa, and teens Molly McGuire, 15, Joe Moran, 14, and Cristina Rivera, 17.

To help offset the cost of the trip, McMahon’s Family Restaurant is holding a special Customer Appreciation Day, with the proceeds going to the Romania mission team. Anyone who cannot attend the event but would like to support the ongoing work of Times and Seasons may send financial donations to: Times and Seasons Foundation, P.O. Box 672, Grand Island, NY, 14072. All donations will be receipted.

Harbor Lights Fellowship is a growing church family that has been meeting for Sunday morning services in members’ homes on Grand Island for some time. This summer, the fellowship will begin meeting on Grand Island Blvd, next to McMahon’s Family Restaurant. Harbor Lights also holds a Tuesday evening Bible study at 7 p.m. at McMahon’s, located at 1849 Grand Island Blvd. For more information, please call 773-7030.

Fundraiser for Romania Missions Team

Event: Customer Appreciation Day

Place: McMahon’s Family Restaurant, 1849 Grand Island Blvd.

Date: Saturday, June 11

Time: noon – 4pm

Admission: Free!

Featuring: Basket auction, bake sale, games, hot dogs, ice cream & more!

Donate: Pencils, paste, crayons, stickers, washable markers, construction paper, or water-based paints & receive a free hot dog!

Proceeds will benefit the Times & Seasons outreach to Romanian Gypsy children