BIOGRAPHIES
Dianna Cox
My name is Dianna Cox and I teach infant massage to mothers and babies in my local community in Oregon. I learned of the plight of the Romanian children and Northwest Medical Teams (NWMTI) role there while taking my infant massage certification class in 1997. The faces of the children touched my heart.I left Portland, Oregon with 3 other infant massage instructors in October 1997. During the two weeks we were in Sibiu the caregivers at the orphanage were trained on infant massage and encouraged to spend more time touching the babies. This could be accomplished either by holding them more throughout the day or massaging them while changing their diaper. This particular orphanage had over 200 babies from 0-3 years of age. We spent every moment we could holding the babies and massaging them. The babies loved the gift of touch and the caregivers were receptive to our teachings and tried their best to add touch to the lives of these babies. With over 200 babies to care for it’s not easy to add one more thing to their already busy schedules.
I came back to the USA after two weeks in Romania with expectations of getting back to my life as wife, mother and health educator but it was not to be this way. The Romanian children had touched my soul. I continued to speak about the children wherever I could. I believe educating Americans on the situation in Romania is important. We are so very fortunate here in America.
In 1999 I was asked by NWMTI to lead a team of 12 incredibly gifted women to Romania. This time we went to the town of Medias (1 ½ hour’s northeast of Sibiu). Once again we did incredible work in two short weeks and the people of Romania were happy for our help. We came back to our homes anxious to get on with our lives but feeling a loss for the children in Romania and also for the comrade of the team.
I have been asked to lead another team to Romania in September 2000 and we are in the process of gathering donations and speaking to groups now. One-half of the 1999 team will be returning to Romania in September 2000. I am blessed to be able to have such gifted women on the team. We hope to go back to Medias and continue the work we started last year.Dianna Cox
Mission Team Leader
gift_of_touch@juno.com
Jill Quiner
My name is Jill Quiner, and in 1997 my family and I attended a worship service at Community of ChristChurch. Dianna Cox presented her testimonial from her recent trip to Romania. The Community of ChristChurch had generously provided Dianna with financial and emotional support for her trip. I was moved to tears, by the plight of the beautiful children she had gone to serve in Romania. I was struck by the unselfishness of her act. I have never forgotten her message. Upon leaving the service, I knew I would one day serve along side Dianna.For many years I have observed the poverty, hunger, and despair, children are facing around the world. Thankfully, I can say, I am no longer a silent observer. In October 1999, I traveled to Medias, Romania with Northwest Medical Teams International, to work in the orphanages teaching Infant Massage to care providers. These children in many cases are developmentally delayed due to lack of touch and intellectual stimulus. In addition, we taught massage to doctors and nurses at the hospital, worked with abandoned babies and went on home visits to families in the community.
The definition of touch is the sense by which objects or stimuli are perceived through physical contact. As humans, we greet each other by shaking hands or embrace with a hug. We comfort each other with an arm around a shoulder or by wiping away a tear. The orphans of Romania desperately need this gift of touch. It is hard to understand why something so simple as touch offers so much hope and yet the lack of it has clearly impacted these children. I believe we are making a difference to these children with our loving touch and through the education of their care providers.
I have been waiting my whole life to take this journey, finally, God has directed me to quit waiting and take action. An orphan is defined as any person or animal that is without parents, abandoned, or otherwise left without nurture or support. I am joyfully obligated to serve these children. I pray God will grant me the wisdom to know exactly what each child in my care needs. Together, our teams will serve God and His community of people on our mission of hope and compassion.
I will travel to Romania in May 2000 with my family and again September 2000 with another Infant Stimulation team. I spend the majority of my free time gathering donations and speaking to groups.
Jill Quiner
Mission Team Member
gift_of_touch@juno.com
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