Sok Kaland (Many Adventures) !!!
Where to begin….
I’m home from Romania! And when I say home I mean my lovely flat in Budapest. When I walked through the door after 17 days of being on the road, I TRULY felt at home. Since I got back I have not been able to wipe the smile off my face, I am so in love with this place. = )
The facts and figures:
I was in Romania for 17days
I slept in 12 different beds
We partnered with churches in 16 cities/ towns/ villages
The places I went in Romania:
Livada, Sinleani, Deta, Paulian, Buteni, Curtici, Petrosani, Petrila, Turda, Campia Turzi, Ludus, Lernut, Aiud, Ocna Mures, Sandulesti, Copaceni, & Oradia
Here are some highlights of my adventures in Romania:
- Working with a wonderful ministry. We partnered with small, medium, and large churches all over Romania from different denominations providing the tools for Christians to make an impact in their own community. It’s one thing to have a short- term team come in and do all this great stuff, but then they LEAVE. So we worked with the locals to encourage and equip them to be their own ‘missionaries’ to their neighbors, family, colleagues, friends, etc.
- Making preventative health care available at no cost. We had nurses and physician assistants come along side the bus and test people for diabetes/ hypoglycemia, take blood pressure and make appropriate referrals if necessary. This is GREAT because the idea of having regular check-ups is a foreign concept in much of eastern Europe. Their philosophy is- why go to the doctor if you’re not sick? This can cause many problems and serious illnesses go undetected until it is too late.
- Supplying resources to promote literacy and education for children. On one of the last days in Romania I had a long conversation with the pastor’s daughter and she explained that there is a huge problem of Roma (gypsies) not attending school. At all. That means there are thousands of children everyday who aren’t learning to read or do simple math. I am a firm believer in the importance of education (…don’t get me started!) so I am excited to be a part of this important aspect of ministry.
- LEARNING. I am learning so much. About missions. About culture. About myself. About the great big God I serve. Man I have so much I could say, but I won’t bore you. (actually I will, if you want. E-mail me. We’ll chat more : )
- Music. I spent some time with the guitar…by myself and with some teens who spoke only a little English. Good thing music is a universal language…
(**the best part… the teens here love Hillsong! Timme is so proud!!!)
- Drama. I got to be part of a drama during a missions conference we held. It was a nonspeaking part. PERFECT.
- Loving. I’m learning the meaning of Luke 6:32-36. (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%206:32-36&version=31 ) Read it. You’ll know what I mean.
- Hiking in the foot hills of the Carpathians
- Learning to play handball… I didn’t know this was a sport until I got here. Europeans take it very seriously. Check it out: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Team_handball)
- Having to wear a head scarf and long skirt every time I went to church… and having to take out my nose piercing (this isn’t exactly a highlight, it’s just interesting info I thought might interest you)
- Figuring out fun cultural differences… like having outdoor toilets at church, seeing a flock of sheep stroll down ‘main street’ (aka… the only street) with their shepherd and donkeys following in small villages, horse and cart driving next to a BMW, being chased by wild dogs, having a real-live “cock-a-doodle-doo” as my alarm clock from the chickens in the backyard, etc.
What I’m up to right now:
-I have 4 lovely new roommates (temporarily)!!! Adrienn, from Hungary (she’s my Hungarian teacher, and I’m her English teacher!). She taught me a wonderful new word that we have been using often, kaland (adventure). In addition I am playing hostess for 3 ladies from England who are here on a short-term outreach during their spring vacation, from Ashton University.
-I leave Friday for Baja, a town in Southern Hungary for an Easter outreach. We’ve been busy putting together dramas, music, crafts, puppets, and activities for a 4 day children’s program (like Adventure Camp, if you’re from Westbrook).
-I leave for Romania again on Thursday, April 16th.
Prayer requests:
- Pray for endurance while I am in Romania, and unity among the team members and churches we will be partnering with. A dear friend/ mentor just reminded me of Romans 15:5,6 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%2015:5-6;&version=31;) let this be your prayer for me :)
- Praises that God has been my comfort and stability while I’ve been here. I heard some very upsetting news the night before I left for Romania about something back home. But God reminded me that there’s nothing I can do about stuff in Wisconsin. I’m here… living THIS life right now. Praise God for reminding me that “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD…. But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.”
- That I continue to find joy in the small things.
- I know darn well that no one is perfect, and even when God tells us to love everyone, the fact is that we’re not going to LIKE everyone. Please pray for me in times when there are personality conflicts, or when I feel disrespected/ disliked, that I extend them grace, like God has for me.
- health and safety! I am SO thankful that I haven’t gotten really sick or injured since I’ve been here. I pray it doesn’t happen in Romania….
-PRAISES that god has blessed me with amazing friends here! I’ve been hanging out with my friends from language school, and continue to make new friends daily!
THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE CONTINUED TO PRAY FOR ME AND ENCOURAGE ME!!! Every e-mail, facebook message, and comment on my blog has meant SO MUCH to me. I love you all!!!
