Well, we're all packing up our things and getting ready to head to Budapest at 5:00 a.m. (which for us is exactly 5 hours away right now...).
It has been an incredibly awesome week, and I really think God opened our eyes to a lot while using us to play a role in His Kingdom story through Rachel's ministry here in Romania. It often bothers me when mission groups travel somewhere thinking they are "taking God there" to that place, because I know that God is already working everywhere. He has been working here in Romania. He has gone before us, He has worked through us, and He will certainly continue to work here long after we leave.
We're thankful for the ways we've been able to serve this week and the people who gave and supported this trip so that we could be the hands and feet, or even just the fingertips and toes, of Rachel's ministry in Tinca. We accomplished (hopefully) a lot on the apartments and other various jobs around the Isaiah Center, and we played our hearts out with the kids in the village during the times we were there. The best we can give is our love, and hopefully we did just that.
We do still have a few people who aren't feeling well at all, so please be praying that they'll feel 100% better in the morning for a long day of travel. It will be a long and uncomfortable day if they still feel sick. We also don't need it to spread to the group and beyond when we get home! So pray for healing!!!
We'll see you on the other side of the world...tomorrow!!!
Friday, April 10, 2009
Thursday, April 9, 2009
the party bus
It's past midnight and I should be fast asleep right now...but I'm still up after some rounds of speed Scrabble and "What If" and the celebrity game in the common area in our hotel.
But I do want to let you know that we're asking God for healing for 2 people in the group who didn't feel well today (stomach bugs...), and I'm sure this is Satan's way of trying to stop what God is doing yet again. Please pray that God will bring their bodies back to normal and give them an extra dose of energy and rest tonight so they can enjoy the last full day here. And please pray that the rest of us and all the kids at the center are shielded from catching anything as well.
We have one more day to work, and work we will... We have 2 apartments to finish painting and several other painting jobs to start and finish. I'm confident that we can do it, and I think we're up for the challenge. If we can blast our new favorite techno song while we work, I'm pretty sure we can get it all accomplished.
Our bus driver, Adi, played a great mix CD today of some techno music and while we were driving through the village the bus became the party bus. So, as we all attempt to sleep tonight we're trying to get the rave beats and "Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh...goin' to the club......oh, oh, oh, oh, oh....put a record on" out of our heads.
I know this was a pretty quick post without a whole lot of thought, but just keeping you all updated!
Thanks for praying!
But I do want to let you know that we're asking God for healing for 2 people in the group who didn't feel well today (stomach bugs...), and I'm sure this is Satan's way of trying to stop what God is doing yet again. Please pray that God will bring their bodies back to normal and give them an extra dose of energy and rest tonight so they can enjoy the last full day here. And please pray that the rest of us and all the kids at the center are shielded from catching anything as well.
We have one more day to work, and work we will... We have 2 apartments to finish painting and several other painting jobs to start and finish. I'm confident that we can do it, and I think we're up for the challenge. If we can blast our new favorite techno song while we work, I'm pretty sure we can get it all accomplished.
Our bus driver, Adi, played a great mix CD today of some techno music and while we were driving through the village the bus became the party bus. So, as we all attempt to sleep tonight we're trying to get the rave beats and "Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh...goin' to the club......oh, oh, oh, oh, oh....put a record on" out of our heads.
I know this was a pretty quick post without a whole lot of thought, but just keeping you all updated!
Thanks for praying!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
What's up rope swing?!?
Just wanted to do a quick post since it doesn't look like anyone had time yesterday to do so. Yesterday we continued to work at the center trying to finish some of the work there. We have all really enjoyed getting to help on the center and work with the kids. Yesterday was also a unique day because we got to go the homes of the kids in the center and bring their families food and pray over them. To say that it was powerful, is an understatement. Those that have come before said that even last year they would have seen it nearly impossible to lay hands on one of these people and pray over them. So today we shared in seeing the progress of the ongoing ministry Rachel has not just with the children, but with their families. This experience did a push and shove routine on the heart. Because while you want to see these people with the eyes of Christ, in the back of your mind somewhere you also know that they hurt the little ones that we love. But, we believe in the power of prayer and God will continue to stir among these people. After this we got to go to the river and play with the kids in more of a park like setting. Some of us even went into the freeeeeeezing cold river via the rope swing.... What's up rope swing club?. Seriously.... I thought my lungs might burst the water was so cold, but it was a gorgeous day and God truly blessed us once again. Sorry this is so short, but wanted to catch you up a little.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Yup Yup
This will be short and sweet.
I'm certainly tired, and I know our group is all exhausted from all of the work we've been doing. We've been painting fences, painting apartments, sorting clothes, sorting toys, cleaning toys, teaching the kids in the Roma village about Noah's Ark and God's hope through Jesus, and playing with kids at the village and at the Isaiah Center. And I honestly can say that this group is serving with positive attitudes and humble hearts. It's a privilege to have 10 great students (plus Chels & Breanne of course!!!) here who are willing to serve in whatever way they're asked. We don't have any complainers, and I don't expect that to change. Tonight we awarded 3 girls who have been exemplary models of humility, creativity, willingness to serve, compassion, encouragement, and positivity. They got the "yup yup" award...which is a Romanian candy/cookie sort of treat.
As the week goes on I'm sure we'll become more and more exhausted and that might give Satan a foothold to tear down whatever work God is trying to do through us and among us. Pray that we'll continue to serve in the same way and to grow as a team.
I'm sure I'll write more about specific stories again at another time, but please continue to keep praying for the Roma people here. Their culture is one that could take years for someone to understand, and thankfully Rachel is beginning to gain their trust in her ministry and is understanding fully how to work in each specific child's situation. Each of the kids at the center not only comes from poverty but from homes of different types of abuse that aren't viewed as extreme in the way that we would see it in America. This impacts their growth physically, tears them down emotionally, builds walls up mentally, but praise GOD helps them become stronger spiritually through individualized attention from the Isaiah Center. We can only pray that the dream for the Isaiah Center becomes a reality and we'll see the future generations change and break this cycle of life as they know it.
I'm certainly tired, and I know our group is all exhausted from all of the work we've been doing. We've been painting fences, painting apartments, sorting clothes, sorting toys, cleaning toys, teaching the kids in the Roma village about Noah's Ark and God's hope through Jesus, and playing with kids at the village and at the Isaiah Center. And I honestly can say that this group is serving with positive attitudes and humble hearts. It's a privilege to have 10 great students (plus Chels & Breanne of course!!!) here who are willing to serve in whatever way they're asked. We don't have any complainers, and I don't expect that to change. Tonight we awarded 3 girls who have been exemplary models of humility, creativity, willingness to serve, compassion, encouragement, and positivity. They got the "yup yup" award...which is a Romanian candy/cookie sort of treat.
As the week goes on I'm sure we'll become more and more exhausted and that might give Satan a foothold to tear down whatever work God is trying to do through us and among us. Pray that we'll continue to serve in the same way and to grow as a team.
I'm sure I'll write more about specific stories again at another time, but please continue to keep praying for the Roma people here. Their culture is one that could take years for someone to understand, and thankfully Rachel is beginning to gain their trust in her ministry and is understanding fully how to work in each specific child's situation. Each of the kids at the center not only comes from poverty but from homes of different types of abuse that aren't viewed as extreme in the way that we would see it in America. This impacts their growth physically, tears them down emotionally, builds walls up mentally, but praise GOD helps them become stronger spiritually through individualized attention from the Isaiah Center. We can only pray that the dream for the Isaiah Center becomes a reality and we'll see the future generations change and break this cycle of life as they know it.
mama watson
mom, i am ok! do not fret...
Today i got sun burnt... yes, in Romania i got sun burnt. Never would have thought that would happen... Eza, Rachel's daughter is helping me type this and said i should write about our baseball game today were she hit four home runs! she is quite the heavy hitter. today the gypsy village was another great experience to just love on some kids, play rasta, rasta, go, (duck, duck, goose) and of course hours of football. It is so amazing to me how every kid is so excited that there is someone there to see them, some one to give them attention and play with them that they literally pull you to the ground from the weight of ten of them hanging from your arms and jumping on your back. I can't wait for another day as tiring as this one.
Today i got sun burnt... yes, in Romania i got sun burnt. Never would have thought that would happen... Eza, Rachel's daughter is helping me type this and said i should write about our baseball game today were she hit four home runs! she is quite the heavy hitter. today the gypsy village was another great experience to just love on some kids, play rasta, rasta, go, (duck, duck, goose) and of course hours of football. It is so amazing to me how every kid is so excited that there is someone there to see them, some one to give them attention and play with them that they literally pull you to the ground from the weight of ten of them hanging from your arms and jumping on your back. I can't wait for another day as tiring as this one.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Joe Bro
Hello all! It's Breanne. I'm not much of a blogger but I have decided it's my time to share. As Chelsea mentioned a bit in her latest post, today was our first day getting to visit The Isaiah Center. Please, if you aren't aware of what the Isaiah center is, you should visit the website and read more about it. www.fmnministries.org. A brief summary though, is that the Isaiah Center was opened by Forget Me Not Minstries, whose mission is to reach out to the abandoned and orphaned children living in the Roma Community. It was so inspiring today listening to Rachel, the founder of the organization, share her hopes and dreams for the future of the Isaiah house as well as the entire Gypsy community of Tinca. It is a huge dream, but is one I know that can be accomplished.
Currently the Isaiah house cares for 7 children. Abel and his brother Samuel, Florica and her sister Simona, their cousin Maria, Alex, and baby Calina. All 7 of these children are from the Roma Village. I would be more than happy to talk about each one of them in another post, but it is getting really late and we have a long day tomorrow, so for this post I must cut it short and then head off to bed. So for now, I'll just share a couple thoughts...
JOE BRO! What? Yes, I said it. Joe Bro. That is our prestigeous award for today! Each night, us leaders have decided that we will be giving out awards to the students for outstanding effort and acts of complete selflessness. Today, the "Joe Bro" awards (named after a DELICIOUS Romanian snack called 'the Joe Bro') were given to Aaron, Jacob, and Michael. Not only have these guys survived being the only boys being outnumered 3 to 10 by us ladies, but they were AMAZING today. The way they interacted with the children at the village left us all speechless. So hats off to you boys!! Have a Joe Bro.
And, moving on...
As the bus pulled into Tinca today I realized that I had absolutely no idea what to expect! I had been so excited to get there and to see all the children, but as I got up from my seat to exit the bus a sort of panic ran through me. "What am I doing here?!" I must say though, that immediately as I got off of the bus, all of my fears vanished. Kids instantly began running up to us with smiles on their faces, and hands reached out looking for someone, ANYONE, to just hold their hand and show them that they were loved. We were there for almost 2 hours, and not once was your hand empty or did you not feel a loving child's arms wrapped around your waist. Every time I looked into a child's eyes, my heart melted. There was one girl in particular who touched me today. She looked as though she was about 10 years old, and when she walked up to me she looked at me and smiled, and put her arm around my waist and just layed her head on my shoulder. I squeezed back to give her a hug, and just let her leave her head on my shoulders. I immediately began thinking of the love and attention this girl desired. How much love had she been shown in her life? How much abuse had this girl gone through personally that I have no idea about! Unfortunately, the stories of the abuse these young girls go through are horrific, and the hard truth is, that it would extremely rare to find one who has not been abused in some form or another. Then another thought occurred to me. When you see the babies, and toddlers, your heart breaks for them, seeing them filthy, neglected, abused, and defenseless. Especially when all you want to do is just squeeze those adorable pudgy cheeks and hold them and cradle them in your arms. But what about the older children? Do our hearts break as easily for them? Obviously we care abot them, but do we run to show them the same love we show the younger ones? I know this isn't every case, but usually it's the young children our eyes are drawn to that you want to cuddle and love. But this older girl had probably been through more than I can even imagine. At one time in her life, she was one of those young babies, and has grown up in a life of poverty, abuse, and neglect. Yet still she stands here, arms open wide, with a huge smile on her face, just wanting someone to love her. So I did. And her and I were inseperable for the last 40 minutes we were in the village, in a constant side hug that I didn't want to break when we had to say goodbye.
I know I will see her throughout the rest of this week, but then I will be leaving. I will head home and leave them behind. But I cannot get discouraged by this thought. Because this week I am going to give her, and as many other children as I can, the love that they deserve, and hope that they can see our Father's love through me. And I will do all I can to help Rachel with our projects we are doing at the Isaiah Center to make it the best center that it can be, and to do my part to help ensure that Rachel's God given dream for the center becomes a reality. Because even though I may be leaving for now, I WILL be coming back. And others will be coming as well. And Rachel and her team will be here working. And these children's lives and their families' lives, WILL be changed. Because God IS here.
Currently the Isaiah house cares for 7 children. Abel and his brother Samuel, Florica and her sister Simona, their cousin Maria, Alex, and baby Calina. All 7 of these children are from the Roma Village. I would be more than happy to talk about each one of them in another post, but it is getting really late and we have a long day tomorrow, so for this post I must cut it short and then head off to bed. So for now, I'll just share a couple thoughts...
JOE BRO! What? Yes, I said it. Joe Bro. That is our prestigeous award for today! Each night, us leaders have decided that we will be giving out awards to the students for outstanding effort and acts of complete selflessness. Today, the "Joe Bro" awards (named after a DELICIOUS Romanian snack called 'the Joe Bro') were given to Aaron, Jacob, and Michael. Not only have these guys survived being the only boys being outnumered 3 to 10 by us ladies, but they were AMAZING today. The way they interacted with the children at the village left us all speechless. So hats off to you boys!! Have a Joe Bro.
And, moving on...
As the bus pulled into Tinca today I realized that I had absolutely no idea what to expect! I had been so excited to get there and to see all the children, but as I got up from my seat to exit the bus a sort of panic ran through me. "What am I doing here?!" I must say though, that immediately as I got off of the bus, all of my fears vanished. Kids instantly began running up to us with smiles on their faces, and hands reached out looking for someone, ANYONE, to just hold their hand and show them that they were loved. We were there for almost 2 hours, and not once was your hand empty or did you not feel a loving child's arms wrapped around your waist. Every time I looked into a child's eyes, my heart melted. There was one girl in particular who touched me today. She looked as though she was about 10 years old, and when she walked up to me she looked at me and smiled, and put her arm around my waist and just layed her head on my shoulder. I squeezed back to give her a hug, and just let her leave her head on my shoulders. I immediately began thinking of the love and attention this girl desired. How much love had she been shown in her life? How much abuse had this girl gone through personally that I have no idea about! Unfortunately, the stories of the abuse these young girls go through are horrific, and the hard truth is, that it would extremely rare to find one who has not been abused in some form or another. Then another thought occurred to me. When you see the babies, and toddlers, your heart breaks for them, seeing them filthy, neglected, abused, and defenseless. Especially when all you want to do is just squeeze those adorable pudgy cheeks and hold them and cradle them in your arms. But what about the older children? Do our hearts break as easily for them? Obviously we care abot them, but do we run to show them the same love we show the younger ones? I know this isn't every case, but usually it's the young children our eyes are drawn to that you want to cuddle and love. But this older girl had probably been through more than I can even imagine. At one time in her life, she was one of those young babies, and has grown up in a life of poverty, abuse, and neglect. Yet still she stands here, arms open wide, with a huge smile on her face, just wanting someone to love her. So I did. And her and I were inseperable for the last 40 minutes we were in the village, in a constant side hug that I didn't want to break when we had to say goodbye.
I know I will see her throughout the rest of this week, but then I will be leaving. I will head home and leave them behind. But I cannot get discouraged by this thought. Because this week I am going to give her, and as many other children as I can, the love that they deserve, and hope that they can see our Father's love through me. And I will do all I can to help Rachel with our projects we are doing at the Isaiah Center to make it the best center that it can be, and to do my part to help ensure that Rachel's God given dream for the center becomes a reality. Because even though I may be leaving for now, I WILL be coming back. And others will be coming as well. And Rachel and her team will be here working. And these children's lives and their families' lives, WILL be changed. Because God IS here.
Dema
Today was the first day we arrived at the Rachel's center. We did some painting and cleaning... and of course loved on the kiddos (who are the most precious little ones I may have ever seen!). But sometimes I would have to remind myself that all the work to be done around the center is important. Though we surely want to all play with the children, we have to remember that fixing up the center carries importance as well.
After working for the morning there, we had probably the best spaghetti ever (thanks Rachel!) and left for the Roma village. The Roma people live in a village on the outskirts of Tinca. To say that these people are gypsies is correct, but out of respect and value for them, I'm going to call them Romas. Romas are a very supressed people. They are looked down on and even thought and told they have no souls. They generally don't speak Romanian but speak a Roma dialect. All those facts aside, these people are beautiful. I'm not sure I've ever seen such brokenness and purity at the same time. Within a matter of minutes one of the little girls told me she loved me. The language barrier didn't seem to be too much of an issue because they really just wanted love... which translates in every language.
What I was left with today was the thought that anyone one of those children could have been in my place... and I could just have easily been living their way of life. It's hard to understand and grasp why God puts us... almost assigns us... our place in His world. It's something that I'll continue to ponder and pursue, but I just left feeling like I now have to do something great or make something of myself in order to use the opportunity that is my life.
Yesterday we ate lunch with a few of the families at Caminul Felix. I was at Dema and Monika's house. In the course of our conversation, he reminded me of something I had somehow forgotten... he said, "The world may be in crisis, but God is never in crisis." It just might be that God, in His infinite wisdom, is trying to teach me something.
After working for the morning there, we had probably the best spaghetti ever (thanks Rachel!) and left for the Roma village. The Roma people live in a village on the outskirts of Tinca. To say that these people are gypsies is correct, but out of respect and value for them, I'm going to call them Romas. Romas are a very supressed people. They are looked down on and even thought and told they have no souls. They generally don't speak Romanian but speak a Roma dialect. All those facts aside, these people are beautiful. I'm not sure I've ever seen such brokenness and purity at the same time. Within a matter of minutes one of the little girls told me she loved me. The language barrier didn't seem to be too much of an issue because they really just wanted love... which translates in every language.
What I was left with today was the thought that anyone one of those children could have been in my place... and I could just have easily been living their way of life. It's hard to understand and grasp why God puts us... almost assigns us... our place in His world. It's something that I'll continue to ponder and pursue, but I just left feeling like I now have to do something great or make something of myself in order to use the opportunity that is my life.
Yesterday we ate lunch with a few of the families at Caminul Felix. I was at Dema and Monika's house. In the course of our conversation, he reminded me of something I had somehow forgotten... he said, "The world may be in crisis, but God is never in crisis." It just might be that God, in His infinite wisdom, is trying to teach me something.
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