Tare (Tah-rrreh).

Did I mention that my days were jam-packed? Not much has changed since my last blog in the way of busy-ness. There have been several things that dominate my schedule. But the truth is, I like to be busy. I drink it up like water on a hot day. It's probably unhealthy at times, but too much of anything can be unhealthy, right? Anyway, life has been great.
Last Thursday I was so busy from the moment I got up, to the moment I lay down, that I had to think back and ask myself what I had accomplished. In the morning, I was supposed to pick up packages (sent by some wonderful Americans- thank you!), but I ended up "missing the boat" so to speak. You can only pick up international packages from 10-12 on Thursdays and I walked in at 12:10. Yoy (as I have been endeared to say). So tomorrow I will make sure to be there right at 10 with the notices I'm supposed to bring, and my passport! Hopefully try #2 will be more successful with better planning on my part.
Thursday afternoon I went out to Tsigmadru by maxi taxi (an autobus-type-thing) to work at the doctor's clinic. The moment the doctor arrived it was so busy. Patient after patient came through. It's hard because most of them just need regular pain killers. And from what I can gather, they're hard to get in the Romanian pharmacies. So they basically have to just wait for donations to come in and once they run out, that's it. People come and ask, and we have to say no over and over because we don't have them. I began to think a lot about that on the ride home and it just amazes me how much I take for granted. If I have a headache, no problem, I've got medicine at the ready. I could take medicine for even the smallest of pains if I wanted to. And they simply can't. That hit me pretty hard. I wish I could send for a huge crate full of everyday drugs. But it occurred to me I can't do that either. So since then, I've been praying and asking God to show me how I can help. I know there is only so much I can do, but I feel like God is prodding me to do something else, something more. Also in regards to the doctor's office...please pray for Annie (the nurse). She is home from England, but having back problems. Please pray for healing!
Friday held another fun-filled cooking session with Tanti (term of endearment/respect) Maria. She taught us how to make this delicious jam-filled prajitura (sweet cookie-type-thing). She also taught us how to make mamaliga cu branza, which is a traditional meal of corn mush and cheese, served with a fried egg and sour cream. Oh, and pickled peppers! It was a fantastic time of learning and fun. She is so knowledgable in the way of cooking and I am so blessed to be taught by her! What an honor.
Saturday was another day filled with adventure and new sights. Karen drove Emilia (my adopted Romanian [actually Hungarian] "mama"), Maggie (one the new students studying abroad here...already my good friend!), and myself to Korund. Korund is a town about an hour and a half away that makes handcrafts. I just realized I didn't take any pictures, but it is a really cool place. I don't want to bore you with all the details, but it was a really fun day. I just love exploring the country and meeting new people and feeling small. Feeling like our God stretches over all the earth (and he really does!).
There are some other "new" things as of late, too. Both teens clubs have been going really well. We have begun to treat the one here in Sighisoara more like a Bible study, although the last one consisted of playing "Dino-opoly" (which is hysterical to translate) and dancing to several worship songs, which is a ton of fun. I'm not sure what direction God will take that group, but I'm excited to see. As for teens out in Tsigmadru, Nelutu has been working on using lessons out of this wonderful book...and they're always good. My own faith has been challenged several times by the topics at hand, so not only is it fun, but I feel like I'm learning a ton. And there is a lot to be learned from Nelutu about how to run a successful ministry as well. Ah! There is just so much to learn. Sometimes I feel like being here is a wafer cookie. Layer upon layer of "sweet sweet" learning. Okay, that's a strange analogy, but hey...it gets the point across.
So what else is new? Well, there is a new pack of American students in town (as previously mentioned) and it has been a real joy getting to know them. They are enthusiastic about Romania and pretty excited to be here. And I have really been enjoying their company. There is just something soothing about being around girls my age (Americans and Romanians alike!) I've also been really blessed by the growth of many of my Romanian relationships. God has truly blessed me in this department, bringing some extraordinary people into my life. I wish I could list all of the people and everything they mean to me...but it's just not possible. Not only because I haven't asked permission, but also because I just wouldn't know how to put into words just how much they mean to me.
Which reminds me of my title: tare. Life here these past few weeks has been "tare". It's a Romanian word that does not directly translate, but means something along the lines of strong. Each day has brought new vibrance and wonder to me and sometimes I feel like I could burst with just how real, how strong, how alive I have been feeling. My experiences have been so very good, so real, so...tare. And I give all the glory to God. I am so thankful for each day, each morning I wake up and being in Romania proves not to be a dream...each breath God grants. That has not always been true for me. Praise God that it reigns true now!
And now, I leave you with some random pictures:

Neat doorway.
Cozonac! The traditional Romanian sweet bread I told you about! Evidence of Tanti Maria's amazing cooking and teaching skills.
Vitamin sorting at the doctor's clinic. =]


Alright, I have one parting thought that has been the focus of my day today: Wouldn't it be incredible if all we needed to eat each day was spiritual food? No bother with the food of this world...just constant attentiveness to the Spirit. That is something to look forward to in His Kingdom! Lately, I feel like I've been feasting on spiritual food and fed up (haha) with having to eat anything else. I know that sounds crazy and don't worry I still love real food. I'm just excited because I feel like I've had a tiny taste of everlasting food and it is delicious! Can't get enough of it, in fact.
Okay, I think that's enough for today. Do you feel "caught up"? I have really missed blogging and as a result I may have bored you with an incessantly long and sort of sporadic one, but I hope not.
As I always say, thank you so much for all of your support! It truly does wonders.

Empty Month, Jam-Packed Days

Sigh. I've already spent an unreasonable amount of time on the computer sending well overdue responses to many emails. And since there is only a half an hour left of elderly club, I guess I am just going to bite the bullet of guilt and continue on with my long overdue blog post. As you can tell, life here has been incredibly busy. It's funny how the months we believe to be "down-time" months, with no major event planned, become days filled top to bottom. Anything imaginable can happen on any given day. There are two things in particular that have come to dominate my thoughts over this past week.
Friday morning, after the boys had gone to school, Karen and I headed over to our friend's house (the Mailat's). Liana and Emil are two friends that we have had the honor of getting to know over the past few months. Although we have a "forced" relationship because they are the "landlords" of our house, our relationship is anything but forced. We love to spend time with them. Often we can be found eating together and talking in Romanglish, teaching each other our native language. It's just always fun to see them. And along with Liana and Emil, we have gotten to know their boys, Lian and Andrei, and Liana's parents, "Liana's Mama" and "Tati". All of which are such a blessing to us. They are simply wonderful people. Okay, enough gushing, on with the story. Karen and I went over to cook with Liana's Mama. Both of us have always wanted to learn to cook Romanian food and who better to learn from than a retired restaurant cook, who knows everything about Romanian cuisine? Including how to make the best salata de bouf we've ever had. So that is just the thing we went to make! After enjoying a cup of coffee and delicious selection of homemade prajitura, we got to work. Step by step she showed us how to make this fantastic creation and by one in the afternoon, we had made a masterpiece. It was so much fun, and so tasty. It's difficult to fully explain, but it's almost like potato salad...just 10 times better. We had so much fun and learned so much that this week, we'll go back to learn how to make cozagnac. A traditional Romanian bread-like sweet. It's also delicious and I can't wait to hang out with Liana's Mama again. What fun!
Saturday was a jam-packed day as well. We had open gym with the Baragan teens, went to visit a new friend, then I had a birthday party to attend. It was another great day, but the thing that "hit me" most was our new friend. When we had the canned food drive, Karen met an elderly woman who lives in Baragan. Since then, we've gone back to visit her several times. A lot of the time we just sit and listen to this woman's amazing story. And it is a tragic, difficult, amazing story. She is such a strong individual and seeing her faith through all that she has been through, has been a poignant lesson. I couldn't help but feel my heart break a little as she continues to reveal the hardships her life has held. Often I find myself thinking that it's not fair, but I really don't know what else to think. I have grown to love these visits and love the small amount of joy we can bring her each week. I love singing in her little apartment and hearing the happiness in her voice when we tell her the next time we'll see her. I love that God is doing visible work in her life and bringing restoration. I just love her. What an honor to have her in my life.
So this week, please pray for our friend if you think of it. Her name is Lenuta.
Also, continue to lift in prayer our other ministries as well. In particular, the Tsigmadru kids club and teenage club could use your prayer. I think that as the new semester students come in, there will be some changes in the way they run. Pray for Nelutu as he has a huge responsibility in both these groups and I know it must feel overbearing at times. And pray ultimately, that God would continue to guide each day spent here in Romania.
Thank you for all you do for me! Your support means so very much.

Un-met Intentions

I've been meaning to post for a while now. There's plenty I could say, but it seems no time to say it. And the trend continues today. I came directly from elderly club to here (House on the Rock) and sent out a couple important emails. Now I've got to run home and clarify that I am picking up the boys from school. Most likely in less than 20 minutes I'll head off to do just that. And somewhere in there I should try to attempt at some sort of lunch. Which very well could be (one of my favorites) a hacked off chunk of cabbage. Mmm mm. And toast with zacusca. But as you can see, even today, I have no time for a significant update. Don't give up on me though, I'll get one to you as soon as I can manage a window in time.
Thanks for sticking with me!

PS: Does my title even make sense? Haha. Ah well, you get the point.

La Multani! (Happy New Year!)

Our New Year's celebration was wonderful. The Sighisoara Nazarene Church (our church) held a New Year's party and it proved to be a ton of fun. Monday evening we watched a movie that a friend sent to me while the boys napped, and then left for church, Karen's dish-to-share in hand. We enjoyed playing games, eating, and talking together until the anticipated hour arrived. At ten to midnight we all bundled up and rushed outside, waiting for the fireworks show. Standing next to two of my closest Romanian friends, I brought in the new year admiring an elaborate fireworks show and laughing about how little of the "La Multani" song I actually know. I couldn't have asked for a better way to do it. =]
As I mentioned in a previous post, part of the fun of this time of year is noticing all of the little things that make Romania, Romania. One thing that is different here is the tradition of breaking glass at midnight on New Year's. It is supposed to bring good fortune. So as the fireworks came to a close, you could hear bottles being thrown to the ground, glass breaking everywhere. I smiled as I realized how uptight this would make Americans..."broken glass everywhere, are they crazy?". No, they aren't. It's just a different way of celebrating.
Another thing I noticed that made me laugh was the mini fireworks shows that were going on all over the town. It reminded me of being at the beach on the fourth of July and seeing little shows flare up all over. The only difference is that at the beach, you can hear sirens as the police try and hunt down the people starting these little rebellious displays. Here, the police were setting off their own show to join the bunch. Everybody celebrates! Just as it should be.
This week has been rather slow, which has been a welcome break to the fast-paced life we normally lead here in Romania. But I would be lying if I said I'm not ready for the gears to start grinding again. I look forward to this new year and all that God has planned for it!