Breath of fresh air

That title embodies the past 10 days.
It has been such an incredible blessing to share "my world" with my friends and to introduce them to the place and people I have fallen in love with. For a few transient moments I was nervous about what that would look like. "What if they don't like it? What if they don't understand? What if they ask me all sorts of questions that I really should know, but have no clue how to answer? What if it seems like I've just been flopping around all year, not accomplishing much of anything?"
Then I realized all of those questions were ridiculous, whispers from the evil one. These are my friends who love me unconditionally and have supported me all year. Who just want to see and experience what life is like for me because I mean that much to them. That thought came while standing in the airport waiting for them to walk in and it occurred to me once again just how richly God has blessed me in my life. I feel like I have enough already to last a lifetime. Sometimes I wish I could say "stop! stop! I don't deserve it." Of course his amazing grace swoops in and hushes me. God's all-consuming grace, fills one with all-consuming joy, that's irresistable...even when things are hard. I have a hard time understanding how or why or even when this truth invaded my life this year, but it's something you don't compromise with persistent and useless questions. You accept it and embrace it, knowing full well that it may not always feel this way. I've been told before not to question where God has placed you, but just to listen and accept the blessings he pours over you. Share. Use the life of abundance given to you and bless others with it. Don't make it about yourself.
Okay, back to the week's activities. Traveling last Tuesday went well although it was unplanned (on my part) really. Leaving at 3ish in the morning, I took the train to Bucharest. Jumped on the metro and then the bus, arriving at the airport about 5 full hours before their flight came in. I actually enjoyed my time exploring, people watching (you know we all do it), and reading. Once they came through the gate I was quickly informed that all of their luggage was missing. HA! I couldn't help but laugh nervously as I thought of them being sucked behind the counters of "lost luggage" here in Romania and not resurfacing for two or more hours. However, half an hour later we left for the train being told that their things would show up the next day in Sighisoara "hopefully". All were in good spirits though as we left for the train and things like "well, this would have been no fun lugging stuff with us anyway" were said. Aaron, Kristen, and Kyle's luggage did show up the next evening. Ange's not until Friday afternoon.
So Wednesday Karen and Maurice decided that they were willing to house Kyle and Aaron the whole week for the cost of food. That was a relief because it would have been a little more difficult had they stayed in a host family. We had a relaxing Wednesday and pretty much just "hung out" all day. Karen had kid's club, which Aaron and Kyle attended, while Kristen, Ange, and I stayed with Liam.
Thursday we had another laid back day. I had planned for all of us to go to Sibiu and meet my friend Anita there, but it was supposed to rain. So we stayed in Sighi. We went to elderly club in the morning and then did some typical tour-like stuff after lunch. Climbed the clock tower. Went to House on the Rock. Enjoyed just being together. I'm pretty sure this was the day that we also went to go see the woman that Karen has been making visits to all year (and I've mentioned in a previous blog) Tanti Lenuta. It was really good to see her again and also interesting for me to see how much I could understand of what she was saying. Man does she get carried away talking about all sorts of things sometimes...=] It was fun to see her and hear her tell stories again though.
Friday was the day we left for a neighboring village, Prod. It was teen retreat time! We spent Friday afternoon, Saturday, and Sunday until late afternoon in Prod with the teen group. It went fantastically well and I believe God really worked in many of us in different ways that weekend. I was so glad to have that time with Sendi and Csilla as well. We had wonderful food gathered by Karen and prepared by one of the kid's mothers (with varying peoples' help too). We ate, laughed, played, ran in the rain, sang, talked, and stayed quiet together. I'm not sure that anyone wanted to leave when it came time. We had an adventure getting home after a vehicle broke down, but eventually all of us returned safe and sound.
Monday we decided to go to Sibiu. It is beautiful there and I loved it the first time (with Maggie and Anita) and loved it all over again the second time. We took an early train and spent the whole day just strolling around, climbing clock towers, sitting in cafes and parks, enjoying the sun. Again, just having time with each other felt incredible.
Tuesday we went to elderly club and family center lunch. After that, we all went out to Tsigmadru. The boys rode with Nelutu and the girls caught the maxi taxi. We hauled a snack and craft with us and just enjoyed time with the kids and with the teens. It was awesome to have them meet Nelutu and see the ministry out at the Nazarene Center. Especially for Aaron and Kyle, who had seen it when it was only a vision, literally stakes in the ground of a field.
Wednesday we went back to elderly club and enjoyed our time there. We thought about hiking to the Briete with Nolan and Liam while Karen had kid's club, but it was just too hot. So we mostly stayed home. Though we did go for a short walk to get ingredients for making dinner that night. After getting back from that walk, the girls and I headed back to the apartment to start in on dinner for the family I live above. Pizza, salad, toast and cheese, strawberries. With mandarine oranges in jello and sweet cream dessert. Yum! Csilla and Anita both came over to enjoy the meal with the whole gang. It was Kyle, Aaron, Kristen, Ange, Anita, Csilla, Lian, Andrei, and I. Liana and Emil ate too, but after the rest of us, so I didn't get to see their reaction. =] It was funny to watch Lian and Andrei as they ate "American" pizza. That night was great.
The next day was Thursday (yesterday). Last day already! We did some errands around town pretty much the whole day and hung out with Sendi and Csilla. For dinner we enjoyed a Romanian meal cooked by Karen and Liana that was absolutely delicious. And then after that we went up to Villa Franka with David and enjoyed the view as the sun set while eating some "house cake." All of us got home fairly late and then us girls continued the trend of lateness by staying up and enjoying the stars, packing, and talking. We had to do an up and down check of my apartment because something of Ange's went missing, but after that we settled down for a full 3ish hours of sleep.
Getting up at 4 to be ready by 5 and at the "barrier" at 5:30am, we dragged all things to meet our autobus on time. Loading in, we set off together and their super long day of travel began. I went with them to Bucharest airport, dropped them off, and hopped right back on the autobus to come back to Sighi. And now here I am.
I cannot believe that their time here is over. And furthermore, I can't believe what that means for my time here. But for today, I think I'll continue in denial and just try and catch up with some much needed sleep.

Chaos and I like it.

I'm going to pick up my friends from the Bucharest airport tomorrow. What time? Don't ask because I haven't figured that out yet. It could be 3 in the morning or it could be 6. The plans are a little sketchy right now. But that's okay with me and I'm not worried at all because all that matters is that they will be here. Ange and Kristen will live with me in my apartment and Aaron and Kyle will live with a family on the Veritas' staff. 10 whole days. And you better believe that I am going to enjoy every minute of it. =]

Moving forward.

I always want to say something profound or reach some kind of revelation when I sit down to write. Why is that? Why do any of us have the desire to say profound things or to do profound things? To be people who change the world and "make their mark." Can we not be more happy if we simply humble ourselves and stay quiet? Won't God teach us more through this than through constant meaningless chatter? And if we ever reach that point where we are no longer intentionally trying to say profound things or be profound people, this is when God will shine through us most and speak truth into our lives. Isn't it ironic how that works? We need to be willing to give it up in order to recieve and obtain what we desire. And of course that very lesson is portrayed through the verses of Matthew 10:38-39:
" and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."
It is easy to look at those words and ignore the truth in them. But once you take a deep look into yourself and what you are striving for, their relevance speaks clearly.
Over the past few days I've been thinking about this concept and wondering what my ultimate goal is. What am I striving to be? More importantly, who am I striving to be? The person God made you to be is not too far from the reality. The question is are you going forward and actively trying to be that person and make it reality? Are you trying to bring the eternal to the mortal and live out God's kingdom on earth, like Jesus did?
Are you bringing joy, peace, happiness, positive energy, patience, kindness, and wisdom to the table? Or are you bringing the opposite?
I know for sure that I am messing up and making plenty of mistakes along the way, but the important thing is that with every day I am trying. I want nothing more than to bear and bring the fruits of the spirit to those around me. And although it is messy and not always the most fun and again, mistakes are made...it gives life the value that it deserves and makes it worth the struggle.
"It is not that we are perfect now or that we will never have to struggle. Or that the old person won't come back from time to time. It's that this new life involves a constant, conscious decision to keeping dying to the old so that we can live in the new."
Rob Bell, Velvet Elvis
So you've messed up. Ask God's forgiveness, apologize and make amends with those you need to, forgive yourself, and then pick yourself up and move on. Move foreward and put the past to rest. Continue to strive to be the you that God intended you to be and bring the best he has blessed you with. God is doing a new thing now.

Oh Life.

What I’ve been up to:

*Went to Tsigmadru over a week ago for “carnival” with the kids. They all dressed up in costumes and brought snacks. We scored costumes, handed out prizes, and played several games. About 7 of the teens came to help out with that before Nelutu brought the teen group out to Bezid (I think that’s the name of it anyway). It was once again one of those things I knew nothing about before seeing and experiencing it. This time “it” being a beautiful lake. Nelutu had bought all the makings of a Romanian gratar (cook-out) including mici (said “meech”…it‘s a type of Romanian sausage that is a mixture of meats), pork, bread, mustard, salad, tomatoes, cucumbers, and juice. We hauled it all to the gorgeous lakeside and enjoyed an afternoon of eating and relaxing under the sun.

*Two Fridays ago now, I went out with “the ladies” (Dorothy, Roberta, Morag, and Magda B.). We took a leisurely drive a few hours out of town to see several things including a craft fair, a “volcanic” lake, and a bog. The drive itself was breathtaking, the rolling hills, mountains, and huge pastures of Romanian countryside coming in and out of scene along the way. We had a great time together just being away for a day. One of my favorite things to do on trips is to allow time to “go the long way” and lollygag, taking time to look for something distinctive (but not really caring if you actually find it). We stopped in several small towns simply to observe the little things. Things like a unique fortified church and overpriced (but really nice) guesthouses. At one point we pulled the car over in a place that had a view and cowbells in the background (who doesn’t need more cow bell?) and pulled out a picnic. Again, it was just an all around beautiful and fun day.

*Last Saturday I went on a hike with David and Sandor. We saw a lake and then hiked up behind it to one of the highest spots in Sighisoara with an incredible view. I had forgotten how beautiful it is from up there and it was fun to re-experience that with two of the funniest guys I know. David is the Hungarian-Romanian guy I work with in Elderly Club and Sandor is a guy from Germany, who is actually Hungarian too, and came to Sighisoara for the month of April to do some work for school.

*Nolan’s birthday was also last Saturday and he turned seven! I went up to visit him in the afternoon and enjoyed cake and presents with the family.

*This past week I got sick on Tuesday and haven’t been 100% since. The worst of it was the first day though and even then I kept telling myself “I can manage being sick one day out of an entire year,” so it really wasn’t too bad. Again, I’m just blessed that it’s only been once this the whole year.

Other than that, it’s been a fairly normal week. I’ve just continued to be blessed by my friends and have really been enjoying going to see them and just being in each other’s company.

I did miss mom and dad this week, what with being sick and all, but it’s the good kind of missing. The kind that just makes you grateful for how wonderful they are.

Today I think I’m going up to the Briete which is flatlands up in the hills of Sighisoara that have huge oak trees that make you feel real small. It’s our first attempt at walking there, so it will be an adventure. Hopefully the boys and Karen and I will find enough wood to build a fire big enough for some good ol’ marshmellow cooking. The boys have been waiting to do that for awhile now. =]

So, that’s life lately, I guess. I know it’s not much for 10 days worth, but I don’t have much more time to even write out what’s been on my mind. Another day, another post (as I always say…)