Phew, this week has been another filled with a whirlwind of activity. And it doesn't stop now. Tomorrow we are leaving for Budapest, Hungary! I'm still in shock (obviously, seeing as it's 11pm and I'm not packed) that tomorrow at 6:30 in the morning I will be on my way to Hungary. You know, the country. For a Free Methodist Eastern Europe Missions Conference.
We have known about this trip for awhile, but two weeks ago my outlook on going was grim. There is this little thing called a VISA that is rather important when you are living in another country for an extended period of time...and I didn't have it yet. In fact, I still technically don't have it. But long story short, my papers are far enough along in the process that I can safely cross the Romanian border without threat of deportation (therefore, the trip became a possibility again). Fantastic, right? Well, not so fast. It's not that easy. Although Karen and Maurice have their VISAs (as of yesterday), the boys do not. So then it was a matter of getting the boys all set in their paperwork process in getting their VISAs. Yesterday we had a very successful trip to Targu Mures (where the police station that processes the paperwork is) and the boys were "cleared," so to speak, in order to go to Budapest. Praise God. All of us were "ready" in that respect.
But our car...that was another complication. We knew that we would be driving if we went to Budapest this weekend, so when our car broke down on the way home from teens the other night, it put another damper on going. Another relatively long story short, we were able to get the car fixed within a two-day time frame and Karen and Maurice picked it up this afternoon. There were even more small obstacles that took tackling before we were assured that we can, indeed, go to Budapest tomorrow.
All this to say, that try as he might, Satan is not keeping us back from this conference. We all feel like it is something we need and will greatly benefit from. I am really looking forward to it and I can't wait to see what God has in store for all of us and how he will continue to grow us through this.
"Let us go right into the presence of God, with true hearts fully trusting Him."
Hebrews 10:22
Thanks so much for your prayers!
Thursday, November 15
Monday, November 12
It's alive!
Well I can joyfully announce that my computer is back in business! (Lappy is happy.) It has been running pretty much all day yesterday and today; organizing folders, downloading lost programs, reloading pictures, and more recovery things. I can't believe how "back to normal" it is...all thanks to Relu, the computer whizz from our church. =] He has done a wonderful job! And since I wasn't really expecting it to revive, it's resuscitation is all the more sweet. Praise God for the small things in life.
Saturday, November 10
Rainy Days in Romania
Today I was the first to wake up in the household (for a change) and waking up to silence was so unusual that I couldn't fall back asleep. I stumbled out of bed, stretched my hands up to the cieling, and then fumbled with my curtain before making it safely onto the higher landing of the main floor. With squinting eyes I could see that it would be another soggy, cold day. I woke up at a remarkable rate, all things considered, and readied myself for the day.
My day so far has consisted of a few small errands. Saturdays have become an extra day to "get things done" for me. First we went to the photography place to get our pictures taken for a folder that's vital to our VISA process. Next on the list was cleaning at the Baragan apartment. Last week Saturday I had a "halloween party" with several of the teens from "halfway to heaven", the teen group on Tuesday nights out in the Baragan school. It was quite an experience, maybe a story for a later time. However, the apartment was left a mess. I had gone to clean earlier this week, but it appeared to me that someone else had already done it. After further investigation it was apparently not clean. Anyway, today was the ideal time to do it and so off we went. It was actually fun, Karen graciously helped me (along with Nolan and Liam) and we blasted worship music as we vacuumed and scrubbed. After that we slipped over to the "Russian market" on the Baragan property, which is pretty much a flea market of sorts. We strolled up and down the outdoor aisles quicker than originally intended because the air was biting and the boys were freezing. Last, we stopped over near the piata (open-air market) long enough for Karen to pick up some meat and pasta.
Once we had made our way back home, I threw some leftover chicken noodle soup on the stove and cut myself several chunks of some Hungarian bread Karen bought especially for me. When all was ready I sat down with my hot bowl of soup and bread, feeling the warmth flood my body from head to toe. Sometimes nothing tastes so good as hot soup on a cold, wet day. Then Karen made hot chocolate from milk that Hans gave me last night (basically milk straight from a cow) and afer having a sip of that I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Since then I haven't done much but stay warm and comfy, enjoying an afternoon free of activity.
In a little while I'll call mom n' dad and enjoy an update on life back home along with the encouragement and comfort that comes with simply hearing their voices. Then I'll call two of my best friends and laugh with them about how crazy it is that they are almost done with their first semester of college.
What more can you ask for on a rainy Saturday in Romania?
My day so far has consisted of a few small errands. Saturdays have become an extra day to "get things done" for me. First we went to the photography place to get our pictures taken for a folder that's vital to our VISA process. Next on the list was cleaning at the Baragan apartment. Last week Saturday I had a "halloween party" with several of the teens from "halfway to heaven", the teen group on Tuesday nights out in the Baragan school. It was quite an experience, maybe a story for a later time. However, the apartment was left a mess. I had gone to clean earlier this week, but it appeared to me that someone else had already done it. After further investigation it was apparently not clean. Anyway, today was the ideal time to do it and so off we went. It was actually fun, Karen graciously helped me (along with Nolan and Liam) and we blasted worship music as we vacuumed and scrubbed. After that we slipped over to the "Russian market" on the Baragan property, which is pretty much a flea market of sorts. We strolled up and down the outdoor aisles quicker than originally intended because the air was biting and the boys were freezing. Last, we stopped over near the piata (open-air market) long enough for Karen to pick up some meat and pasta.
Once we had made our way back home, I threw some leftover chicken noodle soup on the stove and cut myself several chunks of some Hungarian bread Karen bought especially for me. When all was ready I sat down with my hot bowl of soup and bread, feeling the warmth flood my body from head to toe. Sometimes nothing tastes so good as hot soup on a cold, wet day. Then Karen made hot chocolate from milk that Hans gave me last night (basically milk straight from a cow) and afer having a sip of that I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Since then I haven't done much but stay warm and comfy, enjoying an afternoon free of activity.
In a little while I'll call mom n' dad and enjoy an update on life back home along with the encouragement and comfort that comes with simply hearing their voices. Then I'll call two of my best friends and laugh with them about how crazy it is that they are almost done with their first semester of college.
What more can you ask for on a rainy Saturday in Romania?
Thursday, November 8
Bring it Home
It's hard to tell you exactly how I'm feeling today. It feels like one of those days where God's reassurance of my being here is overwhelming. I'm filled with an unexplainable and ambiguous joy. And I know that it can't come from anywhere but God because the past two days have been dreary. Cold, wet and unrelenting. I felt weighed down and burdened, but today is different. Today I have strength that is not my own. Today I will go to Tsigmadru with Annie and tend to the needs of people who truly need it and forget my own unimportant worries.
I feel like my focus has been off for the past couple of weeks and finally, today, God has brought me home.
I feel like my focus has been off for the past couple of weeks and finally, today, God has brought me home.
Sunday, November 4
"What do you want to do today?...Oh let's just Rome." Part 2
Alright, as usual it’s been much longer than I anticipated to get you this entry. =] I should altogether stop telling you when I think I’ll get them done. And hey, then it’s always a pleasant surprise when you find a new one. Anyway, I give you: Rome Part 2 (Final Rome conclusions)…
It’s been over a week since I returned home from Rome. My memories already have that history haze beginning to glaze over them. You know, that haze that makes it feel like yesterday and a month ago all at once. Sevral random things still stand out from the fog:
*Seeing the Coliseum from the public transportation bus and plastering myself against the window
*My first gelato by the Trevi Fountain
*The sights and smells of the little bakery/pastry shop down the road from our “house”
*Walking to the Pantheon with Ali and Amanda – Ali: “Doh-vay see troh-vuh Pantheon?” Guy: “Speak English.”
*Homemade dinner nights
*Walking through the Trastevere by night
*Laying on the cobblestone ground at the Vatican and looking at the stars, enjoying the peace and quiet
*Standing in Piazza Repubblica and replaying old memories in my head
I still can’t believe that I went to Rome for a week. It was my first “adult” trip. I’m not a child anymore, and I don’t need a chaperone. When did that happen?
I’ve learned to:
*find my own way around a large, crowded city (use a map)
*take public transportation and NOT get angry at the world when it goes slower than expected
*budget money in a way that’s frugal, but still enjoyable
*be the spokesperson for a group
*exchange valuable information through few words
*bite my tongue when my opinion is of no value
*intuitively plan activities according to the preferences of an entire group
*figure out another person’s preference without talking about it
*confront an issue before the breaking point
And more…
Okay I know lists can be obnoxious, but I’m a list person... imi pare rau (I’m sorry). I just can’t find a way to express how valuable this trip was to me on so many different levels. I not only saw Rome and all its glory (and shortcomings), but I learned things about myself that no other situation in life thus far has revealed. Before leaving, I imagined the trip to be extremely relaxing and just plain fun. I had no idea God would “put me to work” and help me develop as a person (in Him) in the process. It's funny how he does that when you least want it/expect it/feel like you can handle it, isn't it? And it's also funny how it's always perfect timing.
Yet again life here has proven to be challenging, unique, and invaluable.
More pictures from the adventure:
One of the many churches we saw. They were all very extravagant.
Although I don't know the theology and all the reasoning behind this act, I do know it's beauty.
By night, Rome is a different place.
Funky pyramid thing that supposedly houses the bones of someone important. (Haha...)
Fun at the fresh water fountains that appear out of nowhere on any given street.
Meet Ott the troll. He was kidnapped by the group from Hans and enjoyed a week in Rome with the rest of us. Here he's taking in the Spanish Steps. =]
It’s been over a week since I returned home from Rome. My memories already have that history haze beginning to glaze over them. You know, that haze that makes it feel like yesterday and a month ago all at once. Sevral random things still stand out from the fog:
*Seeing the Coliseum from the public transportation bus and plastering myself against the window
*My first gelato by the Trevi Fountain
*The sights and smells of the little bakery/pastry shop down the road from our “house”
*Walking to the Pantheon with Ali and Amanda – Ali: “Doh-vay see troh-vuh Pantheon?” Guy: “Speak English.”
*Homemade dinner nights
*Walking through the Trastevere by night
*Laying on the cobblestone ground at the Vatican and looking at the stars, enjoying the peace and quiet
*Standing in Piazza Repubblica and replaying old memories in my head
I still can’t believe that I went to Rome for a week. It was my first “adult” trip. I’m not a child anymore, and I don’t need a chaperone. When did that happen?
I’ve learned to:
*find my own way around a large, crowded city (use a map)
*take public transportation and NOT get angry at the world when it goes slower than expected
*budget money in a way that’s frugal, but still enjoyable
*be the spokesperson for a group
*exchange valuable information through few words
*bite my tongue when my opinion is of no value
*intuitively plan activities according to the preferences of an entire group
*figure out another person’s preference without talking about it
*confront an issue before the breaking point
And more…
Okay I know lists can be obnoxious, but I’m a list person... imi pare rau (I’m sorry). I just can’t find a way to express how valuable this trip was to me on so many different levels. I not only saw Rome and all its glory (and shortcomings), but I learned things about myself that no other situation in life thus far has revealed. Before leaving, I imagined the trip to be extremely relaxing and just plain fun. I had no idea God would “put me to work” and help me develop as a person (in Him) in the process. It's funny how he does that when you least want it/expect it/feel like you can handle it, isn't it? And it's also funny how it's always perfect timing.
Yet again life here has proven to be challenging, unique, and invaluable.
More pictures from the adventure:
One of the many churches we saw. They were all very extravagant.
Although I don't know the theology and all the reasoning behind this act, I do know it's beauty.
By night, Rome is a different place.
Funky pyramid thing that supposedly houses the bones of someone important. (Haha...)
Fun at the fresh water fountains that appear out of nowhere on any given street.
Meet Ott the troll. He was kidnapped by the group from Hans and enjoyed a week in Rome with the rest of us. Here he's taking in the Spanish Steps. =]Thursday, November 1
Life is crazy
From that day I climbed on the plane to this very day, one thought has permeated all I do and think. Life is such a crazy thing. Since when did I become an 18 year old who lives in Romania and hangs out with the elderly (and loves it)? How is it possible that each day I get to walk out of my door into an old historical town and pass under a clocktower that has stood for many years past? Why do I get to go and work in a village that has no true doctor and help aid the nurse there today? Why do I get to experience what it's like to have two "little brothers" who love me? How come I get to hang out with two of Pearce's most committed leaders day in and day out? What on earth have I done to deserve such a life? Nothing.
God's grace is all-powerful and incredible.
"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."
2 Corinthians 12:9
God's grace is all-powerful and incredible.
"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."
2 Corinthians 12:9
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