Summer has begun!!

School has now been out for a little over a week and I have been working with two teams the past couple weeks.  It was a blessing to be a part of their teams and to help out where I could. The first team was an all girl team and we had a blast together. The night before they left, they came over for a game night at my apartment. The second team was part medical and the second half did VBS in several of the villages. The lessons and crafts they had were very creative and the kids were very attentive.

This is the first team in Ghida!

It is the time again for me to start the visa process again. And once again it is proving to be very stressful. At this moment, I am waiting to go to the police station to see what they say and see how we will move forward. If you could please be praying about this, I would greatly appreciate it. I know God is going to teach me something through all of this, the frustrations and the waiting. He is in control and I am holding onto that.

Kids Program

Praying with the kids in Cerisa!

Kids in Cerisa!!   

Yesterday I was asked to do a kids program in Marca instead of Nusfalau where I usually go on Sundays. Shiau-Jing, the lady staying with me this summer, and I headed to Marca. There is a small classroom next to the church where we took 30 kids. We began with prayer then sang lots of songs. I talked about how much God loves us and how He showed us His love for us when we sent His son to pay the price for our sins. The kids then colored and we learned the verse Psalm 118:1, "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." We sang a few more songs then closed in prayer. Then candy was passed out and everyone was happy!!!

We then left Marca and headed to Cerisa. In Cerisa there is no church building so we took the kids aside to sing a few songs and do a Bible story. The pictures above are of the kids there. These kids are so sweet!! I had a wonderful time leading Sunday school yesterday!

I am ready for this week. School is still in session for a few more weeks and then summer official starts with teams coming and camps. I can't wait!!!

Update

I am back in Simleu Silvaniei after a great 17 days at home in Indy!!  For those who don't know why I was home, I went to surprise my parents for their 30th Anniversary!! My dad also had his 60th birthday and my mom, her 55th birthday. All of these celebrations were on the same day! Yes my parents got married on their birthdays!!!! My mom new I was coming home, but I really surprised my dad. He could not believe I came all the way home and kept it a secret from him. Totally worth the trip!!! It was a quick trip filled with lots of time with family and friends. and being able to be there for my parents BIG party! I had fun catching up with friends and spending time with my new volleyball friends that I made the last time I was home. Okay, so overall, my time at home was GREAT!!!

So I'm back now and was back to Nusfalau today. We only had 5 kids but it was great to be back into my normal routine. We played lots of games! I am really excited for this summer. My friends have some teams coming that I am helping out with then a month of camp. Right now Shiau-Jing is here doing some research, observation and helping out with the after school program. She will be with me til the end of July then when she leaves my cousin Megan is coming. Megan and I will head to Poland to meet up with Mt. Pleasant's missions team for 10 days. So basically a full summer ahead of us and I can't wait!!

That's my summary for now! I promise I will try to write more often for those of you who do read this!!

O zi buna!! Have a good day!!!

Devotional

I read this devotional by Max Lucado a few days ago and I wanted to share it with you!!

Cornelius


Cornelius was an officer in the Roman army. Both Gentile and bad guy. He
ate the wrong food, hung with the wrong crowd, and swore allegiance to
Caesar. He didn’t quote the Torah or descend from Abraham. Uncircumcised,
unkosher, unclean. Look at him.

Yet look at him again. Closely. He helped needy people and sympathized
with Jewish ethics. He was kind and devout. “One who feared God with all
his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God
always” (Acts 10:2 NKJV). Cornelius was even on a first-name basis with an
angel. The angel told him to get in touch with Peter, who was staying at a
friend’s house thirty miles away in the seaside town of Joppa. Cornelius
sent three men to find him.

Peter, meanwhile, was doing his best to pray with a growling stomach. He
saw a vision of a sheet that contained enough unkosher food to uncurl the
payos of any Hasidic Jew. Peter absolutely and resolutely refused. “Not
so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean” (v. 14 NKJV).

But God wasn’t kidding about this. He three-peated the vision, leaving
poor Peter in a quandary. Peter was pondering the pigs in the blanket when
he heard a knock at the door. At the sound of the knock, he heard the call
of God’s Spirit in his heart. “Behold, three men are seeking you. Arise
therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent
them” (vv. 19–20 NKJV).

“Doubting nothing” can also be translated “make no distinction” or
“indulge in no prejudice” or “discard all partiality.” This was a huge
moment for Peter.

Much to his credit, Peter invited the messengers to spend the night
and headed out the next morning to meet Cornelius. When Peter arrived, he
confessed how difficult this decision had been. “You know that we Jews are
not allowed to have anything to do with other people. But God has shown me
that he doesn’t think anyone is unclean or unfit” (v. 28 CEV). Peter told
Cornelius about Jesus and the gospel, and before Peter could issue an
invitation, the presence of the Spirit was among them, and they were
replicating Pentecost—speaking in tongues and glorifying God.

And us? We are still pondering verse 28: “God has shown me that he doesn’t
think anyone is unclean or unfit.”

In our lifetimes you and I are going to come across some discarded people.
Tossed out. Sometimes tossed out by a church. And we get to choose.
Neglect or rescue? Label them or love them? We know Jesus’ choice. Just
look at what he did with us.

Back in Romania

I know how bad I am at writing here and I apologize. My time in the states was wonderful. I am blessed by all the people God has placed in my life and for the time I got to spend with my family and friends.

It has been 2 weeks since I returned to Romania. The first week was a huge struggle adjusting to the time change. I don't think I had ever had problems like that before but I was not sleeping at all at night and mostly during the day. But finally I am sleeping well and at night so praise the Lord for that answered prayer!!!

This past week was my first week back with the kids. Oh I had really missed them and I don't think I realized how much until I was around them again. They are so precious and again have confirmed that what I am doing is totally worth being away from friends and family.

This past week on market day there was a girl that comes almost regularly to our program who had stolen something from the market. She came into the building pulling it out from her shirt with a huge smile on her face until Dana, the new teacher I am working with, told her that God saw what she did and was not happy. Her smile disappeared and she wasn't sure what to do. We encouraged her to take it back and make things right. I know this girl is known for stealing things but it just breaks my heart. She left and came back without it. I would love to think that she didn't just take it home but returned it. This is one of the reasons I am here. To teach these kids what the Bible says about such things and to encourage them to obey God and their parents. I really do see these kids as the next generation of leaders in the church and they have a lot of learning to do. I pray that I can not only be an example but teach them through God's Word what He says.

My time in Oradea

Last week I joined Kim Jackson, who has a heart for the elderly in Oradea for a few days. Kim is now part of the Remember the Children family and is working with the Elder Orphan Care. Here is a glimse of the time we had with the elderly there. My most cherished moment was with a guy named Petru (Peter). We said the Lord's Prayer together and talked through Genesis. A very sweet man!!

We have dirt!!

Field of Dreams is finally underway, well at least the dirt is pouring in. The whole back yard of the church is full of dirt mounds. I love though that my vision is starting to play out. The kids have been running up and down the mounds and I can just imagine them next summer running up and down the soccer field. They are constantly asking when it will be done. I am hoping that this will motivate more kids to come to our after school program where we can help them with their school work and pour into their lives.

Just wanted to let you all know that we are moving forward with the field. Hope you all are doing well. School has been in session now for a week. We have had around 25 every day which is more than last year. I just pray that they continue to come the whole year. I love being able to spend every day with them!! God Bless!!