I have a bunch of blogs to write. They (WR staff/alumna) tell racers as they prepare for launch that they're going to get into this groove, and it will go like this: they will start the race and often think, "THIS would make a great blog!" throughout the day, and as days go by, those moments are fewer and far between because everything that once would've seemed to make a great blog now just seems like normal life, and we can't fathom why anyone would want to read about it…
but legitimately really cool things that are out of the ordinary are happening, I just can't write those blogs yet, because they require some background information.
You are invited to consider this blog the "background information" for the rest of what I blog about in Romania, because I'm about to try to explain exactly WHAT we're doing here in Stejeris/Targu-Mures, Romania.
but first…we're living in Transylvania. for real Transylvania. I've got my eyes pealed for Dracula, but I've yet to see evidence of vampires…we're going to visit an ancient castle sometime soon, so maybe I'll spot one. I'll let you know.
back to business.
Every day looks different, so it's a little bit difficult to try to just put a description on our Romanian ministry. We are partnering with a wonderful man of God, Pastor Zsombor. He's a native to this area and has an incredible vision to see the city and surrounding villages united by the love of Christ, so that's what we're fighting for with him this month.
We start every day with a time of prayer and worship with both my team (team WALDO) and the team we're living and working with this month (team Beauty for Ashes).
Mondays: we get into the city by noon and meet up with Pastor Zsombor, who leads us around the city…a lot. we walk a lot, it's great. We walk to parks, by important buildings, to the huge medical university in the city and past hospitals, sometimes we eat…but mostly we spend a lot of time laboring in prayer together for the specific needs of the people as well as whatever is laid on our hearts to lift up. Sometimes our walking/praying time is interrupted by sweet Spirit-lead worship, and a lot of times after praying over an area we'll spend a few minutes trying to talk to people, make connections, invite people to church, etc.
Tuesdays: Day off. Today (September 20th) this consisted of a wine and cheese picnic in a corn field with my team, a nap, some blog time, doing laundry, chatting it up with the rather interesting painter who has practically moved in with us and doesn't speak a word of English (okay, he can say "hello," "good," and "I love you."), making mashed potatoes, and I think the day is going to end with a team movie night…if we ever collectively decide what movie to watch (more difficult than it seems since my team leader has a phenomenal movie selection on his hard drive!).
Wednesdays: Village ministry day. The one day we do have ministry, but don't go into the city, is village day. Targu-Mures is surrounded by a bunch of little villages like the one we live in (Stejeris) which is actually predominantly (everyone but us) Hungarian, and village-to-village there is a huge variety in economy. On village day, we go to the poor and we love them with all that we have. We worship with gypsies, and dance with gypsy children; we pray with farmers and sing over communities in need. Village days might be my favorite, they're the days we just laugh with people or cry with people or both, we just are with people.
Thursdays: Look a lot like Mondays, but different. We split up into smaller groups and go to very specific areas to pray with people. The three areas we went last Thursday were the Oncology ward of the hospital in the city (where I went), the medical university and surrounding parks, and a park toward the center of the city. Look for a blog about our first Thursday 🙂
Fridays: Fridays look kind of like Mondays, but we go into the city a little later in the afternoon and we end the day with 2ish hours of a "youth meeting," which is really just us sitting around at a sweet/trendy outdoor beer garden talking with youth. Expect another really sweet blog about our first "youth meeting," but basically we're there to meet youth and to answer questions about faith in Jesus and to share the truth of God with anyone we've met over the week who may be interested and have come out to talk, or anyone we meet there who is interested in talking about it.
Saturdays: Look almost exactly like Fridays, except we end the day with church (where Christian – my team leader – and I both lead worship last week…the best part is that neither of us had ever lead worship before, there's a blog coming about that, too).
Sundays: Sabbath days. The days we reserve to pour into our teams and pour into our own relationships with the Lord, the days we reserve to honestly examine what our needs are (spiritually, physically, emotionally) and honor them, the days we reserve to let the Lord romance us – but mostly, the days we reserve to rest.
So, that's what our weeks look like in Romania, and now that you have that information, you'll likely understand the rest of my blogs this month a lot better! …hopefully.
Love and blessings!
