Morning Hikes – A few teammates and I started doing a daily 4 mile hike through the beautiful hills overlooking Romanian countryside. This has been an awesome time of speaking to and hearing from the Lord, as well as getting a good work out for the day.
Corporate Team Prayer Sesh – We’ve been working with Team Triumph this month and every day
at 11AM we gather for an hour to pray for Arcelia, for the community, for the church, for leaders, for team unity, for Romania, and pretty much anything else that comes to mind.
at 11AM we gather for an hour to pray for Arcelia, for the community, for the church, for leaders, for team unity, for Romania, and pretty much anything else that comes to mind.
Gabby & Nalou – Our host family who has graciously given up half their house to accommodate our
team of seven. Gabby has been a Christian for about 5 years and is an integral part in the church plant we’ve been working with. She knows the most English of anyone in the village so it has been a huge blessing to use her as our translator. She also works at a milk factory to provide for the family, so our time spent with her has been later at night. Her faith is so strong and such an encouragement. Her husband, Nalou, is around during the day, as his job is taking care of their 3 kids, cooking, and cleaning. He makes our meals and is actually a great cook. He does not know very much English, but understands a lot. It’s funny trying to communicate and we’ve shared many laughs! He is not a believer but has been more open to it lately. We’ve been praying for him and will continue to do so.
team of seven. Gabby has been a Christian for about 5 years and is an integral part in the church plant we’ve been working with. She knows the most English of anyone in the village so it has been a huge blessing to use her as our translator. She also works at a milk factory to provide for the family, so our time spent with her has been later at night. Her faith is so strong and such an encouragement. Her husband, Nalou, is around during the day, as his job is taking care of their 3 kids, cooking, and cleaning. He makes our meals and is actually a great cook. He does not know very much English, but understands a lot. It’s funny trying to communicate and we’ve shared many laughs! He is not a believer but has been more open to it lately. We’ve been praying for him and will continue to do so.
Prunas – My new favorite fruit. These little guys are an intensely sweet mixture of plum and
peach. We randomly stumbled across the trees while on our morning hike. They are pretty much the best thing ever.
peach. We randomly stumbled across the trees while on our morning hike. They are pretty much the best thing ever.
Zachouscah – The most delicious Romanian dish I’ve tasted. It’s a mixture of carrots, peppers,
onions, tomatoes, and beans that is cooked for many hours. Put it on any sort of carb – bread, rice, potatoes, pasta and it‘s heaven in your mouth. I have it with almost every meal and still have yet to get sick of it.
onions, tomatoes, and beans that is cooked for many hours. Put it on any sort of carb – bread, rice, potatoes, pasta and it‘s heaven in your mouth. I have it with almost every meal and still have yet to get sick of it.
Arcelia Church Service – On Sundays at 2PM we help lead church with the very small but legit,
community of believers in the village. The service consists of worship, preaching, sharing testimonies, and prayer.
community of believers in the village. The service consists of worship, preaching, sharing testimonies, and prayer.
Sunday Night Pizza – Every Sunday, Gabby spends hours in the kitchen crafting homemade pizza
for us, which we’ve become a bit obsessed about because it tastes so good. It’s been a great experience – we all join her in the kitchen and have good talks, laugh a lot, and usually play Scatagories together.
for us, which we’ve become a bit obsessed about because it tastes so good. It’s been a great experience – we all join her in the kitchen and have good talks, laugh a lot, and usually play Scatagories together.
Sister Jenny – My Romanian godmother. She is a solid believer and is part of the church plant. She suffers from severe arthritis and is confined to a wheelchair most of the time. Ever since meeting this woman I have had her on my heart and felt the Lord telling me to visit her every day. Marissa my teammate, felt the same way. So, we’ve been spending a few hours with her daily, praying for healing, talking and laughing. She only speaks Romanian – so the conversations we do have mostly consist of our own made up sign language. We’ve been able to cover a lot though. The most difficult part is seeing her in so much pain. We continue to pray for healing and trust that God will work in his timing.
Bathing – Pretty much non existent! We have no showers, bathroom, sink, or running water. The
water for the house comes from the nearby well. The outhouse is in the backyard. So… I am going on 2 weeks with no real shower. I’ve bucket-washed my hair a few times, and baby wipes are my new best friend. At first, I freaked out about not being able to properly cleanse myself here and was really angry about having to give that “right” up on this trip. Now, I cannot believe I am saying this, but it’s really not that bad. I don’t even feel that dirty.
water for the house comes from the nearby well. The outhouse is in the backyard. So… I am going on 2 weeks with no real shower. I’ve bucket-washed my hair a few times, and baby wipes are my new best friend. At first, I freaked out about not being able to properly cleanse myself here and was really angry about having to give that “right” up on this trip. Now, I cannot believe I am saying this, but it’s really not that bad. I don’t even feel that dirty.
Gardens, Gardens, Gardens – Our house, along with almost every other house in the village, has a
huge garden with tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, corn, beans, onions, potatoes, cabbage, apples, and grapes. The amount of fresh produce here is fascinating – I love it! We’ve definitely gotten spoiled and I will miss not being able to walk a few steps to pick a home grown tomato.
huge garden with tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, corn, beans, onions, potatoes, cabbage, apples, and grapes. The amount of fresh produce here is fascinating – I love it! We’ve definitely gotten spoiled and I will miss not being able to walk a few steps to pick a home grown tomato.
Farm Animals – I’ve gotten used to walking between a herd cattle, sheep, geese, or chickens on
the road. They are everywhere. We literally wake up to a rooster crowing every morning. Before we leave, I just might get to milk my first cow!
the road. They are everywhere. We literally wake up to a rooster crowing every morning. Before we leave, I just might get to milk my first cow!
Magazines – The only sort of store in Arcelia. These are very small convenience stores which sell fun stuff like Coke, candy, ice cream, etc. Every few days, we treat ourselves and take a little trip to the magazine.
Another big update – we were informed that we will not be going to Egypt next month as was previously planned. Instead, we will do ministry somewhere in Eastern Europe – exact location to be determined. So much for having expectations for this trip – I am learning to throw those out the window and have an open hand for what God wants for me. Easier said than done.
