As i’m sippin’ on some hot chocolate in my bed in Transilvania, Romania right now….im thinking about how i can best sum up my last few weeks here. I am now on a whole new team, with 5 totally new members on it. Team MOR3. We want MORE of Jesus! Yes, that IS a 3 instead of an E. MOR3 stands for Ministers Of Redemption, Refuge & Rejoicing!My team mates are: Phillip Henry (leader), Christal Gore, Rachel Schuelka, Julian Sutton, & Alexandra Squyres. I love them! I know we will all learn alot from each other & help each other to grow.The first few days of this month were very overwhelming as i dealt with culture shock from moving out of Dublin, Ireland to Transilvania, Romania and adjusting to living with 5 new people after serving/living everyday the last 3 months with my former team mates, Team Reckless. Not to mention a different time zone also AND colder weather than Ireland. We flew from Dublin to Bucharest & then took a 10hr train ride from Bucharest to Transilvania.It was a beautiful train ride!
It is weird to go from the Dr (spanish speaking)
to Haiti (French/Creole) to Ireland (finally English speakers!) then to
Romania (Romanian/Hungarian/gypsy languages).Very difficult languages to try to pick up in a few weeks! In Ireland i had gotten
used to/enjoyed the luxury of being able to walk down the street/into
restaurants/stores/do ministry & be able to speak the same language
as people! I cried like a baby the last few days before i left Ireland.
It was very difficult for me to say goodbye to the awesome friends i
had made on the streets in Dublin. It was by far the hardest country
for me to leave so far. This month in Transilvania, Romania we are
living in a village in Targu-Mures. On the right of our house is a
Romanian gypsy village & on our lefthand side is a Hungarian
village. There is hostility/hatred in the older generations between
Hungarians & Romanians, due to Romania taking over Transilvania,
which used to be part of Hungary.Targu-Mures is a mix of both
nationalities. We have been partnering up with Pastor Zsombor & his
family to help spread God’s love & peace & help reconcile the
division among people here. He is a very passionate man of prayer
& has a big heart for Romania & God. We have been doing
outreaches at 2 universities,parks, in villages, & in the town
center. Just taking time to meet people, make friendships & share
about Jesus. We have been inviting people we meet to our Friday &
Saturday night Bible study hang out held downtown. While hanging out at
one of the parks i met Mario, the cutest boy ever! He is a gypsy boy
who we found out is an orphan.
to Haiti (French/Creole) to Ireland (finally English speakers!) then to
Romania (Romanian/Hungarian/gypsy languages).Very difficult languages to try to pick up in a few weeks! In Ireland i had gotten
used to/enjoyed the luxury of being able to walk down the street/into
restaurants/stores/do ministry & be able to speak the same language
as people! I cried like a baby the last few days before i left Ireland.
It was very difficult for me to say goodbye to the awesome friends i
had made on the streets in Dublin. It was by far the hardest country
for me to leave so far. This month in Transilvania, Romania we are
living in a village in Targu-Mures. On the right of our house is a
Romanian gypsy village & on our lefthand side is a Hungarian
village. There is hostility/hatred in the older generations between
Hungarians & Romanians, due to Romania taking over Transilvania,
which used to be part of Hungary.Targu-Mures is a mix of both
nationalities. We have been partnering up with Pastor Zsombor & his
family to help spread God’s love & peace & help reconcile the
division among people here. He is a very passionate man of prayer
& has a big heart for Romania & God. We have been doing
outreaches at 2 universities,parks, in villages, & in the town
center. Just taking time to meet people, make friendships & share
about Jesus. We have been inviting people we meet to our Friday &
Saturday night Bible study hang out held downtown. While hanging out at
one of the parks i met Mario, the cutest boy ever! He is a gypsy boy
who we found out is an orphan.
I’ve
had the privilege of meeting many cool college students here in
Targu-Mures & hearing their stories. Here are some views from our
house:
had the privilege of meeting many cool college students here in
Targu-Mures & hearing their stories. Here are some views from our
house:
I have felt like i was on an episode of Little House on the Prarie this whole month. I’ve been waking up & going outside to pick wild concord grapes off our vines for breakfast & picking red ripe apples off the trees, while watching horse carriages trot by & the sound of women drawing water from their wells in their yards.
I have gone on runs through the corn fields & up the hills into the forest each day, overlooking the villages. Seeing the chimneys smoking & the sheep & cattle in the fields. I attended a Hungarian traditional church service down the road & have had the chance to share my testimony & preach a sermon at a Romanian church group on the weekends, with the help of a translator!
This month i have been able to do something so great that has been well over due………REST!!!! Relax, rest, reflect on the last 4 months, & HEAR God speaking to me more than ever. You see, God is ALWAYS talking to us, but we aren’t always stopping to listen. He’s teaching me to be still. To sit & rest. Yes, REST! Who me, God? You know i dont like to sit still! Yes, you Michelle. I’m learning to not always strive in doing things FOR Him, but learning what it truly means to ABIDE in Him. That i don’t always have to be DOING something. Just because im on a mission trip doesnt mean that i need to always be DOING something. He’s teaching me that He’s the One who does it anyways haha & that it’s all in His control. He’s been teaching me to have more discipline in reading His Word & having more of a thirst for Him. Falling more in love with Him! Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that i am God.”
This week is our last week of ministry in Romania, then we leave for Africa next Tuesday/Wednesday!! Then month #5 begins, how crazy is that?! Ways to pray for Romania: peace between Romanians & Hungarians & boldness for believers to speak up & share their faith & break the silence in this nation!
(us doing park ministry/worship. Gathering a crowd)
(gypsy village)
Thank you for your support & prayers!! Love you all! Praying you have a great week & be blessed. Love Michelle
