So its been an interesting few weeks to say the least, with quite a bit happening and the devil on the offensive and attacking the team and even each of us individually.
We are currently in Bucharest, Romania, serving within the city but on the outskirts…One of my teammates Jessica Philip wrote what I think is a pretty good summary/update of our adventures through Boston, some of the time spent in Dublin and where we are at right now in Bucharest. Below is a copy of her page, pls also feel free to say hi and drop her an encouraging word on her page, I know she’l appreciate it a great deal. I will follow up shortly with some more specifics on what the Lord is doing here with me/us and some other fun updates.
Thanks for all your continued prayers, and pls do not cease. Cheers!
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So as most of you know from my last blog, Team Abandon had a
rather long layover in Boston. After spending a day running around
trying to replenish some supplies at Target & REI, we headed back
to the airport to find out that our flight had been delayed and than
finally cancelled..twice! Well, looking back we see why…Kimi, who
had been suffering from infected bug bites all over her body from our
time in Nicaragua, ended up needing medical attention. She started to
run up a high fever and the infection had started to spread. The
doctors and specialists wanted to keep her in the hospital for a few
days. Cori ended up staying behind in Boston to be by Kimi’s side.
The rest of Team Abandon finally made it on our flight to Ireland.
rather long layover in Boston. After spending a day running around
trying to replenish some supplies at Target & REI, we headed back
to the airport to find out that our flight had been delayed and than
finally cancelled..twice! Well, looking back we see why…Kimi, who
had been suffering from infected bug bites all over her body from our
time in Nicaragua, ended up needing medical attention. She started to
run up a high fever and the infection had started to spread. The
doctors and specialists wanted to keep her in the hospital for a few
days. Cori ended up staying behind in Boston to be by Kimi’s side.
The rest of Team Abandon finally made it on our flight to Ireland.
Irish countryside
We landed in Dublin and took a 3 hour long bus ride to the town of
Galway. The rest of the June squad had already been there for 2 days,
so we were eager to catch up with our team and pitch our tents (yes, we
camped out in the windy, wet & chilly Irish weather). I had 3 days
to settle in and feel at home with my Irish ancestors 😉 The team had
meetings with our squad leaders, one-on-one time with Tom & Cindy
(our squad coaches), group worship and prayer, as well as spent some
time exploring the town. I had 3 days to settle in and feel at home
with my Irish ancestors 😉 (and let me just say that my
favorite part of Ireland was listening to U2’s Greatest Hits while
traveling the Irish countryside by bus !! hence my blog title”When Love Comes To Town…” 😉
Galway. The rest of the June squad had already been there for 2 days,
so we were eager to catch up with our team and pitch our tents (yes, we
camped out in the windy, wet & chilly Irish weather). I had 3 days
to settle in and feel at home with my Irish ancestors 😉 The team had
meetings with our squad leaders, one-on-one time with Tom & Cindy
(our squad coaches), group worship and prayer, as well as spent some
time exploring the town. I had 3 days to settle in and feel at home
with my Irish ancestors 😉 (and let me just say that my
favorite part of Ireland was listening to U2’s Greatest Hits while
traveling the Irish countryside by bus !! hence my blog title”When Love Comes To Town…” 😉
Our campground site…right next to a golf course & the ocean, two of my favorite things!!
Once our time in Ireland had come to an end, the entire June squad
headed back to the Dublin airport for our flight to Bucharest,
Romania. While at the Dublin Airport Team Abandon was finally reunited
with Kimi & Cori, who had just arrived that morning to make the
flight to Romania. A note on Kimi’s health, she is doing so great! Her
bug bites are almost healed and both Kimi and Cori have a great
attitude about the whole situation.
headed back to the Dublin airport for our flight to Bucharest,
Romania. While at the Dublin Airport Team Abandon was finally reunited
with Kimi & Cori, who had just arrived that morning to make the
flight to Romania. A note on Kimi’s health, she is doing so great! Her
bug bites are almost healed and both Kimi and Cori have a great
attitude about the whole situation.
Kimi & Cori in the hospital in Boston
We are now in Bucharest. Team Abandon is once again working this
month alone. The team leaders prayed about the pairing up of teams this
month and they all felt that after what had happened in Boston, our
team would benefit from working by ourselves again. We were greeted at
the Bucharest airport by Becky Dan-Walsh and two teenage girls.
Becky’s husband is currently working in the states, so we have not met
him. Their ministry , however, is amazing. Becky runs a ministry
called Casa Shalom (House of Peace). The property used to be home to
orphans for the past 10 years that she has been here. Currently the
ministry is changing direction to do government funding issues, so at
the moment only a few children live here part-time. I say part time
because they have family outside of the home, but the family situations
are not the best and a lot of the kids would rather spend their time at
the ministry site. The ministry also operates an after school program
during the school year.
month alone. The team leaders prayed about the pairing up of teams this
month and they all felt that after what had happened in Boston, our
team would benefit from working by ourselves again. We were greeted at
the Bucharest airport by Becky Dan-Walsh and two teenage girls.
Becky’s husband is currently working in the states, so we have not met
him. Their ministry , however, is amazing. Becky runs a ministry
called Casa Shalom (House of Peace). The property used to be home to
orphans for the past 10 years that she has been here. Currently the
ministry is changing direction to do government funding issues, so at
the moment only a few children live here part-time. I say part time
because they have family outside of the home, but the family situations
are not the best and a lot of the kids would rather spend their time at
the ministry site. The ministry also operates an after school program
during the school year.
Casa Shalom (House of Peace)
While we are here our team will be visiting various churches in
the city, working at a home for disabled girls who have been abandoned
and abused, and preparing for a huge flea market fundraiser that will
take place at the end of the month. (All this week our team is sorting
through boxes upon boxes of donated clothes, preparing them for the
market). Becky has also left for Germany to oversee the packing of
another container full of donated items from Germany, which should be
arriving next week.
the city, working at a home for disabled girls who have been abandoned
and abused, and preparing for a huge flea market fundraiser that will
take place at the end of the month. (All this week our team is sorting
through boxes upon boxes of donated clothes, preparing them for the
market). Becky has also left for Germany to oversee the packing of
another container full of donated items from Germany, which should be
arriving next week.
Some of the boxes of clothes I suspect a fashion show soon!
Thank you for your continued words of encouragement and
prayers. Please pray that this month would be so fruitful, that our
team would become even closer as we live each day together in community
(this is not easy!!) , and that all of us, our team and the workers of
this ministry, would have an exponential growth in our walk with Jesus
Christ. Pray that we would be filled with the Spirit and that we would
flow over with Him!!!! We know that when we are filled and walking in
step with the Spirit, we will display Christ’s love in our time in
Bucharest.
prayers. Please pray that this month would be so fruitful, that our
team would become even closer as we live each day together in community
(this is not easy!!) , and that all of us, our team and the workers of
this ministry, would have an exponential growth in our walk with Jesus
Christ. Pray that we would be filled with the Spirit and that we would
flow over with Him!!!! We know that when we are filled and walking in
step with the Spirit, we will display Christ’s love in our time in
Bucharest.
Lots and lots of love !!!
Jessica
