It’s that time again. As we wrap up here in Romania and prepare to head to our third continent, I thought I would share with you my top 11 memories from month 5!
11. Modern Family team times. Sometimes we get tired of having serious family times every day, so there were a lot of days this month where we would do speedy feedback and finish off with a Modern Family marathon.
10. Day trip to Budapest, Hungary. We are extremely close to the Hungarian border and Budapest happens to be only four hours away, so why would we not jump on the opportunity to add another stamp to our passports? We spent the day wandering around in the snow, singing christmas carols and drinking hot wine.
9. Playing on the hay bales. Haven’t you ever seen those big pyramids they make with the hay bales and wanted to play on them?
8. Month 4 Debrief. Debrief only happens every three or four months and it was amazing to be able to hang out with the Dub for five days straight. We spent time worshiping together, declaring things over our squad and being built into by AIM staff. We also got the opportunity to hang out with some U squad people who were having their final debrief at the same hostel right after ours.
7. Romanian hot springs. Our team leaders set up a time for our three teams to go to the hot springs. I’ve seen enough old men in speedos to last me forever, but it was still a good time for us to just relax and enjoy each other’s presence.
6. Walking to the store. I know that may sound ridiculously boring, but it’s not when you’ve got three of your best friends and speakers to blast Lecrae, Spice Girls, LMFAO, and other awesome jams that we can scream into the corn fields. Amazing.
5. Awkward all girls dance party. There may or may not have been bright yellow work vests and partial nudity. You only live once… right?
4. World Race Formal. The gentlemen from our two out of three teams (one is an all girls team) made us a candle-lit dinner and served us. They also wrote all 16 women a special note from each of them. After, we took awkward pictures and then watched a movie. They made us all feel so loved and cared for, it was so amazing.
3. The street man we met in Bucharest. He didn’t speak a word of english, but somehow we managed to communicate with him. We were able to bless him with some groceries, but I feel like he blessed us more than we ended up blessing him.
2. The dump outside of Oradea. What a humbling experience to meet these families. Their living situation was unlike any I’ve ever seen, but the saddest thing was the emptiness in their eyes. They need the hope of Jesus more than anyone I’ve ever met.
1. Shaving my head. Although this was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, it started a chain reaction of freedom in my heart and in my life and I would do again, a million times if I had to.
Now, it’s time for AFRICA!