Wow so much has happened from launch until now. I left Atlanta, Georgia on September 9th. After getting to our gate, we got on the plane and then were informed that the AC was broken and they were going to replace the part. No biggie. But then we waited an hour, everyone was sweating, and they told us we needed to deplane because they couldn’t get it fixed in time. Our original flight was at 3:20pm, we got back on the plane at 7:10pm…open hands! Haha but it wasn’t that bad. Our flight change was in Amsterdam; which we barely made. We all had to sprint through the airport and squish on to this little plane that, when it took off, shook so much it cracked Gel’s neck. Once we landed in Bucharest, Romania, we were informed that all our bags were stuck in Amsterdam. However, this was actually a major blessing in disguise because from the airport we had to take a bus packed with our whole squad and a few locals to the train station. (Shout out to the Romanian guy, Levi, I met on the bus who taught me a few words and laughed under his breath when he first heard me say something in Romanian lol). Then we took a 3.5 hour train ride to Craiova (this train was also super bumpy and it was between 8-11:30pm after 24 hours of travel so we were laying in some pretty funny positions to get some shut eye). Here’s something I wrote when on the train, “Even though all 29 of our squad are all squeezed in one train car for 3hrs in Romania right now, I can’t help but continue to see God’s good grace. I just look around on this loud train and see that we are all here for a specific purpose. It’s not to get all the stamps on our passports, or complain about our lack of sleep (even though it is our reality at times) we are here to further the kingdom of God. To introduce our brothers and sisters to the good news. To share the utter joy and goodness of Jesus. That is why its worth it to wear clothes 2 or 3 times. Or to get no sleep; or to get a weird sickness from food. Because it’s not about us. Kingdom mindset first; for God’s glory. Let’s make his name famous. It’s time to go deeper, this is the lifestyle we signed up for.” After that, our ministry hosts drove us to the house, around 1-2am, and we all knocked out for the night. The next morning we had orientation and got to meet our host, Raul, and his vision of sharing hope to the Romanian people.
Romania as a nation has gone under a lot of oppression. They were ruled over by several empires and were under communism for some time. What Raul shared with us is that the Romanian people are still learning what freedom means, and what walking in that is like. The southern part of Romania, where we are staying, is known as the graveyard for missionaries. There is just so little hope and outreach, that it is often overlooked. If you know me personally you know that I am quite outgoing and smile and wave at everybody. From being here 2 weeks, I have gotten one smile and one “hello” (well, “buna”) back. Our mission here in Craiova is to spread hope and news of Christ, through building relationships and street evangelism. The Orthodox Church is well known in Romania; however many of the young people do not personally know the Lord or are “non-denominational.”
I am working with a long term Romanian missionary here named Adrian, and we were doing art ministry and high school outreach. We have gotten to become good friends with a super fun group of high schoolers here and been able to meet up with them multiple times. They taught us some Romanian and shared their candy and traditional dance and music. Getting to build these relationships and see the feelings of the youth of Romania had been such a blessing.
I will be in Craiova for the rest of this month, then we have a month one debrief in another city; and from there my team, Anthem, and team Xanadu will be going to do ministry in another city called Dragunesti-olt for the next 2 months. Unsure what the ministry will look like, but I look forward to what the Lord reveals in a new city. Craiova has been absolutely lovely. I’ve had so many pastries, kfc (yep. in Romania I eat kfc), and seen lots of beautiful architecture. So so so so so thankful for this opportunity to serve the Lord and see His glory lived out
Thank you everyone for all the unfailing support. I miss home and my people and my family, but the Lord is already working in my heart; teaching me who I am and who He says I am to be.
If you wanna keep up with me, subscribe to this blog! Also, follow me on Instagram @jenay_tenaya, and my squad’s instagram @wrgyroute2. And you can follow our ministry on Facebook: Hope Church in Romania, or on Instagram @hopechurchromania
All the love!
– Jenay
Worship song: This is a Move – Brandon Lake
Verse: “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19-22
