two out of my four months with the X Squad have come to a close.
this past month, the squad was in Romania and Hungary, raining down buckets and buckets of love and joy throughout these places. relationships grew deeper, travel got even more entertaining, and somehow my relationship with the lord became even sweeter than the sweetest i have known. this month was all about redemption. you see, last time i was in romania i didn't like it. nothing in particular really sticks out to why i didn't, but it just wasn't a place i was particularly fond of coming back to. so when i found out i'd be leading X Squad, who's route included the one and only Romania, i had to surrender any expectations to the Lord right from the get-go. i had to trust that where He was leading me was going to be good because He is good. and wouldn't you know it, He redeemed ever last part of Romania i was anxious about. what a show off.
so here's some highlights of month 2 with X Squad, filled with pictures mostly stolen from my insanely talented squad:
location one: draganesti-olt, romania with teams firestarters and 14 feet.
— falling off the train on our arrival to the town and getting stuck in the tracks because my pack was so heavy i couldn't get up. five romanian men had to come help me up because garrett had to go save the team who was still on the train as it started to leave. (don't worry… they all made it safely off).
— impromptu headlamp dance parties.
— coke dates with staci and jason, two of our ridiculously anointed team leaders.
— worship times with the teams, especially taryn leading with the guitar.
— feedback sessions that reveal heart issues the Lord is continuing to refine.
— becoming besties with a 2-year old after church.
— watching team firestarters sing "our God is an awesome God" in church and realizing they don't actually know the words.
cleaning the church.
my best friend i made at church. (that's a calculator she carries as her phone in her purse)
team firestarters serenading the church.
location two: in targu mures, romania with team rise up.
— first train ride solo: i didn't fall off!
— getting to go back to the same place i had been to 2 years before with k squad.
— boys-honor-girls day: the men of team rise up surprised us 5 women with a day where they bought us candy, let us watch a movie, made chocolate-covered fruit and popcorn, cooked us a spaghetti dinner and dessert, and had a game night. being a woman is awwwwwwesome!
— walking 5 miles back to our village. at night. in the pitch black. but having the best conversation with the pastor and hearing his heart for his church and his vast amounts of knowledge.
— worshiping in the park.
— going back to the gypsy village where my team had spent so much time previously. and the kids remembering us!
— homemade meals by the pastor's wife.
— worshiping the lord for s squad as they had their final debrief in india. just me and a guitar. under the romanian stars.
— a gypsy baptism!
in the gypsy village 2 years ago
the same little girl today with sarah
also today: he's grown so much!
another little girl two years ago and today.
pastor zsombor baptizing a new believer!
location three: in pecsvarad, hungary with team sozo.
— getting stuck in a random town in hungary for the night because i got on the wrong bus. oops!
— prayer and worship times in the yurt (a temporary prayer room of sorts).
— the lord redeeming so many things i had written off as legalistic because of things in my past. aka freedom.
— stephanie and brooke leading worship.
— sitting in random people's yards just to get a few seconds of internet.
— sleeping in a tent smack dab next to a cemetery.
— travel day with bri on a bright pink airplane
the prayer yurt.
the inside of the prayer yurt.
location four: bucharest, romania with the team leaders and entire squad!
— train rides with jill and bri.
— karaoke with the team leaders.
— bike riding through the park.
— reuniting with my co-leader and getting some sweet feedback. and watching the lord literally bringing people to him as he worships.
— see 42 of the most beautiful faces in the world again. and being able to see radical change in EACH and EVERY one of them.
— sweet one-on-ones and hearing the hearts of these warriors.
— worshiping in the park, getting to share a bit of my heart with my women, and an all-woman fire tunnel!
— getting to surprise A Squad in the airport as they headed out to their first month of ministry.
So Month 2 in Romania was filled with some tears, but so much more laughter. It overflowed with rejoicing and worship. My heart was buzzing the entire month, filled with thankfulness and joy. The Lord just poured out blessing upon blessing upon blessing. Romania, you have officially been redeemed.
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** Side note. The S Squad, the other squad that I led, is officially finished! All 61 of them made it safely back to America on August 31st. Thank you to each and every person that supported them on this journey. Your prayers carried them through 11 months and the world is forever changed because of them. So thank you from the bottom of my heart.**
