Twenty-four hours in the back corner of a European bus through Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia, Bulgaria, and finally Romania we arrived in the capitol of Bucharest (pictured above) for a vacation…World Race style. This was our 4-month debrief.
Staff from the States flew in, a hostel was bought out, and mass amounts of Mc Donald’s, Starbucks, and H&M was invested in. (I only purchased one thing at H&M though. I practiced some serious self-control!)
This was a much needed, fabulous time of squad-wide worship, team encouragement, Spirit cultivation, and relaxation for everyone. God knew exactly what we needed and answered what we were asking for.
After the five-day debrief, we trained to our location of DrăgăneÅŸti, Romania. My team is with another World Race team here—living in the same house (one bathroom and fourteen people), cooking our own meals together (a 15-minute walk to the grocery store), and doing ministry with one another.
Common form of transportation The giant dinner table (tomato soup and grilled cheese)
When we arrived, our contact, who speaks great English, gave us an introduction to the city: Drăgăneşti is about 8,000-10,000 Romanians and Gypsies, the unemployment rate is over 60%, and witchcraft is commonly practiced.
We have made a conscious effort to be united in our succession of overcoming the evil here. God has been extremely faithful and has placed his angels around us, but we know of the oppression that people are under in this city and we desire to see them set free.
Our ministry is a mixture of everything, such as:
- Building a church
- Gardening
- Cleaning chicken and pigeon coups
- Teaching English
- After School Program
- Children/Youth program
- Sending e-mails for the pastor
- Creating Facebook pages in order to connect with the youth in the community
- Sending e-mails to churches, Christian colleges, and mission organizations in the attempt to bring more missionaries here
- Attending a women's Bible Study
- Prayer meetings
- Worship nights
Lunch after helping build a church Children's ministry
Hope Church All bundled up because it's freezing outside!
Our laundry inside because it's too cold outside. Our bedroom…with some fleas as snuggle buddies.
Thank you for all of your support and prayers. God is moving in these places and it’s awesome to see that we serve a living, active God.
Happy Thanksgiving week! Eat some great American food for me :]
