I got to start Romania with the worst travel day. Nothing went right, nothing. For some reason its easier to find buses in Africa then it is in eastern Europe especially Kosovo. Second eastern Europen county’s hate each other still, and the Serbian border sucks.
So I found a bus from Pristina to Belgrade Serbian at 550 in the morning. We were supposed to get picked up at 515 to go to the bus but we didn’t. We had to stop the bus and run into it. We did it though we were on the bus for about 2 hours then hit the Serbian border. They took our passports then came back and grabbed 3 of my teammates. They couldn’t cross the bored because they went to Macedonia on an off day and since they didnt go from Serbia into Kosovo they can’t enter Serbia threw Kosovo. Since I had all other other travel already booked we had to leave 3 of my team behind. They had to go back to Macedonia then to Belgrade then to Romania. My half the the team got to Belgrade the guy that was supposed to pick us up couldn’t find us for an hour and a half. Then we got to Timisoara Romania 1.5 hours later then we planned. Lucky after that everything was good.
We worked at a camp/ conference center in a small village. The first week we did manual labor and did some leadership development stuff. We built Saw horses, flag poles, built walls, painted walls, and floors.
It was a week I needed just to go out and complete something. Finishing a job isn’t something you always get to do as a missionary. You plant seeds, you water seeds but harvest isn’t always seen. That is why I love manual labor I see a finished work and I see what it will do for the kingdom.
The 2nd week we got to help with a kids camp. Three people from Kentucky and one from north Dakota came out and ran the kids camp.
The camp was so cool. At the beginning everyone was so shy. But by the end of the week it was one of the most amazing weeks of the race. We had fun times during the day. At night we had worship and the word brought to the kids. The holy spirit showed up and overwhelmed everyone. I pray those kids and teens know what they felt and know the joy that came from that moment.
I got to lead a small group with Katie and Caley during camp with the 15 and up group. I heard that in the Romanian church they aren’t really allowed to ask questions. As someone that loves apologetics I knew I had to have them ask us questions. So I had them all write them in Romanian and the got them translated. I sat down with katie and caley and we answered all the questions they had.
That month I learned a few things about myself; I know I need to work with my hands in some way but also I can answer people’s questions pretty well. I might not be able to come out and speak well but when someone has some questions about faith I can answer them. God has given wisdom in that.
After the camp and working long long days we had a couple off days and we decided to go to Budapest, Hungary. It was only a 6 hour train ride so why not? We spent a couple days there and then headed back.
Over the rest of the month we did more construction. We worked on a cabin a lot. Putting up a roof, building a deck, stairs, lowering the loft, and doing a lot of math. We also went to churches, worshiped with Romanians all over the area. We had some amazing food. We also started preparing for Africa.
I left early from ministry for debrief in beautiful Brasov, Romania. It was a 13 hour train ride to get there. It was a good debrief, we got to stay at a good hostel, and it wasn’t to far away from the main square.
Then we prepared to leave Europe….
