*disclaimer* Those two pictures above are not of “Dracula’s Castle”, but we are in Transylvania County this month and we’re only about four hours away from the castle. My team is definitely planning to use one of our adventure days to go visit it!
I don’t actually know anything about the castle in the pictures above, except that it’s called “Corvins’ Castle.” Our ministry host for the month, Raul, graciously wanted to treat us, to break up the 12 hour travel day, by stopping by this castle to let us explore for a little bit.
I promise we’re actually doing more than exploring castle’s this month! It’s ALL SQUAD MONTH! The Lord has blessed us incredibly, again this month. We’re in a city called Alba Iulia (Al-Buh-You-Lee-Uh). There’s 45 of us staying in a pretty large and new ministry home. We have a washer, dryer, beds/mattresses, showers, toilets, two kitchens and great weather (chilly mornings and nights!)
Our ministry this month is working along side of Hope Romania with our main host, Raul. Raul lives in the south part of Romania. He has hosted many World Race teams before, but Alba Iulia is in the northern part of Romania and we’re actually the first World Race team to come to the north to do ministry! We have 7 teams here, for all squad month, and each team is working along side of a different ministry that is partnered with Hope Romania. My team, Ahava, is working along side of Raul for the month, helping him out with administrative work in the office. We also get to go out in the city and evangelize one day of the week. And on Sundays, we get to ATL (Ask The Lord) around in near by cities and visit different churches. Some other types of ministries our teams are working with this month are: evangelizing, a kindergarten, getting a second hand store ready to open for a hospice (putting in a floor, painting, etc.) and working with a few churches in the city.
Our squad mentor and three squad leaders are here with us for the month. Since it’s all squad month, we take a little step back from ministry. Instead of doing 8 hours of ministry a day, we do about 5-6 hours. All squad month focuses a lot on teachings and healing, which sets the stage for the remainder of the Race, and well, the rest of our lives! Our squad mentor and leaders do a teaching in the mornings after we worship together as a squad, and then most evenings we have another teaching. The teachings so far have been on Getting To Know Him, Hearing God’s Voice, Spiritual Gifts and Who Our False Self Is. We’ve also gotten to hear all three of our squad leaders testimonies. A lot of healing and growth has already taken place this month and it’s been so amazing to watch how the Lord has moved in and through each one of us so far. We really are able to get to know each of our squad mates this month and are able to sit down and hear each others stories and spend quality time as a squad.
Just in the last week of us being here in Romania, we’ve seen so many people come to know the Lord and enter into a relationship with Him!!! It’s incredible and I feel so blessed that the Lord has chosen me to be apart of the Kingdom work that’s taking place.
Please keep Romania, the people here and my squad in your prayers!
Thank you all so much!
– Madison
