Goodbye L’viv :(, Chao Arad, Romania!
4.27.12
(Our beautiful view from the campgrounds we are staying on. It is way better than this picture can even explain…
its gorgeous here!)
Saying Goodbye to L’viv & the Blessing Family was really hard for me. Goodbyes are one of the hardest parts of the race; especially after you do it so many times. The Blessing Family was such a blessing to us and I really felt like family when we left there. I felt like I was leaving another set of parents and sisters. Their family was very similar to mine in that growing up I had 3 sisters in the house also. Everything was comfortable. I loved L’viv…the amazing American food, the family we could talk so often with about what had happened the past 9 months, the pets (a bunny, 2 dogs, and a cat), the coffee every morning & afternoon. They went above and beyond to welcome us and make us feel at home while we stayed with them. I am so thankful for all Lindsay’s cooking, Ronda’s amazing baked goods, Bria’s beautiful worship songs next to my room, and the amazing rest I received in between ministry. It was just what was needed to recharge before the rest of the world race is finishing out. I can’t believe we have 2 months left!
This month, being that it was one of my favorite months, if I had the choice I would stay longer in L’viv…I know I could’ve just stayed there a few more months and been content to finish the race there, but the problem with that is that the Father called me other places. I needed to let go of what I wanted in stepping out of Ukraine into Romania.
On Monday night we got on our train from L’viv to Budapest Hungary for a 14 hour train ride. We were woken up at 3 am as we were crossing the border by customs and passport control. Not once but about 4 times. They got our passports, then they brought them back an hour later. Then another two officials came and checked them. I think 2 times for exiting and 2 times for entering a new country. Not so fun when you are tired. However I didn’t worry as they had my passport, I just went right back to sleep as they did their thing. The anxiety of traveling has gone away after it becomes a monthly norm. After trying to calculate all the hours we have traveled I would imagine it would accumulate to be at least 2 weeks of just plane ride, airports, trains, and hanging out while waiting.
Anyhow we made it here to Arhad, a small village in Romania! It has a beautiful view of mountains, trees, green grass, and budding trees! Spring is just about here. This month we will be preparing the campsite for camps coming in during the summer to the church camps run here. Mostly cleaning the inside building, and landscaping items as we prepare for the youth that come here in the summer for summer camps. Plus whatever else the Lord has in store…Here were are so I am going to make the most of it! Before we left the Blessing house, they reminded us not to miss what the Lord had in store for these last two months. To really be where he has called us. The scripture that they gave us was 2 Timothy 6:7-8. This greatly encouraged my sprit as we near the end of the race…!
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” -2 Timothy 6:7-8 KJV
