I love Europe. Every country that I have gone to I feel that I leave a piece of my heart.
I have never been further than Germany until now. I didn’t know what to expect from Eastern Europe.
We left Honduras Friday morning, slept in JFK Friday night, walked around NYC Saturday, flew to Istanbul, and arrived in Bucharest late Sunday night. I finally got to my hostel at 4 a.m. I got sick the day before we left Honduras…Perfect timing.
The combination of travel, little sleep, and a change of weather didn’t help my physical condition. There were parts of the trip that I just wanted to cry because of how I felt. But even in the midst of not feeling well, I had an energy and excitement because I was in Europe.
Our squad spent the day in Bucharest.
I love this city. I love the history in Europe. I love the feeling I get walking around the streets. The rhythm of Europe makes my heart soar. I feel the oppression and weight of certain cities or countries here, but I feel hope stronger than the darkness. I didn’t get to spend too much time in Bucharest, but we will be back there next week for debrief.
I spent the first week here in Romania in the cutest town called Brasov. All the squad leaders took a 3 hour train ride to the city in the middle of Transylvania and surrounded by the snow-capped mountains. I read about the history of Brasov and it fascinates me how much history is in that area.
Britt, Q, and I were able to getaway with our squad leaders for training. We spent time enjoying everything: we saw Peles Castle, had a beautiful time building relationships, received amazing training, and sought God in a special way. Something cool I saw was an Eastern Orthodox Easter service at midnight. The service was traditional in a beautiful building but it saddened me. It was beautiful to hear people chanting prayers in a gorgeous language, the building was beautiful inside with such an ornate altar and the smell of incense all around, but all it was was tradition. It saddened me that this is some people’s only view of our relational, loving Father.
On Monday, Caitlin and I headed to Pitesti to visit 2 of the teams while Britt, Q, Mac, and Hope headed to Oradea to visit the other 3 teams.
Pitesti was different than the other places I’ve been to in Romania.
I saw more of the look of what I thought buildings influenced by Communism would look. The teams work with a ministry in an area called Razbouieni.This community is a low-income community known for violence and crime. One of the complexes houses a Gypsy community. Here, Christi and his ministry run a church, build relationships with the families, give love and affection to the kids, and help bridge relationships between the Gypsies and Romanians.
The teams placed here are involved with so much. They teach English, music, dance, and drama to the school in Razbouieni, play soccer with the neighbor kids, and will help next week with people caught in human trafficking.
-Alex was my little drum buddy
-Dan at the soccer field with some of the boys.
After an amazing week in Pitesti, Caitlin and I boarded an overnight train to Oradea.
Traveling is always an adventure in itself. There was a lot of laughing and awkward moments.
We arrived in Oradea Monday morning. Oradea is in the middle of the Romanian countryside.
The teams here live in a super nice hostel in the middle of a farm. The grass is so green, there are cows everywhere, and I love the open air all around. I was so excited to take a hot shower that had water pressure and a curtain! We are truly blessed to be staying in a place like this.
The teams here are partnered with an orphanage called Caminul Felix. This orphanage also has a dairy farm so we are surrounded by cows and fresh milk.
This month the team is helping build homes on the property of the orphanage. The kids live with a couple in homes to give more of a family feel rather than one huge compound with everyone. The teams are working on a home for a couple who foster 6 kids at the moment.
I love this new role and how I can be a part of so many ministry opportunities and so many teams.
Help me get the word out!
Financial Update:
I am $2,704.31 away from my last and final deadline! Please be in prayer so that my financial needs will be met so I can stay on the race. If you would like to donate, click the link on the left that says, “Support My Journey!”
