We
made it to Romania after a long flight on Turkish Airways, which by the way, is
the most amazing flight I have ever been on in my life. They gave us eye masks
and earplugs, toothbrush & toothpaste, slipper socks, blankets and pillows
– all to keep. It was awesome! We each had our own tv screens with games,
movies, television shows and music to entertain us. We had a blast on this 9 hr
flight! We had a short layover in Istanbul, Turkey and then arrived in
Bucharest, Romania. All 52 of us piled in the baggage claim to get our bags. I
was one of 7 who didn’t receive their bag. They got lost in transit, so I was
without my luggage for a few days. No big deal. I had to borrow some clothes
for a bit – made things interesting.
After
we got all of our bags at the airport we all piled on a bus and drove 8 hrs to
Ville Tecii (this small village close to Translvania so I hear). All 8 of our
teams are staying in the same village and ministering to different families
within this village. There are also several other squads on the World Race who
just started their 11 month journey 2 months ago that are also working in this
village. We have had the opportunity to meet and work with them this month. It
is really cool.
We
all have a conference coming up at the end of the month. It is for all of the
squads currently out on the field and all World Race Alumni. I am really
excited for that.
Our
team (once again) has a different mission than the rest of the teams. We are
staying inside the house of our ministry contact and our ministry this month is
to serve our squad (the other 7 teams we’ve been traveling with all year).
There are 5 teams staying at this ministry contact’s house and the other 3
teams are staying with 3 other families down the road in the same village. The
8 of us girls are cozy and snug in the loft of this house while the other 4
teams are camping in their tents in the yard surrounding the house. Every month
God separates our team from the rest of the teams. It is becoming quite
interesting. We thought for sure we would be tenting this month but nope!
We
are very excited to serve our squad. We have grown really close to the 52
people we are traveling with and we are happy to be cooking breakfast, lunch
and dinner for them and serving them meals and cleaning up after them and doing
chores and household things here. We really feel like God is preparing us as
women for our husbands and our own families someday. He is stretching some of
my teammates in the “serving” aspect and the others of us in the “receiving”
aspect since we like to do it all and go go go and never stop.
Before
coming to Romania I really felt like God was going to increase my intercession
this month. And low and behold, this month we will be “stuck” here at this
house for most of the time and not really have the opportunity to meet families
or build relationships in the village as much as the other teams (since their
ministry is extreme intentional relationship building with specific families).
I now know why I felt God was going to increase my intercession because that is
really one of the only effective weapons I have this month is to pray for the people
here in the village and against the strongholds that hold the people here in
bondage.
We
did have the opportunity to go to several church services today which was
really neat. This is the first time that this village has had over 100
missionaries present at any time. There are about 2,000 people that live in
this village.
Being
here in Europe reminds me so much of my Grandparents. The culture and the food
reminds me of the food my grandparents made when I was little. I feel extremely
at home here. I could live here for sure. Romania is absolutely beautiful with
rolling green grass hills, horses and carts, sheep, cows, mountains, etc. –
absolutely gorgeous.
I
LOVE IT HERE!!
