Day 6- Sickness Detour

Abigail woke up not feeling well, and we decided to stay back at the hotel to let her rest and meet back with the team in the afternoon. It was a good decision although she felt very guilty that we weren't with the group. We had a restful day as she got some sleep, I starting packing up in between lovely visits with Isabel and stringing jingle bells to hand out after the service (do you know how many Americans it takes to UNTANGLE 100 jingle bell necklaces... twice!lol!?).  I loved my time talking with Isabel and hearing her heart. She loves the Lord so much and has gone through extraordinary things with her health and ministry- very inspiring! 

Tonight was our final event with Hope Church. Many of the people the teams visited throughout the week attended the church service! It was standing room only and was live streaming through several social media accounts! Rakinah sang, one of the youth, Isabel and I shared testimonies, Lanny preached, we sang beautiful songs in Romanian (Abigail and I couldn't even remember the English words it was so great to hear it in another language!), Raul (the Romanian pastor) led in congregation taking in the Lord's Supper while children's church was going on.  We passed out gifts (and the tangled jingle bells!) to each attendee and hugged the sweet people we'd encountered this week. 

There were 10 who expressed they wanted to be baptized-which is huge! We learned that some will say they want to follow Jesus but aren't ready to be baptized because they know it will cost them something- persecution from family, school and community. One of the team members said, baptism here is a very big step of faith. In America it's not as big of a deal. That made me sad because it SHOULD me a huge dea...anywhere!  Do we really consider the cost of not just believing in Jesus but following Him and allowing Him to infiltrate every thought, action and breath we take? Do we consider when we as believers make public testimony of baptism that it may very well we are cast out of our family or killed for our faith?  

There's only about 3-5% in the country and about 2% in the area we were in who are believers in Jesus Christ. I'm so thankful for this missionary team who have been called to their assignment in this country (and any missionary anywhere!). They're passionate. I was refreshed by them as their life's work is to make sure as many people know the loving and sacrificial gift of Jesus Christ wants to give them. Am I that passionate? Are you that passionate? If you have no idea what I'm speaking of, please message me, and I will try to help you understand. 

We ended our day having dinner with the lead pastor and his family along with one more missionary couple- all simply lovely people. Off to see Castle Bran tomorrow!

Day 5- Visiting the widows plus Abigail's testimony

Yesterday, I went with Isabel, Dorothy and Anna to visit several precious ladies who are widows and one lady who is very ill. I really cannot explain the living conditions of these precious villagers. No heat in this bitter cold. Some had wood burning stoves that would get quite toasty as we were visiting, but many had open or broken "windows", dirt floors (aka mud since it's just slush because if the snow or rain), out houses (one family I visited had an outhouse that had blown over in the high winds and the husband was away with work so the wife and children were, well, not using an outhouse until it could be fixed. Many had a single lightbulb hanging in their 10x10 house- not room. It house. Most of these widows had no one. No one to see about them. No one to love them. No one to help get groceries for them. I'm so thankful one of Dorothy's assignments is to love on them and help provide some physical needs as well as introduce them who helps their spiritual needs. 

Abigail was with a separate group in another village. She's now given her testimony twice, and I couldn't be more thankful.  It was recorded, and I was amazed (although I shouldn't have been because I had many people praying her confidence would be in the Lord and He would give her the words to say!) poised and waited patiently for the translator. 

Christa 

Day 4- Dragonesti & Stoenesti

My favorite day so far! This morning we met with all the missionaries gathered at Hope Church. We introduced ourselves, and wouldn't you know there were 7 Texans in the group?! There's always a Texan in the group! Our missions pastor, Lanny, spoke and encouraged them in their work in the Lord as they are a great model in missional work. We continued delivering gift bags of food, blankets, scarves and gloves (it's cold and very windy!).

Abigail and I were in separate ministry groups after lunch. She was able to give her testimony in a service where another team member, Howard, preached. I'm so thankful for this! I was told she did a great job- not an easy task to speak, wait for translation, and keep your thoughts ordered. It's great knowing my child is learning to share her faith and love on these people.

I was in a group with Susan and Cherie with Tavi and Nicoleta driving and translating for us. We were in some extremely poverish homes today- one lady I thought was 70 was really 38. She was so sick. Did I mention how cold it is here? Several children we saw were barefoot outside-oh, oh, oh! We met one family who had never even heard of Jesus. I know there are so many in the world who fall into this scenario, but I've only met one other family who didn't know WHO he was. I had the pleasure of asking if I could share who he was and what He's done for me. They let me, and I'm believing the Lord with bring them to faith with the help of the faithful church family following up with them.

The other visit that made an impression on me was one just in the street because the dad is an alcoholic and weren't invited in and the mom left the family. I moved to give the girls a hug, and the literally didn't act like they'd ever had a hug before. I had to just hold them and kiss their cheek- it was hard to let go (and I'm not a big hugger!) knowing they didn't have a momma's (or daddy's) love being shown to them. Ugh! We sang some songs with them and tried to play patty-cake. I left their food bag on their porch so hopefully the girls will let their daddy know some ladies who love Jesus left it.

Yesterday was a difficult day for me, but today my heart was encouraged even in the poverty and sadness I saw today. Everytime I'm in a different culture I'm reminded what excess we have in America. Yes, of course, there are places of abundance and poverty in many countries, but it seems Americans have such a feeling of entitlement. It's all based on perspective... but whose perspective do we have? It's been 2.5 years since I've been out of the country. It was time.

Day 3- Gypsies in Craiova

This morning part of our team met with a missionary team in Craiova. Nobody had ever been to this town, but had been prayed for for years...decades (18 years from the leader of the Craiova team and over 30 from our missions pastor and wife). We drove on some very bumpy roads to reach the Roma (gypsy) community. Today, Susan, Rakinah, Abigail and our fearless leader, Lanny were placed individually with a translator and entered into the homes to talk with and give food bags. Wow- I was so proud of my Abigail. I can't imagine being 15, in a foreign country with a translator, and sharing her faith! How thankful I am of how God has been preparing my baby big girl for this exact time. She's had some experience with translators and foreign countries...just a few! The last picture is her with her kind and hilarious translator.

I particularly enjoyed visiting with Rodi, the wife of the missionary and seeing abby and a little girl giggle together. What a kind and godly young woman and fun children. I was asked by several on our team "how was today?", and since I can't fib I had to say, "well, kinda awkward!". Awkward because I'd prayed that God would give me the words, but I fumbled around and had a harder time relating today. I loved getting to meet the locals and see yet another group of people and how they live and know that Jesus loves them just like me- no more, no less. Difficult to be reminded of similar circumstances my younger lived prior to their adoption- no electricity, well water, muddy roads, clothes washed in a tub/wood fire inside their very, very modest homes (pink picture), clothes hanging outside to dry... a poor community.

We then had a gathering with all the families visited (probably around 60-70 people in a 15x15 room). We sang lots of worship songs which the kids sang very heartily! The gospel was shared, and when it was finished we were told that it was the first "church" service- how awesome!

One last picture was on this incredibly scenic view overlooking the city. The local team meets there weekly on this hill to pray for the city of Craiova. We ended the day at the hotel to eat a traditional Romanian meal. Night night for me... new day tomorrow!

Day 2-Amazing Day in the Village

Yesterday was our first full day of ministry here in Caracal. We woke up to beautiful snow! It's a winter wonderland. Our wonderful driver, Florian, drove us to Hope Church where the team met up with some faithful members of their church. It was great to meet other followers of Jesus (we are called Repenters here) in another country- there's always an instant bond, of course.

Abigail and I went to the grocery store to pick up all the items already ordered for the food baskets to deliver to the village families. It reminded me of the Fivi mart near us while living in Vietnam. Below are pics from our assembly line back at the church.

The team paired up with a translator to visit families who knew we were coming. Abigail and I went together. We made four stops- the first two were individual families. The last two stops were groups of families. Honestly, although it wasn't a "cold call", Abigail and I were a bit nervous going to our first home. The couple was so gracious and welcomed us. The man had been in an accident and lost both legs and was in a wheelchair. As we began to visit it became a bit easier. I was able to relate to them explaining how my son had hurt legs and had been in a wheelchair for some time after his surgery. That made us about more relatable to him and me to the wife as caretaker.

Our favorite visit was with the larger group with all the kids. The soccer balls were a hit and their eyes were big as saucers when they learned two of my children were from China! The kids loved abby and braided her hair. Their "living room" is their bedroom many times- which was what we walked into with dad sleeping at first.

The jet lag hit pretty hard last night so I'm just getting this posted. Pray for a couple of team members who are struggling with sinus/ear issues- that God would completely heal us and not be a distraction.