progress-report

Day 12 - Sunday, 12 June 2011

Sun, 12 Jun 2011 21:33:14 +0100

Today Dean's eyes are puffy and swollen and he is dizzy. He was not able to join us for church today, but Didi and I went with Brother Gigel, Daniel, Magda and Mother Olariu to a small village name Ohaba-Lunga. There I gave a greeting (Daniel translated), Didi sang a song, Brother Gigel preached on the act of baptism and why we do what we do. Pastor Ovidiu from Margina also spoke on the ceremony of baptism and baptized three women. We were told that there were maybe 12 or 13 believers in that village, but today there were over 80 people in that small village church. Afterwards there was a small reception.

Didi and I returned to the church where we were locked in. Dean eventually found Brother David (Senior Pastor of Grace Baptist Church) and he let us out through the gate. We walked to PC 3/4 from about 2:00pm - 5:25pm, at which time we and six young people from PC 3/4 walked to GBC. There was a children's program in honor of mother's day. Numerous songs and dozens of poems. Brother Gearl preached on how Christ meets you at the point of your need. Following the service we introduced the young people to Brother Gearl and Brother Ionel and all went downstairs for dinner.

Following dinner we walked the young people back to PC 3/4. On the way back to GBC we detoured through the Beer Festival to check out the group Hi-Q. Apparently they are quite famous in Romania. Just as we were approaching the area in front of the stage the power went out and the there were no lights, no rides, no sound from that specific quandrant of Lugoj. The power returned about 10-15 minutes later much to our dismay. As we were preparing for bed, there was a fireworks display over the Podul de Fier (Iron Bridge). It was awesome and Didi said it was even better than some she had seen stateside.

Tomorrow the big team arrives. Brother Ionel, Brother Gearl and Manu will drive into Timisoara and meet them and the team will travel either on a bus or in a couple of vans. We will go to PC 3/4 in the morning for what could be our last "real" visit with them on this trip. We will invite them to the youth service on Monday, but I don't know if they will attend. Next week we will be in the village of Gavojdia and working in a Placement Center there.

Day 11 - Saturday, 11 June 2011

Sat, 11 Jun 2011 20:45:08 +0100

I now know when the music stops blaring over the speakers at the Beer Festival. Traditional Romanian music until 10:00pm and then Techno-Pop until 12:45am.

Today Dean and I attended a marriage confernece and our very own pastor was the speaker. It was good to be reminded of some of the many Biblical principles that we must follow in order to have a healthy marital relationship. There were approximately 70 people in attendance. The Grace Baptist Church youth set up the dining hall and provided child care for the event. They and Didi also served the meal to the conference participants.

After the confernece we went to PC 3/4 and visited with the young people. They talked about hopes and dreams and wanting to have a better future. I am encouraged by much of what I hear. I told them that we would see if we could attend the Brickyard Church tomorrow since that is just around the corner from where they live.

Didi taught several of the young people some games (Octopus Tag, Ninja, Poke...). She did an awesome job of including youngsters from all age groups (7 years to 24 years) males, females and even me for two rounds of Ninja. The young people had a great time and played and laughed for nearly an hour in the courtyard. Sometimes they had as many as 20 people playing a game at any given time.

Later the teens and young adults had a cook out and grilled meats that were purchased by a former resident of PC 3/4. They had a very nice spread (Kebabs, Sausages, Mici, Chicken Wings) and wanted so badly for us to eat with them. We told them that we were still full from lunch and that we would be eating dinner soon, but so as not to offend we ate a little.

Last night at the Beer Festival we bought little hair barettes for some of the little girls and handed them out. Didi then taught the games to the younger children and played with them while Dean and the young men played a game with a soccer ball. When it was time to leave, all the small children mobbed Didi and she and I had a group hug of about 20 kids. Also, one young man that I have hugged for the past two years hugged me good-bye this evening. It seems that the ice is starting to melt!

We headed to the Olariu home for dinner at approximately 5:50pm and had a great time of fellowship with Haley, Sandra, Rachel, Delia and Debi. As always we had a wonderful meal. The pastors decided that Sandra and Haley would go to Resita for church service tomorrow and that the Nicely Family would go with Brother Gigel to a small village to perform a baptism.

On our way back to Grace Baptist Church we stopped by PC 3/4 and invited all the teens and young adults to attend the evening service at GBC with us tomorrow. We told them that we would leave from there and all walk to church together. We plan to arrive early and reserve a row or two so that we can all set together as one big family. They all seemed really excited about this and are looking forward to it...as are we.

We stopped by the Beer Festival again to buy more barettes and get more Betty ice cream.

I took my last dose of antibiotics, but my throat has started hurting again.

Noapte Buna (Good night).

Day 10 - Friday, 10 June 2011

Sat, 11 Jun 2011 21:13:22 +0100

We reported to Grace Christian School (GCS) and after breakfast once again participated in several English Class. After the 4 and 5 year old class ended, we were asked to class sit for a spell again, but this time we didn't even have a video. It looked and sounded like they were all simultaneously saying, "He took that from me" "I had it first" "He pushed me" "She poked me in the eye"... Now don't get me wrong I love children of any and every age and work well with them under most any circumstance and I'm not at all complaining but... Praise the Lord! Someone arrived at the school and invited us to tour two different properties that are being considered for expansion and/or relocation of the school. Does the Lord have perfect timing or what?

Both properties have wonderful prospects (location, room for growth, community redevelopment...) and both present some challenges. This will be a matter of of prayer and seeking God's will. We returned to GCS for lunch and then we headed over to PC 3/4.

More time connecting with the teens and time spent with the younger children as well. Afterwards we headed over to the Beer Festival with 2 young men from PC 3/4 to do some more people watching. On the way we ran into one of our translators, Alina and asked her to come with us. We took Alina and the 2 young men to a fast food restaurant that she recommended. While ordering our food a young man that I had met 5 years ago, and who I saw at the young adult center last Saturday, came in to place an order. I asked him to join us as well. We returned to strolling around the Beer Festival. I know the music will go until at least 10:30pm, but I still don't know when it will stop.

Tomorrow Dean and I will be attending a conference on how to transform your marriage here at Grace Baptist Church. After ministering to and serving so many other people over the past four years I'm really looking forward to this and think it will be really good for us as a couple and a family. The guest speaker is none other than our own pastor, Brother Gearl.

Once again it sprinkled throughout the day and even rained at times. Didi finished her course of antibiotics today and seems to be doing much better. I should finish mine tomorrow. Dean's condition is not really improving and he may change to a different antibiotic.

Day 9 - Thursday, 9 June 2011

Sat, 11 Jun 2011 21:11:49 +0100

Up bright and early and off to Grace Christian School (GCS). Every morning we eat breakfast and at the school and every afternoon we eat lunch there as well. We helped clean the lunch room and then participated in a few English Classes. We were then called upon to watch a class for a teacher that had to leave. She was showing them a video when we entered the romm and as she was leaving she said to me in Romanian when it's over just hit "Replay". We thought that sounded simple enough except for the fact that she didn't tell us that the video was less than 5 minutes long. It is incredible how unruly a group of bored 4 and 5 year olds can become when they have a substitute teacher. Especially one who they know doesn't know what they're saying and therefore one they can seemingly ignore. Unfortunately for them I do know how to say, "Be quiet", "Sit down" "Listen" and "Be still" in Romanian. Unfortunately for us they didn't care. Then we were delivered (cue the Hallelujah chorus). Someone had arrived at the school and we were told that we would be taken to see a recently purchased farm and to hear the vision for the ministry that will take place there.

The farm is about 10 minutes outside of Lugoj and situated on a very large piece of property. There will be housing provided for the farmhands and other employees. A bed and breakfast (for the "City Slickers" who want to rough it) and restaurant. It will be able to host special events and tours, educational programs and job training amongst other things. The farm will also have several dozen Holstein cows (for dairy products) and some other type of cow for beef products. FYI: At this time, cows in Romania are used primarily for milk products and the beef is not of a good quality or grade (reminiscent of shoe leather in flavor and texture). The beef produced by these cows will be of superior quality and quite desirable. The farm will be used to provide education, experience and jobs for adult orphans!

We returned to GCS for lunch and then headed over to PC 3/4. As always we spent time with the young people. A young woman asked me to wach a film on You Tube. The footage had been shot in the early 1990's at some point after the Romanian Revolution of December 1989. The film documented some of the many abuses and atrocities committed at a "home" for handicapped children in Bucharest. At this one orphanage alone 137 children had died due to various causes. It was absolutely heartbreaking and I wept as I watched and remembered the public rage and outcry when we in the US and the rest of the world saw the images of the Romanian orphans over 20 years ago. Then two of the (older) young women, both in their early 20's shared about the abuses they had experienced before the system was overhauled (i.e. cold baths, beatings...). I was just so heartbroken and devestated by the pain and suffering they had experienced and I sobbed openly. I'm still shedding tears everytime I think about it and with every keystroke I am making as I type this out. We were created in the image of God and He valued us enough to send Jesus to die for us. What right do we, as people, have to devalue any human life?

That evening Dean, Didi and I walked to the Olariu home where Haley and Sandra are staying. The Senior Pastor of One Heart Church, Gearl Spicer, arrived this afternoon and the Family Olariu is also serving as his host. We had a wonderful meal and time of fellowship and then walked back to Grace Baptist Church. The Beer Festival is in town this weekend and we stopped by to do some people watching. There is one concession stand, Betty Ice Cream, that is spectacular. They actually have Cantaloupe flavored ice cream (who'd have thunk) that is awesome! The Beer Festival is less than half a block from GBC. All the rides have music, there are live bands and music over the loud speakers. I wonder if we will be able to hear it at night and what time it will end. Hmh???

It sprinkled throughout the day. Dean is a little under the weather and started a course of antibiotics today.

Day 8 - Wednesday, 8 June 2011

Sat, 11 Jun 2011 20:48:50 +0100

Today Didi and I observed a 3 year old class as they rehearsed for their program. We also measured children (height, waist and pant length) in the aforementioned 3 year old class, a four year old and five year old class. This was done so that the Ladies of One Heart would have a good range of sizes in order to sew more school uniforms for Grace Christian School.

After lunch, Didi and I helped the children change into their pajamas for a two hour nap. I wish this was something that we did in schools in America.

We headed over to PC 3/4 after lunch and "hung out" with several of the young people until all those who would be going off campus with us were available. For many years I have wanted to have an opportunity to spend time with the young people in an informal setting oustide of the placement center -like a family- and this was our opportunity and grand experiment. We ended up being 14 in all (6 young women and 5 young men plus Dean, Didi and I). We started our trek and I asked if they did this often and they said that they never get to go anywhere as a group... only the small children do. We were to walk about 1.5 miles to a restaurant to get shawarma (similar to gyros). It was so hot! We stopped about halfway and bought soft drinks.

When we arrived at the restaurant we all flooded in and there wasn't enough room for all of us, so we had them make 14 shwarma to go. We walked acroos the street to the college (technical school) and ate in the ampitheatre. We had such an awesome time. I handed out baby wipes, hand sanitizer and napkinss and collected the trash afterwards. All of the young people seemed to be enjoying themselves and it gave us tremendous joy to open up our family to enable the young people to experience some semblance of normalcy.

We took a different route back to the placement center. We walked on the other side of the river and had the opporunity to introduce the young people to Randy and (Nurse) Tamara. They told them about their ministry and some of the projects they have coming up in the late summer, fall and beyond (i.e. establishing a community center with washing machines, shower facilites, clothing closet, food pantry, English classes, homework assistance, tutoring, life skills and employment opportunites - construction, gas station attendants, farm hands...) This was a very strategic introduction as they serve in the Mundial community, also know as the Brickyard, and it is just around the corner from the placement center. Last year I started inviting the young people to attend services at the Brickyard church because it is less formal and less intimidating than the very large Grace Baptist Church in city centre. At the Brickyard church they can just "come as they are". The young people were so excited, encouraged and hopeful for the opportunites that lay ahead.

We walked back to PC 3/4 in a down pour and were soaked by the time we got there.

Throughout the afternoon and into the evening the young people kept thanking me and telling me they had fun and asked if we could do it again sometime. I told them I'd love to but that I didn't have money to do it again this year. To my great pleasure they didn't care about the food. They just wanted to be together, as a family, outside, away from the placement center. These young people are some of our extended family here in Romania and we love them so dearly!

Day 7 - Tuesday, 7 June 2011

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 21:23:06 +0100

Today we left Lugoj and headed into Timisoara for a very big day! We were to experience ministry to adult orphans who were being integrated into mainstream society as viable contributing members of the community. Through the ministry of Academia Vietii (Life Academy) adults that have grown up in the orphanages/placement centers are taught life skills such as money managment (budgeting and saving), cooking, goal setting, prioritizing, parenting...

On the way to Timisoara we stopped and purchased a large shopping bag full of (Romanian) cherries from a gentleman on the side of the road. FYI: Romania is famous for sour cherries, but others are imported so purchasing them through private vendors is about the only way you know that you are getting real Romanian cherries (straight from their tree).

We first visited the apartment of a young couple. The husband was at work but the wife was home with their 18 month old child and they lived in a one room apartment. Their rent is 150 Euro per month, with a monthly household income of 400 Euro. The wife shared about how she came to live in the orphanage and it was absolutely heartbreaking. Through the program they were able to locate their current apartment and are saving to build a house. We left them a large bowl of cherries.

Next we went to a business owned by a brother in the faith who has employed two young women that are participating in the Life Academy program. They were allowed to leave work and spend time with us so that we could see their home and hear their respective stories. Both women shared and told about how much the program had improved their quality of life (employment, place of residence...). Both young women hoped that some day they would meet men who would accept them for who they are and love them anyway. I am so thankful that we all have the opportunity to find that in Jesus Christ.

One of the young women was obviously of Roma descent with thick, black hair and a dark complexion. After we had gotten to know her she said that she had been thinking about how they (the adult orphans) are always paraded in front of donors, sponsors and other ministry partners of Life Academy. She said that she had thought to herself and prayed, "He always brings a bunch of white Americans around to see us. Lord, just one time can he bring a Black person". Then she saw me and Didi. She said that she was so happy that God had heard and answered her prayer. She had so many questions for us as a multi-racial family, for Didi and for me. She wanted to take pictures with me, with Didi, the three of us, with me and Dean and finally all four of us. They also received a large bowl of cherries for themselves and another roomate.

Next we went to a village to meet another young couple that had two small children. Shortly before we arrived, the wife had apparently been bitten by a spider and she was transported to the hospital via ambulance. They were allowed to live rent free in the garage of another brother in the faith. This has allowed them to save money toward buidling their own home. They had a billy goat, 3 nanny goats and 2 kids in addition to a good size garden (corn, onions, tomatoes, beans, cabbage, potatoes, apple, plum and cherry trees as well as alfalfa for the goats). They took us to see the lot of land that the government had given to them and we said a prayer over it. They were so thankful that the Life Academy would help build their home that they wanted to donate a kid to another family of orphans. So we put the goat and 2 bales of hay in a trailer and drove to another village. This family also received a large bowl of cherries

At the next village we visited with the first recipients of a Life Academy home. It was a young couple (both of whom are adult orphans) and their 3 small children. When we arrived the familly was so excited to receive their new goat. They already had egg laying chickens and chickens being raised for meat. They were so excited that in addition to having eggs and chicken they would soon have milk for their 3 children. We then went shopping to place food in their empty refrigerator and pantry. This last family received the rest of the cherries

Our host needed to get back to the first village so that he could take the husband to be with his wife at the hospital, so it was good that we had already decided that we were going to ride the train back to Lugoj to Timisoara. After a late afternoon snack at McDonald's in Timisoara Square (where the 1989 revolution began to overthrow the Communist dictator) we went to the train station. The cost was 13.50 Lei (about $4.50) and well worth it. We were in Lugoj in less than 50 minutes and we didn't have to play chicken with 18-wheelers on the 2 lane highway.

Light dinner at the Olariu home and then walked back to Grace Baptist Church.

I was so excited to see that there was already in existence a ministry to the adult orphans. More are needed and this is something we would definitely be interested in. Definitely need to keep Life Academy as a resource and referral for young people we know.

We didn't get to spend time with the young people at PC 3/4 today, but we will have a special time together on Wednesday evening.

Day 6 - Monday, 6 June 2011

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 20:51:51 +0100

Rise and shine. Didi and I reported to Grace Christian School at 9:00am. We helped out in a class of 3-4 year olds for a period of time. I knew and remembered about 90% of the class from Mar/Apr 2010. The children were quite active and excited to have new and different faces, but our time was cut short as Didi started going down hill fast.

We paid a visit to nurse in the school clinic where w were able to observe the ministry that the Nurse, Tamara Nelson, has with the children attending Grace Christian School. During our stay in the nurse's office we saw a young man that had gotten some type of scratches on his chest and sunburned shoulders, a little girl with a toothache, another little girl with a boo-boo on her foremarm (she got an Ariel-Little Mermaid bandaid), two boys came into her office and played with her stethescope, one hid under her desk and a few other mishaps... and not. Some just wanted to say hi and be acknowledged and receive a chewable vitamin. They all received love, care and attention from Nurse Tamara. Didi was given a nasal spray and placed on antibiotics. Needless to say, we were unable to continue our day working at the school with the children.

Now, Tamara and her husband, Randy, are missionaries that have been transplated from St. Louis to Lugoj, Romania. Permanently! They sold their home in the U.S. and got a place in Lugoj in City Centre. They are working within the community surrounding the Brickyard. We were able to obtain quite a bit of information from them regarding full time international missions, preparation, logistics, paperwork & documents, expenses... We will definitely be keeping in touch with them and partnering with their ministry in the future.

After our time with Tamara and Randy, we walked to PC 3/4 to invite a few of the young people "off campus" on Wednesday evening. Upon return to Grace Baptist Church Dean and I prepared to attend the English Program put on by the Grace Chrisitan School Kindergarten.

The video highlights were well put together and quite entertaining. The children were so proud to receive their certificates of completion and their giant chocolate chip cookie and their parents were extremely proud. There were 400 people in attendance and a few outside that could not gain entry to the theatre as it was at maximum capacity. Also, the Ladies of One Heart (LOOH) were acknowledged and thanked for making the school uniforms.

We had a lovely dinner with the Olariu family, Sandra and Haley and another American missionary serving at the school, Rachel.

Day 5 - Sunday, 5 June 2011

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 19:37:45 +0100

Today we left Grace Baptist Church at 9:00am and attended service in the village of Costieu de Sus, approximately 50 minutes away. This particular church was recently rebuilt, as late last year a wall caved in and there was a fatality. We learned about loving your neighbor... even when you don't want to. The believers in the village always say that they are very encouraged when we come to visit them. They are so happy that brothers and sisters in America think of them and pray for them. After the service we had Sunday lunch in the home of Mama Magdalena, the mother of Brother Ionel.

After we left Costieu de Sus we went to the village of Nemesesti to look at the church Dean and Tom worked on during March 2010. The windows are in and there is still quite a bit of work that needs to be done, but that will come in due time.

Next door to the church live Ana and Mihai. I spent quite a bit of time with her during the church build last year (i.e. talking about what it means to be a Christian, "how" to be a Christian and living the Christian life). The only Bible she had was a very old Orthodox Bible with faded and missing pages. I told her that I would give her a Bible and today was the day that she received it.

Originally the plan was to stop by the Precept Center to bake cookies for the children and Grace Christian Kindergarten (they were to be given out with a certificate of completion at the English program on Monday), but our plans changed and we stopped by the village of Susani instead to see the House of Joy construction site and pay a quick visit to Brother Ovidiu and his wife Adina. They've gotten the foundation and primary walls up for the building and the basketball court/soccer field is near completion.

After we were dropped off at the church, we walked to PC 3/4 to invite some of the young people to attend church with us. A young man accepted our invitation and not only attended service at Grace Baptist Church this evening, but he served as Dean's translator as well. After the evening service he also joined us for dinner. He has a lot of questions and is definitely seeking. We just keep pointing him back to Jesus.

Day 4 – Saturday, 4 June 2011

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 20:53:54 +0100

I was awakened shortly after 2:00am. Saturday morning. Our apartment is overlooking the Timiş River. The bridge has been outfitted with beautiful lights that come on at some point after 10:00pm. But did you know that GBC is located near 2 church bell towers that both toll on the hour. The higher pitched one that sounds further away tolls every hour straight up, once at a quarter after, twice at half past and thrice at a quarter till. The other bell apparently closer tolls 40 seconds later at the top of the hour. Also, I think last call is around three o’clock because the rowdy’s were out and about shortly thereafter, but we don’t have the window vibration that we experience at the Hotel Dacia every time a truck drives by. The sun comes up around 5:15 am and the lights on the bridge are off by 5:30am (guess what my prayer request is today).

We visited with the young people at PC 3/4 today. There are many more small children there than in previous years. Didi interacted with the younger children until they turned in for lunch and a nap. Dean spent quality time with the young men and was able to reconnect with one in particular who he and Tom Blacketor had ministered to last year. Didi and I made our rounds between the various apartments speaking with some of the young ladies that we know. I was able to connect with a young lady that I had met last year. I ministered to her and gave her verses to read and consider until we're able to sit down again... likely on Monday or Tuesday. She is deeply troubled by her circumstances and -and as we all- very much in need of a Savior. We also visited with another young lady that I met last year and we were able to visit for quite some time. She shared part of her testimony with me and I gave her counsel.

Tomorrow will likely be a big day, as we will be "Churchin' it".

Day 3 – Friday, 3 June 2011

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 20:54:38 +0100

1:00am and I am wide awake. Didi says I woke her up at 3:05am by staring at her. Dean heard us whispering and was awakened around 3:30am. I finally fell back to sleep around 4:30 but was up early as I wanted to walk to the high school and see if we could catch any of the teens before school started at 8:00am. They must not have the same type of attendance and truancy policies as we do stateside, because Didi and I saw a good 70+ young people hanging out in front of the school well after it had started. If you’re going to ditch, uh… why ditch at school? Duh!?!

At 8:30am we walked to Grace Christian School (GCS) to volunteer our services. It was scheduled to be a short day as they were preparing for the 10 year anniversary celebration since the opening of the kindergarten. It was really hectic and the kids were all wound up so we were asked to come back a little after dismissal at 1:00pm for lunch and to help set up. We left the school and went to the bank across the piaţa from the Dacia Hotel. FYI: The current exchange rate there was approximately 280 Lei for $100 dollars US. Then we went grocery shopping we found Disney Princess non-alcoholic wine and chicken flavored Lay’s potato chips. We went back to GCS for lunch, but they still weren’t ready for us yet and were told to come back at 3:00pm. We tooled around the city some more, went to some second-hand shops, waited for the teens to get out of school at 2:00pm and hoped to see some that we knew… Bettina was in town from Timişoara and she gave us a tour of the high school. There are posters advertising the circus is in town this weekend. What do Captain Jack Sparrow and Indiana Jones have to do with a circus and zoo and/or each other???

The anniversary event at GCS was awesome. There were teens that had attended the first kindergarten class through current students, parents, grandparents, local dignitaries and the media. It was beautiful to see and know that One Heart Church (OHC) has partnered with them over the years.

One of our former translators, Gaby, told me that I might be able to find WIFI in the parks that are located near city hall or other businesses. Hmh?

Please continue to pray for our health Didi’s ear ache has migrated to her throat and Dean’s sore throat has moved into his ear. Hailey is spending a lot of time on her feet and limps sporadically throughout the day.