Even though I’ve meant to do this a couple times already, this is the first time I’ve been able to blog since joining the team in Romania. I was so excited the first night (I can’t remember what day that was) when we finally pulled into the driveway at our house here in Finate. It was a long sleepy drive with Achim and Pastor, especially since the GPS was locked on the airport for an hour. But I was greeted with hugs by the few close friends who stayed up till 2am when we finally got there. It was a reunion I’d been looking forward to for a long time.

This week in Romania has been both difficult and joyful and heartbreaking and rewarding. Our time with the teenagers at the camp has been the highlight of my trip so far. It’s hard to grasp all they’ve been through and I want to be able to make everything right in their world but I can’t do anything but be their friend. I feel like they’ve really opened up to us and now tomorrow is our last day. I wish we had another week to hang out with them. A few of them are believers, but the culture of the orthodox church makes things complicated for them to grow in their walk with God and their life story has been rough. We’ve been able to encourage them in Christ and just be a listening ear when they need it. That alone was worth me coming. The other night I felt drained and like I didn’t have anything left to offer after traveling for a month and a half, but I was reminded that He has me here for a purpose even if I can’t always see it right away. Being friends with these guys is a big part of it and it’s so worth it.

Random thoughts:
-“Thank you” and “My name is” both include the sound cows make (although here in Romania, they suck in to moo)
-our translators are some of the coolest people in Romania
-riding with Achim requires a strong trust in God
-Spiderpig is dead, let’s not talk about him anymore
-Alison is now 14!
-the creeks here are amazing and everyone just jumps in!
-hayrides bring out the redneck in people, nomatter what country they’re from
-I’m so going to miss these kids!
-nomatter where you want to go in the country, you can always get there in “30 minutes”
-Pedro did the Mexican Hat Dance and lost his sombrero (over and over in slow motion)
-Romanian donuts are the best!
-Joey needs to eat more fruit so he can get big and come back and marry a Romanian girl
-sometimes smiles, highfives, and thumbwars are the only ways we can say we care about these kids, but it works!

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It is 5:37 p.m. at home while it is 6 to 7 hours here. We have been very busy. We have been having fun with the kids and enjoying fellowship with other believers. I gave my testimony to a group of teenagers the other day as well as giving it today in church. My heart is broken for many reasons. If for some reason this does not make sense, it is because I do not have enough sleep.

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Wow – there are no words to describe what a wonderful day it has been, although I will try….
God is so wonderful! Yesterday I was asked to give my testimony and I said no, I was not comfortable doing that. Well, I should know by now to not say No to something for God. This morning as I was getting ready to read my bible I just happened (or more accurately, God led me to) begin reading Psalm 139.
Psalm 139 vs. 4 – 6
4. Even before a word is on my tongue behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
5. You hem me in, behind and before and lay your hand upon me.
6. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it.

Through the verses there I was lead to give a brief testimony in Church this evening. All day I knew this is what God wanted from me – complete trust and surrender to Him. As much as I like to talk, I do not like to speak in large groups. I was very nervous about having an interpreter and speaking to people from a different culture. It all worked out good. The biggest thing I learned from this today is something that I also shared in my testimony….it is beyond my comprehension to know that since the moment I was conceived God planned for me to be in Romania at this time in my life, however, who am I to question the Creator of everything?

As I said before, this has been a wonderfully blessed day. I came to Romania prepared for the younger children from the villages and orphanages to capture my heart. I thought I would not be able to handle being with the the majority of the time here because of my own children back at home. I was not prepared for the joy, blessings, and breaking of me that would come from being with the “teenagers”. That is what we refer to them as, but they are a group of boys and a few girls that grew up in some of the oprhanages from here. They are helping us with VBS and things here. They are wonderful and have stolen my heart!!! They love taking pictures so I have attached a few. Please be praying for these special kids. They know about Jesus, but they do not have a personal relationship with Him….keep them in your prayers….They are wonderful and I will miss them a lot when we leave…

Valerie

To Adam: I love you forever!
To Austin: I love you berry much!
Love, Mommy

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