Personal Thoughts on the Disability Ministry Conference

On a more personal level...
Two Scripture passages stuck out to me more than all the others we read during the weekend.  They are in Acts 3 and Mark 2.  In Acts 3, Peter and John interact with a man begging at the temple gate.  He asks them for the money, but they have none.  Instead of brushing him off and passing him by, they enter into a conversation with him.  And while they have no money to offer, they share what they do have; they share Jesus through physical healing.  I've been searching my heart for the various things I have to offer.  I can offer Jesus, yes.  But through what means?  I can give my time by playing games, engaging in conversation, or merely sitting with someone so he or she doesn't have to sit alone.  I can offer an education by implementing new strategies and adaptations.  I can give empathy and friendship.

If I were to sum up the message I took from the conference it would be this:

God is looking for people of faith who are willing to overcome 

all of the obstacles to bring people with special needs to Him.

Mark 2:1-5 talks about a man who was paralyzed.  His friends literally cut a hole in the roof to be able to drop this man at Jesus' feet.  I was thinking about this story.  The man who was paralyzed had probably heard of Jesus; he may have even known some of His teachings.  But if it weren't for his friends and their radical actions, the man who was paralyzed most likely would never have had a personal encounter with Jesus.  I want to be like these friends.  I want to take advantage of the opportunities I have to work around the obstacles and bring a friend that much closer to Jesus.

Joni & Friends Disability Ministry Conference - June 4 and 5, 2010

Summary of the conference
Joni and Friends, an international disability center founded by Joni Eareckson Tada and based in California, sent a team to Bucharest to conduct a conference on disability ministry.  The conference ran both Friday and Saturday.  Among those who attended the conference were employees and volunteers from disability aid organizations, concerned church members, and young adults with special needs or their family members.  While I didn't gain the technical information I thought I would from a "special education" conference, I was reminded anew of God's heart towards individuals with disabilities and our call to love them in Jesus' name.
During the first session, we talked as a group about the barriers, or obstacles, which interfere with the lifestyles of people with special needs.  Among those named were handicap access to buildings, stereotypes and assumptions by those both in and out of the church, fear, rejection by family and society, complacency, and religious teachings.  Despite the passage of various accessibility laws, handicap access remains a significant problem in Romania.  Many public buildings are not accessible to those using wheelchairs or walkers; the ramps that do exist are often very steep and rutted.  I appreciated the personal testimonies that were shared about living with these barriers. 
The second session was a general discussion on disabilities, while the third session covered God's view of people with disabilities.  Scripture passages such as Genesis 1:26-27, Colossians 1:15-16, and Psalm 139:13-16 were read aloud.  Listening to the comments made around me, it struck me that God does not name a single exception to the perfection of His creation in these verses.  These words apply to all mankind, regardless of our abilities or disabilities.
We covered two main topics on the second day of the conference.  Curses and demonic possession were the topics of the first session.  I was surprised to find this an applicable topic in Romania.  Many still hold to the superstitious beliefs that a disability is the result of a curse, punishment for someone's sin, or demon possession.  It was a blessing to see the relief on faces in the audience as they realized they were not at fault for a family member's disability.
In the second session, we talked about ministry models - what we can actually do to make a difference in the lives of people with special needs.  Two of my favorite suggestions were the Build-a-Ramp Day and Sports & Recreation Day.  Build-a-Ramp day entails exactly what it suggests: getting a group together and building ramps in your community to make it easier for people using wheelchairs and walkers to access local buildings.  To host a Sports & Recreation Day, plan some games and activities and invite people both with and without disabilities to come fellowship together.  Keep in mind the unique needs of each person who will be present as you plan the event; you may get to make some slight changes to the game in order for everyone to be able to participate.

"A disability is nothing more than a normality in a different dimension." 

Leader, Servant, or Both?

It is time for a confession.  A few weeks ago, a sense of frustration started creeping up on me.  I felt like nothing was happening, like we weren't moving forward in being able to offer certain services and therapies to the young adults in our program.  It is so easy for plans to fall through, due to this or that complication.  I get frustrated when we just accept it and don't try to move forward with a "plan B."  There is so much I want to accomplish, and so little time left in Romania.  If we allow our plans to be pushed back week after week, the summer will be over before we know it and nothing will have been accomplished.   Already I am very protective of the teens in our program and earnest in seeking out the best opportunities for them.  The idea that they might not be able to take part in a beneficial therapy or event because we weren't persistent enough is not acceptable to me.
So a few weeks ago, I started feeling a strong, internal pressure to become the driving force for the new program, to motivate the other staff to push onward with our plans and our agenda.  My frustration was urging me internally to force others into action, a fact I am not proud to admit.  I was racking my brain, trying to come up with positive ways to motivate the other staff not to "give up" so easily.
The light bulb came on for me the other night as I sat reading a book on cross-cultural education.  I'm ashamed at how quickly I forgot everything I've been learning throughout the past eight years.  The best way to be a leader, and the only way to be an effective and godly leader, is to be a servant first.  I can't force people into action, and even if I could, their actions would not be genuine and out of a heart of love for the people we are serving.  I need to take the time to demonstrate my appreciation and respect for the other staff members' knowledge and abilities.  Only when I choose an attitude of compassion, kindness, humility, and patience - the attitude of a servant willing to put others' before herself - will we be able to function as a united team. 

"Our responsibility is to love the people to whom we go and to give up part of our identity and [cultural] values for their sake to become effective servants of Christ among them." 

Teaching Cross-Culturally, J. & S. Lingenfelter

"So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; bearing with one another and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.  Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity."

Colossians 3: 12-14

A Weekend Excursion

This weekend Chaille and I attended a Christian conference in Bucharest, RO.  We didn't know much about the conference when we left, only that the topic would be special education (or children with disabilities), it was being hosted by a Christian organization, and it would be in English.  That was enough for us!  Dorothy and several others worked for about a week trying to take care of the different details.  Thanks to Dorothy's phone calls, Roberta's help, and Magda's hospitality, we were able to go!  We were so excited.
We left Sighisoara on Thursday afternoon, taking a train to Bucharest.  It took a little over 6 hours to get to the train station in Bucharest.  The scenery along the way was absolutely beautiful.  We saw bright green fields, running streams, rolling hills, and some snow-capped mountains.  The view was the hightlight of our traveling experience; our little train car was a sauna!  It was so warm, at one point I told Chaille I might die of heat exhaustion before we reached Bucharest.  I must not be as tough as the Romanians.
Magda picked us up at the train station and graciously allowed us to stay in her apartment.  She was such a wonderful hostess.  I wish it was possible to recount our talks and laughter for you.  We bonded quickly, and the time we had to "hang out" together was a refreshing blessing.  Magda gave us a nice tour of parts of Bucharest on Saturday evening.  The weather was perfect for an evening stroll.  We saw the university, historic sites from the 1989 Revolution, the Atheneum, the palace, and more.
We drove back to Sighisoara on Sunday with Dorothy.  As much as I enjoyed the conference and spending time with my new friends, I was ready to come home.  Bucharest seems to be in constant motion; it was overwhelming at times.  I enjoy the slower pace and quiet nights here in Sighisoara.  Home sweet home.

Background Servants

For the past two days there has been a group here from Trevecca Nazarene University in Tennessee.  Chaille and I have been helping with the groups, setting up/cleaning up for meals, showing them around, and accompanying them to various Veritas programs.  It has been a fun, yet tiring, break from our typical routine. 
Doing a lot of the behind-the-scenes work has opened my eyes and given me a new appreciation for all those who made my first trip to Romania the wonderful experience it was.  It is so easy to forget about all of the "background" details that must be taken care of for each and every experience.  The coordinator, cook, cleaners, drivers, program staff and volunteers - all of these people and more come together to provide a positive, seamless experience.  It is quite amazing to watch.  So, to all of those who have helped make my experiences so enjoyable and worthwhile, thank you.

Birth of an idea

     I have been asked numerous times how the decision to work and study in Romania this summer ever came about. It's a long story (at least a year's worth of details!), but I will try to answer it as clearly and concisely as I can.
     When I came to Sighisoara two years ago, I had just finished my sophomore year at Malone, and being in the Honors program, needed to choose a topic for my Honor thesis project. I saw the thesis as my opportunity to bring together everything I had been studying at Malone - cross cultural work, ministry, and special education. Some of the career options I was considering were working in an overseas orphanage or teaching in a foreign, impoverished community. I saw thesis as my opportunity to combine the missions, cross-cultural ministry and special education components in a practical work experience while still under an umbrella of support from the Malone community. These thoughts were in the background during my three weeks in Romania.

     I was watching a group of children play in the park just below the citadel one afternoon.  One little boy, dressed in a bight yellow jacket, caught my eye.  He was running and playing with the other children, but there was something different about him.  He had a physical disability which affected his gait when walking and running.  When he saw my camera, he was absolutely enthralled.  He came over and started taking picture after picture of everything around him.  We never did talk because of the language barrier;  I didn't even learn his name.  But for some reason, that encounter stuck with me.  God really laid him on my heart.

     During this same time, I was learning about special education in Romania, and more  specifically, what services are available for children around the Sighisoara area.  Though more is being done now, the government does not mandate free and appropriate education for all children in Romania.  If a child has a moderate or severe disability which greatly impairs educational performance, physical mobility, or social interaction, he or she may drop out of school early, never attend, or enroll in an institution.  It also seems that families who have children with disabilities are "on their own."  Many families do not have a support network, people who come alongside them with understanding, love, and encouagement. 

    Over the next six months this new knowledge coupled with old thoughts and my encounter with the boy in the park to become a growing burden on my heart.  There were times of doubt when I began to seriously question what I felt God had shown me while in Romania - maybe the heart I had for the children and the urge I felt to go back were just emotional responses to what I had seen and experienced.  Then I was brought back to Romans 11:29, "For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable."  I had to trust that the calling I felt God placed on me while in Romania would be brought to fruition in His time.
     I proceded with this mindset.  As I thought, prayed, and talked with others, an idea began to form in my mind.  Perhaps I could go back to Romania and work with Veritas to create a new program to meet the needs of children who have disabilities living in Sighisoara.  In January 2009, I began putting together a detailed proposal - a copy to be submitted to Veritas proposing the creation of a new program, and a copy to be submitted as my thesis proposal.  Veritas took my proposal seriously and began working through the details to determine whether or not this would be practical venture for their organization at this time.  The thesis proposal was readily accepted by my thesis committee. 
     By mid-August, I knew Veritas was willing to look into beginning a new program, but it wasn't until January 2010 that I received actual confirmation.  There was a valid need in the community, and Veritas felt it had the necessary space and staff to support a new program.  I would be responsible for securing the necessary funding, both through fundraising efforts and grant writing.  All of this being decided, I made the plans to come to Romania under the umbrella of the Romanian Summer Studies program and spend the summer (May 11 - August 2) volunteering with Veritas and working to establish a program for youth with disabilities.

Luggage

While it did not arrive the next day, my luggage has finally arrived. I've never been so thankful to see a suitcase in my life! If my understanding is correct, the handle to my bag was completely broken off, and the identifying tag came off in the process. My bag was just sitting in London waiting to be identified and claimed. British Airways flew it to Bucharest and then had a driver bring it up to Sighisoara. It finally arrived on Saturday night, battered and worn, but mostly intact. I don't normally enjoy unpacking a suitcase, but I did it quite joyfully Saturday night! The time of separation has certainly made me more grateful for every article of clothing and toiletry I own. I'm not taking any of it for granted!

Bake sale recap

The bake sale was a huge success! I made three snacks: Rice Krispie Treats, Chocolate Chip cookies, and Chocolate Reeses Pieces cookies. Cassie (my room mate) and I went door to door, dorm to dorm and raised a little over $100 in profit. The money is being used to help with the program costs this summer. Thank you for your help, Malone community!

Welcome back

It is so good to be back in Sighisoara again, and even better to be remembered by some of the Veritas staff. I have been trying to mentally prepare myself for all of the changes which might have occurred in the last two years; I knew I couldn't expect everyone and everything to be as I remembered it. I have to say, I have been pleasantly surprised.
Some volunteers and staff members have moved on, and others have come in their place. Old construction projects have been finished, and others have begun. There is a good mixture of the familiar and unfamiliar. It will be a good balance for me, I think. I like knowing my way around parts of the city and recognizing familiar faces. I have so much learning and growing to do, the familiarity is a comfort and confirmation that I am in the right place.
I don't believe it has truly sunk in that I will be living her for the next 3 months. Part of me is incredibly excited to learn the language, the culture, the history, etc... And yet, another part of me is anxious. I have the opportunity, and the challenge, to saturate myself in another culture, learning all I can; three months could be a long time to do that, not to mention a long time to be away from family and friends. But before you think I am starting to doubt myself and God's calling to be here, I am happy to say the adventurous side of me is winning. I am excited for all of the joys and challenges which lie ahead this summer. I know it won't all be easy, but it will be growing and rewarding. It's time to do it!

We're here!

After a long, complex journey, we're here! Exhausted and exhilarated, we're here. Yay! I left Toledo on Tuesday afternoon and finally made it to Sighisoara around 7 o'clock this evening (Thursday), noon in Ohio time. What a trip! There were some flight delays due to weather and volcanic ash, but British Airways was wonderful. They are still my favorite airline - good food, good movies, great service.
Chaille and I found out in Chicago that the delay would make us miss our next flight, so we took a later flight into Bucharest. We landed around eleven, and made it out of the airport at midnight. Out of our group that flew here, (4 women from Olivet University, and Chaille and I), I am the only one who lost a bag. I am so thankful I packed an entire outfit in my carry-on; I never do! My luggage should arrive tomorrow.
Since we landed so late last night, we spent the night with a missionary family in Bucharest. I was so happy to see a mattress! I started the trip with sleep deprivation, and I'm still trying to catch up. So far, jet lag has not been an issue. I'm just tired because there hasn't been time to sleep! We took our time driving to Sighisoara today. We stopped in Sinaia, up in the Carpathian mountains, to see the Peles castle. It was neat to go back, and this time take the indoor tour. The picture at the top of this blog entry came from there. It is such a beautiful place!
As I looked back through some of my older posts, I see there is much I need to bring you up to date on. I will try to work on that in the next few days. Blessings!

Bake sale news

A few weeks ago I decided to do a bake sale as a fundraiser to help cover the expenses in Romania this summer. I spent a few hours in my Resident Director's apartment baking last night (thanks, Stacy!), and I kicked off the sale in the dorms tonight. I just finished walking through the halls of Blossom, and the girls were awesome! Everyone was very sweet and supportive. I will be going door to door across campus for the next few days. I'll let you know how it goes!

Has it been enough?

I'm at the crossroads... two weeks until the end of the semester and all of the graduation events, two weeks until I leave for Romania and the actual implementation of the program begins. Lately, I keep asking myself: has it been enough? Have I worked enough, prepared for the program enough, persevered with phone calls, meetings, and personal letters enough? I'm still $4000 away from where I need to be with the program budget, and there is still a lot of research and other preparation work I want to get finished before I leave. I feel like I have worked diligently, but looking back, I can remember instances when I slacked off on preparation and phone calls, didn't pick up extra hours when I could have, stopped for the night when I could have continued working, bought something I didn't need... So it brings me back to my original question: Has it been enough? Is it good enough?
I feel like I'm talking out of both sides of my mouth. On one hand, I talk about how God has been reminding me to "Cease striving and know that [He] is God; [He] will be exalted"... regardless of my efforts. (Psalm 46:10) And on the other hand, I'm filled with doubt, wondering whether my strivings have been good enough. At the moment, I don't feel like they have been.
Maybe this is where faith enters the picture. I've been learning that faith is a choice. I choose to place my faith in God; I choose to surrender my worries and trust Him as my Provider and Friend. Or, I choose to worry and fret about the past I cannot change.
God calls me to obedience, not to self-sufficiency. (How easily I confuse these concepts!) He is "faithful and just and will forgive" my shortcomings, whether they involve slacking off or relying too much on my own efforts. Can I forgive myself and learn to live with the mindset of God as Lord and Provider? He won't force me to rest in Him; it's a choice I have to make for myself.

Fundraising as a blessing

I was able to meet with three different people this weekend to talk about the upcoming trip to Romania. Looking back, I am struck once again by the blessing raising the money has been. I have met so many wonderful people through this process, people I doubt I ever would have met any other way. I've met people with similar passions, and people who get excited merely because my excitement shows! I've been able to listen to their stories, and we have been able to pray for each other. The automatic connection believers have through Christ amazes me. To each of you who has been a part of this journey, thank you for sharing and investing yourself in me. You ARE a blessing!

The next chapter...

This summer I will be heading overseas to help design and implement a special education program for youth living in Sighisoara, Romania. The program will provide occupational and social interventions for young adults who have disabilities; it will operate on Christian principles and from a Christian world view. Each month will have a slightly different focus.

May

I will arrive in Sighisoara during the second week of May. My immediate focus will be on enrolling in language classes and continuing the needs assessment already begun by Veritas and other nongovernmental organizations around the area. We will meet with teens with special needs, along with their parents/caregivers, to learn about their unmet needs and what services might be most beneficial for them. If the needs assessment is in agreement, we will organize regular social events for fellowship and social skill support. Ideally, we will meet at least twice a week, and our group will include youth with disabilities as well as teens from other Veritas' clubs. Participating in some summer camps and equestrian therapy are other options we will explore. The second tenant of the program will be laying a foundation for job skills training. We will use a vocational skills/interest survey to decide what types of job training would be practical and match the abilities and interests of the young people, as well as the local job market.

June & July

Within the first week of June I would like to implement the program. We will do ongoing assessment of our program and the teens' progress, build our vocational and social skills curriculum, and through collaboration with each other and local professionals, work on our own professional development. As we learn more about the needs and personalities of the youth and their families, we will make different adjustments to better serve them. On the side, I will be writing grants in an effort to secure more funding for the continuation of the program.

August

Most of the summer camps and clubs wrap up at the beginning of August. Our program will be no exception. The last few days of July and the first few days in August will be spent organizing all of the supplies and plans for when the program re-opens; we will finish the final youth and program assessments and make any last minute adjustments. I will come back to the States during the first week of August.

The Budget

I would like to raise $7,000 - $10,000 for the start-up of the program. My expenses – airfare, transportation, room and board, language classes, and translator – will be covered by around $4,000. The rest of money will be used strictly for program start-up costs, and any remaining money will go into an account for future program costs. Veritas plans to continue the program and even expand it to run all year.

What do I desire in my deepest heart-of-hearts regarding this trip and project?

My primary goal is to create a fully sustainable and culturally-appropriate program which effectively meets the needs of the youth in Sighisoara and can be continued and built upon by Veritas. However, I would love to see it reach much deeper than this. I want it to be a safe place for youth and their families, where they feel the welcoming and supportive love of Jesus and the local body of believers. Job training is very important for the youth, but we will have missed the mark if that is our main focus. I don't want to lose sight of the teens as people with unique needs. Relationship and discipleship should also be our focus. If I can play a part in creating a program that strives to meet the needs of young people and their families in this way, I will be incredibly blessed.

Romania 2008 ~ Making Memories

"Making Memories" was my motto in Romania. It fit every situation and described the attitude I wanted to have. God called me to Romania, and He paved the way for me to go - I didn't want to miss a thing. I wanted to take advantage of every opportunity I was given to interact with people and form relationships, lend a helping hand, and experience the culture. My little motto was quickly picked up by my room mates, and it became a quick way to remind ourselves (and each other) of the mindset we wanted to have. Every experience - from the wonderful times to the embarrassing cultural and/or language blunders - was about touching lives with the love of God and learning the lessons He called us to learn. By keeping this perspective we were able to keep a good attitude, laugh off the embarrassing or trying moments, and make great memories.
Pre-trip and travel
From the very beginning it was clear that God was calling me to Romania. I didn't realize what a walk of faith it would be for me, but it has been awesome to watch God provide for all my needs - everything from money to a new passport. As awesome as it was to watch God move, it wasn't easy to wait on His perfect timing. There were several times I doubted God's call as I waited for the money to come in and traveled to Chicago for a new passport after finding mine had expired. Thankfully the Chicago Passport Agency issued me a new passport in only 3 hours, and the money I needed came in through the generous support of my family and friends. As each obstacle arose, God provided a way for me to move beyond it. Nothing stands in His way "for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable." (Romans 11:29). He is faithful!
Travel to and from Romania went quite smoothly. Our flight route took us from Akron/Canton through Detroit to Amsterdam and finally to Bucharest. All of our luggage arrived safely with us, minus 1 bag which came a few days later. Thankfully the bag contained donations and was not needed immediately. Sighisoara is 5 hours away from Bucharest, though the drive took us 7 hours due to an accident we encountered on the road. We arrived in Sighisoara at 12:30 am after a little over 24 hours of travel. When we arrived, we were grouped according to our host families and taken to our individual "homes" for the next 3 weeks.
To learn about the various experiences I had and people I met in Romania, keep reading below!

Romania 2008 ~ Upon Arrival

When we arrived in Romania we had 4 days of orientation before serving in any of Veritas' programs. We spent the time getting acclimated to the area and time change, and we were given 3 Romanian classes. The staff was gracious enough to take the time to meet with us and tell us about the different ministries Veritas has. We were shown around the buildings - the Family Center, House on the Rock, Floare de Colt - and told about the ministries each one houses.
The Family Center is home to Small Kids Club, Big Kids (teen) Club, Kindergarten, and Special Needs Club. It also has the kitchen which serves lunch Monday-Friday to the staff, volunteers, and elderly from the area.
The House on the Rock is the administrative headquarters for Veritas. Inside are the main offices, library, conference room, computer room, and classrooms. The main floor is used for the International Cafe, a cafe owned by Veritas. The cafe workers prepared most of our group meals, and they were delicious! If you're ever in Sighisoara I highly recommend eating at the International Cafe in the citadel.
Being a servant
The programs we served in - Kindergarten, Small Kids Club, Big Kids Club, Elderly Club, Special Needs Club - didn't have need (or room) for 15 extra volunteers, so our team was divided into 3 different service groups. Every group had a different schedule which differed each day to allow the groups to serve in all the programs. It also gave us different periods of free time or "extra" service opportunities. Some of the extra opportunities we had were to go on home visits with the Veritas staff, help with construction/rennovation projects, and clean/organize the Veritas buildings and attics.

Romania 2008 ~ Family

My family I had no idea how close I would get to my host family (Gita, Mia, and their son, Dorin) when I met them that first night. They became family, and I truly felt their home was my home. The hospitality and love they shared was incredible. I lived with two other girls from the team, Cari and Lindsay. We shared one large room and quickly became close friends. (We didn't know each other before the trip.) We walked the town and shopped together, did each others' hair, had some great talks, and survived many other bonding experiences. It was encouraging to hear their stories and the work God is doing in their lives, as well as to have two others of the same heart and mind that I could pray and share with.

My most treasured memories with my host family came from the evenings and Sunday afternoons we spent together. Mia and Dorin were our teachers. They let us practice the Romanian we had learned and helped us expand on it. They also taught us how to operate the toilet and shower; I'm ashamed to say it wasn't a one time lesson. =)
Mia was my mother hen. She saw to it that I was well fed, warm and dry, and knew how to get wherever I was going. Both she and Gita went out of their way to make sure we got to our destinations safely. In the evenings the girls and I would sit in the kitchen drinking tea and talking with Mia while she cooked. She never let us help, but she did share some of her recipes.
Dorin was like a brother to us. He loved our attention and was such a patient Romanian teacher! We normally spent at least part of the evening playing with him. If we weren't tickle wrestling, we were playing "red light, green light," "duck, duck, goose," or "hot and cold." And yes, I can STILL play all 3 in Romanian!
Gita treated us like daughters. He did his best to include us in everything. He invited us in to watch TV with himself and Mia, and he made sure we were included in all the meal conversations. He doesn't speak English, so communication was a bit more difficult. Thankfully both he and Cari speak Spanish. With Cari translating we were able to sit and talk. He told us about the family farm, the years he worked in Spain, and about life in Romania.
It is impossible to put into words everything my host family meant (means) to me or even why we grew so close in such a short period of time, but I know the kinship we share in Christ and the time we spent praying for each other before we met had something to do with it. I miss them dearly!

Romania 2008 ~ Elderly Club

There are three elderly clubs hosted by Veritas. They meet in the church, citadel, and Baragon. I only visited the clubs in the church and Baragon. Elderly club offers the elderly in the area the chance to socialize, play games, and drink coffee or tea. There are two things you must know in order to survive elderly club: how to play UNO and Rummikub. The rules to the games change with each person you play with, so it stays interesting.
On the first day, I played UNO with Maria. When we finished playing cards, we did a few puzzles. Maria must have had them memorized because all she did was sort the pieces into various piles and give them to us to put into place. She got a kick out of watching us put it together! On other days, we played rummikub, looked through magazines, or simply served tea, coffee, and cookies. I wish I had a better grasp on the language; it would have been nice to talk with them, hear their stories, or just listen to their conversations. The men and women were so kind; they seemed to truly enjoy having us there.
Looking back, it seems like such an anomaly. I went to serve, to do something, and yet the best and most appreciated thing I could do was share my time and honest interest. Isn't this what we all want? Someone to care and take the time to show us they do? I am thankful I had the opportunity to invest in Maria and the others, and I am thankful for the love they showed me in return.

Romania 2008 ~ Special Needs Club

Special Needs Club, a club for adults who have any type of disability, meets twice a week. Monday is their instructional day when they learn different computer and Internet skills or practice English. Thursday is a fun day; those who come can do whatever they want - talk, play games, or use the computer.
Out of all the different clubs, I spent most of my time at the special needs club. The people I met are some of the friendliest I have ever known. They accepted me into their group with open arms, no hesitations. They shared their stories; we learned together, and we laughed together. The amount of English they knew was astounding. Emeshe, the club "leader," did a little bit of translating for me, but we mostly spoke in English. I tried to use the little bit of Romanian I knew, too. They even helped me learn a little more! One Monday we tried to make a list of all the words we knew that started with an "F," in English. We filled over two white boards with our words, and they even had us struggling to find another word. On the fun days, we played UNO, Sequence, and talked about life, our families, and our hobbies.
Once again I found my perspective of missions and service changing. I never thought playing games for two or three hours could be considered a ministry and a blessing, especially one that goes two ways. Each one of the Romanians I got to know thanked me for my time and care, and yet I continually found myself blessed by their hospitality, warmth, and acceptance.

Romania 2008 ~ Kindergarten

Kindergarten was the first program my group volunteered in. The first day was a bit crazy, but things improved with each day I went. On the first day, I and a few others from the group taught a Bible lesson. We talked about Noah's ark in Genesis 6-7. Szeri, the teacher, translated for us. We gave each of the kids a foam die cut animal, and as we talked about the animals boarding the boat, they put them inside our paper ark. They seemed to enjoy the interactive part of the lesson. We wrapped it up by singing "Old MacDonald." They really got into the "E-I-E-I-O!"
I didn't have the opportunity to teach any other lessons, but I did get to help with crowd control and various projects. It was humbling to learn the same material the students were, such as the names of wild animals, but they thought it was pretty funny. I was able to interact with the kids a lot during their craft time. We colored pictures and talked - as much as we could with my extremely limited grasp on the language. The kids took such pride in their work, and they thrived on the extra attention. This doesn't mean, however, that they didn't try to push our buttons. Kids will be kids, in any part of the world! I wish you could have seen their faces as they proudly displayed their work, though. What a memory!
It wasn't long before I got to know the kids and better understand the kindergarten program, and soon I wasn't such a novelty. It was a joy to get to know each one of the children. They have infectious joy and mischievous energy; they're also rotten - in a fun, yet challenging way. The small things - having a short Romanian conversation with one of the boys, helping with a lesson, learning animal names in Romanian, making crafts - meant the most. As personal relationships were formed, the kids started approaching us out on the street or in the park. It was fun to interact with them in a different setting.

Romania 2008 ~ Kids Club

Veritas hosts two kids clubs, small kids club and big kids (youth) club. I spent the most time with the youth. For one activity we made salam de biscuiti to share with the elderly clubs. It is made with crushed cookies, raisins, Turkish delight, cocoa, milk, and rum flavoring. We had fun crushing up the cookies and mixing all the ingredients up with our hands. We went outside and played some games when we finished in the kitchen. We played a clapping game, soccer, and volleyball. We also took a lot of pictures; the girls loved modeling for us.
I went on an ecology field trip with the younger kids. We took a long hike to a river/field and picked up all the garbage we saw. We collected quite a bit! The kids did a great job, and I enjoyed working with them. I'm ashamed to say, however, that the kids had a much better attitude about the long hike and heat than I did. They gave me a reality check as we walked back to Sighisoara. I was hot, sweaty, and tired from the hike. I was beginning to think about all of my complaints when it hit me -- the kids are over half my age, have probably done more today than I have, have been more enthusiastic about their work, and haven't complained about anything the entire afternoon. They put me to shame, and I'm proud of them for it.

Romania 2008 ~ Tigmandru

I only had the opportunity to visit Tigmandru once; I wish I had been able to visit again. My time in Tigmandru was one of my first real encounters with extreme poverty. As I looked around the village, I was humbled to realize that in the short time I had been in Romania, I had seen more than some living in the village ever would. And at the same time, I was impressed by the people's work ethic - that they would leave their home for work in another part of the country or a different country to provide personal income, as well as remittance income for their families.
Going to Tigmandru was a wonderful experience. Nelutu, the man running the programs at the church, is an awesome guy. He has an evident passion for God and the people in Tigmandru. His ministry grew out of a terrible car accident he had near the village some years ago. He developed a love and heart for the people then. It was great to hear his stories; it is evident he genuinely cares about the welfare of the adults and children.
Nelutu runs a few clubs out of the church in Tigmandru, and I got to visit those. After he taught a lesson, I did facepainting with the younger kids. I'm really not that good at it, but they didn't seem to mind. I painted unicorns, cats, flowers, etc. It was so neat to witness their excitement!
The teens came later in the evening. Nelutu wasn't there when they first came, so it was a little awkward at first. The teens just stared at us when we walked in. We didn't know what to do, so we grabbed Ker-Plunk out of the stack of games and started teaching ourselves how to play. Two teens came up and joined us, and eventually as we asked, others started joining us, too. Soon we switched to playing Pick-Up Sticks. I never knew such a silly game could be so much fun! We laughed
so hard, and the teens loved it. It wasn't long before everyone was playing with us. We were having so much fun, Nelutu cancelled the lesson and let us have a game night.
As I sat there playing games, I kept wondering where these kids are spiritually. From listening to Nelutu, I know many of them don't have a personal relationship with God; do any? I feel very burdened for them. Please bless the ministries happening here, Lord, and draw these kids to You.

Shame on me

God is TRULY an amazing God. I'm not saying that to be cliche'; I believe it with every fiber of my being. He nevers leaves us, abandons us, forgets us, or ignores us. He is always there! And if His presence isn't enough, He is constantly active in our lives. Shame on me for being too busy to notice. It just blows my mind to think that the Creator of the universe - the same God who walked with Adam & Eve; the God who refrained from destroying the world with a flood, but gave us a promise of hope instead; and the God who used His only Son to purge the world from sin - cares about the intricate details of my life and is weaving them together for HIS glory. And yet, I'm often too focused on me to notice the great extent of His love. Once again, shame on me.

Unconditional Love

I stumbled across this last night, and I was so blessed by it that I wanted to share. These verses come from Psalm 37:23-24:

"The steps of a man are established by the LORD, and He delights in his way. When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, because the LORD is the One who holds his hand."

Isn't that awesome?! I take it for granted that God has a plan for me and has laid out a path that I should follow. That He would be so concerned with all the intimate details of my life is an outstanding display of love in itself. But to think... He is still holding my hand when I stray and when I fall. God (who is holy and pure) never lets go of us, no matter how far we fall. What love is this!


PS: I love the mental picture these verses give. "Hurled headlong" definitely paints a specific picture in my mind. I'm so glad our Father has more compassion than this!