sorry this is a very long post...

nothing is better than sitting in Viorica’s kitchen listening to Frank Sinatra, watching the lovebirds interact (aka-Viorica and Nikki), eating fresh bread with turkey and butter while drinking homemade wine out of a fanta bottle…

we honestly could make this trip into a movie!


but I ‘sacrifice’ (Romanian inside joke) and come to computer to write blog. haha do you hear how my English is getting worse and worse—I apologize, if I haven’t before, about my poor grammar.


We have only been here for four days...four days is such a short time but after only the first day it felt like I had been a part of this life for at least a month or more.

I agree with Jenn—I have an array of emotions running through my body it is hard to explain what or how I am really feeling. And posting on this blog has become hard and frustrating because there is so much to say and these words do not suffice. I want to be able to explain to you all that we have done, what we learned, what we felt…but its impossible. When I get home, get ready for many stories, probably along with many tears.

So here is my attempt at an acceptable update…
I honestly have some time, so this might be a long one it is a summarizes Sunday, Monday, and Tues!

On Sunday (New Years Eve) and we had the privilege of attending church with Viorica and Nikki. James, Jenn, Viorica, and I all took a taxi to church while Nikki went around to the orphanages to pick up some kids. Constanta and Doina met us at the church.

Walking in their church was just like walking in a traditional American Baptist Church. Actually everything here is a lot like America. I mean this seems so obvious to say—but the only real difference is they speak a different language. From my experiences the life in South American countries is quite different from my life in Texas—but here it feels the same. (well as much as ‘same’ can be…if that makes sense) Although we didn’t understand what the preacher was saying, the style and routine of the church was the same. Even though we didn’t understand the language and we didn’t have a translator, it was powerful to see how the spirit of God united us.

After church we went to Mic Donalds (as they say in Romania). Jenn, James, Constanta, Doina, Tony(10yr old boy from Pinocchio), Ionica( about 15 yr old boy from Pinochhio), and I all walked together to eat! Another boy did come to church with us who is also named Ionica (if you went to James blog—he is the one who is in need of foot surgery). However, this Ionica was late getting ready for church and so he wasn’t allowed to come to eat with us. Viorica and Nikki are amazing teachers, they love the children with such intensity and passion. In order to actually love them they see the need for discipline, and the children respect them and try to become better because of this discipline. It is amazing to watch in action.

Walking hand in hand to McDonalds with Tony warmed my heart. Although I could not understand when he would try to speak to me, I smiled with him-laughed with him-hugged him-squeezed him-and we connected 

During this McDonalds experience Tony stole my heart and has since become a very dear boy to Jenn and I. I wish I could take him back home with me. He was such a gentleman. He cleaned up our table and threw away all our trash. I noticed that Tony didn’t have a jacket(as Jenn mentioned in her blog), and remembered that Doina let him use her gloves as we walked. I asked him if he had a jacket (with the help of Doina translating). He did not. I asked him if he would like one, and if so what color and size. There is a big problem with stealing at Pinocchio and the little kids are sometime beat up by the older ones. Tony’s knuckles were stratched and really red. So I told Jenn and James and we decided to find the closest store and buy him a jacket right then!

Jenn and Emily’s new motto has become, “You need, we get!”

Oh and before leaving McDonalds the Lord placed two more boys in our pathway that were in need. Jenn said as she was throwing away her half empty drink a little boy said he wanted it. He was with a friend and they were eating some French fries together. We asked them if they would like a hamburger and their own drink. Constanta stayed and talked with them and talked to them about Jesus while we went and ordered their food. We added two strawberry Mcflurries  Constanta invited them to come to her church too!

This trip has taught me a lot about giving and being intentional with my giving. It is amazing to think about how the holy spirit convicted me throughout this past semester about this. The Lord revealed many things to me in this area. Now I am able to attempt to put it into action Regardless of what it is, my time, my love, my money, conversations with people, or anything at all—the Lord is teaching me more about being a servant and more about letting go…
Canstanta and I have become very close. You know how sometimes when you meet someone, the second you meet them you know that somehow you were meant for each other. Pray for our relationship—the Lord is working in amazing ways! But while I am talking about giving I wanted to share with you a little about Constanta. Every time I ask her where she got something (ex: shirt, shoes, bedspread, book, etc) she responds, “someone gave it”. Now it has become funny to us because I keep asking her where she has gotten things in a sort of humorous exasperated manner she replies, “Eeeemmm-uuhhh-leeee someone gave it!!” She has friends from all over the world because they have come to the orphanage to serve. One woman came with a group called ‘Children to Love’. She stayed for a year I think. This woman will never fully know the impact she has made on Constanta’s life. It is encouraging to hear and see. The saying is true, ‘ To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.’ Never think that anything you do is in vain, and never grow weary of doing good. Galations 6:9, “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up”. Sending small packages full of things as simple as shampoo and toothbrushes makes an overwhelming impact. Constanta mentions this woman at least once a day, speaking of things she gave her or things she learned from her. Even people from churches who send her things in the mail that don’t even know her—she remembers. It is crazy to see how the Lord has provided for her. She and I were talking last night. She told me that even before she knew God she prayed for friends to come.
She said even though she didn’t know Him--He knew her and heard her prayer. Wow.

New Year’s eve night I also had a chance to talk with a 24 yr old young man named Ionutz. He has never been to America but he said that he met a few Americans in Italy. He told me that they were so surprised to see how happy he was yet he didn’t really have that much. They had a lot, but were not happy or satisfied at all.
Ionutz loves Jesus and is a solid believer. We had a chance to talk about how we don’t find our joy in anything else but serving Jesus. This really isn’t fresh news or an inlightening story. I’ve heard things like this a million times it is still something to ponder. Please don’t take this story as a guilt trip for our American materialism, but as a challenge as believers. Materialism is so hard to fight, even here I can feel its pull on the inside of me. Pray for me. Pray that I will continue to fight this spirit of greed and materialism that seems so much harder for us as Americans. Pray that I will not grow apathetic towards fighting it.

…So after McDonalds we headed down the street to find a store to buy Tony a jacket. When we got there the store was closed. So we told him we would come to Pinocchio on Monday to see him and give him the jacket…

At about 7pm we headed to the middle of Bucharest to the New Years Celebration! James, Jenn, Constanta and I went together. The city was full of excitement. Romania joined the EU as of January 1, 2007 so the people of Bucharest were gathered together to celebrate this new life for Romania.

We stayed there for about two hours enjoying the live concert. Then we headed to Constanta’s church for their New Year Celebration.

I cannot begin to describe the feeling I had after being in the church only a few minutes. The spirit was very powerful. It was a very small church with about 50 people in attendance. The Lord provided an amazing translator, named Christian, for Jenn and I during the service. He was only 20yrs old but was the best Romanian English speaker we had met so far. It was a breath of fresh air for me to talk to someone and they honestly understand every thing I said. Dad--their pastor reminded me so much of you! He was full of energy and excitement—he never stopped dancing or singing to the top of his lungs! He stayed up the entire night with everyone—throughout the night he would get on the stage and start singing with his whole heart! They told us that he would never stop, he just keeps singing and praising God until someone makes him stop! Mom, the pastor’s wife got up and spoke for a while and even though she was speaking Romanian I have not doubt that you and her were cut from the same cloth! She was preaching about a Tommy Tinny book she had read recently—and just like you she always got the last word ;)
Their praise and worship was overwhelming! Most of the songs Jenn and I knew—they had translated Hillsongs and other contempory American praise and worship bands. While they shouted and praised God in Romanian there Jenn and I were shouting in English! We danced and danced and danced! My heart was so full of joy as Constanta stood beside me dancing and singing! At midnight exactly we took the Lord’s supper together. What an amazing way to start off the new year. I was so touched by the passion and intensity of the pastor and his family. He has 8 children and most of his sons made up the praise and worship team. After communion we sang and danced some more! Jenn and I stayed up all night talking to the kids there who were all mostly our age or a few years older. Lots of stories to share from this night!

Needless to say Jenn and I walked in the door of Viorica’s house at about 8a.m. the next morning! We never slept!

We started finishing packaging the gifts for Santa Maria. Afterwards, we found out that we would not be able to go give the gifts until later that night—so Jenn and I got to sleep from about 11a.m. to 5p.m.

There is not a way for me to express to you that night as we gave away the gifts…I cannot wait to share pictures with everyone!

This morning (tues) we woke up and went to buy the jacket for Tony and some other gifts for children that we have been around a lot and have realized what they need and want.

Pray for me—it is very hard to see Tony and not burst into tears. However, Jenn and I crying in our beds at night won’t help his situation at all…pray for us to have strength and peace even though all we see is darkness around us.

Then we headed to Santa Maria to spend time with Doina and Constanta. On the way we had a car wreck. We ran into the side of a car that didn’t yield. Don’t worry no one was hurt and everything is ok. I only tell you this so that you can know to pray. Pray for Nikki and that everything with the insurance will work out. Nikki has a very strong character—even in the midst of crisis he stood strong and did not overreact. I pray for the Lord’s favor as he works everything out with the police. I praise God for protecting us!

Satan is throwing darts, as you say Andrei. Pray for us—God is bigger!

God provided a man at the scene who was nice enough to walk Jenn and I to Santa Maria so that we could get to the girls. What Satan had planned for bad, God turned into good and we were able to praise Him through it all!

Jenn and I had the amazing opportunity to wrap our arms around Viorica later in the night at the orphanage and pray over her as she held onto us and leaned on our shoulders. Thank you Lord for using us in that situation! It was another moment I will never forget…

We spent the evening with the girls there as James worked on the computers. He was able to install anti-virus programs.

At about 10pm we left the orphanage hand in hand with Doina, Isabella(her twin sister), and Constanta—they walked us to the highway to get a taxi. As we walked we sang “Open the eyes of my heart Lord” and “I will give you all my worship…”

Ahhhh there is too much and this is already too long!!! After reading it over again, it doesn’t even begin to encompass all that I want you to know and feel.

We have less than a week left…pray that I God will give me wisdom and discernment. I need help knowing what to be intentional about while spending time with Constanta and Doina. I need prayer because now even when I see them my eyes fill with tears—I don’t want to cry around them. I mean I know I will when I leave—but now I don’t think I could clearly explain to them what is going on in my heart.

Tomorrow we are taking Constanta on a shopping trip--pray for our time together with her and Doina. We want the gospel to be shared always.

Pray for Jenn and I that we would not believe the lies Satan tells us at times…Pray that we would continue to want to please God and not man!

I love you. You are each such a blessing to us—when we check our blog and see that we have comments it makes us so excited! I feel like I can hear your voices talking to us!

Thank you,
Emily