I'll start by saying sorry that this note on week 5 is a few days into week 6! We've been pretty busy!
Last week we help camp in the mornings for about 50 kids that live in group homes about an hour outside of TM. We had to be up early to make the drive to camp but I didn't mind because it gave me the opportunity to spend time with God on the bus and enjoy looking at his creation (the drive was very scenic.) All but one of the kids in my group could not take pictures so unfortunately I can't show you all their precious faces. We had a great group and got to talk about a lot during team time each day. Some highlights of my week were praying with each child on Thursday, being able to talk with one girl about her relationship with Christ and tell her how important it is, tying for first place, and trying to explain and then playing the card game uno for 90 minutes with 3 kids in my group and 2 other Americans!
In the afternoon we had camp with the LOC kids back in TM. It was a lot of fun being able to spend more time with them and get to know some of them on a deeper level. They all have incredible stories and it was great to be able to share parts of our stories with them. A lot of them know so many Bible stories and verses but they don't understand the importance and reality of a personal relationship with Jesus. Pray that the seeds we planted this summer and Livada's ministry with continue to help them grow and that they will realize that life is more than just being good, going to church, and knowing all the right answers.
On Saturday I had the opportunity to go back to the baby hospital. I don't think I will ever be able to go there and leave not feeling sad. Their situations just seem so hopeless, but I know that God can work in crazy ways. I wish I had done this every time I went this summer, but that day I took time to pray over every baby that I held. I know that God heard me and I pray that I will be blessed with the opportunity of seeing some of the prayers answered here on earth. The babies are precious and hearing their laughs, seeing the toddlers try to walk, and letting them pull your hair are things I never want to forget and hope to see again.
I cannot believe that we are into our last week of camp. We are working with kids I had in camp when I was here in 2007- so it's been fun to see a lot of them again! I will give more details on this week once it is over, but things are going really well. Fun thing: the school we are holding camp at this week has Turkish toilets... minus the toilet part. The bathroom is a shed with cement floors that has several holes in it. Even though it's gross - I can tell God is using it to show me how much I take for granted all of the time and that all of the "luxuries" I think are necessary really aren't. The past 6 weeks have flown by - pray that this week will continue to go well and that I will make the most of every minute I have with the kids.
Oh, and really quick... On Sunday Sam, Caitlin, and I went to the church where the older LOC kids go. The church is fairly contemporary and the praise and worship part of the service last for about 45 minutes. While I could attempt to sing most of the songs, a few of them were pretty difficult. They sang "Shout to the Lord" in Romanian of course while we sang it quietly in English. Watching the kids and the other people around me worship and sing so passionately almost brought me to tears. It really was incredible to hear them praise God in their beautiful language. It's so cool that our God is the God of all people and he understands every language and dialect.
Ecclesiastes 8:16-17. I'm so glad that God, his goodness, his love, and his glory is something I will never be able to comprehend. Once you completely understand something it becomes a lot less interesting and mysterious - for me anyway. It's cool that I will never know so much about God that I will not have/want to learn more.
I meant for this to be shorter - haha. I'm going to end with a quote from the book, "Crazy Love," that we have been studying this summer as a group of interns. While I have learned a lot - one of the main things is that I can't always be in control, I won't always know exactly what I'm doing next, and that safety and comfort are not really priorities when it comes to serving God.
-"People who are obsessed with Jesus aren't consumed with their personal safety and comfort above all else. Obsessed people care more about God's kingdom coming to this earth than their own lives being sheilded from pain or distress." Francis Chan
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Amazing because it is.
Lyrics to the song by The Almost.
My ipod was on shuffle yesterday and this came on and the words stood out to me more than usual.
I was so scared of everything you put in front of me
I've been marching to every part of me
Just to see, see
Why you need me to be
The person you need me to be
Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saves a wretch like me
I once was lost
And now I'm found
Was blind but now I see
I just wanna see
I'm the type of person who lets fear drive
I'm the type of [person] that lets it drive
Cause I'm addicted, I'm needy
I'm lost without you
I need you
I need you.
My ipod was on shuffle yesterday and this came on and the words stood out to me more than usual.
I was so scared of everything you put in front of me
I've been marching to every part of me
Just to see, see
Why you need me to be
The person you need me to be
Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saves a wretch like me
I once was lost
And now I'm found
Was blind but now I see
I just wanna see
I'm the type of person who lets fear drive
I'm the type of [person] that lets it drive
Cause I'm addicted, I'm needy
I'm lost without you
I need you
I need you.
week 4.
buna dimineatza!
I’m starting to think I should write more than weekly because every week brings so many things that I want to share with y’all… so this will probably be long but I just can’t leave out some things!
This past week we had a short-term team from Gainesville, GA. They were a lot of fun, really passionate, and really great with the kids. We had Sancrai and Miercurea Nirajului kids – they are all in group homes now but most of them were at the Ludus orphanage less than 5 years ago. In the morning we had kids from 5-16 then in the afternoon we had mostly 15- early twenties with a few little kids mixed in. I knew it was going to be a fun week because I knew so many of the kids already and there was one girl I was really hoping to see again. God knew exactly what he was doing this week – like always! As they got off the bus – I recognized so many faces from 2005 and 2007 and I was happy to here them come up to me and say “Rebekah…right?” ☺ ☺ In the morning I was searching the kids to see if Ileana, a girl who never seemed to leave my side in 2007, was there. After about 20 minutes I saw her from a distance and she saw me and we ran to each other and I hugged her – one of the best moments of my life so far. Seriously. She has become quite the teenager since I last saw her, so sometimes it was challenging but so worth it. She was in my morning group along with Lehel, a little boy that was really close to my friend Austin in ’07, and 5 other kids. In the afternoon I had a great group that totally challenged me. Two of the kids were awesome and always willing to talk in small group time – while a couple seemed to always be talking (inappropriately) or walking away. I prayed a lot about our small group times and on Wednesday we had 2 really great meetings. It was a calm atmosphere only explained by God.
On Friday all of the kids from Sancrai came in the morning because they were not allowed to go to the “water park” in the afternoon with the MN kids. So, we had 11 kids on our team in the am which made me pretty nervous. However, once we got to team time Ileana and Tunde told the 3 other leaders and me to sit in a circle. They then went on perform a skit for us and sing us “We are Family” and “Glory to God” in English. It was one of the greatest moments of the week, if not the summer by far. Then they prayed for us like we had prayed for them the day before. Fantastic – really.
The we went to the weekend – a bunch of pools and a couple of slides on one property. : ) It was a great afternoon of getting to hang out with a lot of the older kids that I knew a little but that remember and love my dad!
One sad thing about this week was that many of the kids could not be in pictures due to CPS rules and such – and the pictures we did take cannot be put on facebook or here. However, I can print them out and send them in personal emails.
Yesterday, Samantha (another intern) and I went with Jeff and the new team to tour Sighi Soara – where Count Dracula once lived. I ‘d been there five years ago but it was fun to be there again. Then we went to the baby hospital. It was a great afternoon of loving on babies. I spent most of my time with 2 different kids- Calin, a toddler who was probably about 2, and Georgiana, a baby almost one. My hair got pulled and my face got scratched but I don’t care. They are so innocent right now and I love spending time with them and singing to them in Romanian (the few songs that I know).
This past week God has made me realize how much “easier” it is for me to come here and love on these kids and share the gospel with them than to love people that are so similar to me. He’s convicted me of not sharing the gospel and really talking to lost people when I’m at school or at home. So, you all can be praying for me about that – that I will continually see my school and my group of close friends as a mission field and I won’t think that it is time for me to only focus on myself to prepare for what God wants me to do later. I don’t want to waste time. He has also been working to show me how selfish I am and how I tend to get caught up in what God can/will do for me instead of what I can do for him.
Ecclesiastes 3:14-15.
This coming week we have camp with kids from Tarnaveni and Patalea in the morning – kids I’ve never worked with before. Then in the afternoon we have the Livada kids. Please pray that all of the other interns and I will continue to rely on God and seek him more this week when we are joyful, frustrated, or exhausted.
I would also like to publicly thank Justin for helping Caitlin and me get rid of the enormous grasshopper that was in our bathroom this morning.
Love y’all! Sorry this was like a book…
I’m starting to think I should write more than weekly because every week brings so many things that I want to share with y’all… so this will probably be long but I just can’t leave out some things!
This past week we had a short-term team from Gainesville, GA. They were a lot of fun, really passionate, and really great with the kids. We had Sancrai and Miercurea Nirajului kids – they are all in group homes now but most of them were at the Ludus orphanage less than 5 years ago. In the morning we had kids from 5-16 then in the afternoon we had mostly 15- early twenties with a few little kids mixed in. I knew it was going to be a fun week because I knew so many of the kids already and there was one girl I was really hoping to see again. God knew exactly what he was doing this week – like always! As they got off the bus – I recognized so many faces from 2005 and 2007 and I was happy to here them come up to me and say “Rebekah…right?” ☺ ☺ In the morning I was searching the kids to see if Ileana, a girl who never seemed to leave my side in 2007, was there. After about 20 minutes I saw her from a distance and she saw me and we ran to each other and I hugged her – one of the best moments of my life so far. Seriously. She has become quite the teenager since I last saw her, so sometimes it was challenging but so worth it. She was in my morning group along with Lehel, a little boy that was really close to my friend Austin in ’07, and 5 other kids. In the afternoon I had a great group that totally challenged me. Two of the kids were awesome and always willing to talk in small group time – while a couple seemed to always be talking (inappropriately) or walking away. I prayed a lot about our small group times and on Wednesday we had 2 really great meetings. It was a calm atmosphere only explained by God.
On Friday all of the kids from Sancrai came in the morning because they were not allowed to go to the “water park” in the afternoon with the MN kids. So, we had 11 kids on our team in the am which made me pretty nervous. However, once we got to team time Ileana and Tunde told the 3 other leaders and me to sit in a circle. They then went on perform a skit for us and sing us “We are Family” and “Glory to God” in English. It was one of the greatest moments of the week, if not the summer by far. Then they prayed for us like we had prayed for them the day before. Fantastic – really.
The we went to the weekend – a bunch of pools and a couple of slides on one property. : ) It was a great afternoon of getting to hang out with a lot of the older kids that I knew a little but that remember and love my dad!
One sad thing about this week was that many of the kids could not be in pictures due to CPS rules and such – and the pictures we did take cannot be put on facebook or here. However, I can print them out and send them in personal emails.
Yesterday, Samantha (another intern) and I went with Jeff and the new team to tour Sighi Soara – where Count Dracula once lived. I ‘d been there five years ago but it was fun to be there again. Then we went to the baby hospital. It was a great afternoon of loving on babies. I spent most of my time with 2 different kids- Calin, a toddler who was probably about 2, and Georgiana, a baby almost one. My hair got pulled and my face got scratched but I don’t care. They are so innocent right now and I love spending time with them and singing to them in Romanian (the few songs that I know).
This past week God has made me realize how much “easier” it is for me to come here and love on these kids and share the gospel with them than to love people that are so similar to me. He’s convicted me of not sharing the gospel and really talking to lost people when I’m at school or at home. So, you all can be praying for me about that – that I will continually see my school and my group of close friends as a mission field and I won’t think that it is time for me to only focus on myself to prepare for what God wants me to do later. I don’t want to waste time. He has also been working to show me how selfish I am and how I tend to get caught up in what God can/will do for me instead of what I can do for him.
Ecclesiastes 3:14-15.
This coming week we have camp with kids from Tarnaveni and Patalea in the morning – kids I’ve never worked with before. Then in the afternoon we have the Livada kids. Please pray that all of the other interns and I will continue to rely on God and seek him more this week when we are joyful, frustrated, or exhausted.
I would also like to publicly thank Justin for helping Caitlin and me get rid of the enormous grasshopper that was in our bathroom this morning.
Love y’all! Sorry this was like a book…
Sunday, July 11, 2010
"I will live a child in awe of You..."
Hello everyone :)
Well, we are half-way done with camps this summer! It's flying by. Last week the leaders outnumbered the kids, which generally made it easier for me. The week-long team that was here was from Jupiter Christian School in Jupiter, FL. They worked really well with the kids and were a lot of fun and help. In my group we only had 4 kids and they were precious. Well, Cosmin, who is 17 often appeared like he thought he was to cool for camp and would wander off to another group or to smoke. When I would try to talk to him with a translator, he didn't take a lot of stuff seriously and many times the translator wouldn't translate some of the stuff he said because it was inappropriate. Please pray that he will realize how much God loves him and that when he starts looking for more meaning or fulfillment - he will remember that it only comes from God.
In the afternoons this week the interns had some free time or could go to the Ludus Baby Hospital. The baby "hospital" is more like an orphanage. They are at full capacity right now with 6 toddlers and 8 babies. Diapers only get changed twice a day and play time is virtually non-existent. I spent a lot of time with 2 different babies. One was an almost 4 year old toddler who I could easily hold in my arms and play with. I'm not sure what developmental problems he has, but he was so adorable yet it was so sad. He doesn't walk, talk, or make much eye contact. The second baby was almost a year old and had no muscle tone. It was really like picking up a ball of jelly or something - I don't really know what to compare it too. As I played with him, talked to him, and tried to help him sit up and look at me I was hit with a feeling of hopelessness. The day before I went I had heard a father say that when his son was born he and his wife would spend hours just looking, admiring, and talking to the baby. It broke my heart that many of these babies will or have never had that. But, Alina, a girl who is on staff with Livada who visits the baby hospital multiple times a week, has told us how she has seen improvements in so many of the babies just by spending a few hours with them a day. Please pray that the "nurses" at the hospital will see the importance of caring for the babies emotionally and physically and that more people like Alina will have the desire to go often and help as much as they can.
Personally, I have been learning a lot lately. About myself and about God and who he is. I'm so thankful that God is so big, loving, and jealous for his children. As many of you know, I began to feel the Lord calling me to overseas missions in March. Even though I still have a lot of time in school before I would be moving anywhere I've been praying and thinking about it a lot. We sang the song that goes "... One day every tongue will confess you are God, one day every knee will bow..." at camp this week and it reminded me of how blessed we are to have a part in that. God wants us to be a part of his master plan - to tell everyone about him! And in my quiet times God has been showing me how I shouldn't be fearful of going where he wants me to go. Because if I'm following him - then it's his will and I know I can be confident in HIS strength. Please pray that I will continue to seek God's will and be patient. Also, please pray the same for the other interns as many of us are praying and seeking similar things when it comes to our futures.
This coming week of camp is one I'm very very excited about :) :) We will be working with kids that I was in camp with in 2007. I'm so excited to see familiar little faces and teach them about "True Love."
That's all for now!
http://www.1040window.org/
Well, we are half-way done with camps this summer! It's flying by. Last week the leaders outnumbered the kids, which generally made it easier for me. The week-long team that was here was from Jupiter Christian School in Jupiter, FL. They worked really well with the kids and were a lot of fun and help. In my group we only had 4 kids and they were precious. Well, Cosmin, who is 17 often appeared like he thought he was to cool for camp and would wander off to another group or to smoke. When I would try to talk to him with a translator, he didn't take a lot of stuff seriously and many times the translator wouldn't translate some of the stuff he said because it was inappropriate. Please pray that he will realize how much God loves him and that when he starts looking for more meaning or fulfillment - he will remember that it only comes from God.
In the afternoons this week the interns had some free time or could go to the Ludus Baby Hospital. The baby "hospital" is more like an orphanage. They are at full capacity right now with 6 toddlers and 8 babies. Diapers only get changed twice a day and play time is virtually non-existent. I spent a lot of time with 2 different babies. One was an almost 4 year old toddler who I could easily hold in my arms and play with. I'm not sure what developmental problems he has, but he was so adorable yet it was so sad. He doesn't walk, talk, or make much eye contact. The second baby was almost a year old and had no muscle tone. It was really like picking up a ball of jelly or something - I don't really know what to compare it too. As I played with him, talked to him, and tried to help him sit up and look at me I was hit with a feeling of hopelessness. The day before I went I had heard a father say that when his son was born he and his wife would spend hours just looking, admiring, and talking to the baby. It broke my heart that many of these babies will or have never had that. But, Alina, a girl who is on staff with Livada who visits the baby hospital multiple times a week, has told us how she has seen improvements in so many of the babies just by spending a few hours with them a day. Please pray that the "nurses" at the hospital will see the importance of caring for the babies emotionally and physically and that more people like Alina will have the desire to go often and help as much as they can.
Personally, I have been learning a lot lately. About myself and about God and who he is. I'm so thankful that God is so big, loving, and jealous for his children. As many of you know, I began to feel the Lord calling me to overseas missions in March. Even though I still have a lot of time in school before I would be moving anywhere I've been praying and thinking about it a lot. We sang the song that goes "... One day every tongue will confess you are God, one day every knee will bow..." at camp this week and it reminded me of how blessed we are to have a part in that. God wants us to be a part of his master plan - to tell everyone about him! And in my quiet times God has been showing me how I shouldn't be fearful of going where he wants me to go. Because if I'm following him - then it's his will and I know I can be confident in HIS strength. Please pray that I will continue to seek God's will and be patient. Also, please pray the same for the other interns as many of us are praying and seeking similar things when it comes to our futures.
This coming week of camp is one I'm very very excited about :) :) We will be working with kids that I was in camp with in 2007. I'm so excited to see familiar little faces and teach them about "True Love."
That's all for now!
http://www.1040window.org/
Monday, July 5, 2010
I'm glad God loves me because of who He is, not who I am.
The title of this post came from a sermon I was listening to recently by Shawn Maze, the pastor of the church I attend when I'm at school in Charleston. It's such a relief to know that in spite of who I am and how much I mess up - God loves me!
Let's see... camp last week ended well! I was able to share my testimony on Thursday during small group time in the morning and afternoon and while I'm not sure how much the kids got out of it - they were all calm and listening which was a huge step. On Friday we took them to the zoo. In the morning I walked with Erica, a 22 year-old girl with some kind of mental disability. She had been in my group and was fun to hang out with. She seemed to have the mind of about a 7 year-old so it was difficult at times, but she clung to me the entire morning. In the afternoon I walked with Alin, one of the boys in my group. He's 13 and frustrating but sweet. Thinking about how different our lives are and that I was here to show God's love to him made the fact that he really really needed a shower not matter at all :)
Our (the interns) weekend was, again, filled with catching up on sleep, eating, spending time in the Word, and hanging out. This week a team from Jupiter, FL is here. They are great! Most of them haven't been here before but you wouldn't know it because they have jumped right in and are great with the LOC kids and the kids we have at camp this week.
This week we go to camp in Rehgin in the morning and have a group of about 40 kids ranging in ages 5-25. Many of them are special needs, some higher degrees that others. I have figured this is a test to see if the major I have in school right now (Special Education) is what I am really called too!
To stay on good terms with Child Protective Services, we are not allowed to take pictures with any kids in state care (which are the kids we have the next 4 weeks). They have said that only 2 Livada staff members are allowed to take pictures - which is better than none so we are happy! As we went to camp this morning, we knew it was going to be a difficult week but we were in for another curveball. We were told about an hour into camp that CPS doesn't want us to talk about God this week. Yeah, I know... It is actually a law that you can't try to change someone's religion - but these kids have been going to camps by Livada for years (the official religion is Orthodox). So please please pray for us to still be effective and respect their rules. It's hard because it even limits our personal stories - because my testimony/life story without God... is nothing!
Also, tomorrow (Tuesday), my dad gets results back from the testing he had done a few weeks ago. The results should let us know how much the chemo and stem-cell transplant worked. Please pray for good results and peace.
Te iubesc toti.
Let's see... camp last week ended well! I was able to share my testimony on Thursday during small group time in the morning and afternoon and while I'm not sure how much the kids got out of it - they were all calm and listening which was a huge step. On Friday we took them to the zoo. In the morning I walked with Erica, a 22 year-old girl with some kind of mental disability. She had been in my group and was fun to hang out with. She seemed to have the mind of about a 7 year-old so it was difficult at times, but she clung to me the entire morning. In the afternoon I walked with Alin, one of the boys in my group. He's 13 and frustrating but sweet. Thinking about how different our lives are and that I was here to show God's love to him made the fact that he really really needed a shower not matter at all :)
Our (the interns) weekend was, again, filled with catching up on sleep, eating, spending time in the Word, and hanging out. This week a team from Jupiter, FL is here. They are great! Most of them haven't been here before but you wouldn't know it because they have jumped right in and are great with the LOC kids and the kids we have at camp this week.
This week we go to camp in Rehgin in the morning and have a group of about 40 kids ranging in ages 5-25. Many of them are special needs, some higher degrees that others. I have figured this is a test to see if the major I have in school right now (Special Education) is what I am really called too!
To stay on good terms with Child Protective Services, we are not allowed to take pictures with any kids in state care (which are the kids we have the next 4 weeks). They have said that only 2 Livada staff members are allowed to take pictures - which is better than none so we are happy! As we went to camp this morning, we knew it was going to be a difficult week but we were in for another curveball. We were told about an hour into camp that CPS doesn't want us to talk about God this week. Yeah, I know... It is actually a law that you can't try to change someone's religion - but these kids have been going to camps by Livada for years (the official religion is Orthodox). So please please pray for us to still be effective and respect their rules. It's hard because it even limits our personal stories - because my testimony/life story without God... is nothing!
Also, tomorrow (Tuesday), my dad gets results back from the testing he had done a few weeks ago. The results should let us know how much the chemo and stem-cell transplant worked. Please pray for good results and peace.
Te iubesc toti.
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