Highlight of week 4: a conversation I had with a girl that I have known for years who lives in the LOC houses . We had time to talk away from the rest of the group... and it is a blessing that she speaks English very well so it was okay that I didn't have a translator.

We talked about what has been going on in her life lately and the doubts and struggles she has. Looking back on it, I'm in awe of how I never had to search for words, well, how I had any words at all. It was completely a Spirit-lead conversation. I'm so thankful that I was able to share with her things God has taught me in recent years, things that I consider a privilege to share because it makes me remember the promises and provision of God and his truth.

Truths I needed to be reminded of:

• I serve a God who knows. Jesus came to earth as a servant and experienced pain, sadness, loneliness, humiliation, and criticism, as well as joy, fellowship, and laughter while remaining sinless. In my moments of happiness, excitement, pain, desperation, loneliness, and frustration - He knows. Through our struggles Jesus doesn't say "oh, that must be tough. I'm sorry you feel that way," instead he says "I know. I've been there. I'm here with you. I have a plan bigger than you can imagine." And it is then that I am so humbled, so encouraged in that while he cares about me as an individual, his plan is so much bigger than me. Thank goodness it is so much bigger than me.
• When I don't feel worthy of being loved by God... I remember, I'm not. Or I wasn't. As a redeemed child of God (Ephesians 1) - He has chosen to love me contra-conditionally and that doesn't change. Ever. He won't decide to not love me because I have a rough day.

So far in week 5: On Tuesday a girl who I had in my group last year came and wanted to be on my team. When I saw her, I was really excited... and then my heart basically fell on the ground. Last year, she probably weighed 60 or 70 lbs... now she's fifteen years old and is 4 months pregnant. It's not like I haven't seen teen pregnancy... but that day it broke my heart more than ever. She's a kid herself. By the time she's my age - she will probably have a 5 year old child. Please keep her, Renata, in your prayers. She lives in a gypsy village close to the city where we live here.

Please meditate on this for a few minutes, that's kind of where I have been at the past week. Up and down, but like verse 5 says... when I make myself think about and rest in the thought of what the Lord has done lately and what he has promised he will do, frustrations that don't matter fade away. Not that things become easier, but knowing that God has promised to complete his good work - well, that's the most encouraging thing ever. He is my hope. And I can rest in his promises, even if I don't see some things on this side of eternity.

So far this summer I have:

-danced the electric slide, cotton-eye joe, cupid shuffle, cha-cha slide countless times

-sweated about 49385 gallons of water

-made approximately 2200 sandwiches (along with the other interns)

-sung fantastic praise songs while jumping up and down at least 50 times (not an exaggeration)

-hugged beautiful, sweaty children hundreds of times

-said stati jos, hai, ajutor, liniste, ascultati... a lot

-done ridiculous 80's style morning exercises a few times

-ate way to much chocolate

-shouted my team name one billion times

-burned off all of the chocolate by playing games, dancing, and laughing.

So we are exhausted - and leaning desperately on the Lord everyday for renewal and energy (which is the best anyway.)

Please continue to pray for me, the 7 other interns, the Romanian and American staff, and the kids - your prayers are felt and needed, I promise. Love you all.