I've now been in Romania for about a week and I have really been enjoying my time here. I have not jumped into ministry right away, but it was suggested that I start up again slowly and ease into ministry. This is nice for me because this gives me the chance to catch up with people I've not seen in over a year and a half.
Sometime soon I will be having a talk with the director of Outstretched Hands of Romania, Brad Hayes, and we'll be talking about what my role and responsibilites will be in the ministry during my time here. We talked briefly about this the other day, but since it was his day off we didn't go into much detail. What I can tell you at this point is that I will probably have some responsibilities regarding supplies and I will have the opportunity to give some art lessons to kids. I will largely be working in other locations besides Calarasi and the neighborhood of Caramidari.
So this week I've been catching up with people and yesterday that meant visiting the Hope Centre in Caramidari. I am really amazed by how many of the kids remember me, which also means they were all asking me to draw their portraits as I have done in the past. I think I drew the faces of six kids and then the face of one of the team members who volunteers at the Hope Centre. There were others who wanted to be drawn, but it takes awhile to draw each portrait and eventually it was time to send the kids home.
I want to ask for your prayers that God will give direction about how to spend my time here, how to be most effective, and that he would allow me to bless others. I also want to ask you to pray that God will give me direction for my life in the bigger picture, where he is directing my life in the distant future. Also, pray for good relationships with the team members, clear communication and unity. Pray for some of the girls I know here, Bianca, Ana, and Ghiuler in particular. I'm thanking God as well for two very good roommates, Chrystal and Kelsey. Here in Romania it is already Spring, so this has really contributed to me having a good mood. I love walking down the road and smelling the flowers and seeing the villagers getting their gardens ready. It's the simple things in life, you know?
