June 23 Update

I left off in my last post by describing some of what my Summer will consist. Here I will also share with you some photos of the Kindergarten and After-School Program in Chiselet as well as some scenes of Romania, etc. if you follow this link: https://www.dropbox.com/sc/k94okb3ncq4fvnx/AAC_ZTL-NwOOZ6SAGo4HOHAua

In addition to leading a girls' ministry in Roseti I will be taking three trips in the month of July. The first will be to Arad and through other parts of Romania for four days. This will be for the graduation of a colleague/friend here at Outstretched Hands. I will be traveling with her, her family, and my roommate. We will get the opportunity to see some of Romania's scenic sights in this trip, so I'm looking forward to that.

I will be taking a trip to Albania for a week to join a ministry called Illyricum Movement that my church, Waukesha City Church, and my parents' church, Woodridge Community Church, have ties with. I will be helping with a kids' camp, so it is similar to what I do here in Romania during the Summer, but I don't know any of their language. I'm looking forward to make connections with the people there and hopefully that will also be a good opportunity to tell my home church a little more about the ministry there from another perspective, even if they may have heard about it before. This will increase my expenses between air travel, hotel, and food, but I think it's worth it.

I am planning also to visit Northern Romania because a friend of mine who is studying at New Tribes Bible Institute and whom I met at Chinese Christian Church of Milwaukee will be in the Baia Mare area with friends of hers from Bethel Romanian Baptist Church in Chicago. I will probably spend a week there and be involved with one or two VBSs they will be conducting. I would also like on this trip to make a stop in Arad to connect with a pastor there that I heard about through an older gentleman that I met at the Chinese church. The nice thing about traveling by bus in Romania is it doesn't cost much, and for this trip most other expenses or arrangements such as food and lodging will be handled by the family from Bethel church.

I can't say I know what to expect for these trips, but July will be pretty busy for me with all of that and leading the girls' ministry in Roseti. I really want to use these opportunities to network with other believers who are involved serving the Lord through missions. You can keep these things in your prayers as well, that God will work, that I will be an encouragement to others, that these travels will be an encouragement to me as well, and I will be able to pace myself well between all these things.

June 22 Update

Tension. That's one word that in part describes my Romanian abilities. Sometimes I surprise myself by doing something I didn't know I could do, like teaching a kindergarten, yet other times I feel a little lost with the language, especially during a long sermon or with those who don't speak clearly. Usually I understand what's happening around me, but then I might miss that one, all important word or expression upon which the meaning of the sentence or conversation hinges. Situations where my native language is almost useless are mentally exhausting, and yet I enjoy them. Listening closely becomes key, then, to understanding my surroundings or the conversations and atmosphere around me. I think this is the reason I sometimes lose energy faster than expected.

Probably most beneficial to my language growth has been my times in Chiselet because there I use a lot less English than where I live in Calarasi. Each week I have been staying in Chiselet for two days to teach at the kindergarten in the church's after-school program, and also spending another morning of the week to sit in on the kindergarten class at the Hope Centre here in town to observe what happens there. In Chiselet the only times I use English is with a couple of people who practice their English with me or when practicing English with the kids. I seem to have a differnt personality while in Chiselet because I listen to what's happening around me rather than interacting as much.

Many have asked if I have been teaching the kids about the Bible or sharing the Gospel with them. The answer is both yes and no. Usually there are others who are presenting the Bible teaching each day, but I will typically have my kindergarten class pray together before we begin the lesson. Also, teaching the kids to speak kindly and to treat each other well are a practical side of biblical teaching. These kids still need to learn what it looks like to live out the will of God in our lives, that is how to love each other, how to respect each other, and how to be obedient. Yes, we're helping them gain an education, but central to all that we do is Christ.

Summer season has just begun for us here at Outstretched Hands because school here in Romania has just finished. So no more kindergarten until the Fall, but rather Summertime events and activities such as tent events, and kids clubs. Summer is also the busy season for Short Term Missions, so we have a lot more visitors this time of year.

This Summer the lady who normally leads several girls' ministries in the villages is visiting her family in Pennsylvania for two months, so I'll be leading the girls' minsitry in Roseti while she's away. Teaching the kindergarten has been a preparation for this, I now have the experience of preparing lessons in another language, finding resources, activities or whatever is necessary to prepare a beneficial time for those to whom I minister. I will not be going to Roseti by myself, but will be accompanied by someone who is bi-lingual, not so much for translation as to have someone there who will fill in the blanks of my understanding. This, I feel, is important especially for teenage girls since they have more complex issues to sort through than a five year old from the kindergarten. 

Please be praying for this ministry as it will certainly stretch and challenge me. I'm thankful for the opportunity as well because it's the kind of challenge that will require me to be curious about the language, to keep asking questions, and keep studying to be able to express the ideas I want to communicate.

I will have to write a secone part to this update, but for now this will do. When I write the other one, I will provide you with some pictures as well so you can have something visual to refer to.