Romania....Praise to the Father!

I can't believe that our time here in Beius is almost done.  Our time this past week was so full!  It has been great and such a blessing...but it is not over!  I woke up this morning with sinus problems...not able to sing today.  Please pray for healing.  Sarah and Kara have both been sick this week and I have not, but the sickness didn't want to leave me out..lol.  I stayed at the apartment this morning to rest.  I am going out later today and will rest my voice this afternoon and evening.  Please pray for healing of my voice.  We are to attend several churches with Peter tomorrow.  I am praying for my voice to be restored before then.  It will be a miracle from the Father.

God has blessed us this week with new friends.  Our fellow Believers in Christ.  It started on the airplane ride from America.   To being alone in Franfurt, Germany airport and it only being me and my Father.  Then to arrive here in Beius and see the hand of God moving in the hearts of the Romanian people and in my life as well.  I find it totally amazing that God will take our offering of time and talents then turn it into a blessing to me and to others.  He has shown Himself so faithful and willing to be active in my life.  Sometimes we have to be removed from our everyday circumstances and way of living to be able to see with Spirit eyes God's true purpose for us personally and so He can show us how much and how great His love is for us.  Thank you Lord Jesus for allowing me to come to Romania this week and for all you will continue to do in my life!  I love you Jesus!
 

What a week!

Well, we left one week ago today for Romania!  I can't believe that our time here is down to three days left!  It has been such a blessing!  God has blessed our time here with beautiful new friends and adventures. 

Today was market day in Beius.  This was an exciting day.  The sky was blue, the temperature was warm and people were everywhere!  We have been able to go into the school everyday this week to talk with the children about the love of Jesus.  We have not only been able to get to know the children, but teachers and administrators as well.  They have all been so kind and welcoming to each one of us. The past two days as we arrive on the campus, we hear children calling our names across the school yard.  We have shared with the different classes that I would be returning this June with another team to conduct a music camp at Casa Josef!  The children are very excited about that and look forward to getting more information in hopes that they can come to the camp!  The girls from Casa Josef attend this school.  We have had two of our team members sick over a couple of days.  They are better now. 

God is opening the hearts of the people here in Romania!  His Word is alive and active.  He does not need me to do His work on earth but He chooses to use me...I am so amazed by that truth!  What a privilage to come to Romania and to share with the people the love that God has grown in me!
Praise be to Jesus...my Savior, my friend, my everything!

Sunday in Beius, Romania

Sunday we met Peter Lucaciu. Peter took us to a church in a nearby village where he would be preaching that morning. He asked if any of us would share their testimony or song. The church we would attend was destroyed back in the 1980's during communism when they tricked the people into going to a gathering in another location in the town. While they were there they bulldozed the church building to the ground. The underground church was still growing and the people would rebuild it again. What a privilage it was to worship with our Romanian brothers and sisters in Christ! I sang Amazing Grace. Kara shared testimony, Sarah shared truth from God's Word and Heather shared testimony and sang a song. They sang worship songs we know in Romanian and we sang them in English. The heart of this church was so tender. Peter got up to share God's Word. He had shared with us on the way to church what he would be speaking about from Philippians 1:12, so when he brought the message from God to the people we listened, however everything was spoken in Romanian. The beauty of not understanding the language allowed us to see the power and passion of God work through Peter.

Arrival....

After arriving in Budapest, we had a 5 hour drive to Beius. We didn't arrive until 3 am to our apartment where we are staying while on the mission trip. Ana was here to greet us (even when so early in the morning) with a warm pot of soup and fresh bread! It was great!
We slept until noon, then went to Casa Josef to eat lunch. We then met the girls that are cared for at the orphanage. They are a playful bunch of girls and full of energy. That evening we returned to eat dinner with them, play games and hang out until it was bedtime.

Romania....

The Journey to Romania....

After months of praying and planning....I am in Beius, Romania on my March mission trip! It seemed like the leave date of March 17th would never arrive and now I am two days into our trip. God is so Faithful! I want to say thank you for everyone who is a part of this trip....and that includes more than Sarah, Kara, Heather and Earl who are here in Romania with me...it is everyone who has prayed and is praying for us, everyone who was willing to listen to the voice of God when the list of items was put on FB, given out in my church, Ringgold-GA Curves, Touch of Warmth, friends and family...you all gave above and beyond! Our team collected of 150lbs of items!!!!! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!!! God did not just bless this trip before departure, He poured out His blessings!
Now...the journey!
Scott, Elijah and my parents took me, Kara and Sarah to the airport in Atlanta. Along the way we stopped to eat our last "American Italian" at Olive Garden before leaving. Arrived at the airport at 5pm, met up with Heather and Earl, checked in, cleared security....departed Atlanta for our first stop in Toronto, Canada. Left Toronto about 20min late. Arrived in Frankfurt, Germany with only one hour to get to our next gate....now from here it got interesting! We hurried off the plane, walking quickly to customs....then waited with about a hundred others.... we still had 45 min until our plane was to leave...however, we didn't realized it was boarding as soon as we arrived in Germany...we were not going to make the next flight no matter how fast we walked or got thru all the check points. We got to our gate, and they said "that flight has already left" we said "What!" We were sent to Lufthansa Ticket counter to get on another flight. We get there...we all get on the next flight...no problem...we thought. You see, they told Sarah that she would have to check with the attendants at the gate to get a seat number. We thought "no problem, we will get lunch..log onto our computers, call home thru skype, call Ana at REMM tell her we missed the flight so she would have our new arrival info". I called Scott, skyped with the boys at home, then my battery on my computer died. This is an important part of the story...I had packed the converter in my checked luggage. But, Kara had her computer and it was charged...no problem. HA! HA!
They called for our flight to board....heading to our last stop...Budapest, Hungry. We would be picked up by a driver from REMM then drive 5 hours to Beius, Romania. Sarah, went to get her seat number...she came over to us....with this look of "what am I going to do" she says there are no seats for me on this plane! I said...are you sure? I being the team leader...I stayed with her because she had to wait until everyone was boared to see if there were any "No Shows". I told Kara, give me your computer just in case Sarah needs to call Ana. Then as we are waiting...I am thinking, I can't leave Sarah here if she can't get a seat...I can't leave her here to figure out how to make a skype call.... Okay...we waited to see if someone would not show. Well....they all showed. We asked about the next flight...it had a wait list of 20 people and all the other flights were booked full with waiting list for the rest of the night. I said...give her my seat and I will wait, "Sarah, you have to go...it will be easier to find a flight for one person rather than two". Sarah did not want to leave me...but I insisted. She waved good bye...I prayed now what...also knowing precious Sarah, she would be praying for me! I asked the ladies at the gate what to do next...
I would spend the next 2 hours walking from Lufthansa, to Air Canada, to Hungarian Airlines...I was tired and alone in Frankfurt, Germany airport. Actually I realized I was not alone. God was with me...He said He would never leave me or forsake me. So, we (me and my Father) talked about what to do. I was in a position that I had to lean on Him, think and listen for His wisdom to be given to me. I went to Hungarian Airlines, the man at the ticket booth said they didn't have any flights, no one was at the Air Canada desk (the orginator of my flight) to help me find another carrier to get me to Budapest, Hungary. So, back to the Lufthansa Ticket counter. I had been up to their ticket help area earlier...it was an hour wait to just talk to anyone at the ticket counter and they gave me a number to get in line. All the options had been exhausted. As I went to the waiting area for Lufthansa, I showed my number to the guy in charge of that area, he told me to watch for my number on the board....I looked and my number was on the board! That was only the Lord! I knew it instantly! He directed me to a lady that would be so kind and willing to help me. She found a flight for me that would leave in two hours and get me to Budapest by 10 pm. However, before she could complete confirming my ticket....the police came up to where we were and said they had to clear the area due to someone leaving a bag sitting in the terminal. I thought "oh no, you have got to be kidding!" The lady said to me....You come with me, stay with me I will go to another place and get you on this flight, I will take care of you. And, she did! She took me with her and got my flight booked and confirmed my seat on the next flight going to Budapest on Hungarian Airlines. Okay, now I had mentioned about telling Kara to leave me her computer....however, I forgot to ask her for the password to get into the computer! So, you guessed it....I did not have a way to call REMM to get word that I was still in Germany and the others were headed to Budapest.

To finish up details of a long story and a really long trip to get here.... God knew exactly what He was doing. I really believe He allowed all the events of the day to happen to grow me in my faith. One of my prayers before leaving for this trip was for me to be able to hear the voice of God, know it is Him, and to trust Him more. I was put in a situation that I had to just listen, trust and obey. I believe I was in a situation where all options were exhausted, delivered to the lady at the Lufthansa desk, cared for by her, unable to make a call to get any word to the team or to REMM. I just had to trust. I finally knew in my heart I had to get on the plane and leave the details to the Lord. I boarded the plane, sat back, as the plane took off in my heart and mind I began to praise the Lord! He is wonderful, my Prince of Peace, my Savior, I thanked Him for never leaving me. I told Him I would trust Him. I was trying to figure out what to do if they were not still at the airport when I arrived, and He clouded my mind and helped me to not try to make my own plans. We landed safely in Budapest, I got my luggage...came out of the baggage claim... standing there waiting for me was Meeshee holding a sign that says"Beius"! I said "REMM"....he said yes....I said "PRAISE THE LORD!!!" and began to cry...God is so faithful...you see...Ana with REMM had been called with the details with what happened when the rest of the team arrived in Budapest...she called the airlines to find out if I had got on another flight. She told them the situation, they told her I was booked on the next flight out. You see, at just the time I got my ticket confirmed at 7pm, Ana called at the same time...God had handeled it all and I just didn't know it was already worked out but He did. I just had to trust and obey.

It's about that time....

Tonight we had a final meeting before leaving this Thursday for Romania.  It was exciting to look around the table and see the people that God has brought together for this trip.  Sarah, Kara, Heather, Earl and myself.... all from different walks of life.  Each with our own story of God's work in our hearts. 

Our prayers tonight expressed the deep need for God to use us as He sees fit.  That we would hear from Heaven, hear the voice of our Savoir when He speaks, to follow the Holy Spirit as He leads us.  Lord, change our lives that we might know you more and the fire you create in us would burn strong when we return home to our everyday lives.  That others would see You and not us.  How we long to see your Spirit move in Romania and here at home.  May we be solely dependant upon You and You alone.

Pray for our team as we travel.  Please pray that we make all our flights!  No delays! 

Thank you to Dennis Miller, director for the Bryan College Center for International Development, for sending us to Romania to work with R.E.M.M.   Dennis pictured with team below.

Prayer and Fasting

When making preparations for going on my first foreign mission trip our team made the decision to fast from food on every Friday until we would leave.  I had never fasted before and now to fast from food on a Friday night during football season for about 6 weeks...wow...that was going to really require prayer.   For real, we love to eat our dinner at the football games....along with all the other goodies you can get on Friday night like fried oreos, funnel cakes, cotton candy and more.   The first two weeks were really difficult.  As the weeks went on I began to look forward to Friday.  God showed me that when I was wanting to eat, I needed to go to Him.  I realized that sometimes when I was thinking about food, I was not even hungry, I was just filling time by eating.  The Lord wanted me to fill my time with Him.  To get to know Him more, to desire Him more than food or anything else.

Preparation....

I am finding little time to get all the things I need to do finished before getting on the plane to Romania next week.  I know there are enough hours in the day, however mine seem to be slipping away very quickly.
Praying for a sound mind to be able to prepare for the days ahead.  Praying I don't forget something....hummm?

It's just around the corner....

It's just around the corner....March 17th...leaving for Beius, Romania.  It has been exciting to see God put all the pieces together for this mission trip.  I heard from Ana today, one of the founders of R.E.M.M., she told me..." I already have arranged for you to go in the public school to talk in different classrooms and meeting in the evening with teachers and different ladies. We have some "hands on " projects too, we will keep you busy, do not worry!". 

To hear of the plans made for our arrival and to get a taste of what we will be doing makes it all the more exciting.  I continue to pray for wisdom from the Word of God, daily exercise so I am in shape to do the work the Father is allowing me to be involved in.

INVITATION

INVITATION....was an gathering held at my home on February 5th, 2011.  It was a group of women from different areas of my life.  Those who attended ranged from long time friends, family members, new friends, friends from work and friends from church.  I sent the simple invitation to 27 people. Not really sure who would attend, preparations for the day began.  When the time arrived on this Saturday....23 ladies showed up....the funny part was they weren't really sure what the morning would entail. They knew from the invitation that brunch and Bible study was included but there was still a bit of mystery surrounding the invite.

Prayer was the biggest part of preparing....Back in the fall God put an idea in my heart and mind to have a Bible study in my home.  I prayed and asked Him, why would anyone come to just another Bible study????? As I began to pray, He began to show me what plans to make, one step at a time.  I have to say I was a little hesitant about going forward with the whole idea.

What was the idea?????  That it would not be a one time Bible study or a picked Bible study that I could get at a Christian bookstore.  The idea comes from the book of Acts in the Word of God.  When we consider the early church, they opened their homes and lives to one another.  The challenge for the INVITATION was that those who attended would say "YES!" to opening their homes and lives to those around them.  You see, that is why God gave me a list of names from different areas of my life.   It was not only to be about a one time event on Feb. 5th, 2011!  It was/is meant to go on, and on, and on.  When the Saturday morning finally arrived, it was exciting to see everyone.  The morning was full of fellowship, food, music, prayer, God's Word shared with us by Sarah Jones.   I shared the main purpose of what God had intended the whole morning to be about.....Relationships...loving others...allowing God to use us and our resources for His Kingdom.  Many shared that it was just what they needed.  Our lives are so full of day to day struggles, stress, running here and there, being pulled in different directions.... I wanted these ladies to know that I care about them. I was/am completely overjoyed that I was able to share my home with them.  Ladies you were and are completely worth all the effort it took to prepare for your being in my home on Feb. 5th! You are loved by the King of Kings and the Prince of Peace!

The blessing...Many ladies left challenged to have INVITATION in their homes.   Pass it on ladies... 

Thank you to Sarah Jones for agreeing to share with us from God's Word and as always for sharing her heart with us all!  Sarah, I love you and am so thankful that God has allowed me the privilage here on earth to call you my friend as well as sister in Christ!It was a real blessing and Many ladies left challenged to have INVITATION in their homes.  Read Sarah's daily blog at http://sarahdecosimojones.blogspot.com/

Thank you to Louise Grishom....wow...lady I just love you to pieces!  The day would not have been as tasty if you had not stepped in with your talent in the kitchen.!  Food was EXCELLENT!!!!! Thank you also for being a sounding board, encouraging me to grow in Christ...also for being honest with me!  I love you my friend!!!!

Thank you to Virginia Dillinger...I just loved the bookmarkers!  Thank you for the candy too!  You are a real blessing to me! 

Thank you to everyone who attended INVITATION.  I pray that you will continue to allow God to challenge you to open your hearts to His service by opening your home, your life, your family....committ everything you do unto the Lord.  Look for ways to serve Him today, there is an opportunity every single day to impact someones life for the Kingdom of God.  I love you all. 

If you have INVITATION in your home, please share in the comment area of how God used your efforts and how He blessed you from your INVITATION to your friends, family and neighbors!