Preparation

Two weeks before we left for Romania Scott and I attended a missions strategy course at Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City. The home we stayed in was an older home with beautiful wood floors that creaked. The washer and dryer were located in an unfinished basement. The bathroom was small and we had to work around each other in order to get ready in the mornings, and we had a gas stove to get used to (we have always had electric). All of these characteristics were very different from the 2 year old house we had just sold in Washington. Whenever I got Olivia to sleep I would do my best to not creak so much as I exited her room. I really didn’t like the idea of going down to the basement to do laundry – I used to watch a lot of Cold Case Files on A&E. Many times on the show the murder victim was found in an unfinished basement! Can you follow my train of thought as I would make my way down the narrow cement stairs, place my hand on the door knob and hear it squeak as I would peer into the basement to see if the coast was clear? The gas stove made me nervous – something about a gas leak, and matches. There was a discount store near the house that we went to for groceries. The prices were very low, but the selection was a bit limited. When we were checking out we discovered that we had to purchase the sacks for our groceries and then sack them ourselves. This was a first for us.
We finished our two weeks and we were off to Romania. As we have settled into our home we have noticed some similarities. Our new home is an older home with beautiful hardwood floors that creak. The bathroom upstairs is one that requires working around one another. We have a gas stove to work with – one of the burners really has a quick flame response that makes me nervous. YES, there is a basement and YES, that is where the washer and dryer are located. And guess what? We have a discount store 5 minutes from our house where the prices are low, the selection is limited, and you have to purchase the sacks that you will use to sack your groceries. The last few weeks we were home I remember praying for God to prepare the way for us – To prepare us for what was to come. How amazing the detail of His preparation.

Cemetary

Magda’s mom was hit by a car as she was preparing to cross the street – she later died of her injuries. As the family was making funeral arrangements, they discovered that they had to find a cemetery that would allow Magna’s mom to be buried. In Romania when someone dies they are buried in the cemetery that is “owned” by the religion they were affiliated with. Magda’s mom had not attended the Orthodox Church in years. She had been a faithful attendee of the Church of the Nazarene in Sighisoara (a small town 5 hours north of Bucharest). The family ultimately had to pay “back tithes” to the Orthodox Church in order to have a place to bury their mom. Our church leaders who live in Sighisoara are looking into purchasing land for a cemetery for the members of the Church of the Nazarene. We praise God for the work of Dorothy and Roberta.

Monica

Monica took Scott and I on a tour of the downtown area of Bucharest where the revolution took place from December 17th through the 31st of 1989. Monica was 21 years old in December 1989. She was involved in her country’s march for freedom. She was shot at by “terrorist” near the office building of the communist party where she and many others hid near an orthodox church for hours. She wrote a letter requesting freedom to the dictator Ceausescu – she doubts he ever got the letter. One dark night as she and a friend were walking down the street late at night a door opened and she and her friend were handed copies of the first edition of the liberation newspaper literally hot off the press! – The papers were still warm as they handed them out. Monica is a year younger than I am and since that tour I have thought many times about what I was doing December 17th – 31st of 1989. Words escape me – I cannot begin to relate with her experience. What I can relate with is her love for Christ and His cleansing touch upon her life – as He too has cleansed my life. I look forward to deepening my relationship with Monica. God’s Spirit dwells in our hearts, and it is He who makes us instant family. I praise Him for this new friendship.

IKEA - The play area

Olivia spotted the play area right away. She ran over to it and said, “I want to play Mommy!” She was so excited. We worked through the language issue with the young lady who spoke a little English. Olivia eagerly slipped off her shoes, said goodbye (kinda) and away she went. There is a big glass wall to watch the children play. We stood and watched her for a moment and then headed up the escalator. When I could no longer see her, I got anxious and tears began to fill my eyes. Scott said, “Are we nuts for just dropping her off?” I thought to myself, “If I can’t drop her off at the IKEA play area I am in trouble.” We were able to check on her about 20 minutes later. And wouldn’t you know it; she was fine - having a great time! I only hope that Scott and I will have such excitement as we begin learning the Romanian language and culture.

The "Block"

When we enter the “block” (that is what Romanians call the rows of apartment buildings that were built during the communist years) it was obvious that the building was run down, neglected. The elevator that we waited for could only fit four people. There was a regular looking metal door that was opened and then inside there was another door. When I stepped into the elevator it dropped a few inches, which alarmed me at first. Pastor Cristi followed us into the elevator closing the outer metal door then the smaller inner door. He pushed the number 4 and away we went. Pastor Cristi and his wife Monica had invited us to their apartment for some Ciorba (typical soup) and fellowship. As we entered the apartment we were greeted by Monica and their two children Cris and Lisa. The small entry way into the apartment is where everyone takes off their shoes. I was unprepared for this custom and wore a pair of shoes without socks. I felt very funny in my bare feet. Monica asked me if I would like to wear a pair of Lisa’s house shoes, I said “sure”…they were too big and when I walked I had to drag my feet so that they wouldn’t fall off. Needless to say I sat a lot of the time. We had a great time getting to know our new friends. I anticipate many more dinners and times of fellowship – the next time I am invited to someone’s home I will be wearing socks!

Our First Few Weeks

On Tuesday morning I woke up overwhelmed, I sat on the bed and cried. All I could do was whisper the name of Jesus. I began replaying my past experiences with these feelings and I realized that I was grieving over where I had just come from – the familiar and the predictable - I was at the edge of myself. To be at the edge of myself is exactly where God wants me to be. As I sat on the edge of my bed God’s presence surrounded me and His peace gently cleared away the fog of fear that had surrounded me. He reassured me that He had brought me to this place for His purpose and glory and that He will provide ALL that I will need – He told me that He is ever present, to find rest in Him alone.
The next day in my quiet time God spoke to me through the following:
“When you are told to seek first the Kingdom of God, the first step is to secure that your will is for that Kingdom - A single eye to God’s glory - Desiring nothing less than that His Kingdom come - Seeking in all things the advance of His Kingdom.”
God Calling by AJ Russell
It was enough for me!

Buna Ziua

I will be posting articles from my perspective about our journey in Romania