Our mission teams will be posting events as they are On Mission all around the globe. Join the team by praying - it will strengthen them. Leave 'em a comment - it will encourage them. Join a team in the future - it will change your life.
The archives section tells the stories from our recent trips to Peru, Alaska, Romania and Canada - they will encourage you.
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Thursday, December 11, 2008
Team is home!
Monday, December 8, 2008
Over 800 miles later...............
We had a Romanian picnic (fixing lunch out of the back of the van...) before hopping back in and On the Road Again! We saw the most beautiful countryside. Randy drove us to the foot of the mountains for several photo opportunities! It is COLD; the high today was in the upper 30's. No snow yet!! Maybe tomorrow in Hungary.
Thank you for your prayers. The true meaning of Christmas was felt over the 800 miles traveled by the TEAM here in Romania. God is so good.
We'll be leaving early tomorrow for Budapest. This is our last blog. We want to take this opportunity to thank all who helped make this mission trip possible and successful.
We are coming HOME! Love to all.
Pam, Jane, Bobby, Breana, and Mary Lee
Sunday, December 7, 2008
"No room at the inn"
The pork killing was an EXPERIENCE!!! The boys have nothing on the girls now.
Word got out that something was happening at the church. The door kept opening and closing and children kept coming in. It was standing room only!!! Remember the story about the 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish??...Well He did it again!!!! Our faith was tested but God came through. We even had a few baggies left.
SUN.
We traveled to Girsu Negru for a Romanian church service. The music was awesome. The team members shared their personal testimonies and sang "Silient Night" and "Joy to the World" it's a good thing they couldn't understand us because we are sure it wasn't pretty. Randy gave a sermon based on Joesph and his obedience to God. We think God was smiling...worshiping Him in different languages but all the same messages. After the morning service we were invited to homes in the village for lunch.
We returned for the afternoon worship service. Once again the music and worship was beautiful. They played handbells and sang for us. After the service Pam read Follow the star to Bethleham. We think that the adults enjoyed it as much as the children. It was followed by a birthday cake with candles and the children singing Happy Birthday Jesus in Romanian. Just what Christmas should be about!!
We stayed in the village for handbell practice. By look on their faces you could tell how pleased they were with themselves. Many of the bells are donated by First Baptist Ocala. What a blessing it is to see them being played by young children.
Please continue to pray while we travel to hospice homes tomorrow and our (health we have a few scratchy throats among the group). All in all the team is good and feeling blessed!!!!!!!!! Love to all!!!!!!
Friday, December 5, 2008
Pictures from today (Friday)
Randy brings smiles where ever he goes....
Briana is carefully hanging snowflakes in the hallway at the Children's Hospital
This was in Valani - the last evangelical service for the day
Still spreading Joy!!!!!!
We visited the remote village of Valani. REMOTE!!!! The children enjoyed the program once again! Pam shared about the true gift of Christmas....Thank You Holly!!!
We were invited to a church members home for traditional Romanian style dinner. We had four courses: Sunday soup (homemade chicken noodle), Chicken legs with potatoes along with pickled peppers and cucumbers, Cabbage rolls (that were outstanding), Walnut bread for dessert. To top the evening off it started to snow as we were leaving.
The team is tired but healthy!!! We are going to bed early so we can rise early for a "pork" killing a tradition to celebrate St. Nicholi Day to bring in the Christmas Season.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Pictures of today's (Thursday) events....
Spreading Christmas Joy
Our first stop was Lazareni. We visted the neatest little school for the gyspy children. What a special place! They do so much with so little. The art work done by the various age groups was amazing. They shared some watercolors with us to bring home. The room was filled with laughter during the puppet show. Mary Lee shared her heart box and heart balloon with the children. They loved the balloon and it was a great avenue for her to share about Jesus.
Our lunch stop was a cultural experience at McDonalds in Oreada. I lost one team member in the bathroom and it was not my mother. Just to let you in on the secret..you needed a code to get out and of course it was not in English. We had prayer and half our lunch before we realized what might be up.
We went to Cauasd to a Baptist Church. What a true Christmas experience:
- A very tiny church, heated by a beautiful ceramic heater
- Handbells playing Silent Night
- Happy mamas and happy children
- Briana told about Jesus being the light of her life and the world using a string of red Christmas lights
- The excitement of chilren receiving a simple gift from someone far away
As we were loading the van you will not believe what we got in the middle of. A shepherd herding his sheep home. We stood on the side of the road as hundreds and I mean hundreds of woolly sheep trotted by to the shepherd's whistle. Amazing!
The most exciting moment of the day came when Randy decided that eight people dressed in winter coats, boots and backpacks could get in a 3x3 elevator! The good news was we fit and the door shut. The bad news was the elevator died. Panic set in! So badly we did not pray we wanted to take matters in our own hands. Randy quickly realized this and pried the door open. The worst news of all, we had to climb 6 floors to the apartment!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
God is GOOD
- Pam and Briana milked her cow
- She gave us the milk to make hot chocolate with tonight
- The team hiked to the top of the hill to be in awe of the most spectacular view of the village and snow capped mountains
- Hog Pen tour that included piglets
- Outside oven that baked her bread. She sent home a loaf that is 14 inches in diameter!
We all need a lesson from grandmother on how to be self sufficient. She was so proud to show us her farm and especially her view of the village.
The day ended with the most beautiful sunset and an invite to Ms. Florica's for homemade donuts.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
We have arrived!!!
Randy was there at the Budapest Airport to meet us. It was a very long ride from Budapest to Oradea and there were quite a few head bobbing incidents that we won't mention any names. We saw phesants, sheep and big doves along the 4 hour ride in the van. We also practiced singing our Christmas songs along the way too!
Debbie had a nice meal ready for us when we arrived at their appartment.We will be working out our sleeping arrangements now and will start our Christmas Baggie Evangelical services and passing out the baggies to the children in the morning. Please pray for us tonight as we turn in and enjoy a quiet night of sleep....at least we hope we sleep!!!
Pam & Team