Work Day 1 - Check!

Our first full day of working is in the books and all I can say is wow!!!!  We are so blessed with an amazing team of people that are just so willing to serve even in the midst of curveballs being thrown at them.  It was a long day, and a hot day..... as the next two days are looking to be hot as well.

The construction team was able to frame out most of the walls and were able to be creative as they looked for supplies that they don't sell in Romania - Joel and Kevin were troopers as they spent several hours in the store looking for the things they need for the storage shed, and looking for someone that speaks English to help them.  Today they will be working on the roof trusses I believe.... though don't hold me to that since they are already off to work for the day.

The VBS team had their share of curveballs yesterday as we had to change the times and dates for several of our VBS and Youth Event Activities, but they didn't bat and eye and were ready to change all 900 flyers of which they passed out over 600 just yesterday.  Though there were a few that rejected the bracelet or the paper as a whole people were very receptive.  Two members from our team paired up with two of the Youth Group kids from Romania and set out to different sections of the neighborhood.

Lunch Time was great to be all together as a team!  After we ate we were able to have "Christmas" for Mitspa!  Moon Shine Camo donated some clothes that we were able to start sharing with Lucky (pronounced Lou-key) we gave Alina her doll, Alexia her cookbook and Mariana her patches of Love Quilt made for her.  It was so fun to see how excited they were.

After dinner some of the team walked back to the parks.... and it was kid central so they were able to pass out a lot of bracelets and flyers and talk to a lot of people.  Thankfully Cosmin (Coz-mean) and Iasmy (yaz-mean-ah) came back to help for the evening!

We closed our evening with stories of the day (including Pearl getting a free bouquet of flowers) finding a man who spoke perfect English at the Hardware store, eating some European chocolate, Eating fresh cherries (yum, and I don't even really like cherries!), learning their first Romanian song (at least the chorus), and being encouraged in the Word by Joel.

We are blessed to be serving!  Thanks for your prayers - Tonight at 6pm our time which is 11am EST we will be kicking off our first night of VBS - we invite you to join us by praying!  Thanks so much! Below is a photo journal of the day.... it is just a few pictures that I had.. we have so many more you will get to enjoy later but for now.... enjoy!

It was peach and striped day for the ladies.... no memo was actually sent. 

Praying for the day! 

Getting our bracelets and flyers ready for delivery!

Andreea one of our friends buzzing apartments until someone answers and she tells them we have a comercial, they buzz us in and we put a flyer in each mailbox.  

Alina getting her baby doll from Ella and Bunni - she was so happy!

Lucky getting her clothes from Moonshine clothing!  

I don't know if I have ever seen her so excited!!! 

Alexia loved her American cookbook - no worries we gave her a one cup measuring to go with it since in France they just weigh all their ingredients.  

Mariana with her Patches of Love Blanket - she was so touched!

It's Christmas Time!!!

Alexia (ECM Missionary from France, Director of Mitspa), Alina

Working Hard Colby, Sylvan, Aaron

Glad they know what they are doing!  Aaron and Sam

Quality Control, Van Driver, Hardware Picker-upper (all around great guy - oh sorry I am biased)

Coming Back from a fun trip to the Park!  Ella loves Colby as you can tell!

Our Team has Arrived!!!

My favorite quote from yesterday with the team coming when Ella said.... Wow - Seth speaks so much English!  And from a preschooler who has been in a country for 3 months without many people speaking fluent English to her - that was a gift for sure!  

The team arrived yesterday at 6:30pm to the Neon Hotel (pronounced Nay-Own) and were greated by a little girl from the country of Richfield.  Then to their rooms for a little surprise that we put together with a few of our favorite snack foods from Romania.  After that it was off to dinner at the hotel and then the work began..... bless their hearts - they were so tired but pushed through - the construction team went to look at their project and the other group sorted all 12 of the suitcases!  It was crazy and good and tiring.

What a sweet sweet view of our church family!

After a short meeting and prayer we called it a night!  Praying they all slept well and are ready for a great day of serving and loving in Jesus strength!  Our tentative schedule for today is Construction work 9-5 for that part of the team.  VBS flyers and preparations for the other half of the team! Then dinner and passing out flyers again this evening at the parks.

We appreciate your prayers today as our team works.....it's going to be very hot this next week - mostly in the low 90s.  We will have more pictures to post each day!  Please share this blog with anyone who may be interested in seeing the teams progress.

Our little princessa greeter

Every one is happy to have finally arrived!

The other cool thing we got to do yesterday was to celebrate Aaron Alderfer's birthday!  I baked cookies for the first time (and the last time) for the occasion - and they turned out pretty good for not having any measuring cups or spoons.  Everyone loves a good monster cookie!  

He is very excited about all the extra attention! 

A Visit to Transylvania

I know the first thought that comes to your mind..... Did you see Dracula?  Haha no we didn't and we didn't make it to his castle because it would have been several hours farther, but we did get to drive a few hours from our home in Timisoara to do some sight seeing in Hunedoara County.  Since a picture is worth 1000 words I will give you a small glimpse of our journey which started at Concul d'Archia and ended with a visit to the Deva Fortress and an interesting drive home.

Our room was the Poppy Room.... each room at the Hotel has a different theme!  I was so excited we were able to get this room because it was my favorite and it had a nice little balcony.

This was our view as we were coming into the city from our hotel.  Up in the left hand corner you will see the Deva Fortress which you will see pictures of towards the end. 

A princessa (Romanian word for princess) and her Castle in Hunedoara

It looks kind of small in this picture - but it was enormous!!!! 

The King's room

A wishing well.... when I asked Ella what she wished for with her American pennies.... she said - I wished for Tucker and my country of Richfield

Cincas Lake..... the former ruler before being overthrown wanted a lake here instead of a village, so he flooded the whole village to make a lake.  They say that when the water level is low you can see the old steeple of the church in the middle of the lake.  

Lunch on the Lake.... beautiful location.... service ummmm yeah....

We drove through a gypsy community on our way to Hateg from Hunedoara... there were tons of houses that looked like this.

Visiting the Monestary.... I didn't think that they might not let me in with shorts and a sleeveless shirt.... it was almost 90 degrees that day.... at the entrance was a pile of shirts and wraps to help make you more modest.... I never really thought of myself as an unmodest person.  

On our way to find the "Romanian Stonehedge" (of which we never found) we did find a true shepherd moving his sheep over to the other side.  

Our view out the window of our hotel.  

Her first ever pony ride - she did so well and did just what he said even though he didn't speak any English.  

Pinky the Pony got to also ride the pony!  

Hanging out with one of the owners... he is the son of the man Ella calls her Romanian PaPa

One happy girl - her Romanian PaPa - the Owner of the hotel came to watch her on her second pony ride that he gifted to her.  She just loved this man!  

If the pool had been warmer we would have been swimming every day!  

Our room as the last one on the right on the second floor.  

Mrs. Szabo - the other owner (PaPa's wife) Was excited she got to meet this little girl that PaPa had been talking about. 

I believe her name was Diane - she is the clothing designer for the clothing line that the Szabos produce.  It is called Pratz I believe.  We were able to tour the factory, shop a little and receive a few items for free as well.  

Deva fountain

Olympic Center at the foot of the Deva Fortress

After an incline ride straight up the mountain - we were able to tour the ruins of the fortess.  

You can see the city down below in the background. You will have to excuse Ella's outfits.... she wanted to wear her outfit that PaPa gave to her over top of the dress she already had on.  

We made it to the top!  

This was just one section of stairs that we climbed to get to the fortress

As you can see from this picture.... the stairs were not in great condition... there were several that were broken with big drops below... let's just say that was pretty scary!  

Ella with the Olympic statue 

The drive home from Deva was very interesting as we didn't have a map or a working GPS so we just followed signs to get us back to Timisoara in hopes that they were trustworthy and once back in the city we could figure out how to get to our apartment.  It was an adventure for sure.  

Sheep and their shepherds

In Hungary it is seen as good luck for your town if a stork builds its nest on one of your poles.  We saw several of these on our way home.  They are huge!