Hey Everyone!

For those of you who have been faithfully checking my blogsite...I am so sorry that I haven't posted anything in such a long time! Thank you so much for your faithfulness and interest in my crazy life here in Romania. Seriously, I can't believe the summer is half over. Things have been going at a hundred miles an hour around here. In July, things really picked up as I went away with Steven's House on a short vacation to Oradea. The trip was cut short due to poor weather. We came back and had about 3 days to do tons of laundry.

Then we ALL packed and went to Marga. When I say ALL, I mean all of the Global Hope children, plus a few extras, all of the houseparents, five of our house helpers, three translators, two cooks, Walter Williams, Jasmine (a Global Hope intern), six American mission team members, and me! It added up to around 50 people! This is the third, and probably final, year that we hosted the Global Hope children's camp in Marga. It was, like the last two years, full of wonderful experiences and much fun and laughter.


Our beautiful translators: Lore, Lois, and Ionela

We did a five-day VBS program. This year the theme was Lift Off - Soaring to New Heights With God. There was music, Bible Stories, the kids performed skits every morning, crafts, snacks, and games. A lot of chaos, but also A LOT of fun!


Hoini (4, Steven's House) enjoying her snack

We also tried a few new things this year. We had a water afternoon and coordinated some fun water games with the kids. It was warmer this summer than last summer so everyone enjoyed the time to cool off. We filled up water balloons and used them in a couple of fun relays. In one game we lined up all of the little kids in one line and all of the big kids in another. The little kids had to pass a water balloon under all of their legs and the bigs kids had to alternate between under their legs and over their heads. When you got the balloon to the end, you could throw it at the other team. Most of the kids missed each other when they threw it, but a few of them landed right on target! Then we did an obstacle course which was fun because the adults took the opportunity to pelt the kids with water balloons as they were going through the course. After that, we could hold the kids off no longer and it was a water balloon free-for-all! This didn't last long so they dragged some of the adults down to the stream where they commenced their own baptism ceremony, dunking one person after another. Obviously, it was the girls who were getting dunked. I managed to stay dry until Mircea came up behind me with a bucket of water. I was standing by some of the adults and they all laughed and patted him on the back, "Good job, Mircea!"

We also spent the last evening playing Capture the Flag until it got dark. We played boys against girls. There were more girls than boys but it didn't really work in our favor. Most of the girls spent the majority of the game in the boys' prison. We also had some people stepping in patches of stinging nettles and thorn bushes. Despite the cuts and bruises, all of the kids loved this game!

The missionaries and mission team members spent A LOT of time playing football (soccer) with the kids. We discovered that we had some pretty good female soccer players on the mission team. Jasmine and I can also play pretty well (in Romania, I've discovered that I'm a pretty decent goalie...who knew? Lol!), so we played boys against girls a lot. I am proud to say that the girls played very well and I think that the boys were surprised when we would almost always score the first few goals and they would have to play catch-up.


Time out: Alexandra (8, House of Hope) and Ionuts (15, Steven's House) taking a break from a soccer game

We also played a rather chaotic game of soccer with the little kids one evening. Some of them were feeling left out so I volunteered the mission team to play soccer with them one night. The little kids just loved the attention.

I think some of my most favorite memories of Marga took place at the stream. We went there everyday to bathe, swim, do laundry, or just cool off. I also enjoyed laying out on the balcony with some of our Romanian adults, watching the stars come out. This was probably the coolest thing I did at camp. The stars were so bright and the sky was so open and cloudless. It was AWESOME! On one of the last nights, the mission team shared the balcony with the Romanians and we looked at the stars and sang. First the Romanians would sing one and then the team would sing one.


Adi (17, Steven's House) was our worship director for VBS and also happily accompanied our night-time sing-alongs

The Lord blessed us with the Marga camp. For three years, it has given us so many wonderful memories and blessings. I have to admit that it saddens me to think that we may not go again. I will definitely miss going there.


Team member, Tracy with Robi (11, Ana's House) and Cristi (10, House of Hope)

The life of a houseparent is not an easy one. Spare time and quiet are precious commodities. Maintaining patience when constantly picking up discarded articles of clothing and forgotten toys demands the willpower of a tri-athlete. Keeping pace with growing, hungry kids and helping with hours and hours of homework is enough to make even a four-star general drop in exhaustion. Add to that church involvement, relationships with friends, neighbors and family, and even pursuing further education of your own; it's easy to see that the Global Hope house parents are truly gifts from God, angels in disguise. These special people are Romanians and fellow laborers for Christ. They all had children of their own before they were willing to move into one of our three homes and become parents to seven to ten children.

Despite the seemingly endless hours of hard work, frustration, and even tears, this life-calling also brings many blessings. When a child calls you "Mama" or "Tata" for the first time or when they come running to you to show a picture that they drew in school. Or when they simply sit in your lap and hug your neck, you know that you are in God's will, that He loves you, and that He will continue to bless your efforts.

In Steven's House (our newest family home), God's blessings overflow in the form of a little four year-old girl. Hoinal or Hoini is still new to the Global Hope family, only being with us for just over a year. Her connection to the foundation dates back even further to when she was first abandoned at the hospital in Arad. Over the past year, we have watched this little one blossom under the care of house parents, Dorel and Gabi Stanca. She is incredibly smart and talented, starting kindergarten a year early. And while we rejoice in her growth and progress, I have been wonderfully surprised to learn that the greatest impact has been made by Hoini herself.

She makes everyone around her stop, watch and smile. She sings and twirls around, quite independent and quite the show-off when visitors come to her home. She has an endearing tendency to talk to herself and chatter on incessantly about whatever subject enters her mind. Mama Gabi once told me that when Hoini first came to Steven's House, she didn't speak, "but now," she said with a smile, "she talks all of the time." Like I said, she is very smart and likes to repeat what others say. I was surprised to hear her repeat my English perfectly without any pronunciation problems. When she does something wrong and she is corrected, she says in a pathetic, little tone, "Sorry. Sorry, Mama. Sorry."


Hoini of Steven's House

The other day, I sat at the computer with Andrada (Dorel and Gabi's thirteen year-old biological daughter), Cristina (9), Marian (8), and Hoini. We watched a short home video made with a digital camera of Hoini's fourth birthday. As everyone on the screen sang "La Multi Ani", Hoini began jumping up and down and clapping her hands. When the video finished and we moved on to another video, Hoini kept saying quite firmly, "Go back to the little girl. Go back to the little girl!" She's definitely a little ham and her cute little antics keep everyone guessing.

I sat with Andrada on the sofa in the family room. Hoini climbed up onto the end of the sofa that is shaped like an "L". I was sitting in the middle of the long side of the sofa and Andrada was sitting on the short side. Hoini would go to the end of the sofa, launch herself over me, and land with a thud at the corner where the long side and the short side meet. This scared me the first time, as I was talking with Andrada and suddenly saw this four year-old bundle of energy flying over my legs. Eventually she got tired of this and pushed me off of the sofa. I didn't know what she had in mind so I just stood and watched as she resumed her "flying" without the annoying hindrance of me in the middle.

She sings very well. She sang "Here I am to Worship" in Romanian for me one day. She has the sweetest little voice that would make anyone go "awwww!" She has the sweetest laugh that comes from her heart like little bubbles of love and joy. Life for Hoini isn't without its challenges, though. She has been diagnosed with gluten intolerance and needs a special diet to thrive. At four years old, she doesn't understand this so I just smile as her parents try to make whatever she is eating look and sound more appealing than what everyone else at the table is eating.

She is truly a special little girl, bringing joy and laughter into her home and her new, big family. Please pray for her as she grows. Pray that she will continue to feel and experience the love of her family and the God that created and formed her perfectly. Pray that she will draw close to Him, letting Him become the source of her joy and happiness.


Hoini with one of her big brothers, Ionut

I am currently living in Palmer Lake, Colorado at a missionary training program for three weeks. This experience is very exciting for me because I am learning so many new things that I've really never considered. I'm also getting the amazing opportunity to meet and share with people from all over the country who have experienced a similar calling and will soon be serving Him all over the world.

One thing that has been addressed on several different occassions is the issue of self-awareness. The teachers and administrative staff here emphasize the importance of really knowing yourself because only then will you realize the impact you will have on others. The mission field, and any ministry really, is all about impact. People discover that you are a missionary or you are American, and then they watch you so closely. Everything about the mission field revolves around relationships so it is interesting to start becoming more aware of myself and how others experience me.

This experience is also very worthwhile because it is truly preparing my heart, my mind, and my spirit to finally make this transition. I am so excited but also very frightened and worried at the same time. This training has helped me realize that this isn't uncommon but is actually very normal. The training has only just begun and I am sure that God will teach me many more things through the staff of MTI and the others here who are going to live and serve abroad.

In my life right now God is teaching me a lot about prayer, faith and miracles. I am learning to depend on His provision and trust in His control. I am in the process of returning to Romania, hopefully this summer. I have sent out letters and have a full schedule of open houses, and church dinners and presentations. However, with over $30,000 to go in only 2 months, I am overwhelmed and beginning to doubt that I'll make it by the summer. I have to remember, though, that all things are possible for Him. All of the resources of heaven and earth are under His control. I know that He has called me to this and that I am in the right place. This has been confirmed to me over and over again through scripture and the encouraging words of others.

Other things are moving along well. I will be attending a three-week training in April. This is the first time any Global Hope missionary has received any formal training and preparation. I am so excited to go to this training and learn new things about adjusting to life in anoother culture. I am also excited to meet others with similar, yet unique callings. Together, we can rejoice in God's perfect will and unite in prayer and support for one another.

Right now I am praying and waiting for the Lord to provide all that I need. In the past, a date has always been set for my trips to Romania and God has always provided, often at the last minute, but always according to His timing. I have prayerfully set a target date for May 15th. It even seems that events in my life are pointing to that departure date. But I still need so much financial support. I have confidence in God's provision. It's just hard to be patient when I miss the kids and staff so much. I really want to be there for the summer. There is so much going on with mission teams and summer vacation for the kids. I'd really hate to miss it all, but I am learning to trust.

Today, I was driving home from work and saw a sign in front of a local church. It read: "Never, never, never give up." This reminded me of Paul's words, "But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13b-14). God has given me a calling, a life calling to serve Him and share His name and message with others. I must stand firm, drawing my strength from Christ. He has called me to Romania. As I spend time in His Word, He reveals His will to me and thus, my heart's desires become transformed according to His will. I am both comforted and inspired by these words:

"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4



My Prayer: Heavenly Father, I know you are the Lord of all, the creator of heaven and earth. I believe in your plan for me and I rest in your presence. Please open the doors for me to go and serve in Romania. Help me to trust in your provision and your timing.

Please pray for me!

I posted this blog on MySpace. It's a fun story. I laugh about it now...okay, I was laughing about it then too!

In the summer of 2005, we took some of the kids camping in an area in southern Romania. This trip was particularly memorable and fun. We bought fish from a fish farm and taught the kids how to play "Big Booty" during a thunderstorm.

We spent a lot of time hiking and this is when I first decided that Romania is one of the most beautiful places in the world (once you get away from the dirty cities). There was a large stream that flowed through this area and the waterfalls were amazing.
On our second day of hiking, we planned to hike 8 hours (4 hours going and four coming back). This entire area had been flooded only weeks before we had been there so it was still very muddy and there were a lot of fallen trees and debris that had been washed ashore during the flood. We came to one part of the trail that ended in a rock wall.

Now, we were not prepared to climb with 11 kids so we back-tracked a little and figured out that the trail actually crossed the river. This part of the river was moving a lot faster than the other parts so I thought that we would just turn back to camp. Haha...no, I assumed too quickly. Our adult chaperones (namely Matt, Walter and Raluca) thought it would be a great experience for the kids to cross the river. They thought that it would teach the kids about overcoming challenges and give them a sense of accomplishment. Plus, it was hot that day and it would cool everyone off.
Doina, one of the Romanian staff members firmly declared that she would not be crossing the river and instead volunteered to take pictures of this grand event. A couple of the kids (Sanda and Robi) also decided not to cross. Originally, I opted for the dry look and decided to stay with Doina and the kids.

This was very entertaining and I have some great pictures as Matt, Walter and Raluca carefully guided the kids across the river. It was about thigh-deep on the adults and well over waist deep on the kids. The current was very strong so when it got deep, Matt and Walter would lift one kids between them and carry them across. Raluca carried Teodora and Simona across on her back. Eventually they managed to get all of the kids safely across.

Then Matt and Walter came back and began begging me to cross with them. I am not afraid of water (in fact I love being in the water) and I'm a very strong swimmer (I competed in high school and worked as a lifeguard and swimming instructor for three years), but I did not want to walk all the way back to camp dripping wet (it took about 4 hours). I was also wearing jeans so they would get wet and wouldn't dry for a long time. So I ignored them at first.

However, somehow they managed to convince me and I found myself wading into the river with my jeans rolled up to my knees. Here, I discovered the challenging part. The river bed was not soft sand, but was covered with rocks, some rough and some smooth and slippery. Wading hurt my feet so bad! So Matt and Walter came along to carry me across like the kids. I argued that I was too heavy, but I knew this argument wouldn't go far because I'm just as little as the kids and probably weigh less than some of them.

So I found myself being carried across between Matt and Walter. But it doesn't end there. Matt took two steps and then stumbled on a rock. He tried to steady himself, but managed to lose his balance and we both fell in. Matt's really tall so he barely got wet at all, but I went completely in. The only part of me that didn't get wet was my head. The water was so cold and I stood up but we were still in the current so I fell in again.

At this point, I figured I was already as wet as I could get so I waded the rest of the way across by myself. Matt and Walter were no help! So much for their promise, "Oh, you won't get wet. We'll carry you." Ha! All of the kids managed to get across without falling in but of course I'm always the lucky one.

Afterwards, the kids were joking about my "baptism" with Doina, but she firmly proclaimed that it didn't count because my head didn't go under.