My Romanian Mission

So i am finishing up a great weekend as we speak

2009-04-26T11:44:00.000-07:00

I am about finish a great weekend at my friends house. I have been babysitting an American kid all weekend and have had a most refreshing time. the child here and I talked about Zaccheaus and Jesus. he now can tell the whole story and sing the song. I am so proud of him. It was such a nice time for me because I could relate to him. I could tell him Bible stories. and teach him things. I am enjoying being a missionary through love and life style. But it is so nice to see and hear the benifits of all the prayer and preperation. I love this child and can honestly say that I will miss him dearly when I am back in the states. i look forward to next week as I will be going to Brasov Romania, to meet some of my friends who are missionaries there. Then i will be going to Cluj to see the botanical guradens, and then to Timisoara where I will be going to learn about the reveloution and the fall of Communisem in Romania right in the place that it started.

Father I thank you for all the blessings that you have given me while I am on this trip. I thank you for this time of refreshing of my spirit that has started. You are so perfect that you know all of my needs. Praise you for who you are. Praise you when it is dry and praise you when i am refreshed. Holy is your name and you are worthy to be praised.

Hello Blog Fam!

2009-04-21T03:27:00.000-07:00

Well I am about to head out for the afternoon session of Caramidari and am so ready for it. My friend Rebekah warned me before I left that it seemed like I would be here just long enough to get used to it here and let me tell you.... Man she was right! I feel as if I am adjusting and as soon as this begins I am only 52 days away from coming home. This makes me very sad. I am so feeling like I am getting into my groove. Where I fit in, what there is for me to do, and how to go about life here. and it is almost time for me to go home. The weeks are passing so quickly now. I am currently preparing for a very special ministry to my heart. I will be watching Christopher while his parents are in the Parenting Seminar. I don't think any one else in the ministry thinks of this as a ministry but I do. I will be watching Christopher all weekend. The reason that I think of this as a ministry is because we have time where we talk about Jesus. we have time of prayer. we will talk about missionaries, and what it means to be a missionary. I love that little boy with all that I have in me. We will be doing some really fun things and I can not wait to tell you all about em. I almost forgot to tell you that there may not be a blog next week due to the fact that I will be traveling around Romania. This is the Christmas / Birthday present my mama gave me. I am so happy about this and I will tell you all about it when i get back and settled in.

Lord I thank you,
I thank you for your hand in my life and I thank you for who you are. Lord guide me in my walk this coming week and may I stay close to your side. You are Holy and I am nothing, yet you died for me. You died for me while I was/am still a sinner, but Lord may I never forget that your Grace is sufficient for me.

Taxi

2009-04-18T09:51:00.000-07:00

I dont know if in larger Cities if there are diffrent colored taxi cabs but here there are hardly any yellow Taxis! it is so cool!

Teen Challenge pics

2009-04-18T09:46:00.000-07:00

I was first encouraged about Romanian while I was in Teen Challenge. So i was so blessed to be able to join this group when they went to talk to the guys! God is so good!

2009-04-18T09:30:00.001-07:00

Alex and I. Just as I was about to Cut the Cake someone said that I looked like married or something to that affect and then I was like but I dont have a husband. so Alex jumped right in.

Pics

2009-04-18T09:19:00.000-07:00

This is a pic of me cutting one of my many birthday cakes from all around the world.

2009-04-18T09:15:00.001-07:00

Ok so i just thought i would randomly put up a few fun pics. in this one we got into the donated hats and all put one on. I think this was a really fun time!

PLEASE FORGIVE ME!

2009-04-14T02:40:00.000-07:00

I realize that it has been quite a while since I last blogged. And i am so sorry for that.

So first I will talk about what has been going on in the kindergarten in Caramidari.

Sibearjean - is a wonderful little girl who is around 8 years old. she is one of the best writers in class and has mastered all the letters we have learned so far. She is beautiful and although her head was shaved due to lice she is still stunningly beautiful... much like Demmi Moree.

Funda - is Sibear's sister she is the one who loves me most. She is very good at picking up on how others are feeling and acting around her. She gets easily distracted but when she is focused she is very intelligent.

Fotos - is one of the more girly girl's of the Caramidari kids. She enjoys pink things and is always the first to comment on how long and curly my hair is. This makes me sad for her as her head was also shaved last Jan.

Gula - I love Gula with an undying love. Gula and Fotos are sisters and you can def tell that she is the older of the two. Although they get along well together Gula and Fotos are one of many families in Caramidari that have up to 10 children with a mother that is under the age of 30. This means that the mother was married around the age of 12 years old. sometimes even as young as 11. Gula's head was shaved at the same time as fotos, i think she minds less though.

Ioshad - Is one of our three boys in Kindergarten. He is sweet and loving. He always is the first to say hello to me (well if Funda can not) and loves my attention. Although I have the hardest time helping him with writing, due to the fact that he is left handed, I love spending time talking to him. He is a wonderful boy. He and his sister Sunita were able to come to church Sunday and he came over and situated himself between Bethany and my self. What an honor to be chosen. Then almost right in the middle of the singing time he found out that Carmen was at the front leading worship. so he stands up on the chair and yells almost at the top of his Lungs "CARMEN! OVER HERE!" It was one of the sweetest things i have ever seen.

Sunita - Sunita is my sunshine. When I first came to Romania Sunita was the only one who did not always clammier for my attention. Then about the middle of the third week when all the kids got used to me I started to notice this quite little girl. She is about the size of a five year old but now it is obvious that she is around 7 by the way she acts and speaks. Sunita after some time now has warmed up to me. She is my friend. She will now climb on my lap and hug me. She will talk to me. I can not express how much this little girl means to me. She lives in a one bedroom house. What i mean by this is she lives in a box type thing. there is no kitchen, there is no bathroom, there is no bedroom, there are no closets. what Sunita has is one room that she shares with her brothers, Mother and Father kitchen stove, bed, Television (with satellite dish) and clothing, personal items, food that has to be stored, I mean all of this families worldly possessions are in a space about the size or smaller then most of our living rooms. No i am almost sure that 80 % of us have living rooms larger then her house. She is very special to me.

Gunidean (Q19) - Is our oldest boy. If i already had my Photography ministry he would be the first to be enrolled. Not only does he love taking pictures, he loves helping the others do it well. He is really good at it and I really am quite sad that I do not have a camera that i could let him have for the day. I mean I would love to give all these kids something like that but i really think that he would/could do something great if just given the opportunity. I love him for that. I wish that i could let him use my camera but if i did then i would have to let them all use it and because they do not love it as much they would not be as careful as him and might break it. But oh man one day...

Christi - is one of our other boys. Although he is very quite and shy there is one thing that stands out about Christi. He is a performer. I know you are thinking quite shy performer? But it is true. the kid sings, dances, acts he is a wonderful mess. He is so handsome and sweet. His parents obviously love him very much in the fact that he is always clean (none of the other children ever are... well fotos and funda, but they are not as bathed as Christi), and he is generally happy. Although i will say the more i learn about him, the more i see where God is going to have to make a change in his young heart.

Roxanna - our little starlet. roxanna is one of the very few girls in Caramidari who have not had to have her head shaved. she has very long sandy blond hair and is PROUD of it! She walks with a switch that is cute now but in a few years will not be so impressive. She is a little behind educationally because she did not start Kindergarten until my fifth week there and it is just like our school year at home. so she started second semester and late at that. but she is catching up nicely.

Now that is all for The KIDS.

Now for the afternoon session:

For the past 8 weeks we have done the characteristics of God.
Love - Bethany
this was my first week in Caramidari and Bethany did a puppet show and showed how God was love

Righteous - Terrance
This was my second week and Terrance did this smell thing and talked about how we know God even though we can not see him

Father (King) - Babak (who is now back in Germany)
This was my 3rd week and Babak did a demonstration of how God is not some mean Guy on his throne (which scared the kids two days in a row) but A kind father who loves his kinder. I mean kids.

Nurse Nora - Nora talked about dental hygiene.
Brushed bethanys teeth to show the kids how to do it and then brushed another young mans out of the crowd. I was really sick that week and stayed in bed the whole time.

Kind - me
I did God is Kind and talked about when he was like let the children come to me. Then we did a role playing thing. that was cool

Merciful - Iulea
Iulea did the story of the good Samaritan

Peace giver - Rebekah
Rebekah talked about when Jesus calmed the storm and we did a craft.

Unchanging - Carmen
And Last week Carmen did How God is Unchanging. she showed pictures of how when the kids were little and how they changed. and God does not change. it was neat.

This week is Easter and we are going to be talking about how Christ is the Savior.
We are going to be doing the push up skit and then showing the crucifixion of Christ in the Jesus movie. and then talking about his resurrection. and it will be great!

ROSEBUDS

last but not least i am going to tell you about what has been going on in Rosebuds.

The first week we talked about what is a rosebud and why do we have this class
then we talked about kindness and how we can be kind
then talked about gratefulness and who we should be grateful to
and then we did modest. we put on a fashion show of modest and immodest dresses and then we learned how to sit and get in and out of a van in a skirt.
Next week is humility and i have no idea what to do!

so that my friends is what is going on here. I will try harder to keep this thing updated

North America

2009-03-29T05:39:00.000-07:00

So it was a good week for me. I had my 23rd birthday and there were parties thrown for me all around the world. Aside from the party that was thrown in heaven when i came back to God i think this was the best there has been in my life time. As many of you know my past birthdays were nothing special. this is another testament to how Christ makes all things new. When we read this I believe that we just see the ovbious but maybe we should take the time to realize that ALL THINGS means exactly that... ALL THINGS. Praise the Father for his grace on my life. His loving kindness will be with me all of my days.

Ok so now for what happened last week in Romania:

On Monday I was asked if I could lead the Geography class for last Thursday! How exciting! The subject was North America and what I did was asked each person to dress and act like a person from each region. Including Canada and Mexico. Babak (From Germany) Dressed like a Cowboy... He was from the South. Then Bethany dressed like a Native American... she was from the plains (Mid-west) area. Vallie dressed like a Mexican... mexico. Rebecka Dressed like a Hollywood starlet and she was from... The west coast. Then Carmen dressed as a women from Canada. And i was from the East Coast. Then we just talked about whatever we were dressed as. and we each had a map of our area. It went really well. Oh i almost forgot. For every other place we served something. First was Bethany - nothing. then was Babak- Biscuits and Gravey. then Valli- Nothing. Then Rebecka- who served Oranges. then Me who served Pizza, and Carmen who served Moose. like Choclate Moose. When I told my mom she thought i meant real moose. Then at the end we talked about how in America it is not allowed for teachers to talk about Jesus in School and then we prayed that in America this would happen and prayer would be allowed in school.

Father,
Thank you for this time that i had in Romania. thank you for your blessings and leading. You are so powerful and i am not failing to see what you have done for me in this week. I love you Lord.

Hello friends

2009-03-22T14:02:00.000-07:00

Well i am sorry it has been so long since i last blogged. Last week was my week to teach at Caramidar and it was soooooooooooooooo much fun, but also tiring. I was so excited to do it that i could not choose what to do. The topic was Gods Charestics. But he has soooooo many good ones. Haha get it? good ones? Hes God they are all good. anyway. I chose kind. first i told the story about letting the children come to him. and then we talked about what are kind words. then we did role playing which was so much fun. The kids responded to the ideas, and i was really quite happy that i had that awesome opportunity. My roomate says that maybe i could do it again. just a diffrent topic. Please pray about that! What else is going on...... Oh i quit the guitar when i got sick. I did not practice and now my fingers are to tender to play. But i have started painting. nothing great.... as a matter of a fact it is only something that i could love. and lately they look like demos for national flags. haha but i really enjoy it. I had my first session of Rosebuds in Calarasi yesterday. 20 Girls came! 20!!!! I was so excited that it could be like that. I am hoping that this will be something that will continue long after i leave. well i have to finish uploading pics to facebook but, i love all of you for reading and praying for me.

Tata Dumnezeu,
Multumesc for bringing me aice. Eu praise dumnevastra pentru being the crator of all. Your grace is abundent and your dragoste is eternal.
Amin

Team Kids

2009-03-17T11:08:00.001-07:00

I got some letters from Team Kids so i thought that i should post them. and answer them because i think they are really good questions.

Dear Kelly,
"My name is LW. I wasn't here when you came to our church but I think you would like me. I wanted to know how you felt about the people you see. Do you like it there? Are you making friends your age that like you? Most of all, what are some things that they have that we also have in America?
Your friend in Christ,
LW

Dear LW,
You asked about the people that I see here and how I feel about them. I love them very much. Some times it makes me sad to see how they live, but then I remember that nothing is to big for God. and that he loves them very very VERY much, so i don't need to be sad. You asked if I like it here. The answer is yes! I like it here very much. sometimes i miss my Mom and Brother and Friends but I know that what God is doing here is Amazing! Not to mention all the cool stuff there is to see here. Today i saw Kids your age driving a cart with a horse and buggy. I do have one very good friend here named Carmen. She speaks English with me and makes sure that I am having a good time. and when i am lonely she talks to me. She is a very good friend. and lastly what do they have here that we have in America? They have lots of stuff. lots of the same types of Chips and cookies. coffie and juice. they have some same cloths but there is this culture called the Roma and they dress completely diffrent. so That is all for now. Thank you very much for asking me questions and taking the time to write. I look forward to meeting you when i come back.

Your sister
Kelly

Jehovah-Jireh

2009-03-13T05:18:00.000-07:00

The God who provides all my needs.

So this morning i woke up feeling better... well kind of. you know that feeling of "I want to feel better, i should feel better, I do feel better, right?" so i stood up and did not pass out or even feel dizzy! God one - Flu zero! I walked to the living room where i sat down at the computer and started to read my built up e-mail for the week. (there was a ton, thank you). in those e-mails my mother sent me card after card to life my ailing spirits and my friend sent me an e-mail to remind me that she misses me terribly. and an e-mail from a different family member asking how i was. And last but definitly not least a new friend sent me an e-mail. She is a missionary in Romania also and started reading my blog. she let me know that everything i have felt is totally normal. and although all of my friends who are missionary's have said the same thing, it was so touching. like the hand of God reached down and healed my body so that my heart could be touched.

HE truly is the God who provides all my needs.
He gave me my mother who loves me all the time weather i am with in arms reach or a million miles away. (even farther in km)
He gave me friends to remind me that I am here in sacrafice. and that sacrafice is beautiful to him. Pleasing to his spirt.
He gave me family to remind me that i am thought of often.
and new friends here that encourage me and help me.

I am no longer sad here. There was a time of adjustment. I knew it was going to happen. and most of the time i knew it was going to pass. I enjoy my time here. and i realize how short it is. When i was sick i did long to see my mother and brother and friends and boyfriend but God is good to me and i am ok.

Papa,
thank you for being El Roi-the God who see's me. and thanks for being Jehova- Jireh the God who provides all my needs. you have never left me. and your voice is ever present. I love you and i think you are just awesome. Thank you for being my father.

Amen

Hey

2009-03-10T03:10:00.000-07:00

as i sit here i am trying to think of what i am going to do for childrens afternoon class next week. for the past three weeks we have been discussing Gods Character. So it is going to be my turn next week to take a turn. I can not decide between Unchanging and Redeemer. If i go with unchanging it is much more difficult. but redeemer is a little more simple in that there are many bible story's about people being redeemed. I think what i will do is do redemer and i will tell about how King David redeemed melphibosheth. or when Jesus redeemed us all on the cross. I dont know. please pray that God would show me what he wants done ok?

sorry its been so long

2009-03-07T08:14:00.000-08:00

I have been so busy with working that i am so tired at the end of the day. thouse of you who know my sleep schedule in america would be shocked to know that I am going to bed by 10 and getting up aroung 7 everyday. so i have little time to write. of cousre i could do it instead of facebook, but i love face book. I start my new ministry tomorrow. It is the Romanian version of Rosebuds. but we changed the name to Crin (lilly cause boboc de trandafear is just not pretty). But we discuss all the same things. The age range is 12 to 18 which makes it difficult for me to plan games and things but the lesson is good for everyone. Im sorry i dont have more time to write but i have to make worksheets for the class. I love and miss you all. thank you for reading my blog. oh and i am really enjoying it now. one of my friends from pompa new guinee told me to just think of this as a learning expearience. So once i let it go and decided to just learn it has gotten a whole lot better and easier here for me. Thank you friend. and thank you Lord.

Whats going on in my life

2009-03-02T04:54:00.001-08:00

Ok so there is alot of stuff that I have been talking about lately but i just thought that I would keep you uptodate with some new info about whats going on with me.

1st. I am learning the guitar again... I hope that I can stay motovated this time. Pastor Hayes asked me to look in to it and try again. So I have learned a few chords and am working on the song "what do I know of holy" by addison road.

2nd in my personal devotions I have started reading Ruth and we all know that when Naomis husband and sons die she was all "woe is me, you girls should leave to pity party for me" But ruth was like no way no way! but this is not the important part. the part that pertains to me is in the next part when ruth and naomi return to Bethlehem and all of the women are like "is that Naomi" and Naomi is all "Dont call me naomi, for I am bitter." Im like what?!? Naomi really, Ruth just left her family to be with yours and all you can say is woe is me. You should not be bitter because you do still have family. you have ruth. Hello.

but then God was like "Get that plank out of your own eye kelly. arnt you doin the same thing. I have given you everything you need and still you are not content. You have friends, you have family, you have work, you most importantly have me. you are good to go sister. and yet you are all. "woe is me I miss my family". well boo to that.

so i decided to not be like Naomi. I am here for such a short time. and this is a trip of a life time. So Whooooooooooo!

So as i am writing this blog God has moved in my heart and given me a fresh excitement! I feel like I just want to go outside and say Im here Romania! Yay!

Ok so time to pray. I would say bow your heads and close your eyes but then you can read it...

Tata Dumnezeu,
I come before your thrown with a new sence of peace in this place. You are so good to me in the way you work in my life. You are never so far from me that I can not ask you what is going on. When I was new here you reminded me that this earth is not my home. so it is natural that i feel like a stranger. and now in this moment you have given me a new excitement for what is going on now. and a new excitement for what is going to happen when I get home. I love you and I thank you for your many blessings. you are so good to me. forgive me for my transgressions and help me forgive thouse who transgress against me. You are good. help me to walk in your way and not forget what you have done for me. I love you and look forward to hearing from you in what you have for me in the rest of my day.

Hello

2009-02-27T05:30:00.000-08:00

Well as it has been a week i thought that I should get back to you on what is going on. Pastor Hayes has started me on getting ready for starting Rosebuds here. In Romanian the word for Rosebuds are Boboc de trandafear. It sounds better in Engleza (English). I am now at the point that I am speaking Romanglish. Romanian and english so like I will be at the store with carmen and be like. I will but the suc in my rucksack instead of getting a bag. that means in English only that I will put the juice in my backpack instead of getting a bag. I also decided that when people in the ministry are speaking Romanian TO ME i will be like "pebuna? Nu" wich means like "Really? No?" Its quite funny becasue they say that sometimes they forget that I dont speak fluent Romanian. That is a complement to me because My accent is good and apparently I look Romanian. I am happy to see that. My happienes is returing to me and I am seeing my joy in a whole new light. So that is it for now. Oh and I get to start mission friends here! except they are older. 5-8 but its just the same.

Praise the Lord

2009-02-23T10:19:00.000-08:00

Praise you Lord for you are good.
Your mercy is before me.
When I wake in the morning,
I will praise you with all that I am.
For your grace is sufficient for me.
When I feel like I am all alone,
Remind me that you are a friend closer then a brother.
And when I am rejoicing,
remind me that it is you who brings me Joy.
You have prepared a banquette of blessings before me,
Let me not be to afraid to take part in what you have given me.
When I asked for something big,
you gave me something Huge.
When I asked for your forgiveness,
your answer was "for what"?
And when I leave this foreign land
And bow before your thrown
My only prayer is to hear
"well done my good and faithful servant"

Sunday

2009-02-22T10:45:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I went to Roseti for the first time. It was kind of sad to me. I am feeling like stressed out.... I dont really know why except I am sick. I have a really bad chest cold and that is making me grouchy wich is making me grouchy. I wish I could be better at this missionary thing. Do all missionarys feel like this. from the looks of these one's the answer is no. They all seem so at home and comfortable. even the ones from wisconson. they have only been here 9 months. I know i am throwing myself a pitty party but I am just wondering if this makes me abnormal? It was alot easier to be on a mission in the states.

Saturday

2009-02-20T22:42:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was an emotional Rollercoaster for me. I am tired of being here feeling like I am living someone elses life. Crazy. I can not exchange my money anywhere so I have 200.00 usd that is useless. It may as well stand for Unused Stupid Dollar. ok so im not that great at accranims. I have yet to find an atm, and my roomate is really not that helpful in this department. She keeps saying we can exchange it here. and I say Im not trying to exchange I am trying to get money off my card. I am so frustrated with life in general. My other missions were nothing like this.

Now i know that some of you reading this are like.... what? But I feel it is very important to be totally honest. Mostly because I have never heard a missionary say that this is hard. So I think that I will try and write a devotional for missionaries. well got to go. but i will talk to you soon.

Jeremiah 1:4-9

2009-02-18T09:44:00.000-08:00

"Then the word of the Lord came to me saying
'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
Before you were born I sanctified you;
I ordained you a prophet to the nations.'

Then I said:

'Ah, Lord God!
Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a Youth.'

But the Lord said to me:

'Do not say 'I am a youth,'
for you shall go to all whom I send you,
And whatever I command you, you shall speak.
Do not be afraid of their faces,
For I am with you to deliver you,' says the Lord

Then the Lord put forth his hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me
'Behold, I have put my words in your mouth'

About what I am doing this week

2009-02-18T08:28:00.000-08:00

It is my first week in Calarasi, and I am following my roommate through what she does in a week. First on Tuesday there is Kindergarten and then in the afternoon there is Childrens time. In Kinderguarden we are teaching the children numbers and letters and colors. Mostly stuff that our parents taught us. But I dont think the same way any more about their parents... I think that they are to be ... comendend for sending their kids there. Most parents in Caramidari do not know these things themself so I think that it is great that they want their children to learn. In Romania Gypsy kids can be likend to African American children in the 1960's when it comes to school. They are very segragated (not by law) so if one does go to a Romanian school then they are picked on and teased and soon give up. I truely believe that OH will be doing Romania a great deal of good by bringing these children to Christ. It is a huge job being that this is an unreached place. But God has stopped the sun and parted the seas and saved all humanity from damnation... so saving a country is a small task really.

K let me tell you about my girls in class.
1st there is Fotos - She is a very sweet girl but really laks alot of attention at home. If I were to leave this country today I would know without a shadow of a doubt that she is why God brought me here. I make it a priority every day to kiss her. Believe me somedays it is hard. Baths are few and far between and when they are taken it is nothing like what we as americans expearience. Maybe water over the top of her head.

2nd is Fonta- she is so beautiful. the only girl in class allowed to keep her hair. My worry for her is far deeper then school. I pray that she will be able to make it to 17 before getting married and having children. Without God in her family this is not a possibility. Most likely she will be married in the next 5 years at the age of 13. She also needs a lot of attention.

3rd - I do not know the name of this child but from her mannerismems I think she is around 4 or 5. OH thinks she is closer to six but she is young in the face and is overly stressed at keeping up with the rest of the class in both writing and math. Please pray for her

4- Consti (con-st-y) he was born with a cleft palet and has a hard time talking and eating. there may be more wrong with him but I am not sure. He has a prayerful heart though. He is always the first to say that he wants to pray and give thanks. He is kind of a handful but maybe with some guidence he will be okay.

5 - Guahideen, He is one of the older kids in class. He is kind of the leader. although he is 10 I do not believe he goes to school. I think he could but maybe his parents dont make him. I dont know.

6- Ionde- is a boys boy. Although he is hard working if he is distracted he will run amuk.

There are four more students. but i do not know there names nor have I gotten the opportunity to know them personally. When I meet them I will be able to tell you more.

As for me I am very frustrated with the language barrier. I am feeling like I am being punished for the tower of babbel. But I was prayed over last night that the language would come quickly for me. And i have to say that people are impressed at how much I already know... but that does not help me to understand them when we talk.

Father,
You are so good to me. You have brought me this far and I know that you will not fail me or forsake me.

Lord though I walk through the vally of the shadow of death Im not scared cause your holding my breath, I only fear that I dont have enough time left, to tell the world that there is no time left.

so that is a song yea but i know that it is true. your presence is with me and I am leaning on your everlasting arms. Please help me with the language and keep my brothers and sister patient with me while I am learning.

Amen

A new day

2009-02-17T05:34:00.000-08:00

I am feeling a little better today. I went and worked at the kindergarten this morning. They are easy to talk to. being that they are children. They are overly friendly and starved for attention. Carmen says that although the vast majority of them are around 7 none of them could hold a pencil until about 5 months ago. And I saw for myself today that they know none of the alphabet. they are learning two letters now and learning to write them down. Today they practiced counting to 10. but none of them know about 11. when i said 11 in Romanian to them they said noooooo one. they really have no idea that 11 is even a number. i may as well have said it in english. A funny thing tho, one of the men who is working there has an american name and so the ladies told the children to say good morning to him, so the children thought his name was "Good Morning" they are sweet kids and I am happy to know them. I feel like sleepy so I will lay down before prayer meeting.

In Calarasi

2009-02-16T11:50:00.000-08:00

I feel as if I am starting Teen Challenge all over again. Like what have i gotten myself into. May be I am not holy enough to do this. I am starting to feel as if i want to come home.

My first day!

2009-02-14T04:39:00.000-08:00

So that is me in frount...well the front of the side of Arch of Triumph! I was really excited to see it. Unfortunately I am all by myself, because of the fact that I am the only Christian here... well and Teo but he works here. I am sleepy but I am going to Brasov tomorrow so I have to see everything today. Maybe I will put off the palace of the Parlement until i go on my trip across Romania. Im tired. see you later.

I made it!

2009-02-13T10:51:00.000-08:00

Ok so it was kinda stressful getting here but im good now. Jet lag is not to bad and I'm only a little hungry. I made two "friends" and cooked some dinner for my self. aside from getting taken for 200 lei (roughly 60 dollars) at the currency exchange nothing has gone wrong. The transpher to the london flight was stressful, and my tummy has hurt ever since I at the dinner on the plane. But good news about the hostel. as i sit here blogging to you i see the i am in the hostel dorm with not guys... but a couple. that is so much better! well thats all for now mostly cause i am sleepy.

almost one week!

2009-02-04T21:08:00.000-08:00

Its about 11:00 at night on Wednesday the 4th of Feb. In about 45 minutes it will be able to say that I am about to go live out my dream in a week! One week! ONE WEEK! That is too much! I'm so excited, but a little nervous too tho. I am feeling like something could go wrong between now and then. When it was farther away it seemed so surreal. but now its like just around the corner. Tomorrow at 3:00 pm i will be able to say next week at this time I will be on my way to Romania. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! well...

Lord guide my steps. help my luggage to get there when I do. help me to make wise decisions. You are in control and I am giving myself to you. I am so excited to see what you have for me.

2009-02-01T21:11:00.000-08:00

Hey friends!
so i am going to write down all the places that I think I would like to eat at while in Bucharest. and write the like rating in my opinion. Not really all that interesting you but something i feel would be best if i had an idea of what I want before I leave.

Hanul lui Manuc

Str. Iuliu Maniu 62
Bucharest
Apparently the food is nothing to write home about but it is cheap and authentic. Sounds good to me!

Livada cu Visini *****

str. Grigore Alexandrescu 77
Bucharest 021 6104151

Mica Elvetie *****

Str I.L.Caragiale nr.36 sector 2
Bucharest
021 2104177

Thats all for now. Maybe I will say more later

Only a few days left!

2009-02-01T13:54:00.000-08:00

Im so excited to be going. Im not really scared anymore. Im not feeling overly anxious. Im just kind of like... this is real. Wow this... is... real.

Children Underground

2009-01-24T20:51:00.000-08:00

The first six times that i watched this movie I watched and was entranced with the language and was shocked by the way that adults could walk by these children and ignore them or worse beat them for just being alive. And as always my heart pained as a grown man beat a 14 year old girl for crying. he didnt know why... he just started kicking her. but this time i noticed something diffrent about this movie. I noticed the frustration in these children. all of them. There is one boy who cuts himself because of his frustration. and one girl when she did not raise enough money for the day went back and beat her brother. What is a child supposed t do with all that frustration? We teach our children that it is okay to cry when you are overly frustrated. and we teach our children to turn to God for help. But there is no one to teach these children these things. There is no one to teach these children that God is Love. When a 16 year old girl named christia was asked about if she believed in Love her answer was "No. i do not believe in love. I believe in God, because he is bigger." These children, Gods children believe that God is some old man sitting in the sky laughing at the fact that they are hungry and cold. They believe that doing good brings good, and when they are bad God punishes them. they have no idea of Gods love for them. Their closest idea of what God is,Romanian poliece. never rewarding... only punishing, restricting, pushing, laughing.

Lord help these children know you. Help me to show them who you really are. Help me to not look away. and keep me safe as I try to show these children, your children who you are.

I love you.
Kellyp

apart post 2

2009-01-23T23:01:00.000-08:00

the dining room. Im really sleepy right now so i will put some more up tomorrow. Good night friends and thanks for reading, praying and loving me.

Aprt pics 1

2009-01-23T22:41:00.000-08:00

So I thought that I would show you some pictures of my apartment. this is the kitchen. Im kinda new at this so please forgive me for having to put each of these as a different blog.

Hey

2009-01-22T13:02:00.000-08:00

so i talked to my friend who was also a missionary to Romania, she is such an encouragement! I love to talk to her because she relates so well to what is going on in my life right now. I am feeling like she is such a blessing! of course if you ask her she will tell you that its all God. Thank you God for her.

can't sleep

2009-01-22T00:50:00.000-08:00

What's up Lord?
Im tired and I'm waiting to fall asleep
Do you want to talk?
I'm here
I feel like Samule
You keep waking me up
only to let me sit
am i not patient?
I have been compared to Isiah
"here I am Lord send me"
and to Moses
"who am I lord"
I have been called
to serve you
I need my sleep!
you think i'm funny
I know you are
talk to me Lord
allow me to rest.

To much language

2009-01-21T19:25:00.000-08:00

I have been studying Romanian for like three days straight. I downloaded a some new software and am having a really good time. I just hope that I'm not overfilling myself. like i remember a few words but not really entire concepts. Something else of interest i started listening this book blue like jazz. Unlike music this audio book can not be listened to while blogging or while doing anything that requires concentration. I'm going to do my devo's now and then listen to blue like jazz. maybe ill tell you more about it as i form opinions.

I'm with him

2009-01-18T22:32:00.000-08:00

Today's sermon was about fear and worry. That's to much! Sometimes i am amazed at how close God is to my heart. Although I would not consider myself much of a person that allows fear and worry to rule my world but the closer it gets to being time to leave for Romania I am feeling a strong feeling of fear and worry. Strangly enough its not about accually living in Romania anymore its about the flight there. I'm so scared to battle customs and what if something goes wrong in London? Of couse I wil not miss my flight but I'm not traveling at the best time of year. There will be delays and I'm just like ahhhhhhh! But my pastor so appropreatly named the Sermon "I'm with him" Man that is a great name. Its easy to remember and a constant reminder that God is with me every step of the way. Man God is good!

Sad about poland

2009-01-18T00:38:00.000-08:00

Ok so my mom was going to send me on a round trip vaca to poland. but when i got on expieda to get my ticket when i clicked choose this package it said "the price of this package changed from 567.00 to 897.00" Although this would still be within the amount of money that i have it will not allow me to go on any tours or anything. Its like spending all your money on a taxi and then not getting to eat at the resturant. I'm kinda bummin right now, but not to much God knows the plans he has for me. I'm thinking that I would like to see more of Romania anyway. There are painted cathedrals, and diffrent parts of Romania have very diffrent cutures and customs. I'm mostly bummed for my mom... she was so happy about that trip. I know that no matter where I go it will be amazing. I mean its all Europe right. who gets to go there in the first place? I'm thrilled. and really sad. I am no longer advising people to use expieda.

27 days

2009-01-15T18:11:00.000-08:00

Ok so i didn't blog every day but i wanted to so that should count... tee hee. but the truth is not much is happening in my life right now. I eat and sleep and pray and have started a new bible study (well not new but one i quit and have now picked up again). Thats about it. please feel free to leave me messages.

30 days

2009-01-12T18:19:00.000-08:00

It is now the official count down until I leave for Romania. I will be blogging everyday for the next 30 days until I leave. At this point it is so surreal. Leaving the country, going to be a missionary, living on my own, you know everything. But on the other hand I am so excited to be going. All those things that I am so unsure of I am totally sure of them and I am so excited to go! I'm feeling pure mixture of emotions. Joy for the fact that my dream is actually coming true, sorrow for having to leave my friends and family behind. Calm in the knowledge that God will not lead me anywhere that he will not be, but fear in making the wrong decisions. You see in this mission that I am on it is reminding me how human I really am.

Father,
I am so grateful for this opportunity to go to Romania. You are so good and perfect. Lord make my paths stright and keep me close to you.
Amen

Stuff I need to take

2008-12-30T12:53:00.000-08:00

Cloths

seven pairs of socks
Seven pairs of unmentionables
Three pairs of Jeans
six shirts
One Church outfit
One Church Skirt
One pair of tennis Shoes
one pair of dress shoes (Ill get another more comfortable pair once I get to Bucharest)
Bath robe
Long underwear

Hair stuff

one can of hair product
all my hair ties
all my clips
hair brush
straightener

Hygene

I will get most of this while in Bucharest

Books

Rough Guide to Romania
Romanian/English Dictionary
Bible (duh)
devotional and journal

Pictures

Mom
Fudd
Caleb
Cayla
Friends from Church
Friends from Print shop

Mis

Money Pouch
Power Converter
those things that change it from Romanian outlets to American (Thanks Becca!)
Computer
Candy!
Eye mask mom got me
iPod

Jewlry

Necklace Elaine Bought Me
Earings mom Bought me

Now i need to make a list of stuff i still need to get

Voltage Converter
thermal Shirt
Baggies

donations

Hats, gloves, scarves

I think that's all

What I need to do before I leave

2008-12-30T12:48:00.000-08:00

get my transcript to Ottawa
take care of my financhal aid stuff for Ottawa
Figure out what I am taking for myself
get my plane tickets printed off
Make a list of everything Im going to take
find out where I can weigh my stuff on an accurate scale so that I know how to pack
decide which of my Romania books are important enough to take
study the Language more
go to lunch with the print shop (seems like a silly thing to put on my to do list but...)
make sure all recipts are getting back to the people that want them
Say goodbye to all my stuff i can not take : (

6 weeks!

2008-12-29T23:08:00.000-08:00

Wow only 6 weeks until i get to Romania! That is terrifying. I know that God has called me there but think about it. it is only six weeks until my life changes forever. True i wont be in Romania forever (by no stretch of the imagination is four months forever) but I will be leaving home forever. That is scary. I have six weeks to get enrolled in my new school. six weeks to say good bye to this life style that has served me so well. six weeks to make sure that everyone I love knows exactly how much I love them. Six weeks. On the other hand i am so excited! Six weeks until I see my first apartment. Six weeks till i am in Europe. is weeks till i am eating tiny portions in some Romanian Cafe. six weeks till I start my life dependent on God alone. Six weeks till I am certifiably an adult. that is so strange to me. Six weeks till I can leave the house and not have to tell someone where I am going (although i probably will. i mean its just safe.) I'm so thrilled and at the same time I am petrified.

Lord,
You know the plans you have for me. I know that they are plans to prosper me and not to harm me. I know that my life is in your hands and that you would not lead me to a place where you can not be found. Your grace is sufficient for me. Please guide my steps and keep me on the path that you have for me in this time of fear. For i know that you are with me all of my days. you know all of my steps and you know what lies ahead for me. I can trust that all i have to do is follow. that's the funny thing about following you sometimes, your so big i can not see what is ahead of you. but i trust you completely and know that your will is perfect. Thank you for creating me. Thank you Jesus for coming to earth to die for me. Thank you holy spirit for guiding me through out my day and my life. Above all thank you Lord for saving my sole, thank you lord for making me whole, thank you lord for giving to me, thy great salvation so rich and free.

Amen,
Kelly

P.S. I could still use your help in the $$ department. : )

Hey Friends!

2008-12-08T21:03:00.000-08:00

Well I am so happy to say that things are going well for me. Although I don't have any new information to share with you I knew you would want to hear from me! Oh i almost forgot! God is so good to me. I found out right after thanksgiving that I would be working with young girls much like i do with the Rosebuds here in America. Isnt that grate?

I do have some prayer requests.
I am in need of warm sweaters and long underwear
hats for the children
gloves for both myself and the children - adults also- used is fine! if you have ever had cold hands you know that it is nice to have a pair of gloves no matter where they come from.
I am really very excited to be leaving and it is only65 days till i leave so please continue that i will be always watching for what God is doing in me.

With all Christs Love,
Kelly

1 Tim 4:12

2008-11-18T16:36:00.001-08:00

One of my favorit pastors once told me that there would be people who tell me that I am to young to go into the mission field and that I am not prepaired to go. But i have a few things to say to thouse people who would say that to me. First I know that Christ has called me and that it is time to go. One pastor i heard spek said that that God has opened doors that no man can close. Second the word says that peter was fishing when Jesus called him to be a fisher of men. And although peter had alot to learn if he had sat around waiting to be a perfect follower he would have been waiting for a really long time. and missed out on all the things that God had for him. Lastly the word says "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." 1 Tim 4:12 So although it does hurt my feelings when people I love say things like that but i will not take my eyes of the prize because God has asked me to begin with the end in mind so that is excatly what i will do.

Exit Visa!

2008-11-10T06:43:00.000-08:00

Ok so that is a line stolen from the cartoon Anastasha. But the premis is that they didnt know they needed an exit visa untill it is too late. Being that my father (God) is so good to me, he encoureged me to check it out and what do you know I totally need one. I cant get it untill I get to Romania, but it will cost $100.00. This is not an unreasonable task, but thank goodness I knew about it ahead of time! Well thats all for now!

May God the Father bless you
May you have full knowledge of what Jesus has done for you
and may the Holy Spirit guide your steps

Kelly

My first blog!

2008-11-09T20:05:00.000-08:00

OK I am so excited that you visited my blog! It is only 94 more days until I leave for Romania. I know that you will be equally excited to hear that God is moving in my life in so many great ways! My passport came in after only a week and so did my birth certificate. I am currently working with a missions group called Outstretched Hands of Romania and through them I have found an apartment and a roommate. I am going to be flying out of Tulsa Airport on February 12, 2009 and will be returning on June 11, 2009.

Some things I think you can look forward to reading in my future blogs.
1. I love lists so you may see lists of things that I want or need for my trip.
(this is not intended to make you feel as if I am asking for help, as I said I like lists)
2. Prayer requests! I am sure that as tie wears on I will have lots of them!
3. things that are going on in my life, as I prepare to go.
4. And blessings that are coming in.

I will not be stating the names of any church or person that is mentioned in my blogs so that I am able to be completely honest about what is going on in my life.

If a name is used it will not be the actual name of the person or church (with the exception of Outstretched Hands of Romania).

I hope that you will enjoy reading my Blog and seeing what the good Lord Jesus is doing in my life and in the lives of those around me.

Blessings,
Kelly