Love is more than a feeling

Week five has come and went so super fast. I cannot believe their are only two weeks left of camp. It went way to fast and I’m not looking forward to it coming to an end. This week the Jupiter team from Florida came ready too go and full of energy.  Our kids this week was from Livada, Tarnaveni, and Balauseri. It was really fun because the kids from Fundatia Loc we already built relationship with and also goes to get to know some of the other amazing kids from Tarnaveni, and Balauseri. The Lord is really changing me and my perspective on a lot of things. One of the main things I’m learning this week and during this whole time is the power the Love. As Americans we use the word love like its nothing. It’s a word we throw around a lot. But have you ever thought about what the word love truly means? Love is not a feeling it's a choice. Love gets messy at times and hurts a lot. But true love is real and not fake. True love was shown from Jesus dying on the cross. Love is most of the time not a fairy tell picture like we see it in movies. But true love cost you something. These kids don't need to be told you love them what they need to know is that Jesus loves them. We need to love everyone like Christ loves.  God will be glorified if we are loving liked he loved us.

John 15:9-17 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.  If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another."

 

(Decorate your intern at Craft this was the result)

(Team Verde!!)

Feels like Family

Getting to experience something that is so near and dear to your heart is so amazing but when you experience with your mom it makes that experience so much better. Not only was this week amazing with the Ogra kids but also my home church Victory was here for the week. I was team galben and had 5 boys and one girl on my team ages 5 to 10. These kids were energetic and so cute. Every moment was so special to see my mom being used by the Lord in unique ways. On Friday we end the day and week by praying for the kids this is one of my favorite times during the week. We prayed for the kids and after that my mom and the other team members from Victory wanted to pray for the translators. My mom was talking to a translator that I got very closed to and she just opened up. My mom got to speak into her life. The Lord was moving and it ended with her accepting the Lord. I was over joyed not only had it been an amazing week but the Lord moved in powerful ways. Never will I ever forget this week.

“It is about the greatness of God, not the significance of man. God made man small and the universe big to say something about himself.”
— John Piper

The Power of the Gospel

 Week three of summer camp has ended with the Reghin and Sancrai kids. This week I was team Albastru (blue). The Lord really moved in powerful ways starting from day one. The kids were really open with their life, which at times is so hard to understand. But I just wanted to share one of those special moments that happened on Tuesday afternoon. We were having team time and Brittany who was from Dallas bible church got to share her testimony. She talked about accepting Jesus and right in the middle one of our older girls on the team named Florina said I want Jesus in my heart. It was so sweet seeing the pure look in her eyes. You could tell that she wanted a relationship not a religion but a relationship. We didn’t give an alter call or were pushing them to except Jesus. Usually at camp most of the kids accept Jesus at the end of the week. But this time it was the sweet power of the Gospel. Nothing can ever take the place of that.

"For whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans10:13

(Beautiful Florina)

                                                                             (Albastru)

                                         (Brittany and I with our awesome volunteers @Vetca)

The power of your testimony

Cannot believe that week two of camp is already over. It was so great and I am in awe of the way the Lord showed up. Every week is different, unique, and fun in it’s own way. This week at camp we had little kids from ages 5 to15. All the kids were so cute with lots of energy. I was team Mov (Purple) we had 1 boy and 5 girls on my team. Last week the dynamics of my team were way different. I had a lot of help this week I had two Americans from Allen bible church in Texas and three volunteers. The sweetest moment of the week started off on Monday during our team time where we get to share our story, pour into the kids about Jesus, and get to know them.  Stephanie who is a teenager from Allen bible church got to share her Testimony. It was so moving through tears and heartfelt words the Lord was defiantly moving.  Buddy who was also on my team and the lead pastor of Allen bible was leading the team time and asked if any of the kids have ever lost anything? One of the girls named Ana just really opened up and talked about how she lost her sister just last year. We got to pray for her and let her know that Jesus cares for her hurts and lost.  You could tell that Stephanie being vulnerable and stepping out and sharing her testimony made the kids feel safe enough to open up and share their story.  I just remember that we cannot forget about the power of our testimony. To be real even if it is awkward and you mix up your Romanian (as I do so often). But it’s your story and there is power in your testimony and remembering where you came from.  You step out and are real with your Life and the Lords power does the rest. It’s so amazing to watch and be apart of. I’m living a dream that’s for sure.

1 Corinthians 1:27, “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.”

Precious Aura

(Nicu is just the cutest thing)

Beautiful Simona

(Catalin How cute is He??)

(Team Mov)

(Precious Nicu) 

(Fun team Games)

Week One of Camp

Week one has come and gone and what a wonderful adventure it was.  I led team alb (which means white) all week with three amazing translators.  From the moment the kids from Sancrai and Reghin got off the bus I was so excited with anticipation of what the Lord was going to do. After we picked kids to be on each team my team consisted of 5 boys and 3 girls ages from 12 to 18.  

(Team Alb!!!)

                                              
 I knew the word for this week was flexible. From the schedule to the language being flexible with a heart to serve was essential. The theme for camp each week is wild Wild West which each day a different bible lesson.  

The day begins with a Wild Wild West skit that we the interns would act out and each day is different.

Then the camp pastor, which will be different each week, would go deeper into the lesson.  Then we go straight into 4 different rotations that consisted of recreation, craft, memory verse, and team time. Team time I would talk about the lesson and ask them questions.  This is where I got to share some of my testimony and get to know each of my kids on my team.

In the afternoon we then would go into free time and camp wide games where kids are running around, dancing, and balls are flying everywhere its craziness. The youngest girl on my team Lorena was the sweetest little thing everywhere I went she would follow. Free time with her was a blast. She has such a sweet spirit about her and joy just overflowing.

                                                  (Sweet Lorena)

We would end the day with camp wide games which my team did very very well in.The last day of camp on Friday is at vetca which is the most beautifully breath taking place. Too me this is one of the best days of camp. This is where each team does a scavenger hunt of eight stations led by the interns. Whichever team finishes each station first then runs up the hill wins.  My team and yellow were very close. But the yellow team got to the top of the hill first so my team came in a very close second.

(At the top of the hill at Vetca

(The boys and I at Vetca)

(My awesome translators)

 

After the limbo and a slip in slide we ended with team time. I got to share more of the gospel and individually pray over my each kid on my team. I knew that this might be the first time someone has ever prayed for them. Praying for each kid moved me so much. These kids have become like family too me. As I was praying over the kids I was reminded of Psalms 16:11,"You make know to me the path of life you will fill me with joy in your presence." I just kept praying that the Lord would reveal His love and path to them. The Love of Jesus radically changes you. I pray that each kid on my team will be changed and have a personal intimate relationship with Him. It's not just about being saved but wanting a personal relationship with Him. I’m believing they will never ever be the same!! Please pray for each kid, as they are not at camp anymore that they will hunger and want to know more about their creator. Greater things are yet to come.

Being His hands and Feet

Psalms 8:9 (Msg) God, brilliant Lord, your name echoes around the world.

Our team of interns is finally settled in at Casa Rene. This is where the interns as well as the team of the states will be staying. It’s a beautiful house and it’s coming together day by day as we put the last finishing touches on where the Americans will be staying.    

(Pictures of the all the interns at a bible study @Bex's apartment)

On Thursday we got to go to the baby hospital in Ludus.  This is so where my hearts lies for papas kids. To hold, play, and most importantly Love on them. This  made that day completely perfect. Although it never ever gets easier to put them back in their beds and hear them crying as you walk down the hall. Breaks my heart every single time.  But I know that God is still Good and his heart is for these children.Sometimes being hands and feet of Jesus is not easy but it is so worth it. 

                                                              Andrea

                                                        Precious Romeo

                                                              Romeo

                                                     (Beautiful Pia)

(Lucian)

      Friday we finished getting our camp supplies organized and ready for camp it starts MONDAY AND IM SO EXCITED please be praying!!! We ended the day today  with going to the weekend with the Loc kids which is a local pool which has three big pools and a place for little kids too play also yummy restaurants. It always fun spending time with them and hanging out in the sun. I am so blessed by each day and each day is a new and fun adventure never the same from day to day. Cannot wait to see all the Lord does. 

Let the Adventure begin

I finally arrived in Romania. After several hours, airports, and going from one continent to another myself and 11 other interns are here. The Lord is really showing me how to truly rely on Him. As I stepped off the plane into beautiful Romania I was in awe of how Good the Lord is. How He orchestrates and crafts things I am in Awe. He took 12 people who felt a call to go and reach His people. To love them like he would love them. To care like He would care for them. All we did was say yes and follow. 

Today we went to the Roma gypsy village (Ogra). It was so great to see those kids again because they are the same kids I had for camp when I went last summer.We got to play games and spend time with them trying to speak Romanian(not that good I might add). Then later in the day we saw the Loc Kids which are the kids who stay in the two group Home under Livada's care. I love these kids and too see them again is such a joy to me. I cannot wait to spend more time with them. God is just SO good!!! I am looking forward to being His hands and feet. To move when he says move but to wait when He says wait. To God be all the Glory.  Let the adventure and many more special moments begin!!

Psalms 2:8, "Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance the ends of the earth your possession."