Why Be Happy for Christmas

At Caritatea last weekend in Cluj, we were blessed to partake in the their bible group’s Christmas gathering. The members of this group have experienced pain and rejection due to limitations with a disability. Here everyone is accepted and has genuine fellowship. A poem was recited with each person presenting different verses. The beautiful Romanian language was uplifted as a gift and praise.

A message was given and the question was raised, “why be happy for Christmas?” The reason of the hope and joy of Christmas all stems from the perfect gift already given. It was evident being among this group that whatever pain was experienced among them it was not their focus in life. An eternal hope and peace was clear to see and feel.
Merry Christmas!

Lost a Language Instructor

Recently, we lost Nuţi, one of our language instructors. The picture shows Kristi holding the reason why. Yes, Nuţi and her husband Alex had a beautiful, healthy boy. We accepted this as a good explanation for her absence. He was born on November the 5th and was named Elias Cadmiel.

In Romania they do not throw baby showers like in the United States. Instead, the weeks following the birth, family and friends visit the home bringing gifts and visiting the newly numbered family. We were overjoyed to participate in this tradition. Kristi loved being able to feed him a bottle, and then rock him to sleep. The other picture is of Tania, his proud older sister giving him a hug.

Babies: precious, little, fragile, and a miracle.

Learning to Wait

It is Christmas time again, and we all wait like children in anticipation of special treats, gifts and family gatherings. We find ourselves in a time of great waiting, and not just for the celebration of Christ’s birth. We wait for paperwork with our visa process, paperwork for the van we purchased, the plumber to come fix the radiator for heat, and for our new language to instantaneously become effortless. Hmmm, I’m sure there are many lessons to be gained through these experiences.

We need to be more like children, anticipating the great things yet to come. We hope in the good for Christ is good. It is good to see the way in which God works out all the little details that appear as large hurdles to us. It is good to be renewing our mind again and again on the upcoming birth of Christ. Thinking about the many years of waiting for a Savior, then the 33 years of lessons He gave on how to live a godly life, and finally that perfect sacrifice for our sin. Waiting always has purpose! Will you join us in praying for God’s will in the above matters, and that we can be patiently renewing our hope in this process.

During this Christmas season, we lift all our family and friends up with prayer and blessing. We miss you and think of all of the gatherings we can not attend. Yet, we are hopeful of building our own new traditions within this new culture. Our Christmas plans consist of traveling to Germany to visit friends from the states who will be vacationing there. This kind of anticipated wait is exciting. We will experience a German Christmas Market, and spend time with close friends. December 15-17 we will be taking a short trip to Cluj to visit people who are involved in Wheels for the World Romania.

Fun pictures of Budapest, Hungary

Budapest and the Danube in the Fall

Castle Hill

"Show your teeth for the camera"

Stephen in front of Saint Stephen

Kristi next to statues on Castle Hill

Thanksgiving in Romania

Yes, it is possible to purchase a turkey, or should I say turkeys, in Romania.

We were blessed to host a Thanksgiving meal for other Americans here in Timisoara. The house was a buzz with 14 adults and 2 children visiting and eating the traditional flavors of Thanksgiving. There was turkey, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie, and many other dishes that each person brought to share.

After the meal, everyone visited while some took walks, and others threw a football around. Board games were played and joy filled the home. Alas, there was not football on the television. Yet, Steve and the guys survived, and it was not a downer to the festivities. Our hearts were overflowing with thankfulness as we shared food and conversation with others.

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving as well. - Kristi

"I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High." Psalm 7:17 (NIV)

Just In Time

How Fun! Our front gate bell rang at 10:30PM with a surprise delivery from a friend back in the states. It was an early Christmas! Well, actually a belated birthday for Kristi. The items in the box were treasures for an American in Eastern Europe. The hard to obtain things like maple syrup, Libby's pumpkin pie, Crisco, and an American movie.

It arrived just 3 days before Thanksgiving. Yes! French Toast in Romania.

Living Life Differently

What a beautiful opportunity every morning at breakfast to look out the window and see the cherry tree change colors and see leaves falling. Yes, life is different for us compared to what it was in Phoenix. Yet, like the tree it is just God’s new season for us, and in everything there is beauty.
Life in Romania can appear simple and slow to some and to others cold, poor, and difficult. In making our home here we are adapting and finding the joy in the differences.
Cooking for Kristi is not as quick and easy as in the states. However, the food prepared from scratch is flavorful and fresh. It is also rewarding to create a meal from one’s garden and fruit trees. Everyday life consists of going to an open air market for produce and buying fresh bread. As you can see from the picture we picked and made our own grape juice. Making apple pies and hanging the clothes on the line remind us of a time when we were kids. Things might take longer, but there is an enjoyment and a savoring of a new season that is often lost in the hectic American life.

Wheelchairs and the Word

Wheels for the World is a ministry which helps distribute needed wheelchairs. This past July in Romania hundreds of wheelchairs along with walkers and canes were distributed. Teams from America comprising of therapists, housewives, wheelchair mechanics, and a therapist from Portugal arrived willing to love the needy and many times the forgotten. Those Romanian’s who came seeking a wheelchair or a walker all had a story to share and burdens that were heavy. Each face coming through the door seemed sad and weary. What a blessing to witness the change in each expression as he or she first sat in a wheelchair that was specifically fit by the therapist(s). After every person received equipment, a Romanian would speak with them about God’s love and desire for a personal relationship with them. A gift of a Romanian New Testament and translated materials from Joni and Friends were also given. The team came to bless but found themselves equally blessed. Pictured above is Simon. He arrived on a motor scooter with his father. Simon has cerebral palsy and with assistance is able to walk. His father had tears in his eyes as he began to explain in broken English and a thick Romanian accent of his son. He said, “You know my son, Simon has a very, very important name. It is in the Bible, the Simon of Cyrene. I give him this name at birth, but God teach me a lesson now about love. (more tears and a pause) You know this man Simon carried Jesus' cross, and I now carry my son Simon everyday.”