Meeting of The Minds

The past few weeks have been filled with meetings. These have all required some travel. We began by traveling across Romania to Suceava. There we met with different Pastors and potential churches that could possibly host the Wheels For the World distribution of wheelchairs this coming summer. Sami Mitrofan was key in helping us with this process. All the meetings were helpful in deciding where to host the distribution, they all are great churches who are ready to serve the disabled community. Since only one spot could be chosen, we weighed careful how best to hold the distribution. In the end, we choose a site that was physically ready for 100 or so disabled visitors. They already have built ramps through out for they have a worship leader in a wheelchair, and recently they purchased a van from Germany to help transport anyone with a disability to church. We could not have done this without the help from Sami, a true friend of Joni and Friends ministries.

After returning to Timisoara we had two days to wash laundry and pack for our Romanian GEM team meeting.

This year the team traveled to the coast of Croatia at a Christian retreat center in the town of Crikvenia. This was a 9 hour drive from Timisoara. It was a time to plan and express team goals, as well as individual goals for reaching Romania with the Gospel. We feel extremely fortunate to be part of this great team.

As Steve drove our van back with other team members, I continued to travel down the coast with two single female missionaries, Dawn and Amy. We took three days to explore the beauty of Croatia. I highly recommend it as a travel destination! The city of Dubrovnik has a beautiful, intact fortress along the Adriatic Sea.  We also drove to and hiked in a National Park where we saw many waterfalls. You can see more pictures in our picture album.

I then traveled on with Amy to Italy where I volunteered to watch the GEM Italy teams children as they met for their team's strategic planning. This was held in Sorrento which is another coastal city. It is south of Napoli on the Almafi coast.

From our balcony you could see the lights of Pompei and Mount Vesuvius.

The kids were great and I was able to get to know the Italian team better.

As I return to Timisoara, I join Steve in a busy schedule of preparation for the summer to come. While I was off to Italy, he was working away at many existing and upcoming ministry events.

Tuesdays with a True Partner

What can I say about Iosif Blaj. He is a dedicated friend, an great repair man, but most of all a true ministry partner. Iosif and I are collaborating with Centrul Comunitar de Asistență Socială (The day center for the elderly). We go each Tuesday to work with the elderly in their homes, making repairs. In the same time, I look for ways to modify the homes to be more accessible and functional for them. If needed, I provide adaptive/medical from our friends at River of Life Ministries. It is a great way to fulfill James 1:27 "Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father in this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world."

DEZINFECTED

Living in a different culture, life is always a little out of the ordinary. To be understood and to understand is a work in progress. It is one reason the life as a missionary is a full one. There is always something to learn or be taught. Always the next challenge to tackle. Just trying to use the bathroom calls for a little DEZcernment.

We had the privilege to attend a meeting with other Romanians who are working and ministering to people with disabilities. Joni and Friends has had contact with many of them through the years. This meeting brought them together to discuss how an alliance of everyones ideas could strengthen and empower each other to do ministry.

We met in Bucuresti, which was our first time in the capital city of Romania. It was a 9 hour train ride from Timisoara. We enjoyed our time there and have been asked to go back and present a workshop/training at a Rehab Center for children with disabilities.

My American Dishwasher

I had forgotten about dishwashers.  You can find them in the appliance stores here, but they are extremely overpriced in comparison with the States.  Also, taking into account that the kitchen space is much smaller it is rare to find one in a Romanian home.

Fortunately for me I have Steve!  While I cook he enjoys washing the dishes afterward.  Hey, check out cabinet above him.   It has a built in drying rack for the plates and glasses which is very  useful.

Holiday Seasonings!

The spice of Christmas this year was flavorful!  

On the 18th of December we were invited out to the village of Recas for a children's program. The choral director from our church also works there teaching the children within the orphanage to sing.  The event was also supported by a team from England with Samaritan's Purse.  The place was packed with the children from the facility as well as the children and families from the village.  Check out more pictures from the program.

Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and the day following all had church services.  The messages and music all celebrated the birth of Christ.  From the children's program on Monday evening, to the brass band Christmas morning, to the choir and orchestra at the evening service, all were wonderful presentations. 

Christmas Eve, Steve and I enjoyed the evening at our Pastor's home in front of a warm fire as we waited for carolers to stop.  I loved the brass players in their courtyard playing Christmas hymns and then again in the house after partaking in hot tea and food.

Christmas Day we ate at our GEM - Romania director's home along with seven international medical students from India.   The following day was also filled with more good food as we were invited into a Romania home and ate traditional sarmale (cabbage rolls) and mamaligia (cornmeal mush or grits).  The meal had three courses all excellent and leaving us bursting from our seams.  Diets are in our future!

The past few days we have enjoyed house guests playing card games and relaxing.  See more pictures of our guests.

Christmas Sounds

OK... we have been back in Romania for two weeks now, and it is cold.  For the last two days we have woke up to snow on the ground.  Our Christmas tree is up, and I'm playing Christmas CD's. An American missionary showed me this link to an a-cappella group from Bloomington, Indiana.  I enjoyed it and wanted to share it with you.  A little fun way to get more into the spirit of Christmas.

Kristi