On November 1st, we set out for Bucharest, Romania. After 19 hours of travel time, we arrived on Friday November 2nd for a great 2 weeks in this country. We got a good taste of the life the missionaries go through who live in the country year around and completed a number of great projects.
We helped with a children’s service on the first Sunday. Taylor changed into a purple Gorilla and went through the streets to gather a crowd. He did this at two different locations and it was amazing to see the kids come running down the street to join the Purple Gorilla Parade. Protecting him from the mob of kids was almost impossible. Taylor and DeAnna also helped with some games, skits and other parts of the service while I spoke to the adults in a small room crammed full. The room was heated by a wood stove. I can still smell it.
We worked on the missionary’s home to help them make it through the harsh Bucharest winters. We closed in a stairwell where all of the heat in the home was escaping up into the attic and out through an un-insulated roof. We also added much needed insulation to one of the rooms through a long process involving a glue, 2 types of mortar and sheets of Styrofoam.
We provided children’s worker training for 24 workers. We gave each church represented at the training a package of everything they need for children’s services for months to come. It was an incredible joy to see these people soaking up various ways to minister to children. The attendees had a wonderful time.
We painted the benches at a church in a small village. The leader of the church lives in a small 2 room (not 2 bedroom) house for 12 people. He built an additional room for the kids and then felt God telling him to use the room as a church. The man gave up the room and it is now a church in his village. This was a humbling experience in seeing a man give of himself for the Glory of God. God is doing some great things in Romania and we look forward to future opportunities to work with people in this country.
