Week 10 - Departure

Day 63 - Monday, August 6, 2007, We had a team from Shoreline Calvary Bible Church with us to prepare activities for the kids. Cool group of people. I had the guitar lessons in the morning and in the afternoon we went to a girls orphanage. The team had a pantamime and then we made bracelets and played games.





Day 64 - Tuesday, August 7, 2007, Guitar lessons in the morning and lots of rain-- but the kids actually took public transportation and walked to the office! JUST FOR GUITAR LESSONS! I was very impressed.



Day 65 - Wednesday, August 8, 2007, We had planned to take the kids from families in need out of town, but the rain prevented the trip. So instead, after guitar lessons, we had games like twister and a craft for about 15 kids. Then we had cake to celebrate two birthdays.



Day 66 - Thursday, August 9, 2007, Guitar lessons in the morning and I stayed at the office to give Alina some notes on guitar lessons-- she may be taking over for me. The end is near and I have many different emotions about leaving. I feel like I accomplished what I came to accomplish, yet I see a lot of work left to do. I feel like I could help with music, leadership, and teaching. I'm praying for God to lead me in His will for the future with relationships and ministry.



Day 67 - Friday, August 10, 2007, Today was the last day of my work with Children to Love for now. The president, John Penrose, said some encouraging words and I was able to get the staff for one last picture.

After the staff meeting, Alina, Anca, and I hurried to make hats for the guitar students. When the students came, they brought a surprise for me! It was a musical performance with Elvis on keyboard, Mihai on bongos, and the girls on vocals. It was a wonderful good-bye present! I feel very close to the children and will miss them a lot.

Afterwards, Alina and I went to St. Ana's Orphanage. A group from Fun Science was performing and we were able to help with crowd control. We were also able to talk with the director. I asked him how everything was going. He was overwhelmed because the government has been sending boys from another orphanage to the once only girls orphanage. Managing the kids behavior has been very difficult and I will never complain about my classroom kids again for as long as I live. This trip has given me a lot of perspective.

We left to have lunch next to the fountains on Parliament bulivard and did a lot of shopping.


Day 68 - Saturday, August 11, 2007, In the morning I packed, said goodbye to my hosts, and got ready for Josh and Edena's wedding. This was the second half of the marriage cerimonies.





Day 69 - Sunday, August 12, 2007, Getting up around 4am, to the airport around 5am, my flight leaves for Frankfurt, Germany at 6:40am, then from Frankfurt to LAX (11 hour flight-- yippee!), and then back to California living. Thank you to all who prayed, gave, and sent e-mails to me. It's been wonderful to see God use His people to accomplish His purposes. Thank you for all of your support! Maybe someday I will be able to come back or go somewhere else for ministry. I'm praying for God's direction and will in my life. I give Him all the glory for this time in Romania.

Show me the right path, O Lord;

point out the road for me to follow.

Lead me by your truth and teach me,

for you are the God who saves me.

All day long I put my hope in you.

Remember, O Lord, your compassion and unfailing love,

which you have shown from long ages past.

Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth.

Remember me in the light of your unfailing love,

for you are merciful, Oh Lord.

Psalms 25:4-7

Week 9 - Standards and Guitar Lessons

Day 56 - Monday, July 30, 2007, The morning was spent planning for our last mission meeting and in the afternoon, we were able to visit Roxanna at the hospital. We invited her and some of the other patients in her room to join us on a walk to a park at the hospital. We had snacks and a fun time together.

Day 57 - Tuesday, July 31, 2007, In the morning I started a guitar class for 6 children from families in need. The families have met certain criteria which puts them at risk of putting their children in orphanages. So the kids came and we had a great first beginning lesson and planned on continuing. I also was able to meet with Faur, a young man from summer camp. He grew up in an orphanage and now works for Orphanage #7. He's been learning advanced guitar!

Day 59 - Thursday, August 2, 2007, We went to Casa Din Tei (daycare for at risk families) to prepare a celebration for the kids. The mayor's wife was expected to come and we had fun activities like a trampoline, water slide, face painting, and more.

Day 61 - Saturday, August 4, 2007, In the morning, we everyone met at a government building where Josh and Edena would have their civil wedding (the legal wedding 1st, then the church wedding). It was a great experience to see how Romanian people celebrate marriage. Lot's of pictures, flowers, and music!

After the wedding, Alina and I went to an old people's home and visited some people she's worked with. The first was an old lady named Acatalina who had made me a stitched cloth!

After that, we went to the Palace of Parliment (2nd largest building in the world) and went on a tour. Very beautiful building! Then after that, we enjoyed a Gyro and went to the theater to see "Blades of Glory". I can't recommend the movie-- but there were many funny moments!

That night we saw a really interesting performance by a theatrical group from Holland called
"Water, Wind, and Fire". Really abstract and progressive-- but very cool.

Day 62 - Sunday, August 5, 2007, Alina and I were able to travel north to the city of Moran (were she grew up). I got to meet her mom, dad, and two brothers. We had a great day of food and rest.