Saturday, July 4, 2009
home
hey everybody, we are all home...safe and sound. thanks for the love and prayers, we will see everybody in church tomorrow
Friday, July 3, 2009
guess who's coming for dinner...on july 4th
we are all feverishly packing, well except craig and brother dan, they are more like..well..packing. today was our last day and we did the tourist thing in the morning, and then this afternoon we were able to attend the house dedication for a gyspy family. what fun to see joy, luckily for us, joy is universal. as we are finishing up, and i am left with one thought. since i am not a good story teller, i'll let the bible tell the story. it is the story of elisha and namaan. when namaan came to elisha to be healed of his leporsy, he brought the best his world had to offer. namaan was prepared to do a huge work to show his willingness to be healed, instead elishas servant came out and told him to simply go wash in the river. i kind of had that feeling over here. we came bearing the best we had in america, and these children, these people that didnt' matter to them. they wanted our time, our attention, our love, and they gained our hearts. it was not the mighty work in my mind we thought as we left home, rather it was a far simpler, far better job to do once we got here. the bruskis are an amazing family, and one to be prayed for. they have extended the true christian love to us, and we feel humbled to have spent time with them. we will be leaving their home at 1:30 am romanian time, and arriving home at 2:ish pm atlanta time, at least thats the plan. thank you all for the support and prayers, and we can't wait to see you all soon. for the last time, goodnight america.
The Long Goodbye
Well this is it – Day Seven. It’s the last day of the trip. We spent the day doing some shopping in the market, visiting a Hungarian Catholic Church, and then back to the first village we visited earlier in the week. There we got to dedicate a finished home worked on by several teams that came in this summer. We had a short devotional, Bro. Dan sang a hymn, and then handed the keys over to Ibolia and her family. She was in tears and speechless. You can tell genuine gratitude in her eyes. We only hope this serves as an example to the others in the village. There is talk of maybe building a pavilion or actual building to house a church for the Gypsy village. We pray this can be built in the near future. We also fed the village some hot dogs we cooked over a fire we built. It was in true Baptist form with everyone gathering at the mention of food. Faces often seen with sadness and a loss of hope instantly changed to smiles. After we ate, we spent some fellowship time with the families there. Most of us chased kids around or had kids piled on top of us. The lucky few just held the babies. Leaving this village was truly difficult. We each became attached to the village – mainly having a little group of kids that stayed with each of us. Waving goodbye was VERY hard to do. There is so much work to be done here. The harvest truly is plentiful, even just here in this corner of Romania.
Now we say goodbye and begin packing. The question is where do we go from here? Each one of us had different reasons or motivations for coming here. I do not know if those reasons were met. I can say each of us in this group have grown both as people and as Christians. In just a short amount of time our faith has grown. I speak for myself in saying God has used this experience to clarify many questions I’ve had with my purpose. With my own calling to missions, I have seen God’s work, God’s fulfillment, and God’s vision taking place here. This was a guide and an encouragement to me. My own doubts and fears have really been overcome. Before this trip, I was looking at an endpoint of ‘training’ to be a full time missionary. Now I see we as Christians cannot wait. We cannot put things on hold. We cannot put the priority and command Christ gave on hold for some endpoint scenario. There is work to be done. There is work to be done in my family, in my neighborhood, in Monroe, Loganville, Walton County, etc. Christ gave us a command that involves sharing, witnessing, and discipling. It does not take money, a building, a bus, literature, etc. to simply share His good news. Words that come from our mouths are free. But an addition to that is building relationships with people. Christ gave us this example seeing how He walked the cities and villages. He went to weddings, dinners, or just told stories to people based in the Word. Seeing this firsthand here in Romania shows how love, that is spoken of so much in the New Testament, is the greatest resource and commodity we as Christians have. It tore down walls. It tore down cultural divides. It tore down bigotry here. It tore down poverty and oppression.
As I mentioned before, we are accountable for what God has revealed to us here. I am praying so hard that this powerful message and example is taken by our group back home to our little corner of Walton County and is continued to be used by God to do HIS will. I am also praying so hard for the Bruski family for what they are doing through God’s guidance here. We all have much work to do. This family has given their lives to live for Christ and to serve others through Him. They face obstacles at every turn. But they persevere in Christ who gives each of us strength to overcome ANYTHING. We have seen much overcome here. Now we go back to those who are materially much better off than Romanians and Gypsies. The question we now face is are those back home in our area SPIRITUALLY better off? It is now our calling to test that. We come back ready to continue serving God in the ways He guides us. Isaiah 6:8
Craig
Now we say goodbye and begin packing. The question is where do we go from here? Each one of us had different reasons or motivations for coming here. I do not know if those reasons were met. I can say each of us in this group have grown both as people and as Christians. In just a short amount of time our faith has grown. I speak for myself in saying God has used this experience to clarify many questions I’ve had with my purpose. With my own calling to missions, I have seen God’s work, God’s fulfillment, and God’s vision taking place here. This was a guide and an encouragement to me. My own doubts and fears have really been overcome. Before this trip, I was looking at an endpoint of ‘training’ to be a full time missionary. Now I see we as Christians cannot wait. We cannot put things on hold. We cannot put the priority and command Christ gave on hold for some endpoint scenario. There is work to be done. There is work to be done in my family, in my neighborhood, in Monroe, Loganville, Walton County, etc. Christ gave us a command that involves sharing, witnessing, and discipling. It does not take money, a building, a bus, literature, etc. to simply share His good news. Words that come from our mouths are free. But an addition to that is building relationships with people. Christ gave us this example seeing how He walked the cities and villages. He went to weddings, dinners, or just told stories to people based in the Word. Seeing this firsthand here in Romania shows how love, that is spoken of so much in the New Testament, is the greatest resource and commodity we as Christians have. It tore down walls. It tore down cultural divides. It tore down bigotry here. It tore down poverty and oppression.
As I mentioned before, we are accountable for what God has revealed to us here. I am praying so hard that this powerful message and example is taken by our group back home to our little corner of Walton County and is continued to be used by God to do HIS will. I am also praying so hard for the Bruski family for what they are doing through God’s guidance here. We all have much work to do. This family has given their lives to live for Christ and to serve others through Him. They face obstacles at every turn. But they persevere in Christ who gives each of us strength to overcome ANYTHING. We have seen much overcome here. Now we go back to those who are materially much better off than Romanians and Gypsies. The question we now face is are those back home in our area SPIRITUALLY better off? It is now our calling to test that. We come back ready to continue serving God in the ways He guides us. Isaiah 6:8
Craig
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Day Five From Day Six's Perspective
It's now Thursday here. Well first thing’s first – through a technological miracle we now have Charlie and Selena’s pics up. Theirs covers the trip from the beginning. It’s difficult balancing out a laptop to cover updating two different blogs, uploading pictures, talking to family on Skype, and talking to family on MagicJack. We’ve done remarkably well getting everyone in to contact someone back home.
I have so much to say and know I cannot remember all of it. I have tried to stick with some theme or main idea but there is something new and inspiring constantly occurring here. One thing you’ll notice in the pictures is how there is some Biblical theme popping up everywhere here. The grapevines with the vine and the branches, the sheep and shepherds, and today with the mud and straw being made into bricks. God has amazingly intertwined His word into the daily lives here.
Another thing that amazes me is the way the people still find some way to summarize life here to press on even in these conditions. An 80 year old man named John told me “if you don’t grow old, you die.” He gave me many blessings on my life as I talked to him about his. He was burdened by guilt over something he did as a child – steal cookies. He also drank heavily later in life. But he is a Christian and I told him Christ has forgiven him all of those sins and there is nothing left to burden us. We are free. Stories of our past sins are not for guilt – they are for testimony over what Christ has done to change our lives. Even a criminal nailed to a cross beside Jesus, moments from death, received forgiveness. There is no excuse – no sins – that can be used to keep someone from accepting Jesus. Many say they did too many things in their younger years that keep Jesus from WANTING to forgive them. That is not the case. All have sinned but anyone who asks for forgiveness may receive that forgiveness.
We spent time in a Gypsy village called Dobresti. The Bruskis set up a water system some time ago where storage tanks held water and led down a pipe through the village for the people to use at five points. Vandalism and petty fights with jealousy causes many to break or damage the system. We checked today and thank God the spigots were in great shape. Then we spent time with the kids, met some of the families, and had a mini-VBS. This was the most poverty stricken village we have seen with many of the younger children running around with little or even no clothes on at all. The water they wash clothes in and play in is mixed with sewage. I see so much of the Samaritan people of the Bible in the Gypsies. They are truly the outcasts – some brought on their own and much brought on by Romanians. Regardless, Jesus made sure he spent time preaching to them – note the story in John of the woman at the well and the mention of Samaria in the Great Commission. We could easily find a similar woman at the well here – no different than the story in John.
We also had our last service with the orphans tonight. It was very emotional. We each stood up to tell what being a disciple was about. It requires sacrifices, getting out of comfort zones, loving others, drawing closer to God, and listening to God. The kids joined us in songs sung in both English and Romanian. Again, so much of God comes through where it sounds heavenly with mixed languages.
Again, I could mention more. This is a condensed version of what is in my heart - but as my wife says even my condensed version goes on forever. But the last thought is one that we’ve all talked about repeatedly – we are responsible for what we’ve learned and seen here. Our eyes have been opened God has impressed this on our hearts. What we do with this when we get back is key. Do we apply this wisdom, knowledge, and understanding to our lives back in America? Does it last a few weeks after we get back? Or is this embedded in our hearts to witness to everyone we can back home? I’ve mentioned this before – a book by W. Oscar Thompson called Concentric Circles of Concern mentions how it is easy to do great work with people we will never see again. But if we cannot do these same deeds with those next door, across the street, in the next cubicle at work, or the person in line behind us at Wal-Mart, we are missing the point. My prayer is that this fire, this wisdom, this experience is taken back to Monroe, Loganville, Walton County, and beyond.
Craig
I have so much to say and know I cannot remember all of it. I have tried to stick with some theme or main idea but there is something new and inspiring constantly occurring here. One thing you’ll notice in the pictures is how there is some Biblical theme popping up everywhere here. The grapevines with the vine and the branches, the sheep and shepherds, and today with the mud and straw being made into bricks. God has amazingly intertwined His word into the daily lives here.
Another thing that amazes me is the way the people still find some way to summarize life here to press on even in these conditions. An 80 year old man named John told me “if you don’t grow old, you die.” He gave me many blessings on my life as I talked to him about his. He was burdened by guilt over something he did as a child – steal cookies. He also drank heavily later in life. But he is a Christian and I told him Christ has forgiven him all of those sins and there is nothing left to burden us. We are free. Stories of our past sins are not for guilt – they are for testimony over what Christ has done to change our lives. Even a criminal nailed to a cross beside Jesus, moments from death, received forgiveness. There is no excuse – no sins – that can be used to keep someone from accepting Jesus. Many say they did too many things in their younger years that keep Jesus from WANTING to forgive them. That is not the case. All have sinned but anyone who asks for forgiveness may receive that forgiveness.
We spent time in a Gypsy village called Dobresti. The Bruskis set up a water system some time ago where storage tanks held water and led down a pipe through the village for the people to use at five points. Vandalism and petty fights with jealousy causes many to break or damage the system. We checked today and thank God the spigots were in great shape. Then we spent time with the kids, met some of the families, and had a mini-VBS. This was the most poverty stricken village we have seen with many of the younger children running around with little or even no clothes on at all. The water they wash clothes in and play in is mixed with sewage. I see so much of the Samaritan people of the Bible in the Gypsies. They are truly the outcasts – some brought on their own and much brought on by Romanians. Regardless, Jesus made sure he spent time preaching to them – note the story in John of the woman at the well and the mention of Samaria in the Great Commission. We could easily find a similar woman at the well here – no different than the story in John.
We also had our last service with the orphans tonight. It was very emotional. We each stood up to tell what being a disciple was about. It requires sacrifices, getting out of comfort zones, loving others, drawing closer to God, and listening to God. The kids joined us in songs sung in both English and Romanian. Again, so much of God comes through where it sounds heavenly with mixed languages.
Again, I could mention more. This is a condensed version of what is in my heart - but as my wife says even my condensed version goes on forever. But the last thought is one that we’ve all talked about repeatedly – we are responsible for what we’ve learned and seen here. Our eyes have been opened God has impressed this on our hearts. What we do with this when we get back is key. Do we apply this wisdom, knowledge, and understanding to our lives back in America? Does it last a few weeks after we get back? Or is this embedded in our hearts to witness to everyone we can back home? I’ve mentioned this before – a book by W. Oscar Thompson called Concentric Circles of Concern mentions how it is easy to do great work with people we will never see again. But if we cannot do these same deeds with those next door, across the street, in the next cubicle at work, or the person in line behind us at Wal-Mart, we are missing the point. My prayer is that this fire, this wisdom, this experience is taken back to Monroe, Loganville, Walton County, and beyond.
Craig
Wednesday
today was an amazing and long day. but long in the good way, long in the way you wish you had more time because you could spend it so easily. we started the morning off visiting a gypsy village that the bruski's have been working hard to keep running water in. for the first time in a very long while aaron was thrilled to see the water was not out, but still working. we got to spend a good bit of time with the children of the village, some not dressed, all dirty, yet all completly full of God's love. when you are with any group of children it is so easy to see why Jesus told us come unto him as little children. all the children geniunely crave attention, and we were blessed enough to be able to give them some. it is truly humbling to have someone show you immense amounts of love purely because you are paying attention. after the village we were able to go and move carmen, a woman the bruski's have befriended and their daughter paige was able to lead to the Lord just recently. we moved her out of government housing, with her two children and one on the way and into a woman's center, sort of a we'll hold you here until you have your baby and are back healthy place. it is a huge step up in the world, but also a scary one, because it is a far cry from her old life. please pray for her. at night the orphans came for wednesday night service, and they played games, were fed, and then met for service. brother dan sang, robin gave a short talk on being a disciple, and then we woodlakers got up and shared our testimony and what it means to us to be a disciple. again these children are so talented and starved for attention, it is quite amazing how they make you feel. they not only break your heart, but they fill it with amazement in their dispositions and how they face life. many can say that life has had an impact on them, but i can truly say i have been changed, and it has been for the better. thank you for your earnest prayers and please continue. we miss you all, and yet we crave for more time to see God moving in earnest. we will see you on our nations birthday! sleep well america.
ps. tomorrow we are working in the bruskis garden and doing a sort of vacation bible school for a village, it is quite a show, bro dan sings, ms pat and stephanie do crafts, craig and selena do a fantastic puppet show on stephanie, and i teach on the wee little man in the sycamore tree. we will update again as soon as we can
ps. tomorrow we are working in the bruskis garden and doing a sort of vacation bible school for a village, it is quite a show, bro dan sings, ms pat and stephanie do crafts, craig and selena do a fantastic puppet show on stephanie, and i teach on the wee little man in the sycamore tree. we will update again as soon as we can
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Specific Prayer List
*The Hungarian Village: Salvation and a church to built
*Jon and Maria: Health, their daughter-in-law: salvation
*Froleika: safety and her son's salvation
*The Maria's family, for her son to pass his exam, for all of her 13 children
*The land for the Bruski family
* For a good attitude for the gypsy people we are visiting today, so that we can do things with them.
*For all the parents who have left their children at the orphanage.
*The orphans
*For church tonight.
*That God receives all the Glory!
Thanks for praying.
*Jon and Maria: Health, their daughter-in-law: salvation
*Froleika: safety and her son's salvation
*The Maria's family, for her son to pass his exam, for all of her 13 children
*The land for the Bruski family
* For a good attitude for the gypsy people we are visiting today, so that we can do things with them.
*For all the parents who have left their children at the orphanage.
*The orphans
*For church tonight.
*That God receives all the Glory!
Thanks for praying.
To the top of the MoUnTaIn
What a wonderful God we serve. Today we had the opportunity to deliver some more food baskets to several Romanian families. Each day, before we leave we have a time of prayer. Isn't it amazing that we have a God who answers our prayer, listens to our cries and praises. So, when we got to the village we had the opportunity to give one of the Romanian families food, do crafts with the children, sing praises to our King, and Charlie taught about Zaccheus with the help of Paige translating. The main point he left each family with is as happy as Zaccheus was to see Jesus, Jesus was more happy to see Zaccheus, and the same is true for all of us, he wants us to come to Him. Next we began our journey up the "mountain" to see Froleika (sorry about my Romanian spelling) and her son. This mountain was quite steep and took a good bit of effort, but I am happy to inform that the entire Woodlake team made it to top. Once we arrived, Froleika invited us all into her home to indulge ourselves into amazing hot doughnuts. Her generousity and hospitality was very humbling. I have to ask myself the question, would I be this kind to foreign strangers, would I welcome them into my home, and get up early in the morning to prepare for them? I pray that God can place that type of compassion into my heart. Once we finished visiting with Froleika, we got to go look at the view from the back of her home. Lets just say, words are not enough to describe the beauty of God's creation. Once we got to the bottom of the mountain we visited Maria and John a precious ederly couple. John repeatedly said he was a sinful man, and we got to remind him of the blood of Jesus that washes away all our sins. Maria and John really like singing, so we sang a lot. It was a wonderful time of fellowship. The next family we visited had 13 children and one on the way, followed by a family that had many children too. At each home we did a craft with the children, songs of praise, a bible study and prayer. The most amazing part of our day is knowing that none of the things we are doing has meaning without the saving grace of Jesus. Our prayer is that Jesus recieves all the glory and praise, because He is the vine and we are the branches, and apart from Him we can do nothing. Continue to pray for the people of Romania. Well we are about to have our night reflection time. Oh, also pray that the water comes on, we are a bunch of smelly folk right now. Good night to all our friends and families.
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