This blog might come as a shock to some...and obvious to others. To me, this blog is neither a gasp, nor a sigh. It is a consent. A nod of the head. A surrender of obedience.
My life has been a bit of a road map. Texas to Korea, Korea to Texas, Texas to Louisiana, Louisiana to Romania...and now, Romania to Texas. I'm glad I never held back once in Romania, because I never thought that my last week there would be my last...for awhile. I am happy to say that I am leaving without regrets.
A senior pastor in Italy asked me one time, what it was like to be a missionary in a foreign country. My reply was, "The Truely remarkable thing about being a missionary isn't that God moves you halfway around the world to change it...but that God is willing to move you halfway around the world to change you." And I can say that I am changed. However, once again, I find myself halfway around the world. In many ways, Texas feels like another foreign country.
For a long time, I have really desired to get a college education. This dream of mine had to be put on hold for awhile. God's ways are above my ways, and his thoughts are above my thoughts. It was His choosing for me to wait on my education. At the end of my last term in Romania, I could sense that it was in His time for me to pursue an education. As of now, I am enrolled in West Coast Bible College and studying for a Bachelor's in Biblical Counseling. Due to all of my time spent in Master's, I should be able to get my degree in 1-2 years! It is a personal dream of mine to go all the way up and get my doctorate. I hope this all works out that way.
In light of this, I have a great peace about staying in Texas. I'm actually really excited about getting to plant my roots here, and about what new things God will change in me. I'm excited about getting to work more closely with the Elevate youth, and I'm excited to be apart of the vision for Christ Church.
Am I finished with Romania?
Will I ever return?
Well....
Only time will tell...
But I don't believe this was my last.
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Sunday, September 9, 2012
A Period of Rest
Two days long was the length of my trip back to Texas. I'm not complaining at all, because I saved a couple hundred dollars this way. However, when I finally stepped into my parents house, the rest was welcomed. I would have also written this synopsis of MCR's last weeks of ministry earlier, but with as busy as I was, I was forced to wait for a period of rest. So, comfortably seated on the family couch, I now write to you, to inform you, of how the MCR year of 2012 concluded.
In the middle of the month of August, MCR hosted it's Experience Master's event. This event is a chance for those interested in MCR to experience what life would be like with us, for one week. We had prospective students from the cities of Targoviste, Bucharest, Craiova, and Doicest attend Experience Master's for a total of 11 prospective students.
This week was also the last opportunity for us to minister at both Micro Kids and School in Teist. For School in Teist, our Experience Master's students assisted us in the graduation. To think that just two years ago, the kids of Teist didn't even know how to learn or memorize. This is no exaggeration. I remember our shock at the first ever Micro Kids we did there, when we told them about Solomon from the Bible. After we had told the story, we asked them who the story was about, and they didn't remember. Two years later, they are memorizing letter's and the sounds of them! I can't wait till they are finally reading the Bible!
Due to our 2012 tour, MCR had made a connection with a popular Romanian worship band called the Decean Band. This allowed us to have a youth event featuring them! This youth event turned out to be one of the biggest we've had all year, with the highest attendance! The response to the altar call was also very powerful and moving.
On the last day of Experience Master's, our MCR students put on an interactive drama called Mission's Morning. I had written the outline of the drama, and then the students completely improved from there on. I directed their acting but the character's these students played were entirely up to their creation. The truly fascinating part about this drama, is that every part of it was based on true stories that we as a program have lived. From sharing the gospel for the first time, to a gypsy girl learning how to read, and a an orphan angry with God; all of these stories were interwoven into one interactive tour through our building. The outcome was students completely broken for their country. It always comes as a shock to those who attend our mission's morning, when they learn for the first time that everything they saw actually happened. I think sometimes we are the most blind to the needs in our own surroundings. It's so normal to us that we're completely numb to the injustices which surround us.
After Experience Master's we took our students to Bulgaria for our Class of 2012 Beach Retreat. It's hard to describe what this moment is like. You just kinda have to be there to really appreciate what it means for those in the program. For eight months we've been teaching, learning, growing, stretching ourselves thin, and living life together. We take this opportunity to look over the year, and reflect on how far we've come as individuals, and as a group. It's not an understatement to say that it's not a Beach Retreat till everyone sheds a tear.
Soon after, all of our students graduated. One week later, I jumped on an airplane and headed to The States. For those of you who might be wondering, the answer is yes. I will be heading back to Romania in four months. In fact, in a few years, Romania will become my permanent residence. Thank you for all your support this year...and God bless.
In the middle of the month of August, MCR hosted it's Experience Master's event. This event is a chance for those interested in MCR to experience what life would be like with us, for one week. We had prospective students from the cities of Targoviste, Bucharest, Craiova, and Doicest attend Experience Master's for a total of 11 prospective students.
This week was also the last opportunity for us to minister at both Micro Kids and School in Teist. For School in Teist, our Experience Master's students assisted us in the graduation. To think that just two years ago, the kids of Teist didn't even know how to learn or memorize. This is no exaggeration. I remember our shock at the first ever Micro Kids we did there, when we told them about Solomon from the Bible. After we had told the story, we asked them who the story was about, and they didn't remember. Two years later, they are memorizing letter's and the sounds of them! I can't wait till they are finally reading the Bible!
Due to our 2012 tour, MCR had made a connection with a popular Romanian worship band called the Decean Band. This allowed us to have a youth event featuring them! This youth event turned out to be one of the biggest we've had all year, with the highest attendance! The response to the altar call was also very powerful and moving.
On the last day of Experience Master's, our MCR students put on an interactive drama called Mission's Morning. I had written the outline of the drama, and then the students completely improved from there on. I directed their acting but the character's these students played were entirely up to their creation. The truly fascinating part about this drama, is that every part of it was based on true stories that we as a program have lived. From sharing the gospel for the first time, to a gypsy girl learning how to read, and a an orphan angry with God; all of these stories were interwoven into one interactive tour through our building. The outcome was students completely broken for their country. It always comes as a shock to those who attend our mission's morning, when they learn for the first time that everything they saw actually happened. I think sometimes we are the most blind to the needs in our own surroundings. It's so normal to us that we're completely numb to the injustices which surround us.
After Experience Master's we took our students to Bulgaria for our Class of 2012 Beach Retreat. It's hard to describe what this moment is like. You just kinda have to be there to really appreciate what it means for those in the program. For eight months we've been teaching, learning, growing, stretching ourselves thin, and living life together. We take this opportunity to look over the year, and reflect on how far we've come as individuals, and as a group. It's not an understatement to say that it's not a Beach Retreat till everyone sheds a tear.
Soon after, all of our students graduated. One week later, I jumped on an airplane and headed to The States. For those of you who might be wondering, the answer is yes. I will be heading back to Romania in four months. In fact, in a few years, Romania will become my permanent residence. Thank you for all your support this year...and God bless.
Monday, August 6, 2012
The Olympic Stretch
It being The Summer Olympic season, i feel like it's only appropriate to say that MCR is in the final running stretch! In under 30 days all the MCR students will be graduating and the MCR year of 2012 will come to its end. Our students have already began to say, "Can you believe it!? We're about to graduate!" Followed by many, "I'm gonna miss..." MCR has become a family to all of us. We all have such vastly different personalities, backgrounds, and cultures...but we all came together for one purpose: "To Know God, And To Make Him Known." I do echo the words of our students. I will miss them and everything we did together this year. However, I can't wait to see what God will do next year, in and through MCR!
In this past month, we hosted a Crossroads Church Youth Missions Trip, and it went incredibly well! First off, the group was full of great and diverse personalities, and secondly, they came ready for ministry! It was exciting to see them each approach ministry in their own creative way, and then watch them grow in every ministry opportunity! One of the reasons I believe in mission trips so much, is because of what God does in those who go! We can only discover so much in a place of comfort. It's when we step outside that we find a world of possibilities at our grasp. In a place of comfort we are entertained, but in adventure we experience. Then, during those two weeks, on that missions trip, we experience many things that used to entertain us.
We took the team with us to all of our Micro Kid's sites, including a new one in Cetateni. They got to handle everything and our students translated for them. I personally love watching American teams hug on all of the kids. For these kids, it doesn't happen very often that a big group of people say "I love you" in more than one way. For many of these kids, this is probably the highlight of their year. However, what really puts a smile on my face, is when I hear a youth student say, "Those kids have so little, but they were so happy. I want to be like that and not worry about everything I don't have!" In those moments, you could tell that what had began in their heart was a desire to abandon "self" and live passionately for God. It's a seed that's planted in the lives of those students and will continue to grow over time!
The Crossroads Youth Mission Team also helped us In our ministry with the girl's home. Normally just the girls go, however, this time we took all the girls to a river for some fun and a barbecue! This was personally interesting for me because the home now has a guy. One of our policies we're given by the director of the girls home, is to not ask about their stories, and to encourage them to move past a victim mindset. So, I don't know know this guy's story, but would I really need to? Doesn't God care more about were he's taking us than where we've been? So all of us guys treated him like one of the guys, which must have been nice when you hang out with mostly girls all day. At the end of the day, he had even put in a special request to have me come to the girls house the next time we came.
We also hosted a food drive, and the youth got to pass out the food. The way we do this is first we great someone at their door. If they will receive us, we then come in and talk with them. After we talk with them, we then give food, and share Christ with them. We trust the youth students entirely with this process, and give them helpful hints if they need it. For some of the students, they were encouraged by hearing stories of Christians who have served and remained faithful to God in the worst of circumstances. For others, they shared their faith and led people in the sinner's prayer for the first time! Regardless of the outcome, it was evidently a life changing experience for our fellow Americans!
Though there were many other forms of ministry that the Crossroads Team partnered with us in, the last one I want to mention is the youth night. For two days MCR, and a few from the mission team, passed out fliers while i taught the rest a 7 min. long dance...I have no idea how we accomplished that. On the night we saw many first time faces and many familiar faces. Trey, a great musician on the trip, played a song he had written, the students did their dance, a few of them shared their testimony, and Pastor Jordy preached about salvation in Christ. In the end, Around six people gave their hearts to Christ! When we opened the altars, many more came down and recieved prayer.
It was a powerful two weeks of ministry! However, now it's time to get ready for the final strech. Up next we have Experience Master's, Beach Retreat, and then graduation. Keep all of this in your prayers. It's gonna come and fly by fast for us. It's bitter-sweet for me personally. I'll say goodbye to one home, but hello to the other. However, I known this is where I'm supposed to be, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. There's something very satisfing about knowing you're in God's will.
In this past month, we hosted a Crossroads Church Youth Missions Trip, and it went incredibly well! First off, the group was full of great and diverse personalities, and secondly, they came ready for ministry! It was exciting to see them each approach ministry in their own creative way, and then watch them grow in every ministry opportunity! One of the reasons I believe in mission trips so much, is because of what God does in those who go! We can only discover so much in a place of comfort. It's when we step outside that we find a world of possibilities at our grasp. In a place of comfort we are entertained, but in adventure we experience. Then, during those two weeks, on that missions trip, we experience many things that used to entertain us.
We took the team with us to all of our Micro Kid's sites, including a new one in Cetateni. They got to handle everything and our students translated for them. I personally love watching American teams hug on all of the kids. For these kids, it doesn't happen very often that a big group of people say "I love you" in more than one way. For many of these kids, this is probably the highlight of their year. However, what really puts a smile on my face, is when I hear a youth student say, "Those kids have so little, but they were so happy. I want to be like that and not worry about everything I don't have!" In those moments, you could tell that what had began in their heart was a desire to abandon "self" and live passionately for God. It's a seed that's planted in the lives of those students and will continue to grow over time!
The Crossroads Youth Mission Team also helped us In our ministry with the girl's home. Normally just the girls go, however, this time we took all the girls to a river for some fun and a barbecue! This was personally interesting for me because the home now has a guy. One of our policies we're given by the director of the girls home, is to not ask about their stories, and to encourage them to move past a victim mindset. So, I don't know know this guy's story, but would I really need to? Doesn't God care more about were he's taking us than where we've been? So all of us guys treated him like one of the guys, which must have been nice when you hang out with mostly girls all day. At the end of the day, he had even put in a special request to have me come to the girls house the next time we came.
We also hosted a food drive, and the youth got to pass out the food. The way we do this is first we great someone at their door. If they will receive us, we then come in and talk with them. After we talk with them, we then give food, and share Christ with them. We trust the youth students entirely with this process, and give them helpful hints if they need it. For some of the students, they were encouraged by hearing stories of Christians who have served and remained faithful to God in the worst of circumstances. For others, they shared their faith and led people in the sinner's prayer for the first time! Regardless of the outcome, it was evidently a life changing experience for our fellow Americans!
Though there were many other forms of ministry that the Crossroads Team partnered with us in, the last one I want to mention is the youth night. For two days MCR, and a few from the mission team, passed out fliers while i taught the rest a 7 min. long dance...I have no idea how we accomplished that. On the night we saw many first time faces and many familiar faces. Trey, a great musician on the trip, played a song he had written, the students did their dance, a few of them shared their testimony, and Pastor Jordy preached about salvation in Christ. In the end, Around six people gave their hearts to Christ! When we opened the altars, many more came down and recieved prayer.
It was a powerful two weeks of ministry! However, now it's time to get ready for the final strech. Up next we have Experience Master's, Beach Retreat, and then graduation. Keep all of this in your prayers. It's gonna come and fly by fast for us. It's bitter-sweet for me personally. I'll say goodbye to one home, but hello to the other. However, I known this is where I'm supposed to be, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. There's something very satisfing about knowing you're in God's will.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Why One Should Not Jog at 1:30 in the Morning
Today, I get to tell you guys about both a miracle and our mission work! Often I share with you guys all of the amazing things God is doing through us. However, in reality, that's only half the story. When I was in Italy for MC Conference, I had the privilege of sitting across the breakfast table with a senior pastor from Ireland. One of the questions this pastor asked me was, "What is it like for you to be a missionary in a foreign country?" I sat there thinking...and answered with the first thing that popped up in my heart, "You know, the funny thing about being a missionary is that you leave your country to go out and change the world. However, the truly remarkable thing is that God is willing to move you around the world...to change you."
A few days ago, at 1:30 a.m., a random surge of energy struck me and i was unable to sleep. So, I had the brilliant idea of going running. Long story short, I stepped off the curb and rolled my ankle with no one around me and no way of being able to get a hold of someone. My ankle began to swell, but due to adrenalin my pain was absent. So before the pain kicked in I quickly hobbled to my apartment, took some pain pills, and fell asleep.
Next morning my ankle was still as big as a soft ball. One hospital trip later, and I was grounded to a bed by the doctors. This was so unfortunate for me because in just a week, MCR would be hosting a youth camp. I didn't want to be stuck in a bed for this. Regardless of what I wanted, I decided to use this opportunity to double up on my God time. In this period, God really began to grow my faith on many issues, and reveal many different things about my heart.
Due to the prayers of Master's Commission, I began to see a rapid recovery. However, upon falling down some stairs I re-injured my ankle and the swelling began again. I remember laying on the bed thinking, "No, God, I don't want to be in this bed any more when I can be out there doing things for you." Plus, I was getting very bored. Just minuets later an MCR alumni, Carmin Marin, walk up to my doorway.
She called out to me, "Jonathan, in the name of Jesus I declare you healed! Get up and walk!" I went to stand up, but out of fear of pain sat back down. Carmin left, and then I thought, "Why not just have faith and stand. what's the worst that could happen? My foot is already hurt." And so I stood up...and there was no pain! I was running errands the next day and have been walking since then! Let me leave this story with this: God uses the vehicle of Faith, to transport miracles into our lives. Sure, God can do whatever he wants, and he does, but he chooses to do things with man, and through man!
This has built up my faith a lot, and I'm grateful for this experience.
As far as our ministry goes, our highlights are cleaning the Christian center for the blind and the school in Teist!
Pastor Florin and I went to a Christian center for blind people, to assist with some lawn care. While I was there I began to hear stories of thieves who had broken in and robbed the place. Due to the doors left open, the center was exposed to the elements of nature...and the evidence could be clearly seen everywhere. But the situation gets worse we hear that in just little over a week, blind children from Romania will be arriving there for summer camp. So MCR spent the following Friday, scrubbing the place from top to bottom. At the end of the day, the center nearly looked brand new. The director of the blind center's wife said to Pastor Florin, "Many teams have come and I have been disappointed...however, with MCR I have not been dissapointed." We are very grateful have had this opportunity to serve them in this way.
We have also re-modified how we do the school in Teist! One of our first year students made the observation that all of the kids were moving at different rates and that it would be a good idea to split them up. So that's exactly what we did and it worked out wonderfully! The youngest kids have story time and color with Naomi and Bogdan, the middle aged kids are being taught about the sounds of letters, and the older kids will begin forming basic words! Once the older ones can start reading, then they will begin to spread that information with the village. I can't wait for the day when we can finally send the kids home with Bibles and they can begin to read them with their families!
Continue to keep this ministry in your prayers. Also, be praying for Faith, Hope, and Love Youth Camp which starts Friday! we really want to see God touch and change lives! Thank you for you time and attention and all of your support. God bless!
A few days ago, at 1:30 a.m., a random surge of energy struck me and i was unable to sleep. So, I had the brilliant idea of going running. Long story short, I stepped off the curb and rolled my ankle with no one around me and no way of being able to get a hold of someone. My ankle began to swell, but due to adrenalin my pain was absent. So before the pain kicked in I quickly hobbled to my apartment, took some pain pills, and fell asleep.
Next morning my ankle was still as big as a soft ball. One hospital trip later, and I was grounded to a bed by the doctors. This was so unfortunate for me because in just a week, MCR would be hosting a youth camp. I didn't want to be stuck in a bed for this. Regardless of what I wanted, I decided to use this opportunity to double up on my God time. In this period, God really began to grow my faith on many issues, and reveal many different things about my heart.
Due to the prayers of Master's Commission, I began to see a rapid recovery. However, upon falling down some stairs I re-injured my ankle and the swelling began again. I remember laying on the bed thinking, "No, God, I don't want to be in this bed any more when I can be out there doing things for you." Plus, I was getting very bored. Just minuets later an MCR alumni, Carmin Marin, walk up to my doorway.
She called out to me, "Jonathan, in the name of Jesus I declare you healed! Get up and walk!" I went to stand up, but out of fear of pain sat back down. Carmin left, and then I thought, "Why not just have faith and stand. what's the worst that could happen? My foot is already hurt." And so I stood up...and there was no pain! I was running errands the next day and have been walking since then! Let me leave this story with this: God uses the vehicle of Faith, to transport miracles into our lives. Sure, God can do whatever he wants, and he does, but he chooses to do things with man, and through man!
This has built up my faith a lot, and I'm grateful for this experience.
As far as our ministry goes, our highlights are cleaning the Christian center for the blind and the school in Teist!
Pastor Florin and I went to a Christian center for blind people, to assist with some lawn care. While I was there I began to hear stories of thieves who had broken in and robbed the place. Due to the doors left open, the center was exposed to the elements of nature...and the evidence could be clearly seen everywhere. But the situation gets worse we hear that in just little over a week, blind children from Romania will be arriving there for summer camp. So MCR spent the following Friday, scrubbing the place from top to bottom. At the end of the day, the center nearly looked brand new. The director of the blind center's wife said to Pastor Florin, "Many teams have come and I have been disappointed...however, with MCR I have not been dissapointed." We are very grateful have had this opportunity to serve them in this way.
We have also re-modified how we do the school in Teist! One of our first year students made the observation that all of the kids were moving at different rates and that it would be a good idea to split them up. So that's exactly what we did and it worked out wonderfully! The youngest kids have story time and color with Naomi and Bogdan, the middle aged kids are being taught about the sounds of letters, and the older kids will begin forming basic words! Once the older ones can start reading, then they will begin to spread that information with the village. I can't wait for the day when we can finally send the kids home with Bibles and they can begin to read them with their families!
Continue to keep this ministry in your prayers. Also, be praying for Faith, Hope, and Love Youth Camp which starts Friday! we really want to see God touch and change lives! Thank you for you time and attention and all of your support. God bless!
As We Get Nearer to the End
On August 31 I will begin my travel back to Texas. This realization is slowly sneaking up on me, especially as close friends have begun to already tell me they'll miss me. I think the hardest part about my job is that after eight months of making close relationships...you have to say goodbye. Then, I will spend four months in Texas and have to tell my family goodbye for another eight months. However, I will say living like this has it's benefits. Most people wait till they're on their deathbed to live like they don't have much time. I'm constantly aware that I don't have much time, especially as I get closer to the end. It's a great catalyst to desire to give more than I've ever given before. This past month was no exception.
Midway through the month of July, MCR hosted our youth camp, Credinta, Speranta, si Dragostea (Faith, Hope, and Love). Last year, we had very successful camp and around 50 students attended. This year, we aimed to make the camp bigger! MCR added an extra day and this time had over 60 students attend! Many of these were new faces! At the end of the camp we had everyone fill out surveys and not one person regretted their time there. Every single person bragged about how much fun they had, and how powerfully God moved in them there!
I have to say that one of my favorite moments was when a kid named Andrei approached me. I was all alone getting games ready for the next day when this kid came up and began talking with me. I'll be honest, I don't know much about Andrei, where he came from, or what had brought him to us. All I know is that one day he showed up to our church, with a deep desire for more of God, and quickly attached himself to us. This kid doesn't speak English, and I was ready to struggle through Romanian with him. However, what happened next surprised me.
All the words I had ever memorized began to come to the front of my mind...and I began to share with him, in Romanian, a bit of my testimony and what God wanted to do in his life. I could understand him, and the conversation lasted a few hours. I got to pray for him and God moved powerfully in that room. I really do believe that the whole purpose of the manifestation of the Holy Spirit is for the spreading of the Gospel...and in the moment when I need to speak Romanian the most, God became my strength in my weakness!
After Summer camp we began to get ready for our Albania Mission's Trip. This trip opens up the MCR students eyes to the possibility of being a missionary in a foreign field. Albania is a unique place to take a missions trip because of the two main religions: Atheism and Islam, causing many to have never heard about Christ. This year we ministered in a village that was predominately Muslim, evident by the mosque that sat in the village. They way we ministered to this village was by putting on children programs.
First two days were all fun and games. I'll never forget watching all of the kids playing games while I was talking to a guy from the village, Genti. He look at me and said, "You know, it's cool what you're doing. No one has ever done anything for these kids. They work all day, come home and do a little bit of school work, watch some TV, and then go to sleep." In this village, no one ever takes a day off or has one day of rest...so neither do these children. However, for the three days we worked in that village, the kids felt special. Last day that we were in the village we shared the gospel with the kids, their parents, and the youth. Many of them heard the gospel for the first time and gave their hearts to Christ! We did many more things while in Albania, but this event with the kids was the most special to me.
So now that we are back in Romania, home sweet home, we continue our ministry with our focus on the Exchange Youth Group Mission's Trip coming in a few days. Please keep them in your prayers as they come to partner in ministry with us. Thank you so much for all of your support! And as we get nearer to the end, I continually get excited to see all of you guys in America. I love ya'll, and God bless.
Midway through the month of July, MCR hosted our youth camp, Credinta, Speranta, si Dragostea (Faith, Hope, and Love). Last year, we had very successful camp and around 50 students attended. This year, we aimed to make the camp bigger! MCR added an extra day and this time had over 60 students attend! Many of these were new faces! At the end of the camp we had everyone fill out surveys and not one person regretted their time there. Every single person bragged about how much fun they had, and how powerfully God moved in them there!
I have to say that one of my favorite moments was when a kid named Andrei approached me. I was all alone getting games ready for the next day when this kid came up and began talking with me. I'll be honest, I don't know much about Andrei, where he came from, or what had brought him to us. All I know is that one day he showed up to our church, with a deep desire for more of God, and quickly attached himself to us. This kid doesn't speak English, and I was ready to struggle through Romanian with him. However, what happened next surprised me.
All the words I had ever memorized began to come to the front of my mind...and I began to share with him, in Romanian, a bit of my testimony and what God wanted to do in his life. I could understand him, and the conversation lasted a few hours. I got to pray for him and God moved powerfully in that room. I really do believe that the whole purpose of the manifestation of the Holy Spirit is for the spreading of the Gospel...and in the moment when I need to speak Romanian the most, God became my strength in my weakness!
After Summer camp we began to get ready for our Albania Mission's Trip. This trip opens up the MCR students eyes to the possibility of being a missionary in a foreign field. Albania is a unique place to take a missions trip because of the two main religions: Atheism and Islam, causing many to have never heard about Christ. This year we ministered in a village that was predominately Muslim, evident by the mosque that sat in the village. They way we ministered to this village was by putting on children programs.
First two days were all fun and games. I'll never forget watching all of the kids playing games while I was talking to a guy from the village, Genti. He look at me and said, "You know, it's cool what you're doing. No one has ever done anything for these kids. They work all day, come home and do a little bit of school work, watch some TV, and then go to sleep." In this village, no one ever takes a day off or has one day of rest...so neither do these children. However, for the three days we worked in that village, the kids felt special. Last day that we were in the village we shared the gospel with the kids, their parents, and the youth. Many of them heard the gospel for the first time and gave their hearts to Christ! We did many more things while in Albania, but this event with the kids was the most special to me.
So now that we are back in Romania, home sweet home, we continue our ministry with our focus on the Exchange Youth Group Mission's Trip coming in a few days. Please keep them in your prayers as they come to partner in ministry with us. Thank you so much for all of your support! And as we get nearer to the end, I continually get excited to see all of you guys in America. I love ya'll, and God bless.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
One Month Later
Well, a lot has happened since my last post. Of course, it has been over a month since I last wrote. As much as I enjoy writing this blog, I'll admit that it will occasionally slip my mind. With as many stories I have lived through this month, I'm having a hard time picking the best ones to showcase. Just as a side note, when someone lives passionately for God, boredom is rarely in the picture.
During the month of May, Master's Commission took its second and longest break, the equivalence of a Christmas break. Now, during this break I was rendered useless due to stomach issues, but our students were killing it. The majority of them had traveled to the west side of Romania to the city of Oradea for a Christian fine arts festival. The speaker of the festival had recognized our students from tour and asked them to close out the whole event. Oana gave her testimony before the altar call and as the last bang of the conference the MCR students did the stomp as one last final challenge to live as disciples of Christ. God has really been giving us favor with very influential people and it seems that word of this MCR's existence is spreading fast.
Even though I was incapacitated for break, towards the end I started feeling better. So, I attended my small group. At my small group, Oana and I have been reaching out to a young group of kids that live close to me. Oana had met the first few kids at one of our youth events, Crazy Love. Through Oana's small group those kids had given their hearts to God and made a confession of Christ as their savior. Well, over break the kids had invited a new friend of theirs named Roxan to our small group. During the small group Roxan began to pour her heart out about the witchcraft she had been messing with, and how because of the faces that she'd been seeing in her sleep, she was wanting to commit suicide. One of the other kids confirmed this saying they had stopped her from purposefully stepping in front of a car. So, with Oana as my translator, I began talking to Roxan about how messing with sin opens doors for the enemy. However, through the power of Christ those doors can be shut and the enemy locked outside! Bogdan then began to minister to her about what Christ did for her...and she accepted Christ. She has been regularly attending our small group since then.
The school in Teis has been extremely successful, especially since we introduced our new reward system. Oana and I, the heads of this project, knew that even though we had goals for the kids, they needed smaller goals for themselves. So together, we came up with a star system. The kids get a star for each task given to them that they complete. Their tasks are good behavior, finishing all of their work, finishing all of their work neatly, attendance, and returning their pencils. When they get ten stars they get a certificate of achievement with their picture on it. Those kids have been working hard for their ten stars. Beyond all of this, the kids have even begun to search on their own for knowledge. One girl even wrote her name on top of her paper. Sure she may not know how to pronounce each letter, but it just goes to show how hungry they are to learn. Right now the kids know how to write and read the letter 'A', count to ten, and write the numbers 1-3. Next class we'll introduce the letter 'M' and begin to teach them how to read and write words with the two letter's they know!
We also had the privilege of ministering in a college chapel alongside a very popular Romanian Christian band. At the end of our service, 23 college students filled out an info card for those interested in going to MCR. This personally excites me because after most college students graduate, it can take them years to find a job. So it's perfect from them come to our program and build a strong godly foundation, while getting experience they can put on their future job applications! In fact, in MCR, the majority of our students have finished, or are finishing, some sort of higher education. When they graduate MCR, they will technically have the licenses and diplomas to back up what they want to do with everything God has spoken to them in there time in MCR!
This past weekend was also host to Kids Day. So like last year, we put on a huge kids day event; however, because of the growth of our Micro Kids department, we had two parties. One in Ludesti and another in Doicest. From face painting to games, from the candy to the fun, both events were hugely successful. We had even seen kids we'd never seen before.
On top of these events we've been continuing our regular ministries. Something to keep in your prayers is our Youth Camp coming up on June 22-24. We'll be having young people all over Romania come and we want God to move powerfully in their lives. We also want the preparation for this event to run smoothly. Also be praying for young people who are deciding to come to MCR. And keep our regular ministries in your prayers also: School in Teis, Micro Kids, the girl's home, church's prayer, small groups, evangelism, etc. Thank you for all of your support, God bless.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Soccer Night and The School in Teist
Two new things have happened this week, apart from our regular ministry, that I'm really excited to tell you guys about! First, though, I want to say that we've been continuing all of our Micro Kids sights, ministry in the girls home, ministry in the hospitals, ministry in the old folks home, ministry to young people, tour prep, etc. God has been moving powerfully in the lives of the MCR students, and they have been faithfully ministering to the world around them! With all that said, let me tell you about the two things I'm very excited about.
The other thing I'm excited to tell you guys about is the school MCR has started in our Teist Micro Kids sight. Teist is the poorest of all the sights we visit and the children there, like their parents, are unable to read and lack the most basic knowledge of arithmetic. Many of the kids are unable to count to ten. The dream of starting a school in Teist, started last year, and we launched the program for the first time last week! Oana, one of MCR's second years, and I will be spearheading the project for the rest of this year. Because no one in the village has had quality education, there is very little understanding of what education is. So we have to take it very slow with these kids. Especially since we only have one day a week with them for right now. We only have about ten weeks left of Master's when we are in town, so our goal for the year is simple: For the kids to know, read, and write with three letters, and to count to 100. Next year we would like to teach them the whole alphabet and cover basic arithmetic.
Continue to keep these two new ministries in your prayers. We're so excited about all of the great things that God is doing and want to give him all the glory! Thanks for you time, and God bless!
The first one is Soccer Night! For those who didn't read my blogs last year, soccer night is an event outside of MCR, that all of the students and staff participate in. Last year, Bianca and I got a group of people together to play soccer in Targoviste's most popular park. Over time we started attracting a lot of young people and began creating spontaneous soccer tournaments. From here is where we met, for the first time, one of our current first year students, Ionut. It was at this event that another one of our current first years, Bogdan, had led Ionut in the sinner's prayer for the first time. It was from this event that Ionut became connected to the church, then to the MCR summer camp, and then to Master's Commission! From these nights we were able to invite many young people to church! With the weather beginning to warm up, we took advantage of the night and played soccer.
After we had finished the night, one of the guys we had played with came up to us and said, "You guys are so much fun! I want to play with you all whenever you guys play. Just give me a call!" When two or more are gathered in God's name, there he is in the midst of them. There is something very attractive and powerful about Christians coming together for fun. That spirit of joy is there and it's infectious. What I continue to learn is that people won't cry with you, till they've laughed with you. People aren't attracted to systems of doing things, they are attracted to joy, love, and passion. I have found that every person is searching for community, and that God uses community to call those who are searching. I'll continue to keep you guys updated on how this is all going. I'm so excited that we have resumed this!
The other thing I'm excited to tell you guys about is the school MCR has started in our Teist Micro Kids sight. Teist is the poorest of all the sights we visit and the children there, like their parents, are unable to read and lack the most basic knowledge of arithmetic. Many of the kids are unable to count to ten. The dream of starting a school in Teist, started last year, and we launched the program for the first time last week! Oana, one of MCR's second years, and I will be spearheading the project for the rest of this year. Because no one in the village has had quality education, there is very little understanding of what education is. So we have to take it very slow with these kids. Especially since we only have one day a week with them for right now. We only have about ten weeks left of Master's when we are in town, so our goal for the year is simple: For the kids to know, read, and write with three letters, and to count to 100. Next year we would like to teach them the whole alphabet and cover basic arithmetic.
Continue to keep these two new ministries in your prayers. We're so excited about all of the great things that God is doing and want to give him all the glory! Thanks for you time, and God bless!
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
From Arad to Cluj
So we left Timisoara excited to see what else God was going to do on tour. We had just begun and already we were closer as a team. So we piled up in the cars and made our way to our next stop: Arad.
Arad was very different then Timisoara. For one, Timisoara is a big city with big malls, McDonalds, Movie theaters, etc. and Arad was smaller and less westernized. Where as in Timisoara so much of our ministry was involved in the churches we worked in, Arad was special because of the orphanage we stayed in.
I had the pleasure of speaking with one staff member's wife, and found out some very interesting things about the laws concerning orphanages. Years ago, the Romanian government did away with all of the orphanages and set up a new system for orphans. Instead of having one building with one hundred children, now every "house" can only have 12 children with a minimum of five paid staff workers around the clock. As you can imagine this does make things harder to keep an orphanage running, however, it does make the ministry more personal.
While we were there, we focused on serving this ministry. We loved on their kids and dug a garden for them. What we dug up was about the size of the average American's back yard. We had even cleaned out the grass and raked the dirt. It wasn't easy work but felt very rewarding. However, one of the things that I'll remember the most from this stop was a boy I had met. He was a graduate of the house and I felt the need to talk to him.
Now I don't believe in throwing peoples dirty laundry out for everyone to see, nor am I fond of exploiting people for ministry, so I'm only going to tell this one part of our conversation. As I was talking to him, he told me that God was a pain in his butt (for the sake of certain Christian circles I'm editing how he said this). So I asked him what he meant and why this was so. He looked at me and said, "I don't know, he's just a pain in my butt."
I waited, listened, and then felt the nudge in my heart to reply, "You know, there was a time when God was a pain in everyone's butt. You see, he had decided to come down to save us, and this aggravated everybody. The ironic thing about this, is that when he was the biggest pain in people's butts, he was showing us the most love." He stopped and didn't exactly know how to answer. The thing was, he knew the truth but refused to except it. Truth is truth, whether we feel like it is or not.
He then eventually through out, "Well, all of you guys keep coming by and praying for me like you all can save me, like there's something so special about you..." and then he later said, "Yesterday I cried out to God and told him to give me a sign. Something that shows he still wants me."
I then replied, "Do you think that maybe he has been hearing you prayers, and has been sending people your way to show you he still wants you?" He had no reply. Now, I would like to say that at this point we began to pray, he rededicated his heart to God, and he left with a "Happily Ever After". However, it doesn't. He left knowing the truth...however, whether he accepts it or not is up to him now.
This question then pops in my head, "How often do we ask God for stuff and miss Him?" We pray for joy but miss the opportunity to exerciser it; provision and then refuse it. We ask for more love and then deny others from it. How often is God so obvious and we blatantly refuse to see it and then blame it on blindness?
The next day we ministered in a park. We loved on kids and had the opportunity to do our whole production outside A club. A lot of young people were affected by our production and the ministry after was powerful. The next day we left to Oradea.
Oradea was another great stop. We got to minister in a village church where ten people got saved and a youth service where we made new friends and got to pour into more lives. When we were finished there, we then traveled to Cluj.
The place that really had my heart from this stop was from a church just outside of Cluj, Casa Tamplarului. It was a beautiful body of believers. They all had great hearts and a young spirit. They welcomed us in and even asked for an encore for our stomp. Their youth students opened up to our MCR students, and our guys got to pour into their lives. As the night got late and the youth began to leave the church, I overheard one of the youth say to one of our students, Marius, "You're awesome." I could tell that because of Marius' humility this caught him by surprise. You could tell that these youth and our students really felt connected to each other and that our students really made a difference in their lives.
With each stop we left, we left a good taste in people's mouth. God had moved powerfully and we are very greatful for that. We had ministered to around 600 people on our tour, and 44 gave their hearts to Christ! Many are also very interested in MCR. We even had a few married couples who said they were interested in doing a first year... at least, that's what they checked off on the connect card.
So tour ends and Easter break begins for MCR. This break will be well needed for our students. They have been so dedicated to the ministry and everything they put their hands to. This break will also be well need for us staff...we'll finally be able to relax for the first time in four months.
Arad was very different then Timisoara. For one, Timisoara is a big city with big malls, McDonalds, Movie theaters, etc. and Arad was smaller and less westernized. Where as in Timisoara so much of our ministry was involved in the churches we worked in, Arad was special because of the orphanage we stayed in.
I had the pleasure of speaking with one staff member's wife, and found out some very interesting things about the laws concerning orphanages. Years ago, the Romanian government did away with all of the orphanages and set up a new system for orphans. Instead of having one building with one hundred children, now every "house" can only have 12 children with a minimum of five paid staff workers around the clock. As you can imagine this does make things harder to keep an orphanage running, however, it does make the ministry more personal.
While we were there, we focused on serving this ministry. We loved on their kids and dug a garden for them. What we dug up was about the size of the average American's back yard. We had even cleaned out the grass and raked the dirt. It wasn't easy work but felt very rewarding. However, one of the things that I'll remember the most from this stop was a boy I had met. He was a graduate of the house and I felt the need to talk to him.Now I don't believe in throwing peoples dirty laundry out for everyone to see, nor am I fond of exploiting people for ministry, so I'm only going to tell this one part of our conversation. As I was talking to him, he told me that God was a pain in his butt (for the sake of certain Christian circles I'm editing how he said this). So I asked him what he meant and why this was so. He looked at me and said, "I don't know, he's just a pain in my butt."
I waited, listened, and then felt the nudge in my heart to reply, "You know, there was a time when God was a pain in everyone's butt. You see, he had decided to come down to save us, and this aggravated everybody. The ironic thing about this, is that when he was the biggest pain in people's butts, he was showing us the most love." He stopped and didn't exactly know how to answer. The thing was, he knew the truth but refused to except it. Truth is truth, whether we feel like it is or not.
He then eventually through out, "Well, all of you guys keep coming by and praying for me like you all can save me, like there's something so special about you..." and then he later said, "Yesterday I cried out to God and told him to give me a sign. Something that shows he still wants me."
I then replied, "Do you think that maybe he has been hearing you prayers, and has been sending people your way to show you he still wants you?" He had no reply. Now, I would like to say that at this point we began to pray, he rededicated his heart to God, and he left with a "Happily Ever After". However, it doesn't. He left knowing the truth...however, whether he accepts it or not is up to him now.
This question then pops in my head, "How often do we ask God for stuff and miss Him?" We pray for joy but miss the opportunity to exerciser it; provision and then refuse it. We ask for more love and then deny others from it. How often is God so obvious and we blatantly refuse to see it and then blame it on blindness?
Oradea was another great stop. We got to minister in a village church where ten people got saved and a youth service where we made new friends and got to pour into more lives. When we were finished there, we then traveled to Cluj.
The place that really had my heart from this stop was from a church just outside of Cluj, Casa Tamplarului. It was a beautiful body of believers. They all had great hearts and a young spirit. They welcomed us in and even asked for an encore for our stomp. Their youth students opened up to our MCR students, and our guys got to pour into their lives. As the night got late and the youth began to leave the church, I overheard one of the youth say to one of our students, Marius, "You're awesome." I could tell that because of Marius' humility this caught him by surprise. You could tell that these youth and our students really felt connected to each other and that our students really made a difference in their lives.
With each stop we left, we left a good taste in people's mouth. God had moved powerfully and we are very greatful for that. We had ministered to around 600 people on our tour, and 44 gave their hearts to Christ! Many are also very interested in MCR. We even had a few married couples who said they were interested in doing a first year... at least, that's what they checked off on the connect card.
So tour ends and Easter break begins for MCR. This break will be well needed for our students. They have been so dedicated to the ministry and everything they put their hands to. This break will also be well need for us staff...we'll finally be able to relax for the first time in four months.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Ceremony and Tour
In this past week, two big things have happened in MCR! These two events mark the year for our students and are full of memories. The first of these events is the ring ceremony!
In a Master's year, there is a moment when a first year student receives his or her ring. Now, getting a ring means something different for everyone. For me, my ring represents discipleship, anointing, and masculinity. This is mostly because one person who had a huge impact in my life traded my original ring which was too small, for the one that was too big for him. My ring has stood as a constant reminder to me of my calling.
In general, the ring represents the authority of the Father, that is transferred to the repented son, in the prodigal son parable. It represents that we didn't do something to merit the insignia of the Father, but that He gave us his seal of approval when we came to him with absolutely nothing. It represents forgiveness, unity, and identity. Every student in a Master's program looks forward to the day when he/she will get their ring...because it symbolizes everything they are experiencing.
One of our first year girls, Esthera, asked me in Italy, when they were going to get their rings. My reply to her was, "You know how the Bible talks about the virgins waiting for their groom to come. They never know when he'll come but when he does it just makes sense. It's the same thing with getting your ring. And when you receive it, it will mean something special to you. On Friday, our students got their rings!
The students were told that MCR was going to have a nice dinner at a restaurant, the last night before tour, and to dress nice. At the restaurant, Tuscany, we had a private room reserved for Master's Commission. The students entered in, still with no idea of what was going to happen. As soon as they all arrived Pastor Florin introduced the story of the prodigal son and explained the rings. Next to every first year was a second year, staff member, or director. It was then that the first years extended their left hands and had their rings placed on their fingers. No first year ever forgets who put their ring on their finger. The first year, whom I had the honor of giving their ring to, was Marius Polozache.
In a Master's year, there is a moment when a first year student receives his or her ring. Now, getting a ring means something different for everyone. For me, my ring represents discipleship, anointing, and masculinity. This is mostly because one person who had a huge impact in my life traded my original ring which was too small, for the one that was too big for him. My ring has stood as a constant reminder to me of my calling.
In general, the ring represents the authority of the Father, that is transferred to the repented son, in the prodigal son parable. It represents that we didn't do something to merit the insignia of the Father, but that He gave us his seal of approval when we came to him with absolutely nothing. It represents forgiveness, unity, and identity. Every student in a Master's program looks forward to the day when he/she will get their ring...because it symbolizes everything they are experiencing.
One of our first year girls, Esthera, asked me in Italy, when they were going to get their rings. My reply to her was, "You know how the Bible talks about the virgins waiting for their groom to come. They never know when he'll come but when he does it just makes sense. It's the same thing with getting your ring. And when you receive it, it will mean something special to you. On Friday, our students got their rings!
The students were told that MCR was going to have a nice dinner at a restaurant, the last night before tour, and to dress nice. At the restaurant, Tuscany, we had a private room reserved for Master's Commission. The students entered in, still with no idea of what was going to happen. As soon as they all arrived Pastor Florin introduced the story of the prodigal son and explained the rings. Next to every first year was a second year, staff member, or director. It was then that the first years extended their left hands and had their rings placed on their fingers. No first year ever forgets who put their ring on their finger. The first year, whom I had the honor of giving their ring to, was Marius Polozache.
It was a powerful moment for all of us! Moments like these are what build the family atmosphere of MCR. Moments like these are what boosts our students visions, and inspire them to dream for more. It's that hurrah that challenges the students to keep going and to seek after God like never before. It's that moment of humility, knowing that we didn't do anything to merit the Father's approval, but received it nonetheless.
The next day we left for tour...
Prep for tour was interesting. We had had a whole new drama written for tour, but just days before we left, felt like it wasn't what we wanted. So in three days we had all the student learn the Communist drama we had done last year. Many of you might remember me talking about this drama last year.
The drama is about the rise and fall of communism and the martyrs of that time. Then the point is made that even though Communism may be dead, the spirit of Communism is still at work, trying to keep people from stepping out free, and proclaiming the Gospel of Christ. Where there was once physical persecution, now there is a social persecution. However, God is now calling the young people to once again shout freedom in the streets and change their world!
The Revolution in Romania had started in Timisoara...and our first stop on tour was Timisoara. Let me say this, God has moved powerfully at the two churches we have had the privilege of ministering in. We had the opportunity to encourage, connect, and pray for many people in the churches. We have also been well received and endorsed by both churches. We have had many young people also openly express interest in our program. Growth of our program means growth of our ministry...it also means that more young people have the opportunity give nine months for one soul purpose: to know God and make Him known.
Keep praying for our team. We still have a quite a few more churches to visit and would like to continue to have the favor we've had so far. We want to be used by God to bring about change to this wonderful country.
God Bless, and Ciao from Timisoara!
Monday, March 19, 2012
Change IS Purposeful
It has been a while since I wrote the last blog. Most of this is because of MCR's very productive schedule! We have been up to a lot and so has God as he's been moving in us and through us! We even had the privilege of getting to do ministry with XMC this past week!
In Romania, the month of March is Women's Month. In the first week all sorts of flower shops and stands open their doors as men of all different ages buy flowers, bracelets, candy, etc. to honor the women in their life. So at the beginning of the month MCR hosted an event for Women called, "Chocolate For The Soul."
Like all of our events, it was evangelical in nature and we were successful with forty attendees! At this even I was personally responsible to come up with some entertainment for the evening. So I joined up with Autumn Marcell and we choreographed a seven minuet dance! The dance was a compilation of some of the most well known songs for women in Romania. We even had the MCR guys do "Single Ladies" by Beyonce! The event went smooth and we had a great ministry return for our work.
While we were doing all of this prep for the week we were also preparing for our tour. With recordings, prop building, and rehearsals we made gradual steps closer to MCR's 2012 tour, "My Story".
Immediately after this our family from the other side of the sea, XMC, joined us in ministry! A few days later we all left for Italy, Rome, for Master's Commission Europe Conference! It was a very powerful time for our students!
If you've never been in Master's Commission before, imagine this: everyone you know thinks you're crazy. You have decided to dedicate yourself for nine months to the ministry God has called you to and everyone thinks you're crazy. When everyone else is going in and out of relationships you have decided to work on one relationship alone: the relationship between you and your creator. You're in a constant state of change and yet on the mission field, a place where it is easy to get fatigued. Oh, and while all of this everyone thinks you're crazy. Now I want to make this disclaimer and say that we have amazing support from our church, families of our students, and many others. However, every friend and maybe even ex-significant others, thinks that you have gone insane. Then imagine you go to a conference with people who are experiencing the same things. It was a great refresher for us.
Let me also say this, though our program is very young, we lacked nothing at that Conference. And in so many ways our students got to encourage, uplift and bring honor to both our program and so many others! Our students even evangelized to the people on the streets of Italy without prompting.
Along with all of this our program was recognized and publicly became affiliated with MCEurope in a ceremony on the last night of the conference. Our program made a mark on Italy in more ways than one. However, we are also thankful for XMC for helping us do this.
As soon as we got back we hit the ground running. From food drives to micro kids everything we did was big and powerful. Many people young and old gave their hearts to Christ! In one night, our students led three taxi drivers to Christ and one of the taxi drivers said that he was going to go home and lead his wife and kids to Christ!
We also ministered in the Girl's Home. This was the first time I have personally been there since my first year. Let me just say that the home has come a long way since our MCR girls have been ministering there. One really powerful moment that we had at that house came from a song written by an XMC first year, Tray. The song was his testimony, and the theme was: Now that all of this has happened to us...where do we go from here? This theme touched the girl's hearts and they began to weep with tears of healing.
On one of the last nights XMC was here in Romania, I met a guy. For the sake of his privacy I'll leave his name unsaid. I had met this guy on my way to a restaurant. After talking with him I felt the need to have him come eat with us. It was only ten minuets into our seating that he was poured into by Me, David, Oana, and a XMC student named Konnor. Ten minuets later we laid hands on him in prayer and he began to ask God to come in his heart and change him. Later that night I met another young guy and felt the need to invite him to our building. Oana lead him to Christ there and now she and I will be walking him through a program in our church that explains the basics of Christianity!
The world isn't changed by accident. Change is purposeful and sought after. Change comes one person at a time. Change takes time. Change is necessary. And i would like to extend my thanks to Crossroads Master's Commission for all of the change they helped us bring these past two weeks. We became so close that we gave our partnership a name: XMCR.
These past two weeks we truly did a lot together! Romania will never be the same! Thanks for all of you prayers.
There are so many more stories i could tell you, but I'll leave with this: Live with hell at your back and heaven in your face. Pursue the ultimate goal: the Father's side...and live out change. This world needs it!
In Romania, the month of March is Women's Month. In the first week all sorts of flower shops and stands open their doors as men of all different ages buy flowers, bracelets, candy, etc. to honor the women in their life. So at the beginning of the month MCR hosted an event for Women called, "Chocolate For The Soul."
Like all of our events, it was evangelical in nature and we were successful with forty attendees! At this even I was personally responsible to come up with some entertainment for the evening. So I joined up with Autumn Marcell and we choreographed a seven minuet dance! The dance was a compilation of some of the most well known songs for women in Romania. We even had the MCR guys do "Single Ladies" by Beyonce! The event went smooth and we had a great ministry return for our work.
While we were doing all of this prep for the week we were also preparing for our tour. With recordings, prop building, and rehearsals we made gradual steps closer to MCR's 2012 tour, "My Story".
Immediately after this our family from the other side of the sea, XMC, joined us in ministry! A few days later we all left for Italy, Rome, for Master's Commission Europe Conference! It was a very powerful time for our students!
If you've never been in Master's Commission before, imagine this: everyone you know thinks you're crazy. You have decided to dedicate yourself for nine months to the ministry God has called you to and everyone thinks you're crazy. When everyone else is going in and out of relationships you have decided to work on one relationship alone: the relationship between you and your creator. You're in a constant state of change and yet on the mission field, a place where it is easy to get fatigued. Oh, and while all of this everyone thinks you're crazy. Now I want to make this disclaimer and say that we have amazing support from our church, families of our students, and many others. However, every friend and maybe even ex-significant others, thinks that you have gone insane. Then imagine you go to a conference with people who are experiencing the same things. It was a great refresher for us.
Let me also say this, though our program is very young, we lacked nothing at that Conference. And in so many ways our students got to encourage, uplift and bring honor to both our program and so many others! Our students even evangelized to the people on the streets of Italy without prompting.
Along with all of this our program was recognized and publicly became affiliated with MCEurope in a ceremony on the last night of the conference. Our program made a mark on Italy in more ways than one. However, we are also thankful for XMC for helping us do this.
As soon as we got back we hit the ground running. From food drives to micro kids everything we did was big and powerful. Many people young and old gave their hearts to Christ! In one night, our students led three taxi drivers to Christ and one of the taxi drivers said that he was going to go home and lead his wife and kids to Christ!
We also ministered in the Girl's Home. This was the first time I have personally been there since my first year. Let me just say that the home has come a long way since our MCR girls have been ministering there. One really powerful moment that we had at that house came from a song written by an XMC first year, Tray. The song was his testimony, and the theme was: Now that all of this has happened to us...where do we go from here? This theme touched the girl's hearts and they began to weep with tears of healing.
On one of the last nights XMC was here in Romania, I met a guy. For the sake of his privacy I'll leave his name unsaid. I had met this guy on my way to a restaurant. After talking with him I felt the need to have him come eat with us. It was only ten minuets into our seating that he was poured into by Me, David, Oana, and a XMC student named Konnor. Ten minuets later we laid hands on him in prayer and he began to ask God to come in his heart and change him. Later that night I met another young guy and felt the need to invite him to our building. Oana lead him to Christ there and now she and I will be walking him through a program in our church that explains the basics of Christianity!
The world isn't changed by accident. Change is purposeful and sought after. Change comes one person at a time. Change takes time. Change is necessary. And i would like to extend my thanks to Crossroads Master's Commission for all of the change they helped us bring these past two weeks. We became so close that we gave our partnership a name: XMCR.
These past two weeks we truly did a lot together! Romania will never be the same! Thanks for all of you prayers.
There are so many more stories i could tell you, but I'll leave with this: Live with hell at your back and heaven in your face. Pursue the ultimate goal: the Father's side...and live out change. This world needs it!
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Success and More Success
Success and more success! This phrase sums up the last two weeks. You know that you have God's favor when the good just keeps getting better. Now, I would be lying if I told you that these past weeks have been easy. In fact, for me it has been just the opposite. These past two weeks have been very busy and stressful...but hey, tilling up ground is always the hardest part of growing the garden.
First of all, the girls have been tearing up the outreach that MCR does in the women's home. Right now MCR is the only outside ministry involved with the house. Ever other week our girls make the hour trip to the women's home and actively take part in the transformation process of these girls who have been rescued from sex trafficking.
Due to this being the hardest winter Romania has seen in six years, we haven't been able to really pursue Micro Kids. However, the weather is starting to mellow out and we resumed Micro Kids at our most frequently visited sight, Ludesti. We had over 115 Kids and adults present!
The MCR students also just got finished with their outreaches at the hospitals, which they planed and put together! The students are split up into two groups called "force teams". Half of them are team "Passion" and the other half are team "Justice". Throughout the year these students will have the opportunity to create ministries which they will lead and plan. Last year was the first time a force team did a Hospital ministry, and now many, including a small group lead by MCR alumni Carmen Marin, are involved in ministering to the terminally ill!
However, when I say, "Success and more success" I think of an event that we did for Valentines Day. It really took place on the 11th and not the 14th, but for arguments sake, let's just say that it took place on Valentines Day. Our theme of the night was "Crazy Love." This was an evangelical event with the soul purpose of getting people connected to MCR's home church, Speranta Vietii.
We had rented out a restaurant, asked a good friend of ours, Oana Petre, to decorate, and spent the last three days handing out fliers for the event. Then, during the night of the event, a snow storm blew in. It was so cold, and there was so much snow, we weren't sure if anyone would show up. However, 50 people braved the frigid downpour and attended the event!
We had games, food, a dance, and then we did a Drama I had written and directed. The Drama was called, "Crazy Love Boat." In this drama, Cupid had invited three timeless couples to the Crazy Love Boat, to make them fall in love with each other. The couples were Jack and Rose from Titanic, Romeo and Juliet, and Edward Cullen and Bella Swan from Twilight. Due to Cupid's Assistance's blunder, the wrong love potions were given to the wrong people, and everyone fell in love with the wrong person. Hilarious chaos ensued, and even Cupid in the end couldn't get everybody to return to their first love. All of this was a allegory to support what Pastor Florin would say that night.
Pastor Florin talked about how sometimes we love the wrong thing, and then ultimate about the love of God. God touched many hearts that night and many from that even attended our church the following Sunday. Many from that group have continued to attend Speranta Vietii! This week, on a Wednesday night, six youths from the Crazy Love event attended a small group lead by one of MCR's second years, Oana Neacsu, and were lead to Christ! Oana says that when everyone bowed there head and was asked if they wanted to receive Christ as their savior, they didn't even hesitate. All six hands shot up in the air...Creative Ministry! I love it!
To me it is so cool how God will take all sorts of people with gifts, talents, and abilities, and bring them into one place, all for six young men and women. God is moving so powerfully in MCR and these things are evidence of his power. Mother nature and all her furry couldn't stop what God wanted to do. From fifty came six...that's more than 10%.
This is what I call Success and more Success!
First of all, the girls have been tearing up the outreach that MCR does in the women's home. Right now MCR is the only outside ministry involved with the house. Ever other week our girls make the hour trip to the women's home and actively take part in the transformation process of these girls who have been rescued from sex trafficking.
Due to this being the hardest winter Romania has seen in six years, we haven't been able to really pursue Micro Kids. However, the weather is starting to mellow out and we resumed Micro Kids at our most frequently visited sight, Ludesti. We had over 115 Kids and adults present!
The MCR students also just got finished with their outreaches at the hospitals, which they planed and put together! The students are split up into two groups called "force teams". Half of them are team "Passion" and the other half are team "Justice". Throughout the year these students will have the opportunity to create ministries which they will lead and plan. Last year was the first time a force team did a Hospital ministry, and now many, including a small group lead by MCR alumni Carmen Marin, are involved in ministering to the terminally ill!
However, when I say, "Success and more success" I think of an event that we did for Valentines Day. It really took place on the 11th and not the 14th, but for arguments sake, let's just say that it took place on Valentines Day. Our theme of the night was "Crazy Love." This was an evangelical event with the soul purpose of getting people connected to MCR's home church, Speranta Vietii.
We had rented out a restaurant, asked a good friend of ours, Oana Petre, to decorate, and spent the last three days handing out fliers for the event. Then, during the night of the event, a snow storm blew in. It was so cold, and there was so much snow, we weren't sure if anyone would show up. However, 50 people braved the frigid downpour and attended the event!
We had games, food, a dance, and then we did a Drama I had written and directed. The Drama was called, "Crazy Love Boat." In this drama, Cupid had invited three timeless couples to the Crazy Love Boat, to make them fall in love with each other. The couples were Jack and Rose from Titanic, Romeo and Juliet, and Edward Cullen and Bella Swan from Twilight. Due to Cupid's Assistance's blunder, the wrong love potions were given to the wrong people, and everyone fell in love with the wrong person. Hilarious chaos ensued, and even Cupid in the end couldn't get everybody to return to their first love. All of this was a allegory to support what Pastor Florin would say that night.
Pastor Florin talked about how sometimes we love the wrong thing, and then ultimate about the love of God. God touched many hearts that night and many from that even attended our church the following Sunday. Many from that group have continued to attend Speranta Vietii! This week, on a Wednesday night, six youths from the Crazy Love event attended a small group lead by one of MCR's second years, Oana Neacsu, and were lead to Christ! Oana says that when everyone bowed there head and was asked if they wanted to receive Christ as their savior, they didn't even hesitate. All six hands shot up in the air...Creative Ministry! I love it!To me it is so cool how God will take all sorts of people with gifts, talents, and abilities, and bring them into one place, all for six young men and women. God is moving so powerfully in MCR and these things are evidence of his power. Mother nature and all her furry couldn't stop what God wanted to do. From fifty came six...that's more than 10%.
This is what I call Success and more Success!
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Adventure
Adventure. This is the only fitting way to start this blog off. Just one word describes this week and a half. I haven't been here for that long, and already I'm looking at how much has happened with one question on my mind, "How do I share all of this without turning this blog into a novel?"
Well, you gotta start somewhere. So let's start with a little bit of danger. I made mention on my last blog about there being certain alleyways I needed to avoid because of territorial wild dogs. Well, I'm not the only one who needs to be avoiding that alleyway. One day as I was heading home, I hear a blood curdling scream and then a desperate cry for help. So I begin to run directly at the screaming!
At that moment I wasn't sure where the sound was coming from, but I could tell I was getting closer. Eventually I pull around a corner and find a woman surrounded by a pack of dogs. Now these dogs weren't just barking at her, they were lunging and biting at her. Each time one snapped she barely made it out of the way. Her hands were full of groceries and she was swing them with all of her might.
As I began to run to her side I could see that just a street over, many people were walking by and could hear her...but all of them turned their heads and walked away. I was much farther away when I had heard her scream and cry for help, but I was the only one that day who was compelled to come!
So I ran up to her side, tense and ready to do what I needed to. Upon seeing me at this woman's side, the dogs backed off and left her alone. As she picked up her groceries she kept saying, "Thank you" like a skipping record. I stopped her and replied, "Cu Plecere. (With Pleasure)". I have no doubt in my mind that if God hadn't put me there at that time she would have been attacked...the funny thing was, just ten minuets ago I didn't want to head to my apartment, but I felt God's Spirit inside of me, compel me...so I listened...and obeyed.
I have also compiled my MCR drama writing team. Right now it is me, a MCR second year, David Petre, and a MCR first year, Naomi Nicolae. It has been such a blessing to have these guys helping me. I come up with an idea and then they help me expand it! So far our MCR drama team has preformed one drama and is currently working on another.
Now, I want to take a pause here and share a little bit of something God has been speaking to me. I know that sometimes back in The States we think of dramas as something cute that youth perform on a stage. Now, I'm not accusing anybody of this; however, I understand that sometimes we take some things for granted. In a lot of churches here, excluding our home church, Speranta Vietii, who has been so promotional of the arts, most arts are not excepted.
I can't express how many Romanians I've heard say, "I saw a dance, drama, etc. at Speranta Vietii and it touched me so deeply I decided to become a Christian." I also can't express how many people I've heard say, "Because I like drama, dancing, etc. I won't become a Christian. Whenever I get married and I can't do this anymore, I'll go to church." Here recently, God has been challenging me not to think of my work as drama or writing or productions, but instead as 'Creative Ministry'.
The drama that we just preformed was about multiplying what God gives you; to go out and change the world. It supported everything Pastor Florin had to say. The altar call was full of people wanting to be changed, and to change.
We also had our first Micro Kids of the year in Ludest! I love that place. It was almost as if MCR had never taken a break. MCR currently has plans to open one more sight at Doicesti. That means that we will have three Micro Kids sights! Of course, first we have to wait till the weather lightens up. It has been so cold.
One day I was carrying some tea in a one litter bottle from the MCR Building to my apartment. On that ten minuet walk the tea froze. The news had also reported that fifteen people have died from the cold in Romania so far. Most of these are the elderly and homeless. So our director took the guy MCR students, and went to find those who weren't prepared for this cold winter and give them the necessary clothing to survive.
I was told of one story of a woman who said, "I know Jesus sent you. I have kids and they didn't have clothes for the winter." Every time I think of my frozen tea, I become aware of the need for the winter. Somewhere out there are more men, women, and children who are trying to stay warm, as the cold bites at them.
Often times we don't think of the person who feeds the homeless as a hero. Sometimes we only think of the guy who fights monsters in an alleyway as a hero. However, aren't both of them saving a life? Also, a monster can be scared off, however, death, hunger, and cold are always there and relentless. So we, as world changers, need to go out and be that relentless hero, meeting people, where they need help the most.
Adventure.
Well, you gotta start somewhere. So let's start with a little bit of danger. I made mention on my last blog about there being certain alleyways I needed to avoid because of territorial wild dogs. Well, I'm not the only one who needs to be avoiding that alleyway. One day as I was heading home, I hear a blood curdling scream and then a desperate cry for help. So I begin to run directly at the screaming!
At that moment I wasn't sure where the sound was coming from, but I could tell I was getting closer. Eventually I pull around a corner and find a woman surrounded by a pack of dogs. Now these dogs weren't just barking at her, they were lunging and biting at her. Each time one snapped she barely made it out of the way. Her hands were full of groceries and she was swing them with all of her might.
As I began to run to her side I could see that just a street over, many people were walking by and could hear her...but all of them turned their heads and walked away. I was much farther away when I had heard her scream and cry for help, but I was the only one that day who was compelled to come!
So I ran up to her side, tense and ready to do what I needed to. Upon seeing me at this woman's side, the dogs backed off and left her alone. As she picked up her groceries she kept saying, "Thank you" like a skipping record. I stopped her and replied, "Cu Plecere. (With Pleasure)". I have no doubt in my mind that if God hadn't put me there at that time she would have been attacked...the funny thing was, just ten minuets ago I didn't want to head to my apartment, but I felt God's Spirit inside of me, compel me...so I listened...and obeyed.
I have also compiled my MCR drama writing team. Right now it is me, a MCR second year, David Petre, and a MCR first year, Naomi Nicolae. It has been such a blessing to have these guys helping me. I come up with an idea and then they help me expand it! So far our MCR drama team has preformed one drama and is currently working on another.
Now, I want to take a pause here and share a little bit of something God has been speaking to me. I know that sometimes back in The States we think of dramas as something cute that youth perform on a stage. Now, I'm not accusing anybody of this; however, I understand that sometimes we take some things for granted. In a lot of churches here, excluding our home church, Speranta Vietii, who has been so promotional of the arts, most arts are not excepted.
I can't express how many Romanians I've heard say, "I saw a dance, drama, etc. at Speranta Vietii and it touched me so deeply I decided to become a Christian." I also can't express how many people I've heard say, "Because I like drama, dancing, etc. I won't become a Christian. Whenever I get married and I can't do this anymore, I'll go to church." Here recently, God has been challenging me not to think of my work as drama or writing or productions, but instead as 'Creative Ministry'.
The drama that we just preformed was about multiplying what God gives you; to go out and change the world. It supported everything Pastor Florin had to say. The altar call was full of people wanting to be changed, and to change.
We also had our first Micro Kids of the year in Ludest! I love that place. It was almost as if MCR had never taken a break. MCR currently has plans to open one more sight at Doicesti. That means that we will have three Micro Kids sights! Of course, first we have to wait till the weather lightens up. It has been so cold.
One day I was carrying some tea in a one litter bottle from the MCR Building to my apartment. On that ten minuet walk the tea froze. The news had also reported that fifteen people have died from the cold in Romania so far. Most of these are the elderly and homeless. So our director took the guy MCR students, and went to find those who weren't prepared for this cold winter and give them the necessary clothing to survive.
I was told of one story of a woman who said, "I know Jesus sent you. I have kids and they didn't have clothes for the winter." Every time I think of my frozen tea, I become aware of the need for the winter. Somewhere out there are more men, women, and children who are trying to stay warm, as the cold bites at them.
Often times we don't think of the person who feeds the homeless as a hero. Sometimes we only think of the guy who fights monsters in an alleyway as a hero. However, aren't both of them saving a life? Also, a monster can be scared off, however, death, hunger, and cold are always there and relentless. So we, as world changers, need to go out and be that relentless hero, meeting people, where they need help the most.
Adventure.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Like a Really Good Movie Sequel
Well guys, it has been a good two weeks! So many ministry opportunities have happened and already things are bigger, better, stronger, faster than last year. Don't get me wrong, last year was great, but it's good to see that MCR is always growing!First off, let me introduce you guys to the MCR class of 2012 on the picture to the left!
The six at the top are the MCR first year students. From left to right, top to bottom, are Marius Polozache, Bogdan Nitescu, Ionut Baboi, Naomi Nicolae, Esthera Nicolae, and Lidia Petre.
The three on the left are the MCR seconder year students. From left to right they are Oana Neacsu, David Petre, and Autumn Marcell.
The four on the right are the MCR staff and directors. From left to right we are Bianca Doll (staff), Pastor Florin Cucu (Director), Liz Cucu (Co-Director), Niki Nica (Staff), and me (staff).
A few days after the students arrived, they were taken to a mountain side for a retreat called "Face to Face." This retreat is where the students sign their First year and Second year commitments and covenants, where they are oriented on the year's academic schedule, and debriefed on MCR's code of conduct. It is at this retreat also that we spend time getting to know one another and build that family and team atmosphere.
Many of these students had amazing moments with God and found themselves weeping. It had only been just a few days into the year and already these students were being challenged in the presence of God! It was clear that after Face to Face these students were ready to start the year!
Since then the students have been applying themselves to their academics as well as being given the opportunity to discover the gifts, talents, and abilities they've been given.
Stomp team tryouts were just a few days ago, and were lead by Autumn Marcell. Out of the first years, three made it on to the stomp team! The team is comprised of Bogdan, Marius, Naomi, Oana, Autumn, and me.
What has been truly awesome about this stomp team is that it has given the students chances to face insecurities, find Identity, and build confidence! Many of them have been very vocal about how God is using this one event to challenge them in all areas of their life!
Two days after stomp tryouts the students had drama tryouts. As MCR's Fine Arts Coordinator I lead these tryouts. The students had a blast as well as an opportunity to find their gifts. They had opportunities to tell stories, act, be encouraged, and simply be creative.
Right now I'm in the works with developing a writing team, and getting a core group together for this part of the MCR ministry. Along with this I'm also working on a few projects like MCR tour, dramas for our director, Pastor Florin Cucu, and a short film of one person touched by the ministry of MCR last year.
This last project I'm really excited about! To make a long story short, last year Pastor Florin and his wife, Liz, felt the need to help a homeless man out by donating MCR's used plastic bottles to him. Seems simple enough; however, a few months later this man would become a Christian, attend Church, have a home, and have his most basic needs taken care of. I must say that I'm very impressed by how the church body of Speranta Vietii has taken care of him. Especially in a world where no one trusts the homeless guy.
I'm also thoroughly enjoying my apartment and Micro (number 6) that I live in. It has been full of adventure. From almost being jumped to being surrounded by a pack of wild dogs, it is evident that my God is my protector. No one is this lucky, only blessed. I'm also learning that there are some alleyways one should just not take, especially when there are a group of territorial dogs.
Anyway, I miss y'all and wish y'all the best! God bless, and thank you for your time!
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
A New Year with Old Friends
Well, it has been a full week since I arrived here in Romania. It's so good to be back in these stomping grounds. It's refreshing to hear a language other than my own being spoken. And It's been fun speaking back, trying my best to form words and sentences.
On my to Romania I actually sat by a couple who didn't speak english and I had to translate everything they said to the stewardess. Of course, at this point they all thought I was super fluent and the couple began to ask me all sorts of questions about my stay.
I couldn't remember how to say I was a missionary and so I told them I had friends. The way I told them this was a bit strange. I said, "Eu am prieten si prietena." What that translates to is, "I have guy friend and girl friend."
Of course, they hear that I have a girl friend and get supper excited. The wife next to me begins to ask me all sorts of questions about her. Let me just say this, Romanians are very proud of their women.
The wife next to me then asks if my "prietena" is very beautiful. At this it finally dawns on me that they think I have a Romanian girl friend. So i reply, "No, no, no!"
To this she looks confused and says in Romanian, "She's not beautiful?!" Shock was obvious in her face. Not knowing how to explain it all I sighed and said, "Yes my girlfriend is very beautiful." To this she excitedly began to whisper to her husband and then gave me a thumbs up.
New Years Eve was like nothing else! I bounced around from an all-nighter at Efraim Church, a concert with fireworks in the park, and a get together with Sorin Arsene, a first year graduate from last year. He's doing very well by the way.
One of the best things that I've seen, though, since I've been back has been the rewards of last years work. When you leave your mission field you always hope that the candles you lit don't go out and your mission go back to darkness. However, the areas we ministered in have not gone back to darkness but are actually burning brighter! People that had come to Christ last year are still serving him! The MCR first years graduates continued their ministries and in many ways did more! From hospitals to the streets of Targoviste these students are lighting new candles and redeeming this world with Christ! One person at a time!
So, in just a few days the new MCR first year students will arrive. We've been in meetings this week, getting everyone on the same page for the arrival of these new students. The MCR second year students, David, Oana, and Autumn will be the room leaders, being an example of what it means to "Know God and make him known." These guys are going to do awesome!
If you would like to be more up to date with the different things we do throughout the year, MCR has a facebook: M.c.Romania; and a twitter: MCR_Go. Come check us out and all of the things we do. Come be more apart of what we are doing!
Please keep this upcoming year in your prayers. Thank you so much for all of your involvement so far! Let's continue to reach this world for Christ!
On my to Romania I actually sat by a couple who didn't speak english and I had to translate everything they said to the stewardess. Of course, at this point they all thought I was super fluent and the couple began to ask me all sorts of questions about my stay.
I couldn't remember how to say I was a missionary and so I told them I had friends. The way I told them this was a bit strange. I said, "Eu am prieten si prietena." What that translates to is, "I have guy friend and girl friend."
Of course, they hear that I have a girl friend and get supper excited. The wife next to me begins to ask me all sorts of questions about her. Let me just say this, Romanians are very proud of their women.
The wife next to me then asks if my "prietena" is very beautiful. At this it finally dawns on me that they think I have a Romanian girl friend. So i reply, "No, no, no!"
To this she looks confused and says in Romanian, "She's not beautiful?!" Shock was obvious in her face. Not knowing how to explain it all I sighed and said, "Yes my girlfriend is very beautiful." To this she excitedly began to whisper to her husband and then gave me a thumbs up.
New Years Eve was like nothing else! I bounced around from an all-nighter at Efraim Church, a concert with fireworks in the park, and a get together with Sorin Arsene, a first year graduate from last year. He's doing very well by the way.
One of the best things that I've seen, though, since I've been back has been the rewards of last years work. When you leave your mission field you always hope that the candles you lit don't go out and your mission go back to darkness. However, the areas we ministered in have not gone back to darkness but are actually burning brighter! People that had come to Christ last year are still serving him! The MCR first years graduates continued their ministries and in many ways did more! From hospitals to the streets of Targoviste these students are lighting new candles and redeeming this world with Christ! One person at a time!
So, in just a few days the new MCR first year students will arrive. We've been in meetings this week, getting everyone on the same page for the arrival of these new students. The MCR second year students, David, Oana, and Autumn will be the room leaders, being an example of what it means to "Know God and make him known." These guys are going to do awesome!
If you would like to be more up to date with the different things we do throughout the year, MCR has a facebook: M.c.Romania; and a twitter: MCR_Go. Come check us out and all of the things we do. Come be more apart of what we are doing!
Please keep this upcoming year in your prayers. Thank you so much for all of your involvement so far! Let's continue to reach this world for Christ!
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