I Married a Romanian

In 2018 when I first felt called to Romania I was sure that God wanted me here to work with kids in the orphanage system and those who have recently aged out, now I did not know that 3 years later I would be living in Romania, serving with Stepping Forward, and married to a Romanian man.

I met my husband in 2019 on my second mission trip to Romania. I spent 8 weeks at Camp Living Water and let’s just say the pastor and the intern were the talk of the summer! (Kidding there was too much work to be done to talk.) We fell in love serving together and at the end of the summer before I went back to America to fund raise, we began a relationship. After almost 10 months of being apart because of COVID, God found a way to get me to Romania to serve with Stepping Forward for a year as an intern. 2 Months later I was engaged (This is the short version, the long version is epic and just about as cheesy as a Hallmark flick.) I spent the year of 2021 working with aged out orphans in Bucharest, constructing and preparing at Camp, working 5 weeks of summer camp, and planning a wedding. It was chaos, but a good chaos, and through it all our team came together in every way and I could not be more grateful!

Today, I continue to serve as an intern in Romania, after my missionary training in the spring of 2022 I will become a full time missionary with Stepping Forward Ministries! My Husband will continue to volunteer at Camp Living Water as the pastor and this year as the director as well. I wonder what my life will look like 3 years from now…maybe I will have mastered this language by then! (I hope!!) Who knows, but one thing I do know is that God is good, I get to serve with the man I love, in a ministry that I love, doing what I love, for the God who showed me what love is.

1 Chronicles 16:34 (ESV) Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever!

Dacey Măimăscu

What's Gonna Work?...Teamwork! #Wonderpets

“Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Teamwork has always been important. We heard as children, “teamwork makes the dream work” or “there is no “I” in team.” Our teachers and parents always said during clean up time “work together, the faster you get it done the sooner you can play.” That is still true today, when we work hard there is usually a reward at the end. As a child it was playtime, a treat, or tv privileges. In my teen years it was time with my friends. As a young adult it became money, but when it comes to working as a team, what is the “good reward” that Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 is talking about?

After this last month here at Stepping Forward Ministries, I have seen what this team can accomplish together. I saw six of us drop everything and come together to help a family in need in a small village nearby. I witnessed the importance of community when we went to visit an orphanage and several friends volunteered to come help, play, and translate. I felt the stress of a building time crunch at camp but the relief as I saw my people around me working and accomplishing so much.

I can see rewards in all of these acts of kindness and teamwork. I see the blessings that came from it, the love that was shared, the lives that we helped, the lessons that we learned; but the “good reward” that I received this last month, was just the value of having worked together in unison. The harmony that was created in fellowship, working as one people, individually but together. Lord knows that we are strongest when we work together, and as it says in 1 Corinthians 12:14, “For the body is not one member, but many.” We can’t support the body on our own, we need a team to help us accomplish God’s will and I’m grateful for the team I have here at Stepping Forward.  

Dacey Mccombs

Feeling Nostalgic

Because it’s cold outside, I can’t see the kids as much as I wish to, and I’m missing summer, I am going to share a blog I wrote last summer…oh goodness, two summers ago! Can we just pretend 2020 summer didn’t happen? Just kidding, God blessed me so much over the summer and I don’t want to lose that. Anyway, this is from 2019 after I returned home from my summer internship at camp.

Trust and Obey

Hi, my name is Dacey and I am a procrastinator. I mastered the art of procrastination at a very young age. As a teenager I would always do my homework at the very last second, or finish a ten page paper that was due the next day at 4 in the morning. There must be something about the rushed, sweaty, stressful last minute scramble that just really gets me. Now, as an adult, well, adultish, I have learned that to this day, no matter how important something is, I ALWAYS wait until the very last moment to face it. This includes when God calls me to do something.

In July of 2018 I spent one week in Romania at Camp Living Water with my team from Texas. When I left, I felt a draw to go back, a very strong and sure pull that I knew God was telling me to come back. I didn’t know exactly what it meant or what it would entail, but I knew the Lord was not finished with me in Romania. So over the next year I prayed for Romania every day, the country, the people I met, the children I fell in love with, and the camp. However, I didn’t pray about why God continued to put Romania so strongly on my heart. (Because that would have made this too easy.)

A year later, I unsurprisingly found myself flying back to Romania with my team to spend two weeks at the camp.. But by the 2nd week, I had the same sense as before that God was telling me “You are not finished here.” However this time, He did not give me the chance to go back to the comfort and security of my home where I could overthink it and back out. Instead, the Holy Spirit persistently worked on my heart and mind, so much so, that the thought of going back home that week felt almost impossible. 

Each morning during my quiet time with the Lord, He would reveal to me that staying at camp was His will for me. However, I am a stubborn human being, therefore, I decided I needed more confirmation. (Just in case.) So I prayed the Lord would instead SHOW me that He wanted me to stay. (I wanted some sort of confirmation outside of my own brain because I did not trust what was going on in there!) Thankfully God was and is so gracious and patient that He chose to humor me and answer my prayer. That morning, at breakfast, the director of the camp sat across from me and presented me with the opportunity to stay and intern for the rest of the summer at the camp. (You would think the decision would have been easy to make by now, however, don’t underestimate the power of fear.) Instead of letting go and trusting God, I chose to try and convince myself this could not be Him. I did this by using the oh so dignified tactics of arguing and excuses.  

“But God, I only packed for two weeks?” “There is a washing machine here, come on you can do better than that.”

“But God what if they don’t like me and I’m stuck here all summer?” “You have already made friends here. Besides, your worth is in me.”

“But God, I already have a ticket to go home in just a few days?” “Tickets can be changed.”

“But God, how will I be able to afford to stay I didn’t plan for this?” “No, but I did. I provided you with the funding from the gifts you’ve already received.”

“But God what about my job back home?” “I will provide.”

“But God this is a whole other country, a different language, a different culture, how can I do this?” “ Do you trust me? Am I not bigger than these things?”

In that moment, after throwing all of my very “convincing” excuses at Him, God reminded me of His promises and truth in Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Whatever God calls us to do, it is and always will be for our own good. He is fully prepared to provide  and be there through it all, to never leave or forsake us. (Deuteronomy 31:6) The enemy tried to cloud my mind using my insecurities and fear of the unknown in an attempt to prevent me from choosing God. Satan, and our flesh, can make us fear following God so easily because our hearts can be deceived and we can let our emotions rule our thoughts and actions. When I chose to fully surrender and trust Him, I was able to recognise that my fears and feelings were clouding my faith in Christ. Then I was able to make the decision to instead trust in His promises and obey His commands rather than my own feelings. Four days before it was time for me to fly home, I told the director that I wanted to stay for the summer. Once I finally declared it out loud, I could feel the weight of the spiritual battle lift from my chest, and the Holy spirit filled me with peace and joy.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,

 but against the rulers, against authorities,

 and against the powers of this dark world and

 against the spiritual forces of evil

 in the heavenly realm 

- Ephesians 6:12

Dacey McCombs

Taking Back Control (or giving it up?)

All of my life, I have had an easy going mindset. I was very flexible when it came to plans and schedules. You could have decided we should go hiking as we are walking out the door dressed in heels and a dress and I would have said “okay cool, give me five minutes to change.” I didn’t see the point in getting worked up over a little change, it’s going to happen in our lives everyday whether we want it or not. Something my family always said was “God looks at our plans and laughs.” I can attest to this. For example, 

• I planned to go on a mission trip to Africa in high school, then Isis happened.
  

• I planned go to college to get my nursing degree, then I ended up nannying and working at a school. (discovering my love for working with kids)
  

• I planned to go back to college when I moved to Texas in 2018, then I was called to Romania to work with orphans.
  

• I planned on marrying a green or blue eyed man that I met somewhere nay ANYWHERE in America, and now I am in love and engaged to a (handsome) brown eyed Romanian that I met here in Romania.
  

This is my life, so why bother getting upset about change when you could look at it as a little unexpected adventure or challenge? 

(Well, this is how I used to think)

After moving to Romania 4 months later than I planned during an unexpected pandemic to work with children in orphanages that we couldn’t go see, I had taken on the terrible habit of scheduling and planning out my days (mainly through lists.) Now, many of you would say “this isn’t such a bad thing Dacey, it’s actually great,” others might say (as I do) “how did you manage to go from not being a planner to being a compulsive scheduler during a time when everything can change at the drop of a hat?” Well, my friends, the answer is artificial control. I say artificial because I’m still not in control of anything if I really think about it, (which I like to avoid thinking about). However, the feeling that I get when I write the smallest details such as, “7:30 a.m. wake up”  and I succeed in this achievement in 2020/21 I feel extremely accomplished about my life.  

The problem with this, is that control became my crutch during these hard times. Instead of running to God, I would go make a list of things to do, or write something in my planner that I KNEW I could achieve. I wanted to do something to make myself feel good because I wasn’t trusting that the Lord had that ability. I didn’t trust that God was STILL in control. My tiny accomplishments became my idols. 

I think during 2020 many of us had this mindset of, “well this gives me a chance to spend more time with the Lord and work on my relationship with Him.” When in reality, we all felt so out of control during this time that we needed to find something that made us feel like things were going to be okay. Some things I did for example were, remodeling my RV, reorganizing the pantry, going through the place and getting rid of clutter, working out, etc. None of these things are bad, but when I use them to distract myself and to take back control of my life by MYSELF, that’s when they became a problem.

Thankfully, I came to my senses and knew that I was not dealing with this very well, and the peace, security, and joy that I was looking for through my own control, were faltering. So I turned to God and opened His word to 1 Peter 5:6 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because her cares for you.” God cares for me, my lists don’t care for me, nor does my planner, and nor do my accomplishments. I had to admit to the Lord that I don’t understand any of this. I feel completely out of control in my life, this year has been so hard, and no matter how many things I accomplish on my lists or how well I follow my schedule, it will never make me feel the TRUE security, peace, and joy that comes from the Lord. So as I serve here in Romania for Stepping Forward Ministries, working with children that I cannot meet with right now, I choose to turn to the Lord. I choose to humble myself before Him and admit that nothing I do will change this, I choose to cast my anxieties, fears, and doubts on Him, and I choose to trust Him and His timing. And God never breaks His promises. (2 Corinthians 1:20, Psalm 33:4, 1 Corinthians 1:9, Joshua 21:45, Romans 4:21, Lamentations 2:17, and more)

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.

 I do not give to you as the world gives. 

Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” 

John 14:27

Dacey McCombs

The God of All Comfort

Praise be to the God and Father of of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.  For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.

2 Corinthians 1:3-5

I have to admit, I love comfort.  I know that God is the God of all comfort.  I even thank Him for my bed, my pillow, my blanket, etc.  (I do love my sleep)  I even pray for those who don’t have any of those things.  I worry about those without a coat or other warm garments and other necessities.  I want them to be comfortable.  Like me.  And then I read the verse again and realize I don’t get it.  

After this whole Coronavirus outbreak, I have to admit - my comfort zone was wrecked a bit.  I had a thought of “I want to go home!” but quickly realized that would be the worst thing I could do. Traveling back to the states when several travelers were getting sick and taking it home to my mom would be pretty selfish of me.  And then I felt God’s comfort of knowing we were to stay right where we were.  God Himself would use us here during this mess so we could comfort those with the same comfort He gives us.  And I realized it’s not about the comfy mattress or pillow.  It’s about the suffering.  

I have sat here wondering if I can talk about this.  Suffering.  Do I want to suffer?  NO WAY! Have I suffered in my life?  Yes.  Have I been able to comfort those who have gone through what I had?  Yes.  A resounding yes.  But it doesn’t mean I want to suffer more.  The thought of getting a virus that could put me in the hospital here scares me.  The thought of being put in a hotel for “supervision” because I have symptoms scares me.  The thought of someone coming to my apartment to test me after testing several others who might have the virus scares me.  

And you know what? God’s word has 365 verses about every day that I have fear.  “Be strong and courageous.”  God comforted me with the fact that my days are in His hands.  If he takes me home or allows me to catch this virus, then He allows it.  I’ve had scarlet fever, pneumonia, been sick with fevers more than a dozen times, had surgeries, bad chicken pox, etc.  and you know what?  God was with me EVERY single time.  And I am still here.  One day, He will take me home to be with Him forever.  I find such incredible comfort in that. And I know that He is in charge of all my days.  So friends, take comfort in the fact that God will never leave you nor forsake you.  Even if you catch a virus.    

This fact does not diminish the pain of loss and suffering.  The pain is real and people are dying.  Healthy people.  Not healthy people.  Rich people.  Poor people.  Middle class people.  Young.  Old.  I wish I could tell you that you won’t get it.  I wish I could say I won’t get it.  I wish I could comfort you in that you will live through it if you do get it.  But the only comfort that I know is True and Real is that God is with you.  

My question to you is, Are you with Him?  He created you and me for fellowship.  He longs to spend time with YOU, His creation.  I ask you, I beg you to cry out to Jesus today and tell Him all your worries, your fears, your thanks, your happy times, your sad times, EVERYTHING. He listens.  He HEARS.  This is real comfort to me.  Praying it will be for you as well.  Comfort is knowing He loves you.  Nothing can change that.  But one day you will stand before Him and will He have known you?   

Jeremiah 29:12-13 “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Mathew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Camp! 7 Weeks!! Of CAMP!!!

What a wild, wonderful ride camp was!  As I’ve been looking at all the pictures from camp and posting (finally-almost 5 weeks after camp), I realize how much I miss all these beautiful, precious children!!  Not only did we get to spend time with the ones we minister to on a weekly basis but we also got to meet several from around the country of Romania.  Did I mention how precious they were?!? 

When you wonder how in the world you will survive 7 weeks of a camp for children, God shows up in miraculous ways and gives you WAY more energy than you thought you could ever have!!

God has been preparing me and working on my perseverance for a while because I’m that crazy person that needs and thrives on 9 hours of sleep.  I have been going to youth camps for a while as a sponsor with our church and always wondered if I’d ever make it to the end of the week.  And then the week was over and I thrived! - Or when you need to drive across the US to take kids to camp and you actually make it - Or when God asks you to go on your first mission trip and you give Him every excuse in the books of why you can’t go and yet you do great -   Or have I mentioned moving across the world??  To a cold place, when you don’t like being cold?? And yet you haven’t frozen??  Yup.  There are lots more stories of God’s faithfulness and help.  So here’s the point – GOD can help you with whatever He asks you to do!!!  Camp was no exception! I enjoyed so many different aspects of camp and fell in love with the kiddos, the staff and the wonderful teams that came in to help.  It was truly a blessed summer! Even without sleep!! (for those of you who know me – this is a Huge deal!)  

Spending the week with these kids was something we will treasure in our hearts forever as it was amazing!  Saying goodbye at the end of the week… not so much.  And at the end of camp, I wrote this:

“Today is just hard. The end of camp came swiftly.  When you’re in the midst of camp, there is the anticipation that you will eventually sleep.  And sleep in.  And enjoy sleep.  Seven weeks is a long time at first.  But then…It’s over.  Everyone is crying.  Everyone is trying to somehow stay connected.  We are all hugging each other wishing for more time together.”

The good thing is we have made heart connections with the kids and the staff and plan on keeping in contact with them. The fact that you pray and give, allows us to be the people on the ground to give them the actual hugs and smiles they so desperately need.  And it’s all for the glory of the one who allows us to be here, Jesus Christ, my Help and Reedemer.  Even without sleep. 

Not Wrong. Just Different!

Like I’ve said in one of my prior blogs…”It’s not wrong, just different.” So this blog will set out to explain some of these differences, quirks, and outright “Huh??”  things we have experienced personally. Some things have become so commonplace they no longer seem weird to us, but I’m reminded by incoming teams of some pretty funny and different things about visiting or living here in Romania.  Now that we have been here for 8 months, we’ve gotten used to most of these things, but thinking about them still makes us laugh!

·         The light switches are outside the bathroom. Why is that funny? Ask any practical jokers why this would be fun for them!

·         When you climb into a bed in Europe and reach for the top sheet – you won’t find one. They actually have duvet covers and don’t use a top sheet.

·         Most of the elevators are very small and have a floor trigger like an old land mine.  In order for them to know you are in them, there is a click sound and slight drop like you’ve just triggered a land mine and expect to blow up any minute. At least in our apartment and several others that are older.

·         Seasonings come in little packets, not large containers. So in order to bake or cook, I sometimes have to buy several small packets just to make one dish.

·         The longest fast food lines are McDonald’s or KFC, particularly in the many malls of Bucharest.  I always ask myself, “WHY??” because the local food here is really good!

·         I like to use washrags in the kitchen and bathroom. They mainly have small hand towels, or bath towels but I finally found a few at a hardware store. Go figure. Never would have thought to look there!

·         If you want to buy a dryer similar to the ones in America, there is only one…ONE!!! The majority of dryers, or uscators, are more of a dehumidifier requiring a water trough be emptied after each load.

·         Sidewalks are dual purpose as walking areas, and parking lots. Bucharest was woefully unprepared for the explosion of car owners after the fall of Communism. So, yes, we often park on the sidewalk.  It was a challenge to learn how to get up on the curb in a stick shift!

·         Heating is a city decision. Hot water is supplied to each building during the winter months.  It’s sort of a floating date depending upon the outside temperatures…and what each sector’s government decides.  We are thankful that heat rises as we wait for our radiators to fill up to provide heat.

·         We live on the 8th floor and it takes the longest to get hot water because it has to fill the other floors pipes first. So, we always tell visitors if they want a hot shower, take one at night because in the morning—there are No guarantees!

·         Most cars here have horns and they use them a lot.  A “beep beep here, a beep beep there!” Probably because it is a little button on the end of the turn signal instead of the middle of the steering wheel. Very convenient for honking! (I’m enjoying using mine ;P)

·         Driving here is like playing a live action of “Mario Cart.” Seriously!

·         Instead of a 4 lane highway, there are one and a half lanes on each side.  This sometimes necessitates playing chicken with oncoming cars as you try to pass in the left lane. Yikes!

·         Sometimes cars pass the crosswalk and traffic light so they have to wait for someone to honk at them to let them know the light turned green. This one is STILL funny!

·         My personal favorite is making a left turn where vehicles will stack up six wide to turn into two lanes.  You gotta be fast, and stay alert at all times. (Phil)

When and if you come to visit, we will be happy to laugh with you as you experience these things yourself!

Not only do we get a giggle out of “different” things here, there are several things we LOVE about Romania!

·         The People.  Once you get to know them and they get to know you, they are very inviting and giving and have a great sense of family.  I love seeing grandmas with their grandchild/children. And when you smile at a stranger, it really seems to make their day!

·         The FOOD!! Not only do several restaurants have amazing local foods, when we are walking home, we want people to invite us over because it smells sooooo Good!

·         The culture here is rich in history and some of the architecture is phenomenal. You can see amazing structures many places where you walk. I’m always stopping to take pictures of new buildings I see and falling behind Phil.  Yah, he loses me occasionally…

·         The parks help provide public spaces, giving an inviting feel for everyone.  In the winter, one of them even has an ice skating rink. And several parks have water displays, playgrounds, ponds, paddle boats, restaurants and lots of other attractions.  Bumper cars is always fun!

·         Traveling around Romania is very inexpensive.  We had the privilege of traveling to Timisoara (it was beautiful by the way!)  for $29 each to visit a friend from our Texas church. And train tickets are anywhere from $5-$20 depending on where you go. Ready, set, GO!

·         Romania has four seasons!  Those of you in Texas or anywhere in the south might have to look up the definition in the dictionary. It’s not just a hotel.

·          Spending time with orphaned and abandoned children has been the Best!  They bless us every time with their hugs and smiles.

·         I love that Romania, especially the huge town of Bucharest, has gotten me out of my comfort zone. (A quick note-I have not Always been thankful but God’s been working on me!)  Yes, I am thankful!  “If you want to walk on water, you’ve gotta get out of the boat!”

So, here is a picture of some things that are just different. Not wrong, just Different!  We could cry over some things that have been challenging, but we choose to laugh and enjoy all that God has blessed us with as we follow His calling.  I bet if some of our friends from here visited the States, they could write a similar blog!  Love to all!

Phil and Ronda Barnes

A Magical Christmas

“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” Luke 2:19                                      

  That’s how I felt over Christmas. I pondered so many things in my heart, wondering how it would be getting to spend Christmas here with the orphans but not spending it with my family. Would I make it through with shining colors or would I melt into a “woe is me” because I’m in a foreign country without most of my family?  I guess that’s where God wanted me because He and I had such precious conversations.  It’s amazing how God can minister to our hearts through His Spirit at the exact time you need it- Even when there’s a little “whine” in your voice and heart.

  To be honest, I made it through and had a great Christmas!  It truly was a magical time even though I was missing my family.  It was so much fun shopping for the orphans with Cami and Rachael and watching them open their gifts at each of their Christmas parties!  I felt so privileged to be here during this precious time! Watching some of the children open their gifts and helping the others open their gifts because they had never received a gift was mind blowing.  Don’t get me wrong, I’ve seen kids open gifts, but this….this was so different.  I was truly blown away how the older ones were just so thankful to get shampoo, deodorant, and body wash. They are so thankful for things we just take for granted.  It reminded me that everything I have is truly a gift from my Loving Heavenly Father.  

I realized and pondered during this time that in this life we have choices.  Do I follow God or not? Do I choose to be content or miserable wherever He calls? Do I choose Him or do I choose myself?  More times than I care to admit, I choose myself and my feelings.  I have asked Jesus to help me to choose Him and His purpose over mine, but I have to admit, there are days that I just cave and feel sorry for myself.  Then, I watch these precious children find such joy in what I think are “small” things and the joy they have every time we visit, I’m reminded that it’s about God’s love to the world through me and everyone that calls Jesus Lord.

May we all find our greatest purpose in living and loving through His purposes and supernatural power as we seek His will for our lives and not our own. 

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”  Galatians 2:20

 Ronda Barnes

Pride and Obedience

I have pride issues.  I know, I know.  You are saying, “Don’t we all?”  Well, yes, we do.  But God has been dealing with me.  One of my favorite lines in “The Rookie” is when Lorri (Rachel Griffiths) said, “Jim Morris, I’m a Texas woman, which means I don’t need the help of a man to keep things running.”

I’ve always felt I could do anything.  By myself!  Like a little two year old stomping her feet saying, “I do it myself!!” And it’s not like I can’t do things if I put my mind to it.  Sometimes though, as I’m realizing, I need help.  Well, fast forward to a foreign country, and add a big city, in a foreign language, and I can be a big hot mess.  We Americans, especially myself, pride ourselves on Individuality.  I’m still that person who likes to be able to drive herself anywhere she wants to go… Go to the store and buy what she needs when needed…Take care of bills, etc… By MYSELF.

Unfortunately, and fortunately (because God disciplines those He loves) I can’t seem to do any of those things here.  I have needed help at every turn.  I have no sense of direction and when the Moovit app or gps doesn’t work or I don’t understand it, I need help. When we drive and don’t understand how to get around, we need guidance.  When we need to pay bills, our landlord and Cami and David have to show us how. When I go to the store and can’t read and understand the language and need a particular item or medicine, I have to rely on English speakers to help. Ugh!!!

But God.  But God comes in and shows me Himself.  He shows me that I’ve been relying too much on myself and not leaning on Him.  And the truth is, if I’m not leaning on Him, especially here in Romania where everything is different and harder for me, how in the world am I to dream BIG? How is He supposed to carry out His plans if I’m trying to rely on my strength for everything?  It won’t happen!! I do not have the skills or fortitude to push and try to make things happen.  And I am so GLAD!

As we look at a new year and continuing to seek God’s will for us here, my goal is to listen more and really lean in so I can be a part of His plan.  I don’t want to serve, just to serve.  I really want to focus in on Him and His dreams for these precious people here and what part we are supposed to play. 

Our hearts have leaned toward the older orphans.  What will they do when they leave the orphanage at 18? What opportunities do they have? What help will they have with life skills?  We are seeking God to see if this is the area He wants us to focus on. Please pray for us as we sit at His feet and seek His will.

As you start your new year, I pray that you will seek His will for your life and that you will dream BIG and watch what God does in Your midst! I’ve heard that if your dreams can be accomplished by yourself, you haven’t dreamt big enough. If they can only be accomplished with God, you are on the right track!

“To live in the will of God will always cost us our pride. Pride and God’s will are in the direct opposition.”

First 15 Devotional

Ronda Barnes

It's Time To Dance!

Eight Weeks!

Phil and I left Texas, our home, eight weeks ago.  We moved directly into our beautiful apartment which Cami Mather found us, went shopping for necessities with Cami and Rachael, and started our “Bucharest Bingo”; an ingenious way to help us learn to get around a city of 2 Million people and to learn about the culture.  I have to admit, it has been very daunting for me!  I grew up on a farm and have lived in small towns all of my life. But as God calls, He equips.  I am slowly able to get out on my own and not getting too lost! 

When God called us to move to Romania, it was before Hurricane Harvey.  Our community of Rockport/Aransas Pass took a direct hit, and we weren’t sure how we could answer His call; there was still so much to do at home and in our community.  But God...But God had a plan and He was going to see His plan through. Our Church and friends were still willing to support us financially and our family still supportive of God’s calling on our lives.  So, after cleaning up our yard, fixing our home, getting our daughter and son married, and traveling to see family before we left, we packed up a few items and headed to Bucharest.  (Yes, we had two weddings this past summer, but we are still alive!)

A lot of people, including orphans, ask us why in the world we would be willing to leave the plush and comfort of the US and come to Romania?  Especially to work with the downtrodden? JESUS.  Simply Jesus. He has placed in our hearts a love for those He loves; a people He wants to call His children. My heart has not always felt this way.  I have been, and can still be, a very selfish kind of person. Just ask my husband! It’s easy for me to look out for number one!

 I had dreams and desires that had nothing to do with God’s desires. Don’t get me wrong; I loved Him. I just wanted to live my life my way. I wanted to do what I wanted to do. I wanted to spend my money on what I wanted. I believed in missions. My oldest daughter Nicole, from the age of 7, talked about being a missionary.  My sister Janet talked about being a missionary from a very young age as well and was a missionary in Japan for a summer. I wanted to help people, just on my terms.

As our church, First Baptist of Rockport, started making changes on how we served, I attended the Serve Team meeting.  I was already on the Missions committee with retired missionary Doc Edwards. Our church was changing some committees into Teams so that anyone that was interested could join in where they felt led. Somehow, my big mouth landed me the title of Serve Team Leader. So, I started to read every book on missions. I asked Doc for guidance constantly, to which he would so patiently answer all my questions. After all, I would need to know something as my oldest child had her heart set on missions, and I couldn’t lead a Team of something I knew very little about.

Our Youth Pastor, Jordan Mims, attended the meetings and we quickly adopted him as “Our Missions Pastor”.  He has a huge heart for missions and planned his first mission trip for our church to Honduras.  I prayed whether I should go since my youngest daughter Brittany begged me to, due to the fact that she was too young to go without a parent. I felt God’s call to go much to my chagrin.  I told the Lord I couldn’t go because I was gluten free, because my heart fluttered if I didn’t get enough sleep, because…. I had all kinds of excuses, but I gave in and went to Honduras with both of our girls.  This was a huge turning point for me. 

We were worshiping one night at a Team meeting, and I knelt on the floor, ugly cried, and repented of my selfishness. Something happened to me that evening-I wanted to give everything-all of me to the One who loved me so dearly.  I wanted to serve Him any way He wanted me to serve. My heart came alive and I knew that God was doing something new in me. When we got home, (imagine that! I survived!) the girls and I were so excited about our trip and all that had happened in our hearts that Phil and PJ went with us to Honduras the next time our church went.  My whole family realized what it was like for us to serve the One we were supposed to serve, not ourselves.

Phil and I started to pray about what God was placing on our hearts.  It was a stirring we couldn’t ignore. We tried!  We went on with our lives, kept serving at our church, ministering at our jobs, and seeking the Lord quietly.  After Phil’s car accident in June 2014, we prayed more fervently.  We knew God kept him alive for a reason so we started having meetings with our pastors, asking for prayer and guidance.  Our children and my mom would gather with Phil and I and pray for discernment. Looking back, it was such a precious time!  Over a few years, we finally had answers.

We as a church, came to Romania in 2016 and served with IMB missionaries Dwayne and Donna Brown the first summer, and then came back the next summer and helped Steve and Cami at Camp Living Water. Cami and I had a heart to heart talk and she shared with me about Stepping Forward’s Intern program. We also heard from a Romanian missionary couple that was helping at the camp who needed help and encouragement in their ministry.  Phil and I looked at each other, (that knowing way between couples), and felt like this was it. This is where God wanted us to serve. It was an exciting feeling that God was finally showing us what we were to do after years of praying, and a sinking feeling too. Leaving our families would be hard.  But God reminded me that He is to be worshiped. Not my family. Him and Him alone.  

So, here we are!  In Romania!  Sometimes, I feel it should be harder. I know we will have hard times - It’s part of ministry and life in general, but I feel like I should be struggling more, (granted I’m struggling with not having a great sense of direction) but in my quiet time with Jesus, I asked Him if it was wrong to be ok. To be doing good. You know what I felt in my spirit? It’s Time To Dance!!  I’m in God’s will and I’m here serving Him full time. It’s my Dream Job! So, with Jesus right by my side and me by His side, and with the precious prayers of friends and family, we are doing Great!  So, please keep praying for us because they are working!   

We are so very thankful that God uses willing vessels for His Glory. To God Be the Glory!!

�1

Our crazy FBC Rockport Team at Camp Living Waters, July 2018!

Loving Beyond Language Barriers

Hello! My name is Sarah Finnie and I am interning with Stepping Forward Ministries during this fall. I am a senior at Gordon College in Boston, MA and hope to continue to work with children on the mission field when I graduate. Below are some thoughts from my first few weeks of visiting one of the orphanages in Bucharest.

I don't speak Romanian. Sometimes I even question my ability to speak English when I'm especially tired.

But I've been learning a few things about how to communicate with and love children well even if you don't speak the language. 

 

 

Little ones are the easiest to connect with. Smiles, hugs and thumbs up when someone does a good job always make sense. Teenagers are harder. You want so badly to be able to have a conversation with them but settle for hand gestures and laughs when you don't understand.

 

 

I think that all kids, but especially ones that come from difficult backgrounds or grow up in orphanages just want to be noticed. They want that connection with another person. That's why smiles and hugs make such a difference- because through simple actions you are saying to them:

You are loved. You are important. I see you.

 

But most of all, God sees them. 

"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"  Matthew 6:26

He knows the heart of every child in Romania and in the world. God knows the hurts that they have experienced and he cares more than we could ever imagine. 

 

"Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation."

Psalm 68:5

 My greatest hope when working with kids is that a child is able to experience the love of God through me. What an incredible blessing it is to be used by God. The fact that he desires to include us in the story of redeeming the brokenness in this world will forever leave me in awe. 

-Sarah Finnie

When God Tells You to Wait

Hi everyone! This is Maria, back with another post. I'm a little over four months into an internship here, in case you have no clue who I am. :)

Today, I wanted to write about something that happens to many people. Waiting. Waiting is commonplace, even in the fast-paced world we live in today. Over the course of an average lifetime, a person spends about six months waiting in line. And that's just physically waiting.

About a month ago, I found myself in one of these awful waiting periods. I had just come off the physical, mental, emotional roller coaster that is camp and I was eagerly awaiting the start of fall ministry. After About two days of downtime, I felt that I was fully recovered from seven weeks of working at camp and ready to take on the next chapter. 

Well, God had other plans. A couple weeks went by and plans fell through and ministries didn't answer emails and calls and I was...still waiting. Other than a few apartment and orphanage visits, I had nothing on my calendar approaching except a trip to Greece on September 8th. And it was August 20th. And I was tired of waiting.

You see, I am the kind of person who enjoys being busy. Not the stressful, I-don't-even-have-time-breathe kind of busy, but the kind of busy that fills my days and keeps me active. But God, as usual, threw me off by having me just wait for those few weeks. And now, I am at the point where I am grateful for that period of idleness.

In case you don't know, or are like me and forget, God knows everything and He always knows what's best for you. And if you end up in a situation that is uncomfortable for you or challenging for you, He will bring you through it. You may not see it at the time (like me), but He is present even in the hardest and loneliest of times. Unlike everything else in this life, He will never leave us or forsake us (Deut. 31:6).

I hope you were encouraged by what I've shared with you today and are having a great fall, like me. :)

Maria

Fall Beginnings

Hello everyone! I hope you're all adjusting to your fall schedules as school starts back and everybody starts getting busy again. :) I am currently in my second week of fall ministry here in Bucharest, but I'll only focus on the first week for this post. It's nice to be writing here again, and us interns will be updating regularly this fall.

The beginning of my week (last Sunday) was a rough day for me. I was uncertain about fall plans and we were going to visit the orphanage, and I just was not in the right frame of mind to go there. You see, going to the orphanage is hard in many ways. First of all, it is located in a very impoverished area of Bucharest called Ferentari. Ferentari is mostly slum-like apartment buildings and run-down stores. The people you pass on the street look desperate and sad. When you get to the orphanage, it's surrounded by a twenty foot wall...not the most welcoming sight. There's graffiti and it overall does not look like a place for children.

Once inside the orphanage, kids surround us and ask a million questions and give us a million hugs--my favorite part. :) We had brought a craft and we set it up for the kids, who went to work right away. This part of the visit went smoothly. I helped this little cutie, Georgiana, on her craft...

Georgiana is adorable and so tiny. She's only 5 or 6 years old, and the thought of her living in this institution with very little chance of ever being adopted breaks my heart. Another thing about her is that she calls everyone "mama". When you think about the fact that she doesn't even know what that means, you end up crying on the phone to your parents for thirty minutes (I mean, maybe that happened). :)

Anyway, yes, last Sunday was a very hard day for me. But it was only one hard day out of 100 or so happy days I've had here. And God does bring little things into your life to encourage you, such as messages from friends and family at just the right time (you know who you are). Also, the next morning in my quiet time, I read Ephesians 1:5-10, which says,

"...in love, He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the     purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His purpose, which He set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth."

What a great passage. It came as a breath of fresh air that Monday morning and I have had the most encouraging week! 

Monday and Tuesday, my new roommate Sarah and I explored Bucharest a little bit, since she just arrived last Friday the 19th.

Wednesday and Thursday, we visited the kids who are in apartments. Only four apartments total, because we aren't allowed to visit some of the kids until school starts back September 12th. It was really encouraging to have conversations with these older kids and hear that they all finished school and passed their grades.

Saturday, we visited the orphanage again. I think Saturday is going to be our regularly scheduled visiting time for the rest of fall. I got to see Georgiana again. She was eating a chocolate croissant. :)

Thank you guys for reading this update! I can't wait to continue posting here this fall throughout my remaining time in Romania.

-Maria

A Month

One month. 4.5 weeks. 30 days. 730 hours. 43,829 minutes. 2,629,743 seconds. And 2,629,744. And 2,629,745. That's how long I've been in this amazing country called Romania. It's been one amazing month. 

In this one month out of 12 in this year, I've seen temperatures here in Romania swing from 70 degrees in May to 90+ degrees now, in late June. The grass at camp has gotten greener. The days will start becoming shorter now as summer reaches its peak. Seasons are changing...even over the course of a month. 

This emphasizes how quickly earthly things pass away. That is all in direct contrast with our God. He is unchanging. Think about that for a bit. Unchanging. It can hurt your head after a while, right? 

I think this is because we humans are completely used to change. Sometimes, we crave change. Even in daily life. We buy new clothes every season, even if we don't REALLY need them. We trade in our "old" car for a new one, just because that car is new. It's different. And while a bit a variety is great, for some things there needs to be commitment. Things like marriage. Church membership. Raising children. And perhaps most importantly, a relationship with an unchanging God. Because since He doesn't change, our relationship with Him doesn't need to change. It only needs to grow deeper as we learn from HIm.

---

The book Dug Down Deep by Joshua Harris was my inspiration for this post. I haven't even gotten halfway through it, and I already have a dozen bookmarks on great points. I strongly encourage you to read it, especially if you come from a Christian home and have been in church all your life.

I hope all of you reading this are well!

Love, Maria :)

Day by Day...

Hey everyone! It's Ruth again... and unfortunately this is the last time I'll be writing to ya'll this summer. It's been insane how time has absolutely flown by here - and I only have three more days left of this particular Jesus adventure! Because my time is growing short here, I feel this intense need to proclaim each and every lesson that I have discovered under the guidance of my Savior. But every time that I seem to compose a few paragraphs attempting to convey the thoughts He's laid on my heart, the words become my own. So, rather than overwhelming you with lessons that I've only begun to scratch the surface of for myself, I'm going to tell you the simple truths that He has given me the words to explain. 

My prayer for the time spent in Romania was to see Jesus' face from this country. Have you ever looked at a prayer after a while and realized just how small it was? Because that's what I've been realizing over these past days... my original prayer was so small. I wanted to see His face. But.

I haven't just seen His face - I've seen His smile in the laughter of the gypsy children of the Scoala Rut (Ruth School). I've smelled His sweetness in the wild flowers on the side of the road we've driven from the city to camp. I've felt His very breath in the wind of the mountains surrounding the camp we've worked at to prepare for this summer. I've sensed His heart break over the broken hearts of the begging children under the city bridges. Each and every day has revealed more of His character than I have discovered before. 

Let me be completely transparent for a moment... I have known about the Lord since my earliest childhood memories - and when that knowledge finally turned into a real and personal walk with Him, I loved Him passionately. But I've discovered that as each and every day reveals more of His character, my love for Him in the days before appear as nothing. 

I am tempted to say that I've fallen in love with this country and the people that inhabit it - but that wouldn't be true. To me, to fall is to suggest that you have no control over your actions. It implies that you sort of tripped into loving someone or something. And that isn't the case with this country. I haven't fallen into anything. I've walked decidedly further into love with this place and these people more and more day by day. And you know... the reason that I have been able to walk further into love is because I've walked further into love with the Creator of this place and these people. 

"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." (1 John 4:8) 

The truth is... without knowing the characteristics of Christ, I don't know love. My prayer at the beginning of this adventure was to see the face of Jesus from Romania. I already have told you that He has revealed so much more than His face... I've seen His heart for His people. Without knowing Him, there would be no way that I could claim to have walked into love with this place and these people. But because I love Him... I love them. 

You know, the prayer to see His face from another country was the catalyst that He needed to show me further His various characteristics in order for me to confidently and boldly walk into love with Romania. It was a prayer that began in September of 2015... and this journey is coming to an end...

But that prayer isn't. It was because of that prayer that the Lord stirred my heart for His people here in Romania. It was because of that prayer that I discovered attributes of Christ that I hadn't taken the time to see before. So this is my final thought and my final promise... 

Day by day I will pray to see the face of Jesus. Day by day I will cling to the Provider of any smile, breath, or heartbreak given to me. Day by day I will serve Him. Day by day I will praise Him. Day by day I will love Him. 

Day by day, 

Ruth Bradham

When in Rome

Thursday June 9

I have 2.5 weeks left in Romania before I go back home. When I was in Rome and I spoke about going home, it meant going back to Bucharest. Now that I am in Bucharest, home means Richmond, VA. It has been so nice traveling to a place that I can refer to as home. The people I have met while in Romania have made me feel utterly and completely at home.

Since I last wrote to you I have been to Rome on a magical three-day break, back to camp, to the Ruth School, and to Carturesti, a cute little bookstore in the middle of town.

 Rome was incredible if you were wondering. It reminded me that the world is full of beautiful things. It is easy to forget that simple truth today, when the media continuously tries to convince us that the world is full of evil and humankind is only capable of doing ugly, malicious things to one another. I mean how many times have you heard someone say, “The world is worse off than it has ever been before”? When in Rome, you do as the Romans do. And the Romans eat pizza and gelato and laugh and smile and enjoy the beauty in life. I want to live my life everyday as if I’m in Rome.

////

I have learned that everything you do is part of your ministry. Some days you get to be movie stars and play with kids and help them learn a poem, hold their hand and hug them. Those days are the best and they definitely make you feel all warm and good inside. But other days you have to be behind the scenes and buy construction paper and get paperwork from the DPDC, exchange money and take your car to the shop. These things may seem unworthy of the title “ministry”, but it’s exactly what they are. We needed the construction paper in order to do crafts with the kids at the Ruth School. We needed paperwork from the DPDC to even work with kids at all. We needed to exchange money because the donations that keep the non-profit running come mostly in American dollars and not lei. We needed to take the car to the shop because it gets us to camp, where hundreds of neglected and orphaned children will get to hear the gospel this summer. The mundane things that can often be seen as errands are essential to an organization’s ministry. I think that’s how God keeps us humble. Some days we are the movie stars and other days we are just another person on set. I learned that there is beauty in both.

I went to the Ruth School today- definitely one of my favorite days here. It was instant connection, when the other interns and I walked in the door. The kids came running up to us, immediately hugging us and wanting to show us their most recent drawings. The kids showered us with hugs and kisses and “I love you”s. They were desperate for love and kindness. Many of them are neglected to various degrees at home and do not get enough cuddles and affection. Nancy Thomas writes in her book When Love is Not Enough, that humans need eight hugs a day to maintain emotional stability. Today I become more aware of the importance of human touch and the inner desire that we all have for affection. 

xo, Ellie 

Worrying about Peace

Hi everyone! This is Maria. The last time I posted I gave you all a practical run-down on what I've been doing here in Romania. Today I want to share about one of the topics I feel like God has been teaching me about...spiritually and emotionally speaking...through this past week and a half. It's anxiety.

I don't mean anxiety as in a psychologically diagnosed disorder in which one lives in a constant state of borderline fear and is plagued by irrational phobias. No, instead I'm referring to the kind of anxiety over getting your volunteer visa (current struggle of mine), overcoming a language barrier, and just the general tasks and minor trials of day to day life here as an intern. 

I wasn't new to this kind of minor anxiety/worry before coming to Romania. I'm a planner, maybe a small bit of a control freak. So I enjoy knowing exactly what I'm going to be doing at exactly every hour of every day in every month of every year...for the next 15 years. :) All that to say, when my plan is not God's plan, you can see that I feel a little bit of stress as I attempt to trust Him and HIs timing for my life.

I would also venture to say that even if you aren't a planner/super organized person, you've experienced stress, worry, or anxiety before. In fact, I believe that it's part of human nature to want to know what will happen in your life. We crave knowledge. And when we don't have the knowledge we think we need (because God hasn't revealed His plan to us), we feel tense, nervous. Anxious, to use my theme word. :) But that's not how God wants us to react.

In the Bible, there are many verses encouraging us humans to turn from anxiety to God. During my own quiet time these past few days I've been reflecting on several. For instance, Matthew 6:25-34 describes the downright pointlessness of worry, as Jesus says,

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you,even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

I'm sorry that was such a long passage, but please take time to read it. Through effective literary devices like rhetorical questions and relatable examples from nature, Jesus presents the solution to the constant problem of worrying over everyday issues. That solution is peace from God, peace that passes all understanding (Phil. 4:7). 

So how do you get this peace? Well, God, being an ever-loving God, gives it to us as we give our burdens to Him. 1 Peter 5:6-7 is a great verse that shows us this concept, as Paul states,

"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time, casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you."

To conclude, I challenge you to simply pray about any worry you may have in your life. Pray that God would relieve/free you of the burden of unnecessary worry. It may be remarkable to you (as it was to me this past week) how tangible the feeling of peace is after surrendering your problems to your God. 

Thank you for reading! 

Maria

Language of the Spirit

Thursday_Jun 2, 2016

Hey guys! It's Ruth again. The last time I spoke to ya'll it was on the topic of praying that the Lord would let me be someone who spent her moments "soarin' & flyin'" as I figured out what "adjusting to the altitude" looked like here in Romania. Lt's just say, it's been one incredible adjustment after the other. (And I mean that in the absolute best possible way!) It's been both a challenge and a blessing to be on the look out for the Jesus lessons throughout all of the days I've been here. Which. I mean, I've only been here 9 days. It's bizarre to me how it feels like I just arrived and somehow also feels like I've been here at least a month. :P But enough about that, I'm here today to tell you about what I've discovered is my main adjustment to the altitude. And the best part is that it's also been one of the main lessons the Lord has been speaking to my heart! So, what's the main adjustment? Hopefully you've gotten a hint from the title, but just in case you haven't, I'll tell you. 

The language. 

I have been overwhelmed by the simultaneous beauty and confusion of the Romanian language. I know how to say the basics - as in a greeting and a how are you. But other than that, I've been pretty much in the dark. I spent the first day... who am I kidding... I've spent the first week stumbling around and desperately trying to pick out words that sounded familiar. You know, it's a humbling experience to be an 18 year old who can't carry on a conversation with a 5 year old. To be quite frank, I don't think I truly recognized the true value of words until I couldn't use them. I got super wrapped up in just trying to understand - or figuring out a way to somehow carry myself in a manner that would make me look like someone who knew what was going on... when the reality was that I didn't have a clue. 

*Cue embarrassing story that Jesus used to teach this broken servant about language.*

 So, Maria and I were at the mall yesterday. We had been completing some intern challenges around the city and decided that on the way back to the apartment we'd stop for some shawarma. *Side note: I'm pretty sure I will become a shawarma addict... words don't do justice to how delicious that stuff is.* As we're going up to order, I asked Maria the right words to say to place my order for the shawarma. She told me exactly what to say and I made a point of repeating the phrase in my mind a few times before getting up to the counter. I kid you not, the moment that the woman looked up at me for my order I forgot everything expect my name. I opened my mouth, but no words were coming out! Thank heavens Maria was still standing there and was able to complete my order for me as I stood there. I paid for my food, was handed a tray, and then was asked to move down the counter. It was in that moment that I realized that shawarma is a process... and you have to tell the people the various ingredients that you want in your shawarma. My heart sank again. I looked at Maria and asked what the word for "tomatoes" was in Romanian. She smiled and answered me. This time for sure I was going to say the right thing! It was one word. One word. Just to be safe I practiced it in my head a few times and then whispered it out loud. The man turned to me and asked what I wanted on the shawarma... and before I had even realized it I had pointed and said, "Tomatoes!"

What. An. Idiot.

It was one word! Maria had just told me the correct word and I had even practiced it a few times before he asked me. But the moment that I was actually asked what I wanted, the first time I was tested on the information that I knew, I responded in my native language.  Now, as much as I enjoy telling stories about my stupid moments, there really is a Jesus lesson tucked into that shawarma tale. 

I was born a sinner. My native language is the language of the flesh - and I speak it embarrassingly well. I'm fluent actually. Whenever I'm faced with something new or something that posses a challenge, my automatic response is to reach for the reply in the language I've practiced and know best. Man, this is harder to write than I was expecting. But I guess it's because I'm attempting to write this in a language that isn't my native tongue. I'm attempting to write this in the language of the Spirit.

That's why I'm here after all. I'm here to learn how to speak another language. A language that is beautiful and sometimes confusing. A language that leaves me clinging to the basics. A language that I've stumbled in the dark trying to find. A language that leaves me more humble than an 18 year old that is unable to carry on a conversation with a 5 year old. A language that gives true value to words and doesn't give me the option of pretending. 

It's not the Romanian language though... it's the language of the Spirit. 

Dear Jesus, 

Wow. I'm pretty disgusting. But I finally get what I'm supposed to be studying! Lord, I want to reply in the language of the Spirit! That's what you have for me. I want to put into practice the language of Your heart that is pure and not the language of my heart that is gross. I want to become familiar with Your phrases. Gracious, what a glorious day it will be when the language of my heart matches the language of Your love. I doubt I'll be fluent this side of heaven... but hey, a grammar lesson now and then wouldn't hurt? Haha, I love you Lord. Let me be attentive to Your voice - let me be attentive to the language of my heart. The language of my Spirit. 

Day by day, 

Ruth 

Soarin' Flyin'

Sunday_May 29, 2016

Hey there everyone! My name is Ruth Bradham and I am interning with Stepping Forward Ministries for a month of this summer! It isn't quite as long as some of the other sweet souls that will be writing on this intern blog page, but in the time that I've been here, it is evident that there will be a lot of adventures to write about. The plan for my hands and heart is to be in the city of Bucharest, Romania the majority of the time - but, like these past few days, there will be times that I will travel to the camp located in the countryside of Romania. 

I figured that I'd start my blog posts by telling you about the first Jesus lesson that I've learned... which, actually occurred on the flight from Munich, Germany to Bucharest, Romania.

As the airplane started speeding down the runway, I couldn't help but think of the last nine months that this trip and mission had been on my heart. Those nine months seem to have raced by, just as the runway was racing outside of my window on the plane. Every confirmation from the Lord speeding up the time just like every second on the plane sped up it's momentum down the runway. Then came the take off of the plane, which of course reminded me of that exact moment in time. A plane doesn't get off the ground without a few bumps, just like a true mission doesn't get off the ground without a few bumps.

But the amazing thing is that when someone is in control of the flight... or the mission... it makes the take off quite a bit easier than just haphazardly attempting to fly. That was the season I was in on the plane. I was taking off onto a mission that I was still unsure of, but I knew was held in the hands of Someone who knew exactly where I was. I was soarin' headlong into a sky that was uncharted by me... but known intimately by the Creator of it all. The time I had to reflect on that was soon usurped by the plane adjusting to the altitude through its assent. I'll be straight up - I haven't flown a lot, and the adjustment part makes me beyond uncomfortable!! Chills were going down my spine and my stomach felt like it was taking a joy ride through my entire body. My hands were shaking and all gross and sweaty. :P

But. That's when it hit me... when I hit the ground in Romania, I needed to be prepared for some "adjustment to the altitude". The next few days were going to send chills down my spine and my stomach on joy rides. Heck, there would probably be a season of questioning why I was in Romania in the first place with all the discomfort that adjustment brings... but you know, then I realized... planes even out. You reach a time in every flight that the chills slow down and your stomach goes back to where it should be. And it's in those moments that I feel closer than every to my Jesus. All I had to do was trust Him during the "adjustment to the altitude" part of this journey. If I would remember that staying in constant reminder of surrendering in the spirit, not in the flesh, my turbulent feelings would even out eventually. 

I landed in Bucharest on Tuesday the 24th of May with a fellow intern and friend named Maria. I've been in Romania for 5 whole days... and I can say that there was certainly a time of "adjustment to the altitude". But knowing that going in made it so much easier!! I landed in Romania with the prayer of surrender in the spirit... and of course, I'm human, I've had some chills down my spine and my stomach definitely took a joy ride the first time I got on the Metro system in this city! But! I knew it'd even out - because I know my Savior has it all in His hands. 

I would love to end this post with a prayer, so I hope these words resonate in your heart!! 

Hey Jesus, 

It's your daughter speaking. I just want to surrender any future waves of "adjusting to the altitude". You created me to enjoy every moment You give me for soarin' and flyin'. I want to enjoy those moments! I want to see Your face and smile throughout every day I'm here and all the days after I leave. Father, I surrender all control and desires for this mission. I surrender my expectations for how well or not well I'll continue to adjust. I surrender my ability to communicate - because, let's be real, I'm not the best when it comes to languages. I surrender my family and friends who are praying for me back home. I surrender this ministry that I'm interning with and all of those precious people that I've met already! God. None of this really was in my hands to begin with... but I just want to make sure my hands are empty of anything I could be holding. Jesus, my hands are empty. Please give my Your dream.

Day by Day,

Ruth Bradham

P.S. I actually took the picture that's connected to this post - I didn't search for something on Google images. So. Just throwin' that out there. 

Camp Weekend

Hi! My name is Maria and I'm an intern here at Stepping Forward MInistries for six months. I got to Romania Tuesday and this weekend I spent Thursday to Sunday morning at camp with Steve, Cami, and fellow intern Ruth. We had a very productive time, and I can't wait to share with you all about it.

We got in to camp Thursday afternoon and got oriented. Friday morning we got up pretty early and started to work. There is a super long list of things that need to be done in the next 5 weeks before camp starts. The first thing Ruth and I did was saw boards to a length of 60cm to make shelves for the new trading post. It's in a different spot because the old trading post is now my room. :) It's super tiny but I have my own space and I love it SO much!

After we sawed 33 boards total, it was time to nail the shelves up. We luckily have a nail gun at camp, so the task was made a whole lot easier. The power associated with a nail gun went straight to our heads, and we enjoyed this task immensely.

The rest of the day, we did lots of other jobs. We cleared out the tractor barn, moved all the usable items to different locations, threw the junk away, took the six huge water barrels out of the water tower for cleaning, organized the trading post, and other odd jobs. It was a busy day! At night, we took some time to rest and read. It was very nice to stretch out after a long day's work!

Saturday morning we took a trip into a nearby city called Panciu to go to the Saturday market. This market sells everything from clothes to chickens. We bought fresh cherries and strawberries to have with lunch that day. They were so juicy and sweet.

When we got back to camp, we had two main jobs to do that afternoon. We strung wire through over 100m of pipe for plumbing and used the sawmill to saw 6 logs and 18 posts. It took about four and a half hours to finish all that.

Sunday (today) we drove back to Bucharest! This afternoon I'm going to be making my schedule for the coming week, which will include visiting all the childrens' apartments, the orphanage, the Ruth School, and of course working on my intern Bucharest Bingo and notebook. 

Thank you all for reading!

Maria