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

Grace

Wednesday May 25

I do not even know where to begin because I have so much to share with you all! I have been in Romania for three and a half weeks now, and the time has flown by faster than I ever could have imagined. I have learned so many things, both practical and personal. In my time here I have gone to the notary and other government buildings (which is an adventure all on its own), to the ballet and the symphony, to a school and an orphanage, to parks and malls and piatas (outdoor fruit & vegetable markets), to afternoon tea, to the Village Museum on International Museum Day, and so much more. I have also learned how to navigate my way around the city on public transpiration- you have to celebrate the small victories. :) 

If you were wondering, paperwork takes FOREVER in Romania. Think about the time you wait in line at the DMV in America, multiply that by four, and you are getting close to how long and arduous the process is here. Cami has been trying to get the paperwork that allows us to work with children for about nine weeks. Yes, nine. And this week we finally got it!! Many of the government buildings here do not have parking lots. If by some chance they do have a parking lot, it is usually for the employees and not the general public. There is also no place to sit once you get inside of the building even though you quite possibly could be waiting for hours. I definitely counted it as a cultural experience. Romanians are not driven by time the same way that Americans are. Many Romanian families do not even have clocks in their homes. The world moves at a different pace over here.

I have also rediscovered grace in these past three and a half weeks. I have heard the word grace everywhere. Cami and I were talking in the car one day about how understanding the grace of God is such a freeing experience. Then I went to an international church and the first song we sang was about grace. In addition they were starting a new series that Sunday on (you guessed it) grace. God gives grace when you miss home and the Mexican food that your dad makes. You find grace when you deal with difficult people in government buildings. There is grace when you are faced with a tough decision, when your car breaks down, and when people spit in your face over and over. God is so much bigger than you and me. I found God at the symphony. The same God that created music loves us and desires a relationship with us. The same God who gifted those musicians also gifted us with different talents. Everyday is another day to find God and see the grace that He gives. It is hard to be a missionary, especially a missionary in Europe. The average time for missionaries to live in Romania is three years. Why does it work for some and not for others? There is such a balance involved. Cami was explaining that you have to be somewhat closed off to the emotional side of things. When you see so much poverty and abandoned children and women in trafficking situations, you have keep it together or you will have a breakdown. We are not meant to handle all of those horrible situations and take each one to heart. However, at the same time you have to keep your compassion. Your heart for the people cannot become bitter over time. God offers grace for this balance. He offers grace when we mess up and when we think that the world is all about us. I am so thankful for the grace that He constantly offers.  

xo, Ellie 

Expectant

Tuesday May 3, 2016

            I have been in Romania for just about three days now. It still does not quite feel real, but I know everything will sink in soon. When I walked to the car from the airport and looked around, I remember thinking, “This is going to be my new home for the next 2 months.” I was filled with excitement and a little bit of nerves. The unknown is always a little scary.

When we arrived to Bucharest, I got settled into the apartment where I will be staying and then everyone headed to Cami and Steve’s apartment. There is a beautiful park down the street from their apartment, where we stopped and ate papanasi, a famous Romanian dessert that is similar to a donut hole but with sour cream and jelly on top. In addition, May 1st in Romania is Easter Sunday, and Cami and Ana had prepared an Easter feast for us to eat when we returned from the park. We picked a great day to come, right? We sat in the living room and ate sarmale with mamaliga, salata de vinete, salata de boeuf, oua implut, and cozonac.

            The next day we gathered our bags and made the drive to camp, about three hours from the city. We started work soon after with a couple of people working on insulation, Steve on the roof, and Cami and I helping Steve in whatever ways we could. Soon we had visitors. Teenagers from the nearby town came and asked to have a barbeque at the camp. They set up the grill, turned on some music, and danced, talked, and enjoyed each other’s company. It did not take long for a few of the boys to ask Cami if they could help with our ongoing projects. They were having a fun day with their friends, and yet they chose to volunteer their time to help Cami and Steve. My first real day of work in Romania, and I had already met a large group of teenagers and seen what they do on an average Monday afternoon. It was a different experience having people the same as me around and not being able to talk to them easily. But communicating was not as hard as you would think. I had Cami there to help me, and hand gestures really do go a long way. In addition, a few of the boys spoke English rather well.

            Before I left the states, I did not spend much time thinking about what my time in Romania would be like. I was in the middle of finals at school and all I was thinking about was getting through them without killing my GPA. The night before I left I was thinking about fitting everything I needed for two months away from home into my suitcase. It wasn’t until I got on the plane that I started to think about what was actually happening. I was on a plane to another country, where I do not know the language, for two months. “What if I get homesick,” I thought. And “What if I don’t like it and want to go home?” What had I actually gotten myself into? But I’m glad I had these thoughts when I was on the plane, because at that point there was no turning back. I’m glad that I did not give myself time to doubt or question. The really cool thing about God is that he is Emmanuel, God with us. How often do we forget or ignore the simple truth that God is with us? I think if we were constantly aware of God’s presence in our lives we would take more risks, and doubt less. Cami was telling me that some people come here expecting to possibly become a full time missionary, and then realize it is not God’s plan for them. This does not mean that they failed. On the contrary, it means that they are one step closer to finding out God’s plan for their life. God uses our so-called “setbacks” to our benefit and brings us one step closer to Himself. Therefore, I am so expectant of things God wants to show me through being in this country, through my time with Cami and Steve, and through the amazing people that I will meet. In conclusion, I would like to encourage you to not let the unknowns keep you stagnant. If you stay in the same place and do the same thing for fear of the unknown, what is going to change?  Even just taking a step forward is enough for God to do powerful things. 

xo, Ellie