Recent highlights pt. 2

Hey guys! Welcome to my first post of October...ahhhhh!! This fall is passing so fast I can't even believe it. I only have 44 days left here in this amazing country and I'm trying to make each one as meaningful as possible. To begin with, here is a quick peek of my calendar, just so you can see how busy I actually am this month...

I pretty much have something to do or go to EVERY DAY this month, with the exception of a few days toward the end of October that haven't filled up yet. 

Let's continue with a sad story. Once upon a time there was a girl on a six month internship in Romania. Her loving mother, who definitely was pining day and night after this daughter, decided to send a care package to her in July. That way, the package would come just in time for the halfway point of the daughter's internship as an encouragement. Well, the halfway point was August 24th, which came and went, with no care package for the daughter. Frustration abounded. Both the mother and daughter knew the Romanian postal service was not the best, but really...two months?? Finally, on the fateful day of September 26th, the daughter, accompanied by two missionaries, received the note from the post office that said a package had arrived. They went to the first of three post offices, each time collecting bits of paperwork and paying small fees. When they arrived at the third post office of the day, they were happy to receive the package!! All was right with the world. They sent this picture to the girl's mother. Notice the joy on the faces. The Saga of the Lost Care Package had been going on for two months now.

All was great, until the girl's mother responded to the picture with "That looks bigger than I remembered". NO. The missionaries and the intern looked carefully at the return address only to find that it was a package from Bud's Cookies. Yes, that's right. It was ANOTHER package for the missionaries, one they didn't even know they were receiving. And so the saga continues...will the care package come?? Vote in the poll on the right your opinion. :)

All jokes aside, it HAS been a great few weeks of ministry. My favorite apartment belongs to eight little girls 5-12 years old. They are the sweetest ever. We take selfies and do fun activities and talk about Jesus. It's amazing. I am so blessed to be able to visit them every Saturday.

They are SO adorable!

Every Wednesday, I visit the children's oncology and hematology department at Fundeni Hospital for five hours. These kids are so strong and it's so nice to be able to see them playing in between their visits in the playroom.

Musical chairs (Scaunele muzicala) in Romania.

 The other ministry I'm involved in is Asociatia Don Orione, where I'm working with severely disabled and bedridden children. I'm not allowed to take pictures of the kids themselves there.

Since these kids are unable to communicate (a few can smile and laugh, but none verbalize), hand holding is a significant part of my job. I'm not complaining!

The view of the foundation's chapel from the room in which I work.

I'm also having fun, for those of you have asked. :) I just got back Monday from a weekend spent in Constanta, Romania, which is a town right on the Black Sea. I visited the YWAM missionaries who brought kids to camp this summer. I also got to visit the kids, who live in a community called Henri Coanda. It's basically an environment like the projects in NYC.

The kids' families all live in these buildings in tiny apartments.

Me with Monica, who is with YWAM for two years, on the beach at the Black Sea. It was such perfect weather!

Sorry this post was kind of long. To wrap up, here are a few prayer requests and praises.

Praises:

-Awesome weeks of ministry...very productive times, indeed.

-I have met and have been enjoying getting to know my new roommate, Karin, who is from Brazil.

-I FOUND ROMANIAN GINGERBREAD FOR ONLY 3 LEI. This is quite inconsequential, but yummy. And for those of you who don't know, 3 lei is less than $1. And it's a whole bag of gingerbread. :D

Requests:

-Safe travels for several people...we have visitors coming next week from America and also Sarah, another intern, is leaving on the 19th. And we are going to Sinaia. Lots of coming and going all the time. :)

-Pray for me, as I'm kind of mentally preparing to leave next month. I'm kind of nervous about adjusting to life back in the States after six months away.