In honor of Annie on my team, who makes no less than 5 lists a day, I have put together a little list snapshot of ways you can tell it is spring time in Galati.
- The sun actually shines
- It is 65 degrees outside, but most people are still bundled up.
- The trees are in bloom so there are lots of white pedals everywhere (It is sort of like Chattanooga, only with out the smell)
- Icecream is now sold at all the corner stores
- The bottoms of trees and the curbs get a fresh coat of white paint
What signs of spring am I missing in the states?
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
Easter
Hristos a inviat din morti
Cu moartea pe moartea calcand
Si celor din morminte
Viata duruindu- le
Christ has risen from the dead
Stepping with death on death
And giving to those from the graves
Giving them life.
It is Easter here this weekend and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else to celebrate.
Tonight I am going to a Good Friday service at an Eastern Orthodox church. I will crawl under a table to signify my dying with Christ. Tomorrow I will go to a midnight service to usher in Easter. I will sing the above song as the priest lights candles through out the crowd. Then Sunday afternoon we will have a celebration here at the center. Singing. Food. and Games.
Paste Fericit!
Happy Easter!
Cu moartea pe moartea calcand
Si celor din morminte
Viata duruindu- le
Christ has risen from the dead
Stepping with death on death
And giving to those from the graves
Giving them life.
It is Easter here this weekend and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else to celebrate.
Tonight I am going to a Good Friday service at an Eastern Orthodox church. I will crawl under a table to signify my dying with Christ. Tomorrow I will go to a midnight service to usher in Easter. I will sing the above song as the priest lights candles through out the crowd. Then Sunday afternoon we will have a celebration here at the center. Singing. Food. and Games.
Paste Fericit!
Happy Easter!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Reflection on Moldova
I can hardly believe the city I left a week ago has become the site of a revolution. It is a little surreal to think I was there snapping pictures of the Presidential Palace and the House of Parliament just a few weeks ago. It is scary and exciting (as change usually is) to think about what these protests will mean for this little country.
I was surprised to learn before our trip that Moldova has a communist leader. And I was quite unsure of what that meant once I got there, as I didn't see anyone standing in line waiting for their share of bread or oil. After talking with someone who has lived there her whole life about what communism was like under the USSR, I was able to ask why people would still want to live under that. She said the older generation longs for that security, the illusion that everything is okay and working as it should. It was explained to me later that this is why so many people send their children to orphanages; they believe that it is the state's responsibility to take in and care for their children. That the state will provide for their children what they as parents could not.
We visited an orphanage in Straseni during our stay - over 400 children live in what can only be described as an institution. Someone on the team said they only thought places like this existed in the movies. The lady we spoke to has about 20 children in her care, some of whom were in the room with us. She talked about then and their lives with out much sensitivity or regard to their presence. I don't want to be down on orphanages or the people who work there. I only spent a few hours there and can not imagine what it would be like being there day in and day out. I want to believe (even if it is naive) that they do their best to deal with the needs of the kids. But it didn't take much for us to see these kids are longing for attention. Someone who will look at them and hold their hand. All of us had thoughts of there must be another way. With over 12,000 orphans in Moldova, surely people can't continue to believe the state has all the answers.
The elections in Moldova were held just 3 days after we left. I got the impression that there seemed to be little doubt that the communists would remain in power. Most of the people of working age live abroad in order to make money, which explains why there are so many orphans, and they can not vote. This leaves children, who also cannot vote, and the older generation who long for the (false) security that communism provides. In some ways I am thankful for these protests. It shows the people are ready for a change. I think it shows the citizens are ready to take on some responsibility for the direction their country is going and not just be lead by the state. It gives me hope that things can be different there.
I have thought a lot about politics since arriving here 2 months ago. National and international politics, the politics of Jesus, how politics plays a part in almost all of my interactions. I am still confused by most of it, but I am coming to see politics is about accepting the power you have to change what you see going on around you. I am thankful for these Moldovans who are willing to stand up for what they believe, who want change and are willing to risk something for it.
Here are a couple articles about what has been going on in Moldova the past few days:
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/04/07/world/0407-MOLDOVA_index.html http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/09/world/europe/09moldova.html?scp=3&sq=moldova&st=cse
I was surprised to learn before our trip that Moldova has a communist leader. And I was quite unsure of what that meant once I got there, as I didn't see anyone standing in line waiting for their share of bread or oil. After talking with someone who has lived there her whole life about what communism was like under the USSR, I was able to ask why people would still want to live under that. She said the older generation longs for that security, the illusion that everything is okay and working as it should. It was explained to me later that this is why so many people send their children to orphanages; they believe that it is the state's responsibility to take in and care for their children. That the state will provide for their children what they as parents could not.
We visited an orphanage in Straseni during our stay - over 400 children live in what can only be described as an institution. Someone on the team said they only thought places like this existed in the movies. The lady we spoke to has about 20 children in her care, some of whom were in the room with us. She talked about then and their lives with out much sensitivity or regard to their presence. I don't want to be down on orphanages or the people who work there. I only spent a few hours there and can not imagine what it would be like being there day in and day out. I want to believe (even if it is naive) that they do their best to deal with the needs of the kids. But it didn't take much for us to see these kids are longing for attention. Someone who will look at them and hold their hand. All of us had thoughts of there must be another way. With over 12,000 orphans in Moldova, surely people can't continue to believe the state has all the answers.
The elections in Moldova were held just 3 days after we left. I got the impression that there seemed to be little doubt that the communists would remain in power. Most of the people of working age live abroad in order to make money, which explains why there are so many orphans, and they can not vote. This leaves children, who also cannot vote, and the older generation who long for the (false) security that communism provides. In some ways I am thankful for these protests. It shows the people are ready for a change. I think it shows the citizens are ready to take on some responsibility for the direction their country is going and not just be lead by the state. It gives me hope that things can be different there.
I have thought a lot about politics since arriving here 2 months ago. National and international politics, the politics of Jesus, how politics plays a part in almost all of my interactions. I am still confused by most of it, but I am coming to see politics is about accepting the power you have to change what you see going on around you. I am thankful for these Moldovans who are willing to stand up for what they believe, who want change and are willing to risk something for it.
Here are a couple articles about what has been going on in Moldova the past few days:
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/04/07/world/0407-MOLDOVA_index.html http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/09/world/europe/09moldova.html?scp=3&sq=moldova&st=cse
Friday, March 20, 2009
Eu ma duc la Moldova! (I am going to Moldova!)
The time has come for us to pack up and move this party to Moldova. I can hardly believe it is time for this already. We are spending the night at the center Sunday and will leave the center on Monday morning at an early 5:20 to make it down to the train station to catch our train at 6:00. We will travel about 4 hours by train to reach Iasi, Romania. There we will have a few hours to walk around and see a different part of Romania. We will take a maxi-taxi (think large van) over to Chisinau, Moldova. We plan on arriving there around 6:00 in the evening, but that all depends on how long it takes us at customs. I've been told this can be a long process.
I learned that if we were making this "trek" in America it would be about a 3 hour car ride. So the fact it will be over 12 hours is slightly depressing to me.
In Chisnau we will be working with an organization called the Bethany Center. They have built homes in an old Pioneer Camp (I've been told Pioneer Camps is wher children went to learn about communism back in the days of the USSR). The Bethany Center owns 10 homes on this camp and have made a community for themselves and are working to become self-stustaining. Each home contains a set of parents and up to 10 kids; some of these kids are their biological childern, some are foster kids and orphans. Unlike regular orphanages in Moldova these kids are not kicked out when they turn 16. Once these kids are accepted into the homes they are quite literally part of the family.
We will be staying with these families for the 11 days we will be in Moldova. During our time there we will be working on a school they are building on the property. In the evenings we will be doing an English club for the kids that are interested. We're excited to do this, but also feeling a little underqualified. We're hoping everything will work out; I'm sure we are making it a more stressful than it needs to be. Some days we will also be going into the city to give out meals to the homeless. We will also be visiting the Grace House (a transitional living home for girls) on Friday. Saturday we will be playing with the kids of the families; big group games and such. Then on Sunday will be going to visit an orphanage in Straseni (a near by village) on Sunday afternoon.
Word Made Flesh will be setting up shop in Moldova in January. We are the first Servant Team to take a trip like this to acutally serve in Moldova. At first I thought this trip was going to help the staff going to Moldova figure out a little bit what serving there would look like, but this trip is acutally for us so we can see something else and be considering/praying about joining them there in Moldova.
I am anxious and excited to make this trip and join in what God is already doing there. Thank you, as always, for your prayers during my time here. I don't anticipate having internet during my time in Moldova, but I will give an update when I get back!
I learned that if we were making this "trek" in America it would be about a 3 hour car ride. So the fact it will be over 12 hours is slightly depressing to me.
In Chisnau we will be working with an organization called the Bethany Center. They have built homes in an old Pioneer Camp (I've been told Pioneer Camps is wher children went to learn about communism back in the days of the USSR). The Bethany Center owns 10 homes on this camp and have made a community for themselves and are working to become self-stustaining. Each home contains a set of parents and up to 10 kids; some of these kids are their biological childern, some are foster kids and orphans. Unlike regular orphanages in Moldova these kids are not kicked out when they turn 16. Once these kids are accepted into the homes they are quite literally part of the family.
We will be staying with these families for the 11 days we will be in Moldova. During our time there we will be working on a school they are building on the property. In the evenings we will be doing an English club for the kids that are interested. We're excited to do this, but also feeling a little underqualified. We're hoping everything will work out; I'm sure we are making it a more stressful than it needs to be. Some days we will also be going into the city to give out meals to the homeless. We will also be visiting the Grace House (a transitional living home for girls) on Friday. Saturday we will be playing with the kids of the families; big group games and such. Then on Sunday will be going to visit an orphanage in Straseni (a near by village) on Sunday afternoon.
Word Made Flesh will be setting up shop in Moldova in January. We are the first Servant Team to take a trip like this to acutally serve in Moldova. At first I thought this trip was going to help the staff going to Moldova figure out a little bit what serving there would look like, but this trip is acutally for us so we can see something else and be considering/praying about joining them there in Moldova.
I am anxious and excited to make this trip and join in what God is already doing there. Thank you, as always, for your prayers during my time here. I don't anticipate having internet during my time in Moldova, but I will give an update when I get back!
Sunday, March 8, 2009
A Lesson.
Upon coming home from church today I did a little bit of my Romanian homework and then took a nap. I woke up about 3:30 and realized I had slept through lunch. Knowing I was coming down to the internet cafe in about an hour I knew I had to eat something before dinner. So I go into the kitchen and get some bread, take it into my room and eat it with some peanut butter I brought from the states.
Not 5 minutes after I have finished this my host mom comes in wanting to know if I am hungry. I tell her that I am fine, but she insits, motioning that I slept through lunch and that she wants to feed me. I give in, but I tell her that I will eat just a little bit.
I follow her into the kitchen and she shows me some soup and pasta with red sauce. I choose the soup, its the lighter of the 2 options and she fills my bowl (a little too full) and I begin to eat. She is still moving around the kitchen, which is pretty normal. She holds up the pasta and says "Vreau?" I nod my head, indicating that I like pasta. I continue eating, and notice that she is putting some pasta on a plate. I think she is just getting my plate ready for dinner. Then, to my dismay, I remember "vreau" means WANT not like. So in addtion to my peanutbutter and soup I am also served half a plate of spaghetti and a small piece of chicken. Goodness. I definitely won't make that mistake again..
Not 5 minutes after I have finished this my host mom comes in wanting to know if I am hungry. I tell her that I am fine, but she insits, motioning that I slept through lunch and that she wants to feed me. I give in, but I tell her that I will eat just a little bit.
I follow her into the kitchen and she shows me some soup and pasta with red sauce. I choose the soup, its the lighter of the 2 options and she fills my bowl (a little too full) and I begin to eat. She is still moving around the kitchen, which is pretty normal. She holds up the pasta and says "Vreau?" I nod my head, indicating that I like pasta. I continue eating, and notice that she is putting some pasta on a plate. I think she is just getting my plate ready for dinner. Then, to my dismay, I remember "vreau" means WANT not like. So in addtion to my peanutbutter and soup I am also served half a plate of spaghetti and a small piece of chicken. Goodness. I definitely won't make that mistake again..
A Day In the Life.
I have already been hear a month and I can't believe how quickly the time has flown by. I have somewhat settled into a routine, and I know you'd all love to know how I spend my time, so here goes...
I get up between 7:30-8:00, eat breakfast, which most recently has been bread and cheese and warm milk. I try to make it to bet bus stop around 8:30 to meet Laura (the team member I live closest to). We have crazy bus rides because there is usually standing room only that time of day and in a 20 minute bus ride you get prodded and shuffled around quite a bit.
We walk about 5 minutes across a parking lot, down some steps and past about 11 dogs and some ducks and chickens to make it to the center by 9:00 for chapel. Chapel is different each day of the week, but there is always singing (in Romanian) then someone either shares or reads scripture or a combination of both.
The kids start coming a little after 10:00. In Romania different age groups go to school at different times. Some kids come before school, some after. There are about 35 kids total who come to the center each day. They range in age from 7-20. Individually the team is still trying to figure out how we can help the staff in working with the kids. For example, one day a week I do a craft with a group. This just started last week, but they seemed to enjoy making tissue paper flowers.
We eat most everyday at 1:30 at the center. You have to eat everything on you plate so I'm glad that the food at the center is pretty good. (if it is not so good one day you mix small bites of the food on your plate with big bites of bread) The kids rush though their meal in order to start play time ASAP. Most kids go outside to play basketball or some version of dodgeball. There is also a swing, jumpropes, hoolahoops, etc. etc. I usually opt for staying inside to play games or work puzzles with the kids.
Play time ends at 3:00 so that is the time the team has meetings if we need to or sometimes I help with office work that needs to be done. We are also free to read or study Romanian in the afternoons.
We are officially done for the day about 5:15 although more often than not the team hangs around to use the computers or hang out and play a game or something. Most nights I make it home between 7:00-8:00 and my host mom will heat up my dinner which is almost exclusively soup plus something else. She has only served me a handful of things I haven't liked. It can be tough at times not knowing what you're eating, but I am definitly fed well here.
We also have book study twice a week. We have already gone through In the Name of Jesus by Henri Nouwen and we will finish Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger this week.
Three times a week we go to language lessons with Simona. She works at the art museum, so we take a bus there and we crowd around her office desk for an hour and a half while she holds up 8.5 x 11 sheets of paper for us to copy down what she has written. I am usually looking at my watch 30 minutes into the lesson, but I have a random american radio station playing November Rain and End of the Road by Boyz II Men through out the lesson, so that helps keep me sane. Simona truly deserves her own post so that is all go into now.
So that is what my time looks like here. I honestly can not believe it has been a month. In just another 2 weeks we'll be leaving for our time in Moldova!
I get up between 7:30-8:00, eat breakfast, which most recently has been bread and cheese and warm milk. I try to make it to bet bus stop around 8:30 to meet Laura (the team member I live closest to). We have crazy bus rides because there is usually standing room only that time of day and in a 20 minute bus ride you get prodded and shuffled around quite a bit.
We walk about 5 minutes across a parking lot, down some steps and past about 11 dogs and some ducks and chickens to make it to the center by 9:00 for chapel. Chapel is different each day of the week, but there is always singing (in Romanian) then someone either shares or reads scripture or a combination of both.
The kids start coming a little after 10:00. In Romania different age groups go to school at different times. Some kids come before school, some after. There are about 35 kids total who come to the center each day. They range in age from 7-20. Individually the team is still trying to figure out how we can help the staff in working with the kids. For example, one day a week I do a craft with a group. This just started last week, but they seemed to enjoy making tissue paper flowers.
We eat most everyday at 1:30 at the center. You have to eat everything on you plate so I'm glad that the food at the center is pretty good. (if it is not so good one day you mix small bites of the food on your plate with big bites of bread) The kids rush though their meal in order to start play time ASAP. Most kids go outside to play basketball or some version of dodgeball. There is also a swing, jumpropes, hoolahoops, etc. etc. I usually opt for staying inside to play games or work puzzles with the kids.
Play time ends at 3:00 so that is the time the team has meetings if we need to or sometimes I help with office work that needs to be done. We are also free to read or study Romanian in the afternoons.
We are officially done for the day about 5:15 although more often than not the team hangs around to use the computers or hang out and play a game or something. Most nights I make it home between 7:00-8:00 and my host mom will heat up my dinner which is almost exclusively soup plus something else. She has only served me a handful of things I haven't liked. It can be tough at times not knowing what you're eating, but I am definitly fed well here.
We also have book study twice a week. We have already gone through In the Name of Jesus by Henri Nouwen and we will finish Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger this week.
Three times a week we go to language lessons with Simona. She works at the art museum, so we take a bus there and we crowd around her office desk for an hour and a half while she holds up 8.5 x 11 sheets of paper for us to copy down what she has written. I am usually looking at my watch 30 minutes into the lesson, but I have a random american radio station playing November Rain and End of the Road by Boyz II Men through out the lesson, so that helps keep me sane. Simona truly deserves her own post so that is all go into now.
So that is what my time looks like here. I honestly can not believe it has been a month. In just another 2 weeks we'll be leaving for our time in Moldova!
Saturday, February 21, 2009
The Team
So I've made it through my first full week in Galati. There were some ups and downs, but overall I'd say it was a sucessful week. We're all getting more of a feel for our host families. (There are a few people on the team that have hilarious stories about their experiences every morning. I am not one of these people. I am thankful for this.) And I think most of us are a little frustrated with the language. The lessons are a little stressful and of course it is hard not being able to really communicate outside of our little community. But hopefully that will spur me on to be diligent in my studies.
Last weekend the team hung out and just got to know each other a little better. We all had a chance to share our stories, why we came here with Word Made Flesh, and what we hope to get out of this experience. And let me tell you, I am just so excited about the team God has assembled here. Each member of my team has a unique story, but it is so neat to see how a common thread is woven through each of our lives. We are the largest team the Romania field has ever accepted. I can't wait to see what God is going to to in each of us and how He is going to continue to bring us together as a group.
Last weekend the team hung out and just got to know each other a little better. We all had a chance to share our stories, why we came here with Word Made Flesh, and what we hope to get out of this experience. And let me tell you, I am just so excited about the team God has assembled here. Each member of my team has a unique story, but it is so neat to see how a common thread is woven through each of our lives. We are the largest team the Romania field has ever accepted. I can't wait to see what God is going to to in each of us and how He is going to continue to bring us together as a group.
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