Monday Mania!

Monday...our first full day of ministry...was, well, full, to say the least.

We began with one of my favorite things of all time--morning worship, prayer, and devotions with the team and CTL staff. What better way to start your day than unified in God's word and unified in praising Him??

I love to sing (on my own or in the car, of course), but there's something about praising in Romanian and English that always warms my spirit and gives me just the slightest glimpse of what Heaven will be like--the unity of all nations as we come together as a family to praise our Lord and Savior.

Brian shared a more in depth intro to Jonah and the staff was glued to what he had to say--I'm telling you, we have some amazing teaching here, folks! He'll continue teaching through the book during the week and we are all truly looking forward to it.

After morning devos, Mom, DeAnn, and I went with the Mamas, or Educators, from the Home of Home (or Casa Eva in Romanian) to Starbucks for a time of fellowship. It is our heart and our desire to be an encouragement and resource to these ladies in any way we can.  Thanks to all who we're praying specifically for this time. It was truly an honor to connect with them and hear their hearts. We got just a glimpse of their tremendous task in raising four (and soon to be six) little girls with rough backgrounds and a desperate need for love, confirmation, and stability. These Mamas, as Brian affirmed them earlier in the morning, are our heroes. They need our prayer and support more than anything. Will you please join with us in praying for them and for these precious girls?

Speaking of the Home of Hope girls, there is one immediate need that YOU can help with.

BEGINNING OF SHAMELESS PLUG:


PLEASE HELP!

Greetings from Romania. We need your IMMEDIATE help! These little orphaned and abandoned girls (pictured below) are from the CTL Home of Hope. They desperately need this van.

Designate your van contribution by calling Linda at the CTL office (661-588-9000) or contribute online at www.childrentolove.org. By June 30, it is our goal to have these girls transported to school, medical appointments, the ministry center, and Sunday School TOGETHER in this van!

"Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even to the least of them, you did to Me." -Matthew 25:40

* All donations are tax deductible and all contributions will go to the CTL Romania fund.

REMEMBER: Designate "THE VAN PROJECT"

"Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even to the least of them, you did to Me." -Matthew 25:40

END OF SHAMELESS PLUG.


After Sbux, we enjoyed some delicious Ciorba (soup) for lunch back at the ministry center and got ready for the long journey over to the Chitila orphanage. Although it takes quite a while to get there, the trek provides a great opportunity for reconnecting with old friends and getting to know new ones.

Chitila is an all girls' orphanage and it mainly houses girls with special needs. It is an a utter joy to see their faces light up as you enter the room. Regardless of whether or not they know you, they will run up to you, yearning for your attention. We sang, played some team building games, and Anna told the story of the gospel using a simple book with colored pages and a beaded bracelet. Black = sin. Red = the blood of Christ. White = the forgiveness of sins (if we accept Christ as our Savior. Yellow = Heaven. Green = eternal life. Although these girls have "disabilities," they have such a deep and clear understanding of the gospel that it puts many of us who "lack disabilities" to shame. It is truly a beautiful thing. We pray that God will use the Truth to penetrate their hearts and guide their lives.

After Chitila we traveled back to the ministry center for some dinner and down time. Without going into detail here, I must say that God is already doing a MIGHTY work in and through this small team (and all of you that are behind us and with us). Satan is, of course, trying to thwart God's plan, but we know that what Satan tries to use for evil, God will CERTAINLY use for good. Please join us in praying against Satan and FOR the continued work that God is doing right here and right now. We serve a mighty and powerful God!!!

I sit here tying this from the trampoline in the backyard of the ministry center to the incredible sight of a lightning storm in the distance (one of my absolute favorite things!). Talk about the power of our ALMIGHTY God! The God that is giving us our own personal lightning show right now is the same God that can use YOU to provide a van for  the Home of Hope girls. He is the same God that has a perfect and sovereign plan for the lives of all of these children and for the ministry of CTL.

Tomorrow we will travel to Tei (one of my favorite places). I cannot wait to see all the little ones and tell you all about it afterward. Tomorrow evening we'll have a worship night with the staff and some of the teenagers (always an incredibly powerful time). One of the former staff members that I absolutely adore will be here tomorrow night, and I am beyond excited for that.

Please please please keep praying for:

* the VAN
* health, strength, and sleep
* openness and obedience
* that lives would be changed
* that the name of Jesus would be made great in the lives of these precious children (and in the lives of the staff, interns, and teams)

Thank you all so much for praying and giving in any way you can. You are making a difference and impacting our world and the Kingdom.

God bless. Te iubesc (I love you)!!