Romania Times Ten

Yes, you read that correctly. I'm heading back to Romania for my tenth trip. I am amazed and humbled that God placed this amazing country on my heart fourteen years ago and continues to allow me to go serve his children there.

The plan is a bit different this year. Lord willing, I'll be in Romania for about three weeks this coming June serving alongside the Romanian Children to Love staff. Since I have led teams for the past few years, I am really looking forward to the opportunity to reconnect with the children and staff without the worry or concern of leading or caring for a team.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE leading teams. It is my heart's desire to take people to Romania and show them the great need AND the amazing work God is doing there. I know that God has allowed me the privilege of doing just that in the past, and I am beyond grateful for that.  I'm also looking forward to taking many more teams in the future; but for now, God is sending me solo.

Well, not really "solo"...I'm well aware that I cannot possibly do this alone. It is through the power of the Holy Spirit, tons of prayer, and people like YOU that make trips like this possible. God calls ALL of us to fulfill the great commission. Some go. Some pray. Some send.

I would ask first and foremost for PRAYER. The Romania children and staff don't need ME. They need Jesus; so, I'd ask that you pray for me to be filled with the Spirit, sensitive and obedient, so that Christ may work through me. Please start praying now as the details of the trip are worked out and continue your prayers as I travel, serve, and return home.

I also ask that you prayerfully consider becoming part of my financial support team. I will need to raise upwards of $3,000 to cover the cost of travel, lodging, food, ministry supplies, health insurance, translators, etc. All financial gifts are tax deductible. You can either write a check to CHILDREN TO LOVE and write Amy Erickson/Romania on the memo line and mail it to Children to Love International ~ PO Box 9575~ Bakersfield, CA 93389 or you can give online by following these simple steps:

1. Go to www.childrentolove.org
2. Click on "give"
3. Click on "give to send a team member or intern on a missions trip"
4. Designate "Amy Erickson" in the box provided
5. Select your amount and complete the rest of the form

CTL will send you a receipt for your donation.

I can't even tell you how excited I am to go back and reconnect with these precious ones that I've watched grow up before my eyes. I want to tell them once again that they matter, that they are valuable, that they are beautiful, and that they are LOVED!

Thank you for your consideration in joining my team and touching and changing the lives of children and the staff in Romania! I look forward to updating you here on "our" adventures along the way!

We're Heading Back!.... to Romania that is!

With the summer shaping up to be even crazier than normal, it seemed (not too many months ago) that Romania was not going to be a possibility this summer. I had resigned my heart to that fact... knowing that I'd be back again soon.

Or, at least I thought my heart had resigned...

Until,

Aimee Bradshaw went to Romania and had the audacity to FaceTime me. I got to see the ministry center, the staff that is now like family, and even a few of the kids during our sweet conversations.

And I. Just. Couldn't. Let. Go.

So, a while back, my madre and I went to have lunch with John Penrose. We were pulling at straws, trying anything we could think of to make our schedules work to fit Romania in--even if it meant just the two of us heading over right before school started (although that was far from ideal).

As we sat and ate some delicious Thai food, John rambled on about the summer schedule. I'm pretty sure I tuned out as soon as he said something to the effect of "There's a team going from Pennsylvania that has never been to Romania before. In fact, their church hasn't ever sent an overseas mission team anywhere. I'll probably have to go with them."

Uhhh....what? They're going in June (our only free month, but one that is already packed with teams in RO), and they need someone to go with them?! ME! ME! ME! Pick ME! Actually, I think it went more along the lines of...

John: I'll probably have to go with them.

Me: Unless you let me go with them.

John: Hmm, that could work.

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES!

Are you kidding me? Mom and I were seriously longing to go back to Romania, pulling at straws to find a time that would work, and now you're telling me that there's a team going (in our exact time frame) that could possibly use someone to go with them and lead?

God, you are WAY COOL! I LOVE how you worked that out and put that together for all of us.

We're IN!

So, we're headed back... in June... with a team from Pennsylvania (not before a training retreat and Skype meetings, of course).

I couldn't be more excited!

However, we can't do this alone! Scroll down for more information about how YOU can become involved!

 Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.  -Psalm 82:3-4

Dear Friends and Family,

            This summer we plan on doing that once more—defending, rescuing, delivering. We are excited to have the opportunity to travel back to Romania with Children to Love International (CTL) to serve and help meet the physical, mental, social, and spiritual needs of orphaned and abandoned children living in Romanian government orphanages and those at risk of entering them. Our trip is scheduled for June 11-21, 2015; however, it is unlike any other team we have been on before. This time, we will be leading a team of people from Halifax, Pennsylvania who have never served in Romania before! During this time, our team will travel to Bucharest, Romania to help CTL share the gospel with hundreds of orphans and to support and encourage the CTL national staff.

Amy: I cannot even express how excited I am to be going back to Romania this summer alongside a team from across the country. I know this trip will be filled with challenges and triumphs. I trust that our God will do far more abundantly than all we could ask or imagine in and through our team! I also can’t wait to reconnect with the CTL staff and the orphans that I have fallen in love with over the last few years. Is it June yet?! 

Schelly: I am overjoyed to be a part of this new and exciting team to Romania. Since going for the first time two years ago (and again last year!), I have been longing to go back. I cannot wait to see all that God has in store for us, this team, and the Romanian children and staff. I am also looking forward to taking on more of a leadership role alongside Amy.

As thrilled as we are to be able to serve God and the people of Romania once again this summer, we definitely cannot do it alone. We are asking you to prayerfully consider being a part of our support team. We will need you behind us in prayer and financial support to make this trip possible. We need to raise $5,600 to cover the costs of travel, lodging, food, housing, ministry expenses, and health insurance in Romania for both of us. Our deadline for raising support is May 28^th, but we need to bring in some support soon to cover the cost of flights.  We are asking you for the gift of your prayers and whatever financial support you are able to share. We greatly appreciate your support (and of course, all of your financial gifts are tax deductible!).

            Please partner with us as we serve this country that is so near and dear to our hearts. If you choose to be a part of our support team, please make a check out to Children to Love (mail it to the address below) or give online by visiting www.childrentolove.org, selecting “give” and then selecting “give to send a team member” (please designate “Amy Erickson/Schelly Thompson’s trip to Romania” on the check memo or online).

Thank you for your consideration in joining our team and touching and changing the lives of children and the staff in Romania.

Amy Erickson & Schelly Thompson

Children to Love International ~ P.O. Box 9575 ~ Bakersfield, CA 93389

If I had to describe my trip in ONE WORD...

...it would be...

HEART-WRENCHING 

causing great sadness; heartbreaking.

I can't even write more than that right now, but I wanted to leave you with that short preview of what may come (if I can figure out how to put any of it into words).


Please keep praying for the children of Romania, the incredible CTL staff, and my team members. May God continue to do amazing work in and through all of us.

Split Personality Much?

Tomorrow is the last day of school.

Friday morning I'm leaving for Romania.

I need to make sure my room is clean and everything is in order.

I need to make sure I'm packed.

I have to say goodbye to my kiddos.

I'm trying to finish this amazing book before I go love on some Romanian kids.

As crazy as they can make me, I'm going to really miss my students. More, I'm sure, than I think. 

I'm slightly anxious about that long flight.

I'm going to really miss some of my coworkers.

I can't wait to see some of the Romanian staff.


Like I said...split personalty much.... 


My head is in so many places that I can't really get a grasp on it. I have to just let go and try to go with the flow. That, my friends, is not my strong point.

Honestly, this morning, as I opened up a few emails from our team leader, I was so overwhelmed that my first thought was I just don't want to do this. I don't want the year to end. I don't want to go. It's just too much...


But, God always has a way of showing His sovereignty and power. He always has a way to take me away from myself and my anxiety so that I can focus on Him and His plans.

As I read through the email showing our schedule, I glanced down and saw the name of one of the orphanages we'll be visiting--Chitila. However, my eyes didn't just see the name of that orphanage, they saw two sweet faces, precious sisters who completely stole my heart six years ago, and my anxiety melted away.

Those babies are the reason I am going....

Right now, I have no strength of my own. I am drained. I am scattered. I am tired. I have nothing left to give. Good thing, huh?

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  (2 Corinthians 12:9)


Good thing. The kids that I say goodbye to tomorrow don't need my strength and love alone--they need Christ. The staff and kids I'll work with in Romania don't need my strength--they need Christ's.

God, may your power rest upon me....





For those who are partnering with my team and me in prayer, here are a few points to guide your prayers:

* Please pray that I will let go and that God's power will rest upon me as I finish up the school year and go serve in Romania. 


* Pray that I will be open to the Spirit's leading as I am interacting with the staff and children. Pray that I will be obedient to God's prompting. 


* Pray that we will remain safe and healthy, specifically that my headaches will be manageable or non-existent. 


* Pray that God will move in powerful ways in the lives of the staff, the children, and our team. 

Thanks so much. I could not do this alone (obviously!).

If you are interested in reading more about my trip or helping me with the last bit of support, please go HERE!

If you are interested in learning more about the organization that I will be working with (Children to Love), please go HERE!

Blessings. :)