In previous postings I have made a point to be positive, light-hearted, and optimistic. Optimistic I will still be, but this posting is filled with some reality.
Some people wonder why we would travel to the other side of the world to minister to people. For one, it's a calling of God. That makes it's unquestionable to us who know what that is. We just follow where God leads. Another reason is having a passion for certain kinds of people - the lost, abused, abandoned, hopeless - those that need a ray of light. Yes, we need that at home too. But here's the thing. Most everyone on this particular team has ministries back home where they share that light. God has just called us to bring it to another group of people that is geographically challenging for us. It's the sacrifice that we make leaving our home ministries to bring that hope here to the Gypsies of Tinca, Romania.
Another reality. This is a spiritually dark place. All the beautiful pictures we share and the uplifting stories only share the seeds that are being planted and some of the fruit that's come out of it. As much progress has been made by Rachel and Dave and their team here in the village, there is much to do. A lifetime of work and love to pour into a people who don't need to be "westernized," they need to be "Jesus-fied."
Last night, one of the cute little Gypsy girls at the Isaiah Center got to spend the night. She was playing just fine by herself, then with the other children - who were all a little rambunctious. When all of a sudden she starts shouting out to one of the boys and he just looks like he was hit! Our translator gets on to her. This is all being said in the Gypsy language - Roma. Albert told us she just cussed him out. That sweet, fun-loving little girl just cussed and cursed that boy -- and laughed about it. The scene may be funny; however, that is what she knows at home.
Rachel & Dave shared with us how dark this place really is. How much work has gone into each child and family that are associated with the Center in the form of soft touches, loving words, care packages, and other. The vision for what it can become is there - a place that can house 200+ children, a community center where the families can come to get loved on and learn life skills, a ripple effect that can reach out into the world.
And every time we come love on a child, shake hands with the adults, say "buna-de-mon-yet-za" (good morning) and smile, we are planting a seed. There are not a lot of smiles outside the walls of the Center. But each time we we can pray for them, touch them, love on them and say "Isus Te Ubeste": (Jesus loves you), they not only hear the words, they feel the actions.
That's why we do it. So they can feel a perfect loving Jesus through we who are just as imperfect as they are. So keep praying - for the full-timers, for the people, for those who are able to share when they can anywhere in the world including your own backyard.
Caio!
And the people we see...groups of older people sitting on a bench out side their house, the dogs laying on the sidewalk or in the gateways, the cow grazing in the ditch, the morning trek of some from the market with horse and wagon. One morning the Christy, the girls and I were walking along and this work truck drove by. The guys in the truck had some serious horn-honking skill...we got cat-called in Romania! I know I stand out from a crowd, but I've really tried to keep a low profile.
Over the weekend our translators and Dave shared some history of the region with us. Turns out by bovine brothers & sisters were Hungarian just 60 years ago! Where we are in Tinca used to be part of Hungary before World War II. So this mile marker you see with Tinca at the bottom and Salonta at the top...Salonta is the Hungarian name of the town. Who knew? Now I do...
And the main roads...wow. See how it's paved in blocks. Most of it nowadays has been paved over, but the roads were paved in blocks. Blocks that were laid by slave labor during the war. I can't even imagine what that would have been like!
So just a couple tidbits to start the day.
Shopping at the Sunflower Shop @ Caminul Felix, a ministry that takes in abandoned children around the world. Getting a few goodies for people back home.
Me & Peep just hanging out in the Sunflower Shop...
Making new friends in the Sunflower Shop...Christy & the team take a while when shopping.
This is from the Overlook atop Oredea. That's the city behind me. I felt like I could fly!
It was a nice team day in Oredea. Seeing the sites, learning the history a little more. There are team pics on facebook that will be shared.
Each morning the team prepares the meals which consist of some sausage meat, bread and a cucumber. The get a little cup of soda too. I helped as much as I could, but Christy wouldn't take me to the village. Maybe something to do with the other cows getting jealous. That, or some Gypsy child would want to keep me. I wouldn't make it back home!
Stephanie, our nurturer and baker of the team, loves to spoil the full-time missionaries here with lots of sugary treats. And Dave, who's originally from England, loves getting this spoiled. Here, he's licking the cake batter bowl. This part is one of our favorites...spoiling the missionaries.
It was a great start to my first international flight! What a team we have!
We flew from Louisville to Washington, DC then on to Munich. That Munich flight was educational and entertaining. Christy shared some new Romanian words with me...these won't be spelled RIGHT, but how they sound....multimesst, coupleacherries, cheypach, stauch-shay, gata, and a few others she tried to remember but got backwards.
We flew from Louisville to Washington, DC then on to Munich. That Munich flight was educational and entertaining. Christy shared some new Romanian words with me...these won't be spelled RIGHT, but how they sound....multimesst, coupleacherries, cheypach, stauch-shay, gata, and a few others she tried to remember but got backwards. The international airports can get kinda crazy. Surprises me anyone can find their way around ANY airport really.
And all the bags!!!!! Thank you to those who gave us a little extra money to get all the bags here. The poor van that transported from Budapest to Tinca, Romania literally blew a tire. But our fearless driver took care of everything.
We're now into doing VBS in the Gypsy village. The sights and sounds have been an adjustment and so has the massive hornet-bees that showed up in the shower with Christy.
Ok...quick note & off to the garden!
A little about me...I'm a Texas girl at heart. Love the wide open spaces and fresh green grass. Living in the city brought some challenges, but I've overcome a lot. There was that run-in with Mrs. B once...How was I to know those flowers were prize-winning?
I'm a naturally happy cow. Life's too short - and so am I - to let life squash ya. And good for Christy that she's taken the day off. So she's left me in charge. I'm up for it. Although from the looks of it, Christy needs more than me to keep things in order. I'd better get to it! So long for now y'all!
Dear Friends and Family,
God has again opened a door of opportunity for me to be a part of something bigger than myself – bringing hope to a culture of people who’ve had no hope for generations – the Gypsies of Romania. Our team of 11 will be coming along side Rachel Ross, full-time missionary and founder of Forget Me Not Ministries, and Dave Truss, a missionary from England, to minister to the people of Tinca. Rachel founded the Isaiah Center in Tinca just four years ago, and together they show the love of Christ by teaching and training the children who have been abused or abandoned. They pour into these kids showing and teaching them a better way of life. The Lord is blessing their efforts to use these children as the generation to break this life-long cycle of abuse and Godlessness, and to spread through them the saving grace of the gospel to the Gypsy people.
I pray post finds you doing well. I’ll just get right to the point. I need your help. Prayer warriors and financial donors alike.
God has again opened a door of opportunity for me to be a part of something bigger than myself – bringing hope to a culture of people who’ve had no hope for generations – the Gypsies of Romania. Our team of 11 will be coming along side Rachel Ross, full-time missionary and founder of Forget Me Not Ministries, and Dave Truss, a missionary from England, to minister to the people of Tinca. Rachel founded the Isaiah Center in Tinca just four years ago, and together they show the love of Christ by teaching and training the children who have been abused or abandoned. They pour into these kids showing and teaching them a better way of life. The Lord is blessing their efforts to use these children as the generation to break this life-long cycle of abuse and Godlessness, and to spread through them the saving grace of the gospel to the Gypsy people.We are in the final planning of our activities and I am very excited to share with you what He has laid on our hearts for this trip:
- 5-day VBS in the Tinca Village. This will include singing praise & worship songs, people skits, a devotional, crafts, games and lunch. Last year we ministered to over 200 children!
- Various construction needs at the Isaiah Center (to be determined)
- Prayer walk through Tinca and the Gypsy village that lies on the outskirts of this small town
- Help Dave with his Futbol ministry in the Gypsy village
- Visit, minister and pray with the Roma families as we deliver their monthly care packages
- Minister to, replenish and build up Rach & Dave to give them the strength they need to continue His work
We still have a lot of preparation to complete before we leave and another team fundraiser. That’s why I’m sending you this letter. Support through prayer is priority one. Prayer is the fuel that will allow us to be successful as we follow God’s leading. So please pray often for unity, focus, and safety of our team. But to be honest with you, I just don' t have anywhere close to the $2,100 needed laying about the house. So, I decided to send letters to people and ask for something I don' t usually ask for in addition to prayer - money. If you feel led, I' d love if you could financially support me on this mission trip. A little, a lot, any would be great. I need to raise $2,100 total by August 1. To help support me financially, you may go online to www.mynorthsidemissions.com and click on Make a Payment. After logging in, select the trip and type in my name (Christy Smallwood). Your online sponsorship will go directly towards my trip account, and you will be credited for your tax-deductible contribution. If you are unable to give online, you may make a check payable to Northside Christian Church and write “Romania 2011” on the memo line. Then please mail that check directly to me – not the church (@ 4640 W Cole Rd., Salem, IN 47167).
Pray that all we say and do will be glorifying to God. Pray that our efforts in helping Rach & Dave as well as the children and adults of Romania will be blessed as we serve God’s purposes for our being there. And knowing that you are praying would mean a lot to me. Not only that, but when you are supporting me financially or in prayer – you become part of our team. I will also be in prayer for you and update you on our progress through facebook and blogging. You can join our group on facebook by looking up Romania Mission Trip. Thank you so much for your prayers, support and consideration. May God continue to bless you and your family.
Romans 10:14-15b: “How shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?”
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