Homeward bound

Our last group hug in Europe!! We are boarding now and will arrive in ATL on schedule. Praying for a safe and uneventful flight.

We are in Paris!

We've arrived safely at our hostel. Safe and timely travels. We are exhausted so we are getting some food and going to bed.

Flying time

Our team has safely departed from Romania and arrived in Germany. We are boarding out connecting flight to Paris.

Hard Goodbyes

Today we are leaving Romania for Paris. There are so many people I'm going to miss dearly, this little girl being one of them. We spent a lot of time together, so leaving her is hard. Everyone here has touched my life in an amazing way and I will miss them so much! Romania will always hold a special place in my heart. I wish I came prepared with waterproof mascara!

God's Love!

I will miss this precious little face! As I was holding him, God reminded me how we are like this little child and all he wants to do his hold us in his arms and love on us. Strong word that I needed to hear! :)

Sigh

Last night we said goodbye to the moms and kids at Casa Agar. Heartbroken does not even begin to describe it. I don't know about all of my teammates, but I ugly-cried all the way home. It's amazing how quickly I fell in love. I can't even think about saying goodbye to our Romanian friends tomorrow.

Today we will see the city of Bucharest! It will be lots of fun. And tomorrow we leave :( where has the time gone???

Printesa Partid!

So tonight we decided to have a princess party. We bought all kinds of fun girly stuff for our little angels before we came. We got bracelets, necklaces, rings, and tiaras. They had a fit! It was so amazing to see their faces light up for all the fun presents! Even though it isn't quite so easy to communicate with words, we talk a lot! You never know how much motions say! I know we just made their night and frankly... It made my night too! <3

Oh and of course we got our boys there some fun planes, spinning tops and punching balloons! ;)

Faith Like a Child <3

So this post is a little late, but we have been a little busy. ;)

On our first full day at Casa Agar (Tuesday) we ate lunch with the moms and children. Before the meal, one of the moms said the blessing. As she was saying it, one of the children (2 years old) started crying. We couldn't figure out why she was crying...the bit was discovered that she was crying because she didn't get to say the blessing. She was crying because she missed time with Jesus. Wow. Why aren't we that sad when we miss time with Jesus?

In Matthew 18:17 Jesus says "I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Faith like a child.

First Day in Romania!

Today was our first full day in Bucharest! We all went to the maternal home and had all sorts of jobs. Some people went to the pediatric cancer hospital, some cooked lunch, and some watched the children. For lunch we cooked baked chicken with a cracker breading, potatoes with cheese and bacon, and ice cream for everyone. After lunch we went to help another local missionary get some crafts ready for a kids summer camp by cutting string, cardboard, and other various tasks. We just finished a delicious dinner of authentic Romanian food! My favorite part of the day was spending the morning with one of the little girls at the home, Abi. I painted her nails, danced with her, and she sat in my lap as we watched television. She is such a sweetheart! I'm excited to get to know the other kids as well! Learning about the sever darkness of Romania's history really stirred my heart, and I can't wait to see how God is going to continue to teach us during our time here in Bucharest!

Craccckkkk

We have safely arrive in Romania and gotten our supply of chocolate...most of us have already finished our bar and are needing more!

We had our first day at Casa Agar today and it was wonderful. 3 of us went to the cancer hospital and did crafts with the kids. It was so fun. Despite our inability to verbally communicate, the crafts were very successful.

Tonight we are eating a traditional Romanian meal and it smells WONDERFUL!!

We are in Romania!!

We have safely arrived. Going through Touched Romania orientation getting ready to hit the ground running tomorrow!!

Country Hopping!!

We have completed our 4 days of training in Brussels, Belgium and are in transit to Bucharest, Romania. Flights are on-time and we are awaiting out connecting flight in Munich, Germany.

Ultimate Ping-Pong

So we've created a new game called "Ultimate Ping-Pong". There are limited rules: you must keep the pinging and the ponging going. The table is rarely used, and you can have unlimited team members. There comes a point when you must decide whether the ball is still in play - can you keep it going or is it over? As cliche as it may sound, this is a point we all will hit in our faith walks: can I keep the ball going? Can I keep pushing? Can I grow stronger and use this "bad play" to my advantage, to the Kingdom's advantage? I like to attribute our game technique to our strong commitment levels. Wouldn't it be great if we could say the same about our walk with our creator?

On another note: I'm going to miss Belgium, my new friends, CTS, and... the waffles. I will just have to come back!

Hanging out

Hey guys I promised I'd post more so here I am:) doing great over here and chilling with peeps while the guys play around the world ping pong and some others play a really intense game of spoons! Today we have perfected our French greetings and face hugs:). Despite all the fun I can't wait to get to work in Romania.. We seem so far away! We will there soon though, but first- chocolate time tomorrow at the factory! Hope everything's great back in the states:)

Perching and stories

Days with my Romania team are never dull. Today we were sharing our life stories (testimonies) with each other and it was decided that we decided we should move so we could all see each other. So, I decided to perch on the edge of the top bunk as shown.

At any rate, today was our first chance to really get to share with each other about our lives and where we come from. I'm always fascinated with people's stories and I truly believe that everyone has an important and valuable story to tell. I can't wait to continue hearing about the lives of my trip mates!

In other news, I've never eaten so much in my life! Every time we gather as a team, Brad has more food for us. But I'm not complaining! :)

Au revoir!

Crepes and Jesus-y things

As I write this, French students at CTS (the seminary where we are staying in Brussels) are making us authentic crepes...YUM!! In the picture you can see them cooking them...look for the crepe in mid-air!

As we were sitting in chapel tonight I came across a verse in the Bible that really stood out to me. In James 2:1-4, it talks about making "partialities" between the rich man and the poor man and treating people differently based on how they look. This really touched me because it is so true about the culture that we are going to be in. People are judged and looked down upon based on their appearance. For example, the Romas or gypsies. This absolutely breaks my heart, because I am a firm believer that everyone is important and everyone has a story to tell.

I share all this to say: please pray for us as we get ready to leave for Romania. Pray that we would see people in the way that our God sees them...as His beautiful children, worthy of and craving love. Pray that we would be slow to judge and quick to love.

P.S. The crepe was AMAZING!!!!!

First Day in Brussels

We have had a wonderful day so far! The breakfast was delicious. We had bread with packets of Nutella and Speculoos spreads! They sell them in the States, but they tastes better here. :) Another thing I enjoyed was learning about the European culture from an American who has been living in Belgium for years now, so he knows both cultures well. I'm learning so much and I can't wait to learn more!

Hats for the babies!

Well today we started going through all the bags and looking at everything we brought for kids. IT'S SO EXCITING! One thing I brought are baby bonnets. There are about 50 of them and they are all hand made. A friend at church works at the Athens Pregnancy Center and they were all crocheted by the workers there for the adorable babies in Romania! What a great gift for those lovable children of God!! I am so excited to see the babies again and shower them with all the love that God and I have for them.

My pajama party on the plane!!

Hey US peeps:) I officially turned 20 flying over the Atlantic on Tuesday beginning our 4 country tour of Europe. I'm lucky because not everyone gets to celebrate like this. I'm looking forward to another decade of life:)

We made it!!

We finally made it to Brussels!

Our first meal? See if you recognize it. ;)

Continue to pray for us as we get settled and begin our training!!

Safely in Paris

On time and bags in hand, cash converted and headed towards train station!!

Ready to leave! :)

Right now we are all meeting in Atlanta hanging out and spending quality time with our groups! I'm so ready to be in Europe! I've learned so much just in the few hours we've been together and I can't wait to learn about the European culture and love the children in Romania! I ask for prayers for protection and wisdom as we travel (a lot) through airports and train stations and cars as well as emotional and spiriual preparation for our encounters in Europe! Thank you!

Ashley

GT Girls

Last year at this time I was trying to figure out who my new best friends were going to be. As the only girl from GA Tech going to Romania, I was very nervous about who I would be spending the trip with. This year is quite different! There are three GT girls including me and two other returning girls from last year. Not only am I excited to grow closer to these ladies, we get to add new friends to our experience! Looking back, who would have guessed I would be here today with a new group of girls - my new found best friends!

It's time!

We are currently gathered in Atlanta in our teams!!! There is so much excitement in the room...we will leave for the airport in a few hours!! Pray for us as we prepare our hearts and minds.

Did I mention we are EXCITED?!

It's Baby Holdin' Time!

Hey everyone! 

I am so excited and privileged to be traveling with such a wonderful group of people to share Christ's love! God has been preparing my heart for this trip for some time now, and I'm finally getting to go and experience what He has been waiting to teach me. 


Several months ago, I started volunteering with Kidtown, the children's Sunday school program at my church in Atlanta. I would leave every Sunday with an overwhelming love for the children I cared for, no matter how many fits were thrown, attitudes needing adjustment, or messes made. I found myself enjoying the parts that others would normally avoid. I felt comfortable speaking to the children who didn't necessarily have the best attitude, or who needed the most attention. I enjoyed encouraging the ones that were shy, because I remembered the people who encouraged me when I was growing up as a shy child. From these and other experiences, I know that God had put children on my heart, especially those who are born into unfortunate social situations, and therefore need extra encouragement while they are young, so that they can develop healthy relationships when they are older. 


When I heard the opportunity to work with children in Romania, I didn't even finish asking God before He said "Yes." It had fit perfectly with what God had recently been teaching me. After I committed, God put people in path, verses in my head, and pulled large sums of money out of thin air to confirm the fact that I was supposed to go on this trip, and test my trust in Him along the way. One verse that stood out to me the most was James 1:27: "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." 


I'm looking forward to what God wants to teach us on this trip, and I ask you pray for the team, as we go where God has called us to reach out to those "in their distress" and give them hope through His love. 


Catherine

Where? When?

So tomorrow is departure!! The time has finally come after many months of preparation and planning. At our REACH meeting in April, we received our very informative booklets which answered lots of questions. We discussed the schedule and our time in Belgium, Romania, and France so please keep us in prayer as we journey 3 countries!!

May 16-20 (Wed-Sun)
Belgium: orientation, team building, cultural training

May 21-29 (Mon- - Tues)
Romania: working with Touched Romania

May 30 (Wed)
France: team debrief

May 31 (Thurs)
Back home

Romania Round 2!

                                            AHHHH ONLY TWO MORE DAYSSSSSS! 

I am so excited to be going back to the beloved Romania. I had the amazing opportunity to go last summer and now I have the chance to go once again. ROMANIA ROUND 2! God moved our team in amazing ways last year and He opened my eyes to what others go through around the world. It is one thing to hear what goes on, it is completely another to actually see and experience it first hand. Ever since coming home last year, I have had the yearning to go back and love on these mothers, children, and sweet babies.

Thank you sooo much to everyone who has made it possible for me to travel across the world once more! I am so blessed to have such amazing Godly family and friends. I love you all so much and thank you in advance for all your prayers and thoughts. 

   Can't wait to hold more sweet little babies! :)

In 6 days I will begin my first mission trip with a wonderful group of girls to Romania!!  I am a super excited about the journey that is before us!

About a year and a half ago, was when I knew I was called to go on a mission trip.  I didn't know where or when, I just new within the next year I felt I needed to go.  Any of the missions trips that were available were not at the right time for me to go, but then I moved to Troy and found Chi Alpha.  Not long after I was there, I heard them announce that they were going on a mission trip in the summer to Europe, and I knew that's what I was supposed to do.

I chose Romania because I felt that that was where God wanted me to be.  Out of all of the task for the different teams, I knew I was supposed to be with the sweet children.

So here I am now, preparing myself for what is to come.  I believe that God will show me amazing things.  I know that I will experience life changing things, and grow closer to God while being able to share his love.

I want to thank everyone who has been and is praying for our mission trip, and for all of your support.  May God bless you all.

I want to leave my team members with a bible verse, so that when they feel nervous they remember just how loving God truly is, and he protects us wherever we go!

Psalms 91:4 (NLT)
He will cover you with his feathers.  He will shelter you with his wings.  His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

Our first of many photos together!!

The countdown has begun...

Yes, in T-7 days we will be embarking on REACH 2012. It is hard to believe that a year has already passed since we were last in Europe. I find there are days when my heart still aches for Romania - the people, the babies, the government. I am so honored to be leading Romania Round II this year. I am full of anticipation at what the Lord is going to do in the lives of our team but also in the lives of those we encounter. We will never fully understand or comprehend what it means to be "His hands and feet" or the impact it has but I pray we catch a glimmer of what it means "to go".