The Road Less Traveled

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

A few very special events from this summer 2013

We were blessed to have been a part of and celebrate with our girls and boys on a few very special days this summer. The girls and boys graduated from the Transition Programs, Ioana and Alex got married and Elena was baptized!

Although this year was tiring in many ways, when we came upon the day of graduation, July 7, 2013, we were so glad to see the sense of pride on their faces as they too had endured difficult situations and succeeded. Josh and I experienced several strange emotions during this time; joyfulness to see how much they have grown, from where they came to where they are now, excitement for them to go live life on their own, apprehension in hoping they make the correct decisions and this strange feeling of being empty-nesters.
God was right in the center of it all. He tried each of us and stretched us and has made us all stronger. Despite how we felt and our apprehensions, we know that God is in control and did not need us to do His will, but that He chose us to be His hands and feet! We grew very close together, our girls and us, and have made a lasting impression on each other. This year is one that we all will not forget!

Domnul Costel, Romanian president of H2H, praying over the graduates

Josh talking about our year with the girls

Us with all of the graduates

Us with our lovely girls

Ioana and Alex got married on August 17, 2013! It was exciting to help prepare the team house for a wedding this summer. Everything came together quickly with the many hands that helped out. It was simple but beautiful! It was an experience we will never forget!

On the morning of their civil ceremony, we all arrived and gathered inside as Alex and Ioana approached the desk where they are read their marriage rights by the official, when they were asked for their I.D. cards... Ioana had left hers at the salon where she had gotten her hair and make-up done. She became a bit frustrated as Josh and I laughed and reassured her that it will be alright and that one day they will look back and laugh about it. Jen raced back to the salon for Ioana's I.D. and after a bit of waiting, the ceremony proceeded.

L to R: Ioana's mom, Ioana, Alina, oldest sister Nicoleta, Stefi, Alex & Marin

At the civil ceremony

Alex & Ioana on their big day!

Josh & I at their wedding

Their first dance as a married couple

Taking pictures around town

Elena was baptized on August 30, 2013. It was exciting that while she in still in the GTH program she had told us on a few different occasions that she had wanted to take this step in her relationship with God. It was awesome to see it happen!

She chose a Psalm to read

She is afraid of water, but did so well

A new soul in Christ!

A beautiful cross necklace to remind her of her special day

With flowers from some very special people in her life

Time flies when you are having fun!

Yes, it has been a good while since our last blog update.
A lot has happened...
We had our church family here serving along side of us, GTH/BTH/ATH graduation, all of our girls have moved out of the house and have found jobs, our dear friend and colleague Kirsteen left H2H, other teams have come and gone and summer camps have finished, Ioana's wedding quickly approached, we took a short tour through Romania and Elena was baptized! I hope I haven't missed anything. : )
CCC Team. It was such a blessing to have our church family here to meet our kids and experience God working here in Romania. They met and loved on our little ones at Voluntari, played hard with our kids at Peris and spent special time with our girls.

Team members and interns with kids at Peris

Dianna, Josh's mom, with Alexandra at Voluntari

April with Vlad at Voluntari

Shelley with kids at Voluntari

Todd with Costica at Voluntari

Staff with CCC team and summer interns

The girls moved out... They were both excited and nervous about being out on their own. Excited to be with others close in the city, start jobs and make some money. But nervous about problems that will arise and working late into the night hours. They are doing very well though!
Our friend and colleague moved back to Scotland to be with her parents. She had just arrived in Romania on staff when we were on our internship with Heart2Heart. I, Missy, worked very closely with her these last years helping in her music classes. We know this was a difficult decision for her but we are so grateful for the time getting to know her. We are truly blessed by her friendship! Please keep her in your prayers as she is still adjusting to life back home and getting settled in with finding a job.

Kirsteen and I her last Sunday at church

Josh with Maria from Voluntari

Summer camps went smoothly and very very quickly this summer! We used the Kingdom Rock Curriculum. It was a blast teaching about how we can use the Bible to be strong in Him using the interactive lessons!

Josh with his buddy Alberto coloring

Team acting out Daniel in the Lion's Den

Josh with kiddos from Voluntari

Me with George at Voluntari

Playing games at Voluntari

Me with Gabi

Josh tickling Alberto

Me helping Gabi do his craft

Josh and Corny acting out the skit for Kingdom Rock

Again, acting out skit

Me teaching at my Imagination station

Teen camps were a blast too! We gave our testimonies and related them to the stories of Abraham. We even had the privilege to help with teen camp in Rosiori de Vede this summer. This was our first time staying in Rosiori and spending more time with the kids there.