Thanks for all your support!
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
One life at a time
So proud of my girl Kristina. I think it’s my life’s honor to be a part of girl’s lives who go on to impact the Kingdom.
“The world has yet to see what God can do with one life wholly surrendered to him”
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
Reflections on Romania
It was so hard to say good bye to all my new Romanian friends and family. As I made my way down the stairs of the 8 story block building I lived in, I was accompanied by a band of family that wanted to send me off with hugs. Tears flowed as we said good bye and the incredible gratitude in my heart for the hospitality was inevitably overflowing. I just am blown away at how these friends cared for me when I was sick, provided for my needs, fed me, housed me and prayed with me for the ministry God had there. They are and forever will be a part of my heart and prayers.
This was the best mission trip I have ever had. I was able to see things and do things you just can’t do with a team of Americans traveling around. I ministered to mental hospitals, Gypsies, orphans, abandoned babies, children, teens and women. The need and opportunity there is endless and I am forever marked by my experience. The main reason for this trip was to live in the country and observe and learn what it was like to be a Christian woman in an Eastern European culture.
As we are currently developing some ground-breaking vision here for training women regionally, it has already proven helpful to know and feel the heart of an average woman in ministry there. We recently heard a quote that said, “Teach a man and you teach a man but teach a woman and you teach a village”. That is not to be critical of men at all because there are many men doing incredible works for God. But God also wired women to pass on what they learn to a community…to share it!
There was one Christian woman there that is a great picture to me. She works 40 hour weeks to help pay for her family’s bills. Their family makes an average of $400 a month. The taxes there are 24% on everything including food, and that is in addition to income taxes. It’s impossible to get ahead and hard to even have hope for easier days. This Christian woman comes home from long days to take care of 2 vibrant children, clean her home and cook the food. She has 2 full time jobs (work and home) and is expected to still be the traditional mom, wife and even daughter. There is not a mindset that women can take time for themselves or breaks or even go shopping alone. She is always working, always striving and always praying that God would meet their needs. She serves in the church choir where the children are expected to sit next to her for the 3 hour service. She has a ministry heart but wonders how she will ever have time to become equipped for such a task. She feels insecure about her scriptural knowledge or ministry experience. She asks questions like, “Can I really lead a women’s group?” and “Am I worthy enough to do big things for God?” or “Who will teach me or help me to get there?”.
Well we at Greater Reach have a heart for that woman. A woman who wears many hats but still wants to change the world for Christ. We want to help answer her questions and equip her with resources. And I’m so excited to be a part of the process.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Monday, July 5, 2010
The children of the village people
What an incredible trip this has been. I can hardly believe it is coming to an end and I will be flying the coop this Thursday morning. I have been praising God for his favor here to do more than I could ever have imagined. More children accepted Christ this weekend in the village of Agreesh. We spent the entire day out there first with the children and then with a group of teenagers. They have never heard a message on dating as teens and it was cool to share God’s perspective on it. We then hiked to a beautiful forest which was by far one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. We played games and got to know each other. I will be having another marathon day with them this Wednesday in a closer village where they are having a retreat. Please pray for my health as I’m worn down a bit and will have a 12 hour day right before I leave the country. Hopefully it will prepare me to sleep well on the plane ride because I desire to spend my last days here well.
Above are some of the pictures from the area villages and also a picture of me getting held up at the border of Nadlac.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
My Trip to Hungary
So the tax rate has increased this week in Romania from 19-24% and I was asking what the family will do to save money on food and stuff. They said Hungary was only 30 minutes from here and that they were going to make a trip. I was thinking of picking up supplies for tomorrow’s VBS so I thought I’d tag along. The prices are much, much lower in Hungary and you see people crossing the borders with cars packed to the brim with groceries. Some of them are taking them back to sell at the market and make profit. Going into Hungary today was no problem. But it was very hot and traffic very packed on the narrow country roads. We sat in the heat at times with the doors open letting a breeze come through the car as we were bumper to bumper. When we got to the store it was cool and cozy and we decided to kill time and let the sun go down a bit before heading back. We had a blast in the store. The Hungarians don’t speak English so it was fun to see my good friend and Romanian mentor Adina being a foreigner with me as we tried to figure out the conversion rate of our currency and stuff.
On the way back we got asked to pull over at the border of re-entry into Romania. They took my passport and the title to the car and we sat there for AN HOUR AND A HALF. It was a little frightening at times not knowing why were being held there. We thought at one point that they may be looking for a bribe as car after car seemed to be waved through. We were praying and then often silent sitting there and at one point I remembered that I have been memorizing Psalm 139. I asked if my friend wanted to hear it…..she said yes. So I spoke God’s word out loud and felt comfort and power from the words……”you know when I sit and when I rise, you perceive my thoughts from afar….you hem me in behind and before, you have laid your hand upon me”……We had no Bible there except the words in our heads. She began saying the Lord’s prayer in Romanian and then I started quoting a few more passages. At some point soon after that an officer came up and we found out that the computer had broken that they use to stamp the passports so they had driven my passport back to the Hungarian border for a stamp. WELCOME TO ROMANIA. As we eventually drove off I realized that our faith had grown from that experience. I also saw how important it is to know God’s word in moments of crisis or fear. When you have no other thoughts or comforts it is great to speak God’s words out loud.
On our way home we saw a woman who looked like she had been beaten up standing on the corner of the road. She may have been a prostitute but we offered her help and she tried to hide. We kept driving and saw a beggar on the ground near dumpsters looking for food. At the same time we almost got hit by another car pushing through a round about. We made a stop near by at a friends to pick something up and had to drive down a deserted, dirt road filled with old tires and huge ditch like potholes in the ground……..My senses were on overload as I took in so many disturbing sights and sounds one after another…….it’s such a different life. Romanians have so much pride in their culture, their foods and their families. But it’s hard to be here and hope that things will get better for them. The government is still so corrupt and the economy is nearly impossible to get by with. The only hope is found in Christ and the hope of a future from him and the simple blessings he gives in the everyday.
Domnu Cutina
God bless you……
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