Shopping already

I am having a BLAST! I just wish that I could hurry up and get used to the time change and not be so tired. I did, however, get a full nights sleep last night. I went to bed around 8:30 woke up at 1 and then slept until 6:30.

First thing when I got here last night he sent me with Adelina (one of our translators) to the store to get some Parmesian cheese to go on the Spaghetti we had for dinner last night. After dinner, we watched a movie entitled Sahara and about halfway through I had to go to sleep. I was just too tired. Oh, and I have my own room. Heres the view.

Today has been INCREDIBLY busy. I was up at 6:30 had my shower and had some breakfast. Adelina came by, and since we are leaving tomorrow at 1 for Ukraine, we all went to the store to get some food for the trip.

I mentioned that we would be working with Hospice my last week here, well we went by to see them and how things were coming along. They invited us to sit in on their Bible study. There were 11 women that all led us in a song in Romanian and then one of them taught a lesson about watching our words and making sure that our words represent God in a way that is pleasing to Him.

We got home about 11:30 and have been packing since. It is now 1:45 in the afternoon here. Around 4 we will be leaving to pick up Becky (another translator) and going to the church in Girish to have a hand bell practice with another church from a village about 3 miles up the road.

Im here!!

So, I am now here in Oradea, Romania. I got here and now have time to relax and get some rest before packing and getting ready to leave for Ukraine on Tuesday.

All of my flights went well. I was too scared to sleep on the way to Frankfurt so I have been up for an amazing 31 hours! I just want to thank you all for keeping me in your prayers as I go about my journey here. I will post some more stuff and pictures later. Right now, I am far too tired to post anything of much significance.

cancelled

Literally about two minutes after I posted my last update the flight person came over the intercom and informed us that my flight to Chicago was now cancelled. It was cancelled due to terrible thunderstorms in Chicago. SO now I don't leave until tomorrow at 4:20. My flight goes from Charlotte to Frankfurt, Germany and then from Germany to Budapest. Yay for cancellations.

Delays, Delays, delays

I am currently sitting in Charlotte at gate A9. Apparently Chicago is having some terrible thunderstorms which is causing numerous delays. My flight was supposed to leave originally at 6:50. It is currently 7:22 and I still have not boarded.

This is a blessing in disguise to me. I get to think through all of my feelings and emotions. While I have an incredible amount of questions about what the next two months hold for me and the students in Romania and Ukraine, I am filled with a peace that I have never had before. I am finally here and there is nothing left for me to do but get on the planes. I now have time to sit back and not worry about forgetting anything and let God begin to prepare my heart, mind, and soul in a way that was not possible during the summer.

My fears of flying are somewhat subdued, although I am not terribly excited about flying through storms that have cause delays of up to 3 hours. I am desperate to get out of here and let God take control. I have planned as much as I possibly can and now it's Gods turn to shine through.

Inadequate

Fear. One thing I have not expected about the summer.. with the exception of actually flying there. I have been preparing spiritually, mentally, and emotionally since I got back last summer. One feeling I have did not think would show up was fear. Not a fear for my life or that I will be in any physical danger, but rather, a fear of inadequacy.

I have been asked by Randy to prepare a number of talks to do, which normally is not a big deal for me, except now. I am terrified that I will say something incorrect or present an idea in a way that does not make sense to the people there. I am terrified that something will go wrong and I will not present what God wants me to.

I simply have ideas. Ideas that I do not have a clue how to go about presenting them. I am struggling to see - actually, I do not see how I am at all qualified to teach the word of God to more knowledgeable and experienced people than myself.

People have often asked me "Why are you going?" My answer is simply to spread the love of my Savior across the world. But, how do I go about doing that? Why me? What credentials do I have?

The unknowns are so great and I have no idea, none whatsoever, about how they will be fulfilled. I know that this is a part of my trip - finding the unknowns, seeing God work in ways that I never thought possible. And, I guess this is just a part of the process.

God is showing me how weak and inadequate I am so that when He shows me answers and speaks through me, I will have another way to see just how strong He is.