the good, the bad, the ugly.....

We have gotten so many e-mails and encouraging notes from friends back home.  We have been extremely encouraged and everyone has made us feel "remembered."  That may sound lame and shallow, but one of our biggest fears was just being forgotten.  Thanks to so many for even sending e-mails of what has been going on in your lives! Those are the best because it keeps the friendship going two ways and ever growing!

It seems almost everyone wants to know what has been the most exciting and what has been the hardest.  I have not wanted to write about what has been the hardest.  Mainly because it has been hard.  I have been hesitant to write in fear of how others may interpret that.  Some may read words like "sad" or "homesick" or hard" and translate that to mean "mistake" or "regret."  That is not even close to how we feel.  We feel such peace from the Lord that we are exactly where we are to be.  BUT, that does not mean we will not face times of sadness or struggle.

So, I have been hesitant to write, but the Lord reminded me of the purpose of this blog.  The purpose was to journal our journey to Romania and by doing so, "Ascribe to the Lord the glory of His name." (Psalm 96:8)  Part of that is being 100% honest and transparent about ALL of the places He takes us through and telling of the victory we have in Christ alone.  So, here comes honesty....

The first two weeks, I (cali) cried myself to sleep.  Every time we talked to someone from back home I would cry immediately after hanging up the phone or getting off of skype.  Some days this is still hard, but it is getting better.

So many people warn you of culture shock.  So, I had thoughts of it, but really didn't think much of it.  I really didn't think I would be homesick and neither did Steve.

Boy were we naive and totally taken by surprise!

Culture shock + homesickness+ sleep deprivation is a dangerous combo!  And if you are not in the Word and not in prayer the above combination can reek havoc on your mind.  Thankfully Steve and I had a lot of time during the first two weeks to spend in prayer and in God's Word and just talking together.  These last few weeks have been sweet together, with our little family and with the Lord.

The language barrier can leave you feeling secluded/isolated....very lonely at moments.

Each day things are getting better and better. We have discovered that the people here are so so generous and helpful.  We have learned that it is good for us to go out and experience Romania even if we struggle with language....it helps us more!

One thing we do that has proved helpful is that we have a Blessing Book.  This is more like a journal where for the last couple of years we write in it when something happens, big or small, in our lives and it is just SO evident it is of the Lord.  You know what I am talking about? Moments when something happens and you just know this could only be a work of the Holy Spirit!

Well, we've had a lot of those over the years.  But I just started doing it a couple of years ago.  The purpose?  I wanted to make note of evidences of Christ in our lives.  I want this Blessing Book to be something our children read one day and our grandchildren read one day and maybe even our great grandchildren.  I want these stories of what God has done in our lives to be passed down in our family so that they can see how faithful and true the Lord has been in our lives.  I just think that is neat. I wish I had something like that from my great grandparents to read.

Anyway ( I am digressing)....i brought it with me...the book that is.  It has been so good to write more entries of God's grace in our lives, but also to look back and see some of the obvious things God was doing in our lives to bring us here to Romania.

I hope none of that sounds bad and that you can read that with understanding. All in all we have been in really good spirits!  Our kids have done amazing.  Besides adjusting to the new time zone they have not skipped a beat.  Happy children make a happy momma and papa!  We want to be more like them! Everything here is so normal to them simply because mom and dad are here.  I will say, they do miss all those grandparents though! :)

The first week here the Lord gave me two words: WAIT and TRUST.

So I looked up all the verses I could find on waiting and trusting.  Waiting on HIM and trusting in HIM! So much easier to say and do.  He kept reminding me to wait on His timing for our home, defining areas of ministry we would work in and so many other things.  One thing I know.....He can be TRUSTED!  With every area of life! He is So so faithful!

In the first two weeks of being here Steve and I are sensing already that the Lord had us leave everything behind and brought us here to do a mighty work in our own hearts and lives.  We hope to share the Gospel with as many as possible while here, but we also hope to be very attentive to the changes He is calling for in our very hearts and minds.

A verse we have been able to cling to...it has encouraged us a lot.

"Cast your burden upon the Lord and HE will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken."~Psalm 55:22

i love that!

I have about 15 other things that I would love to blog about.....but not right now.  I have a date night (at home) with my hubby!!!! :D