Romania Day 1 - Of Windows and Choir Lofts

Umm, we had a little problem.
The post disappeared, got eaten by Romanian gremlins or something.
and it's late.
Fix tomorrow.
We have some pictures for you.  Yes, look at pictures instead.  Blog tomorrow.
La revedere

Ok, it's technically a new day, but I'm going to try this again regarding YESTERDAY.

We officially began our service here in Oradea on Thursday.  A "work" day of sorts.  If you have looked at our picture gallery any, you may have seen the picture of Kelsie and Ivonne standing in the windows.  Yes, those are windows, about 3 feet off the floor with a wide sill (obviously wide enough to stand)!  These windows in several different dorm rooms on the first level were our first assignment.  Apparently when these rooms were freshly painted, due to water damage, they didn't know about painters tape.  The windows suffered greatly by getting the fresh brownish gray paint on them.  So, scrapers, rags and a neat ajax paste in hand, we were scrubbing paint from window frames for the better part of the day on Thursday.  They were careful to split the boys from the girls and keep us busy in separate rooms.  It was a fun day.

Kelsie, Ivonne and I also had the extreme pleasure of going to the local grocery-club.  It was much like our Sams at home.  Our polite, non-English speaking driver took us across the road to get some "Cola-Light" and water.  The biggest highlight of that trip was trying to explain to a Romanian, knowing very little English, what a "pop-tart" is.  Dustin and Daniel literally SURVIVE on pop-tarts at home.  At least 2 a day is the norm and Dustin asked that we try to find some yesterday for him.  Well, after 2 phone calls, talking with 2 different customers/workers at the local store, we came home with no pop-tarts.  They don't have them here is what we finally surmised.  An English speaking student at the University told us he had never heard or seen them before.Needless to say, I think our wonderfully polite driver and guide thought we were crazy and we Americans suffered greatly in the translation.

A big highlight of the day yesterday was our getting to move rooms.  When we first arrived, there was a little misunderstanding as to the composition of our team.  We were moved into two joining apartments, each with 4 twin beds.  Randy said he slept GREAT in the twin bed....probably had something to do with JETLAG!!!  Nonetheless, as 2 married couples, we gently, politely asked our host Doru about getting us some different accommodations   They were eager and willing to please us.  We now have 2 adjoining apartments again, but this time we have a sitting room, kitchen, and a bedroom with a "matrimonial" bed as they say in Romania.  The boys have their own room on the 4th floor, and Kelsie was extremely pleased to be given her very own room next to the boys.  Everyone seems much happier with these arrangements.  I'm very pleased that the shower WORKS in this apartment, and the water is even warm!  :)  I had a very cold, drippy shower yesterday morning, but the Lord gave me a trickle of warm water at the end so I was happy.  :)  The phrase "spoiled Americans" came to mind and was uttered SEVERAL times during the day yesterday (by the team). We are so grateful to the faculty, staff and students of Emanuel University.  They are so kind and patient with us and we are blessed beyond words.

Ed speaking at Emanuel Baptist

Last night was the biggest and most incredible blessing of the day, however.  I know this post is turning into a novel, but it was truly an amazing experience.  We were honored and blessed beyond words to be invited to sing and worship at Emanuel Baptist Church last night.  Thursday evening is their prayer service.  What a unique and awesome time of worship.  Is it not cool that our God is so big he knows every language!!!  I don't know why that struck me last night, but I was just in awe of the fact that God hears the prayers of HIS children, regardless of language!  Even though we could not understand what they were praying, we definitely understood their passion, their belief, and their faith.  It was evident in the resounding "Ahh-mens" we constantly heard throughout the congregation.  Ed gave a short devotion on Jeremiah with the help of a translator.  He did a great job, even though he had to stop mid-thought for translation.  I think that would be very difficult, but I know that God used him and his words.

The congregation was gracious and smiled and "Ah-men" after we sang.  We had no translation, but many told us afterward, "God bless you"  and "beautiful voices".  We were humbled by the experience and may I just add that the acoustics in Emanuel Baptist Church are the best that the Gardner trio has EVER had the privilege to experience.  WOW!!!!  The building is round and I KNOW pastor Marcos would be envious.  It was phenomenal!!!!  We didn't need microphones or monitors, the sound just reverberated through the sanctuary.  So cool!

Ok, I'm going to wrap this up before I lose all my readers.  After service we were treated to a truly Romanian meal by Doru and his wife Orica.  (I am probably not spelling this correctly, but I am spelling them the way they sound to me in English)  We had salad, chicken, pork, fried potatoes.  If that wasn't enough, they then brought out a traditional Romanian dessert that we would call crepes.  OH MY it was delightful.  Even Dustin couldn't eat everything!!!  Daniel was beyond stuffed and told our host, I'm sorry, I'm just so full!!!!

We were then driven back to the University and greeted by an English speaking student.  He had worked with the boys earlier in the day and asked them what they thought of Romanian church.  Daniel's response was...."IT WAS LONG"!!!  By American standards, it was indeed a little long.  It began at 6 and ended at 8, so yes,it was a bit.

One last thing, thanks for the prayers specifically about our allergy issues.  We have had very little mold to deal with so far, and I'm so grateful.  Please continue to pray for us.  We are enjoying our time, but honestly, it's not home.  There are frustrations and we are totally human.  Dustin is upset this morning because there shower would NOT produce hot water, so his world is a little tilted today.   Just remember us and our total humanness in your prayers today.  WE love you and are so grateful for your partnership in prayers.  We simply can't tell you all that enough.

Kim

Thoughts from Randy:


Things that made an indelible mark yesterday:

• Doru - He's an amazing man.  His hospitality, humor, and storytelling ability are all exceptional.  He began telling us his background over breakfast and finished it over supper last night (quite a memorable meal also).  The story of God's hand in his life and in the life of the Romanian church was a moving experience and a true blessing to hear.



The choir loft

• Emanuel Baptist Church - Many thoughts here.  Yes, it is a fabulous building and an amazing choir loft. The acoustics cannot be described.  (Case in point - on our second acapella song my mic was not working for the entire song, but I just thought they had turned my big mouth down in the monitors because I could still hear myself well enough from the sanctuary sound.  In fact, Ed later said that he could hear me just fine).  More than the edifice, though, will be my memory of the prayers lifted up in the service.  Without knowing the language, the passion and desires of God's people could be felt in a very visceral way and I was moved greatly.
• Giving hearts - These people want to bless us as much as we want to bless them and I think they are succeeding.  Shouldn't this be how it always is with God's people?  Must we travel to another continent to display and receive such grace as this?  Oh, that God will move in our hearts to always give abundantly above measure wherever we are just as Christ gave himself for the Church.

Soli deo gloria

Randy