A GOOD PLACE TO START

I guess a good place for me to start would be to answer the question that I've been asking myself for months ... "Why on earth would a single mom travel halfway around the world during the financially WORST time of the year just to play with some kids at an orphanage?"

My answer: This is what God has placed on my heart to do and it is WAY more than just playing with the kids!

About 2 years ago, Sarah mentioned the Romanian Mission Team to me at church one day and said that I would love it and it was perfect for me. I didn't think a whole lot about it (being a new Christian and all) and just sort of filed the thought away. Then, last year for "some reason" that thought crossed my mind again but I didn't hear anything of it at church, so I didn't ask. Sarah had gone by herself with another team from the U.S. I now knew that this was something I might want to consider looking into, so I asked Sarah to let me know when something comes up. I didn't hear anything for a while and then one Sunday morning during service I was moved to tears and completely overwhelmed by this video that was played to inform the congregation about the great need in Romania and the overwhelming number of abandoned children in the country. After lots of prayer and finally "listening" to where God needed me to be, I signed up for the journey.

The night of our first meeting, we all exchanged prayer requests ... Mine was for God to financially provide a way for me to get there. I am usually out of work from June to August with very spotty income, so August is usually the hardest month of the year for me do ANYTHING ... let alone go to Romania! But, I have learned that He will provide. He would not have given me this assignment without giving me the necessary means to follow through. At times it doesn't seem possible, but I have faith ... first and foremost. He will get me there because I know He has something very life changing for me to see or do there.

So, what will we be doing? We will be working with a privately owned Christian orphanage and helping in whatever capacity is needed. We also conduct VBS in the area gypsy villages and distribute food and clothing to the poor families in the area. In a nutshell ... just love them like Jesus.

And now the journey begins ... I've had my shots, applied for my passport and I'm starting to get things around the house in order.

I can't wait to share this journey with all of you ...