Cow Brains & Good Company

 One week down! This past week the interns were busy preparing for the many different ministries we will be involved in over the summer. It has been a blast since my days have been full of productivity and fellowship. I get to work with such an amazing group! On one of our first nights here we took a walk up to the top of a hill near our house and took this picture-It is a pretty accurate portrayal of all the different personalities.

It is incredible to see how God brought each one of us to Romania and how he is already using our individual talents to make his name known.

Being here reminds me of so many lessons that I learned last summer-How easily we forget what the Lord teaches! It is humbling to see what HE has done over the past year and even more humbling to recognize that he doesn’t NEED me to accomplish his work. Yet, he has allowed me to be here and it is my desire to be clay in his hands, fashioned as a tool that he can use for his own glory. 

I was able to spend three days at the baby hospital last week. It was so good to be back! I can’t believe how some of the kids have grown since last time I saw them. Right now there are 16 infants/toddlers (this includes a few 3 and 4 year olds) in the care of the hospital-this is a very high number. One big change that has happened since last summer is that the hospital has given Livada a room in the hospital, which is now a play room! This is a HUGE praise because the babies and toddlers had no space to play and develop before this. We are so grateful for the hospitals generosity.

Here are some pictures of one little girl. The first picture is from last summer, and the second picture is from this summer. Look how she has grown! She is now walking and is right on target developmentally which is also a praise. 

In my blog, and any form of social media, I am limited in how much information I can relay because of privacy restrictions. I cannot refer to the babies by name but I will be sending email updates with more details.

Right now I can say that one of the biggest prayer needs is that God continues to bless the relationship between the hospital staff and Livada because without a good relationship, nothing we do there would be possible.

Oh, you’re probably wondering about the cow brains…well, I can officially say that I’ve eaten cow brain-ah! Another intern was adventurous enough to order it at a restaurant and I had to have a bite (with some encouragement of course). A bite was enough. It is safe to say that my team encourages me in more ways than being adventurous with food. The community we have found with one another is truly an answered prayer and makes a big difference in our daily activities.  

Please pray this verse for us as a group:

"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Jesus Christ. So that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" [Romans 15:5-6]