Crăciun Fericit!

Merry Christmas everyone, or in Romania we say Crăciun Fericit (Cruh-chee-oon Fer-ee-cheat). I have been busy singing with a caroling group around the city of Bucharest. It has been a lot of fun singing and sharing the message of Christ. We also sang on a local Christian radio station for a half-hour and have since been invited to come and sing at several evangelical churches. Today we participated in a concert at a Christian high school. Somehow (still trying to figure out how), I was chosen to play Santa Claus for the occasion in some dramas and entertain the smaller children who came. It was all fun. I am enjoying my first Romanian Christmas. But, still no snow. In Romanian Santa Claus is Moş Crăciun

Our group singing at a Christmas concert

My Bucharest: a City of Contrasts

A few pictures to give you a taste of Bucureşti, Romania:

Piaţa Obor: a major swap market district in Bucharest. Roundabouts are also very common

When the first snowfall hit in November. Unfortunately, it didn't last very long. This has been the warmest December of my life. And being from Minnesota, it just doesn't feel right not having snow for Christmas. The concrete blocks dominate the city's architecture.

The Ferentari Neighborhood

I wanted to give you some visual images of what my city, Bucharest, is like. These are images of the Ferentari neighborhood, in the southern portion of Bucharest. This is widely considered the poorest area of the city with the highest amount of crime. Certainly not one of the prettier neighborhoods of Bucharest, but nevertheless, gives you a picture of what some areas do look like. Over 80 percent of Ferentari is ethnic Roma (gypsy). For many, the main mode of transportation is still horse and wagon. It is common for boys like in this picture to go around neighborhoods collecting scrap metal and other things found in the trash to re-sell.

Many streets in this district are unpaved

Classic Beauty & Modernization

Probably the most beautiful architecture of Romania are the painted monasteries,

like this one (Voroneţ)...

and the old Orthodox Cathedrals, castles, and fortresses.

It's not like the(former) twin towers of New York, but the World Trade Center Plaza of Bucharest is still a modern building.

Glass is being used more and more in some of the newer
architecture in Bucharest. I'm happy!

The city contracted with Mercedez-Benz for new city buses

Casa Shalom (House of Peace)

One of my favorite things to do in Bucureşti is visit children's homes and orphanages. The other day I visited Casa Shalom, which houses orphan, street, and abused children in a beautiful foundation on the outskirts of the city. The foundation is led by Becky Dan-Walsh, an amazing woman of the Lord who has dedicated her life's service to impacting Romania's lost children for Christ. Even before the fall of Ceauşescu, Becky was visiting Romania, smuggling Bibles. Once Romania's doors opened to the West, Becky has been reaching out to Romania's thousands of orphaned and neglected children. Her foundation, Casa Shalom, provides food, shelter, mentorship, and a Christian education for children from all sorts of backgrounds. Many of the children used to call Gara de Nord, the city's main train hub, home. Today the foundation is in the process of building a second dormitory in hopes of housing even more children. When I visit, I sing with the kids, play games, pray, and simply talk with them about how things are going. Please join me in praying for these children, for their future and relationship with the Lord. And please pray for Becky to have wisdom and God's protection as she fervently serves the needs of these precious children.

Marius & I playing the piano together. Before coming to Casa Shalom,

Marius was living in the orphan ward of Bucureşti's Cotroceni Hospital

Simona & Vasile...Simona was brought to Casa Shalom by her mother
and Becky took Vasile from the Cotroceni Hospital in Bucureşti

The new dormitory going up

Casa Shalom's main building

Of course, this being Romania, we had to play a
game of fotbal (soccer).

A Saturday at the Mountains

So what do us Romanians do when we have the chance? Well, we take a day-trip up to the mountains! Since many of my friends and I knew we were going to be EXTREMELY busy in the next month or two, we planned a trip up to the mountains last Saturday. I drove a car full of people and we took the cable car up the mountain for a picnic, songs (thanks to Cat and Felix for playing the guitar) and just all out fun. We hiked (or I should say Oana slid) back down. We played some volleyball and hiked up to the Peleş castle nearby since we had the time. It was a fun day of fellowship with friends and youth that I work with on a weekly basis. And boy did we all need it! Here are some pictures:

Here's our crew!

Cristina, Marta, Naomi, & Raluca

Two of my Romanian brothers: Catalin & Felix

Oana wanted to show off her new gloves...kind of wild

Oana & Felix: aren't they a cute married couple?

Felix pastors a small church plant in a suburb of Bucureşti

It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas....

On Romanian National Day (December 1st) the city of Bucharest turns on all of the Christmas lights around the city. I love Christmas, so I am expecially excited to see all of the lights going up. Since Romania will be entering the European Union come January, much of the lights have an EU theme. Traditionally, new years is a much bigger holiday and celebration than Christmas in Romania--and since Romania has been working for over 10 years to ascend to the EU, I am told this year will be our biggest new year's celebration ever. I have a lot more to say about what the EU will mean for Romania, but I'll save that for another post. For now, enjoy these pictures of Bucharest--"the city of lights." It definetely adds some much needed color.

The EU theme is prominent in the lights overhanging the central boulevards

This is the clock tower in Piaţa Universitate, that is

counting down the days until Romania enters the EU.

A busy bulevard in northen Bucureşti

Adolescence Conference

On Saturday I participated in a special conference for adolescents in Bucharest with youth from around Romania. The theme of the conference was In the world, but close to Him! In other words, how do we as Christians, live in this fallen world, but remain close to Christ? I was impressed by the practicality of the seminars and messages from Romanian pastors. Many of the youth were challenged to be active members of their community, reaching out in Christ-likeness to their friends, neighbors, and colleagues. I know that I certainly learned a lot, especially regarding ways in which Christians can help relate to their non-Christian friends, while still keeping Christ at the center! Progress was made!!!

La Mulţi Ani România!

La Mulţi Ani România...or simply, Happy Birthday Romania! December 1st is Romanian National Day and it marks the 1918 unification of much of modern-day Romania (though what is today the Republic of Moldova [formerly a part of Romania] was seized by the Russians during World War II). Consequently, this is a major national holiday and cause for much celebration. It also marks the beginning of the Christmas season here in Bucureşti. The decorative lights are simply beautiful (check back for pictures to be posted soon). Here are some pictures from all of the hoopla of the day of the Romanians. I hope you celebrated :)))....

As you can expect, massive crowds turned out for the festivities

The National Parade included old flags of the Romanian Kingdom

Military soldiers in the parade

The Romanian Coat of Arms

Catching up with Friends in Târgu Mureş

Last weekend I was blessed to be able to go up to Târgu Mureş (tir-goo-moor-esh), Romania to visit some dear friends and attend the ordination service of a young pastor at the Second Baptist Church in the city. I ate some WONDERFUL food and had a great time of fellowship. I am always humbled to see how graciously so many families here welcome me with open arms. We shared a lot of laughs and stories. Please remember the Second Baptist Church in your prayers, as you can see by the picture below, there is still a lot of construction to be done to the church and construction has all but been stalled after a decade of construction. The church doesn't have the funds to complete the construction, but is in much need of a new worship space, which was designed to be in the upper level. For now, over 30 people every Sunday morning are standing on the edges of a small room in the lower level, because there is no room. Hopefully this will be the year that the space will finally be completed.

The Second Baptist Church of Targu Mureş...now going on 10 years in construction

One of my adopted Romanian moms, "Margareta"

Crazy Games in Jilava

Recently, I have been working with around 15 adolescents from Jilava, a suburb south of Bucharest. Most of the youth come from non-Christian families and, unfortunately, this has affected much of their values and worldview. But praise God for people like Viorel, (pictured last in line in our leap frog game) who is dedicated to impacting the lives of these youth with the power of the Cross. Viorel, who attends my church in Bucharest, invited me to help him with his discipleship initiatives with this rambunctious group. I, of course, was happy to help out. A few of the older boys live at the small country church/day center along with Viorel and his wife. The day center also provides a pharmacy for the people in the nearby community. The community of Jilava is extremely unreached. Please pray for Viorel to have strength and wisdom as he tries to be light in the midst of the darkness in the lives of these youth. And pray that I can be an encouragement to Viorel and the kids.

Hillsong Conference

True worship is that which comes from the heart! That was the theme pastor David Reidy from Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia communicated to about 800 youth and pastors this past week at a three-day praise and worship conference in Bucharest.
Hillsong Church is a church of over 20,000 members in Australia and has since planted sister churches in such places as London and Ukraine. The music department's recordings are world renowned, having composed such songs as "Shout to the Lord." During the three-day conference, various musicians from Hillsong's worldwide churches led seminars on a theology of praise and worship, how to lead a music team, how to engage a congregation in authentic and collective worship, as well as break-out sessions relating to playing specific instruments. In addition, Reidy discussed such hot topics as dealing with conflict on a music team. The conference went very well! A conference like this certainly is not an everyday occurrence in Bucharest. I especially enjoyed the break-out sessions and Reidy's very simple words of advice to music teams: "Don't try to duplicate something else. Be who you are! Really good music teams are those who recognize their own identity and play from the heart!" It seems simple really, but I'm sure we can all think of musicians and groups who try to copy someone else. Every night, Hillsong gave a concert, featuring a local Romanian Christian group--the concerts were a big hit. Watching 800 Romanian youth gathered together, singing with their whole hearts to the Lord was simply awesome.

One of the evening concerts

Tickets to the three-day conference were a hot commodity

During one of the singing workshops, some of my friends made me get up on stage to do background vocals during mock music rehearsals. I had a blast!

Spending Time with the Kids

Recently I have been helping my friend Cornelia with her youth program in Voluntari (kind of a suburb of Bucharest). On Saturday mornings, I, along with some Seminary friends of mine, help Cornelia in making lessons, games, crafts, and small-group discussions for the kids. I have enjoyed many long conversations especially with the adolescent boys and we are actually tackling some serious life issues. You can pray for me to have wisdom in my interactions with the boys and please pray for Cornelia as she so graciously dedicates her time and service to these kids. Here are some pics. from last Saturday:

Little Sorin always has a lot of energy

Alin and Adi--two real "cards"

My friend Cornelia , the youth leader at Voluntari

Some of the kids

Answering His call

"I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy
Spirit" Mark 1:8

On Sunday at church, we had a special baptism service, where we had the privilege of hearing the testimonies of how Jesus changed the lives of five individuals from various walks of life. How beautiful it is to see the Kingdom of God grow!

Five were baptized

Sorry I didn't zoom into this pic. closer! Here is Pastor Taloş

baptizing a couple who wanted to share this special moment together.

My friend Cat provided the music accompaniment

Youth Activities

Currently I have been active in my church here in Bucharest with music and youth activities. A few weeks ago we had our first youth meeting and I'm pleased to report that we had a great turnout. We spent most of the evening in worship and then gathered in small groups to pray for one another and to brainstorm ideas for what we would like the youth group to do and accomplish together. They had a lot of great ideas, which included: volunteering in the community (music to my ears since I am adamant that Romanian churches need to be more of a presence in the community), games, small group prayer time, and studying a book together. Of course, everyone was in favor of simply getting together to hang-out, build relationships, and simply have fun together.

Please pray for me as I hope to be working more with the adolescent boys (who have not had someone working with them in quite some time) and as I challenge the youth to be a blessing for others. For instance, I really want to show the youth that it is much more enjoyable to give than to receive. Hence, I am hoping to build ministry leadership and responsibility among the youth by getting the church involved in orphan outreach, ministering to the elderly, etc.

And of course, there is music. My best friend Cat and I are working on creating various pieces for Christmas caroling this year. Caroling is a huge deal in Romania! I will be singing with several groups and can't wait for the Advent season. I'll keep you updated.

One of my favorite times at church is when we get together for fellowship.

And the food doesn't hurt either :)

Sommet de la Francophonie

A few weeks ago, Bucharest hosted the 11th annual festival of the Francophonie--countries whose languages have a French base or influence. The city spent over 10 million Euros hosting the event. The idea was that the event would give the city exposure and prove to the western world that the city of Bucharest is more than capable of hosting festivals and conferences on the grandest of scales. Moreover, the festival, according to Romanian officials, would further lead to more foreign investment in the Romanian economy. I am no economist, but can surely say that 10 million Euros is a lot of money. The entire center of the city was shut down, creating massive traffic jams and over-crowded public transportation. The city of Bucharest, being the most crowded city in Europe, also has over a million "registered" cars. Well, this creates quite the problem, because the city's road infrastructure was never built to handle even half that many "registered" cars. Thus, not many Romanians were too happy to hear about the Francophonie Festival. Most people on the streets thought it was nothing more than an attempt for the Romanian officials to further impress the likes of
Jacques Chirac and highlight Romania's efforts to ascend to the European Union in 2007. As you can see by the picture, Bucharest traffic can be a nightmare. Unfortunately, when the police get involved and direct traffic, it seems to only get worse. On an average day, it may take an hour to go 5 kilometers in Bucharest, and I'm not kidding. And there's a reason a lot of Europeaners consider Romanian drivers crazy--very few ever follow the rules. Hence, it makes for quite the adventure on Bucharest's streets. And to add to the ambiance: hundreds of honking horns, car alarms, and squeaky trams. That's just another glimpse into life here in Bucharest.

A Special Church Visit

Last Sunday I was invited by one of my friends, Raluca (pictured below), to come to her church about one hour north of Bucharest to help lead a special worship service in honor of God's blessings for providing the harvest. About 12 of us made the trek, having planned the program for the service together. I enjoyed the time of fellowship with members of this small congregation and am glad that we were able to be an encouragement to them. I was asked to share my testimony, and spoke for about 15 minutes in Romanian at the service--God was with me!!! We were blessed, had lots of fun, laughed much, and ate even more. Thanks Raluca for a great Sunday!

Sharing my testimony in Romanian

This is Raluca, who is studying theology at one of Bucharest's Christian Seminaries

The church

People filing into the small, village church

The Church was celebrating the fruits of the harvest, so in honor of that, the sanctuary was decorated with fruits and vegetables

Our crew

We had fun spending time with the kids