Youth Camp at Arieşeni

Just got back from a blessed week up in the Apuseni mountains of Romania with our youth at church. Honestly, the week went much better than we thought it would. We had 45 in total and enjoyed time in God's Word, in prayer, in fellowship, music, drama, and a variety of activities and games. Our theme was "Zero Ego," looking at the fact that as humans we are extemely selfish people and how that selfishness affects our relationships with others, with our families, and most importantly, with God. Many of our games and activities helped to drive home our theme and make us more aware of what it means to be more altruist. It was a blessed week in an absoluletly gorgeous area of Romania. Every year God continues to amaze me at camps and this year was another blessed experience. Thank you for your prayers and support. God is doing amazing things in Romania, and HE is only getting started.

Water-Fight!

Me getting soaked during one of the water games

The wet slide!

If there's water, that's where you will find Mihai :)

Me with my good friend Simon

My team for "The Amazing Race." I coordinated activities for camp and had our youth divide into four teams for a 7 hour race of challenges which included: milking a cow, building a durable chair out of wood from the forest with a hammer and four nails, women carrying water on their heads for an extended distance just as women do everyday in Africa, chopping wood, etc. It was an exhausting, but fun and hilarious experience, and a GREAT challenge to go alongside our theme. We learned we still have an awful long way to go to be unselfish people.

Each team participant in the Amazing Race had to complete a challenge of chopping wood, both with the chainsaw and with the hatchet. They also had to push a car for close to 1 kilometer as a group :)

We also got to visit several caves: Peştera Urşilor (the cave of the bears) and Peştera Scărişoara. I have to tell you that they are absolutely stunning! The bear cave left me speechless, I had never seen something so interesting in my life. All the more reason why Romania is simply amazing and our little slice of heaven! It really is the most beautiful country :)

Adi and Adriana's Wedding

Today I went with my music director and several members of our choir at church to the city of Alexandria to sing at Adi and Adriana's wedding. Adi goes to our church. It was a beautiful service and Adi and Adriana were simply glowing. We wish them many blessings and God's wisdom as they begin their journey together! Now it is off to youth camp for me :)
Adi & Adriana

Our pastor

Camp Video

Here is a video from the adolescent camp I worked in. Sorry the audio doesn't work.

Amazing Romania - Land of Choice 1

Here are some Romanian tourism videos with Nadia Comaneci, Ilie Nastase and Gheorghe Hagi. Kind of a random video, but I like the idea. So, how about coming to Romania and discover for yourself why we consider it our little slice of heaven :)

Romania - Land of Choice 2 (official)

Here is another Romanian Tourism Video

Picnic in Pucioasa

Last Saturday some of our youth group traveled to the city of Pucioasa, about an hour out of Bucureşti to have a picnic with one of our partner churches. Our music director's brother is the pastor here. We sang songs, had a barbeque, played volleyball, and enjoyed getting to know each other a bit more. We are hoping to do more things in partnership in the future.
Me and my good friend Simon

Corina working the grill

It was hot, so of course we went swimming at the dam!

Viaţa la Inalţime: Life on the Heights

I just got back from an incredible week at adolescent camp up in the Bucovina region of Romania known as Voroneţ. Camp season is truly my favorite time of the year. And once again, God knocked our socks off. We were blessed by great weather, diverse and fun activities, a zip-line, rock-climbing, amazing kids, and an awesome staff. To top it all off, we were shrouded by the majestic Carpathian mountains. Absolutely beautiful! I had a young boy in my group who came for the first time to camp and is not from a Christian home. He left amazed by the week at camp and is starting to ask questions about what it means to live a life with Christ. I will be emailing and following- up with him in the weeks ahead.

The theme of the camp was "Viata la Inaltime" or "Life on the Heights". We talked about what it means to live the Christian life, the sacrifices involved, but the utter joy, comfort, and security that comes with choosing to follow Christ and accepting Him as your Lord and Saviour. I had a great group of kids and enjoyed talking with them one-on-one. Some of the best times of my life have been spent at camps in Romania and this was no exception. And I might add that God didn't just speak to the campers, He spoke to me too--reminding me of how important it is to share Christ with others so that all can share in the ultimate fellowship that is the Body of Christ! Enjoy the pics from an awesome week. I love camp and I LOVEEEEEEEE Romania!
My "gasca" at camp (gang/homies) from Iaşi!

My small-group

Edi and me

La masa

Radu and me, my volleyball buddy and fellow jokester :)

It is tradition in Romania to stay up all night during the final night of camp. No leader wanted to stay up, so I volunteered to look after the kids. I remembered the fact that some of my best memories in life were those nights staying up talking with kids at Romanian camps--those are moments you just don't forget--and I didn't want these kids to miss out either. It was a sweet, blessed time. Besides, sleep is over-rated :)

The cross overlooking camp

Me on the zip-line flying and climbing the wall

Off to camp!

I am off to camp again. This time I will be working with close to 100 adolescents up in Voroneţ, Romania. I can't wait. Camp is such a sweet and blessed time in Romania where God always does some amazing things. Please pray for safety, for many deep conversations, and for lives to be changed eternally for Christ! I love camp!
This is the painted monastery not too far from where our camp is situated.

Back to the Inferno

The summer heat in Bucureşti is quite intense. Because the city has so many concrete block apartments, the sun's radiation makes temperatures soar in the direct sunlight. We have been hovering in the mid-90s lately and are told that it will get much hotter. It is not unusual for us to have weeks of temperatures at or near 110. So we find the nearest fountain as these pics taken around the city. I have to dump water over my head daily, even at the office. Praise the Lord I am headed to the mountains and the solitude of camp!

'Beautifying' the city

My area of Bucureşti is known as Piaţa Muncii (the place of labor). Recently the city has been trying to spruce things up a bit by adding more green space, trees, flowers, etc. The picture above is from the square near where I live. In the past, it was full of billboards, dirt, etc. Now, the city has replaced the the ads with trees, grass, and flowers. I can tell you, just seeing the green space puts me in a better mood when I walk home from work!

About each month the city puts new flowers in. Pansies used to be in the above photo. I am told they are now going to put in some magnolias.