Easter Program in Chitila

The day before Easter Sunday, I joined my friends at For God's Children International and went to the city of Chitila just outside of Bucharest to make an Easter program with children who attend the foundation Jesus Hope of the Children there. Most of these kids come from extremely poor families, but they have hearts of gold. FGCI meets with these kids once a month to make a VBS like program and follow up with the kids. The foundation there, Jesus Hope of the Children bakes bread for people in the community and works with the kids on a regular basis. For Easter , we had an old fashioned Easter egg hunt and some of the eggs had symbols in them that go along with the Easter story in the Bible. I was impressed by how much these kids know about the story, down to the smallest details. We sang songs, made dramas, played games, prayed together, and enjoyed a massive meal together. Thank you to those of you who prayed for our program. It went very well. These kids are such a joy to be around and their workers at the foundation are truly dedicated to these children. I thank God for them. One of the things I hope to do more of in the future is to try and get youth in Romania's evangelical churches in contact with organizations like these to find ways that they too can get involved in outreach to their communities. I can't wait to go back to visit the kids.

An Easter Lesson

Good Friends

The kids having fun with song

The director (far right) watching a lesson

My good friend Catalin (Cat) playing the guitar

Playing games with the kids

The kids, performing an Easter skit

Hanging out with friends

This photo is especially for my good friend Alison Knaus from Iowa. The other night I FINALLY got to visit with Robert, who I worked with in camps for the organization For God's Children International in the summer of 2004. I'm glad to report that Robert is doing well and will be participating in several youth conferences in the upcoming months. Robert is my connection to the "skateboard, artistic, and extreme sports" crowd among the youth in Bucharest. He gives me the "inside scoop." This crowd can often be somewhat difficult to work with, but I am glad that I have contacts like Robert who are able to set a good, Christian example. And it turns out that Robert lives very close to my apartment, so I will probably be seeing a lot of him.

An Unexpected Visitor

My friend, Meredith Neal and I go way back. I worked for Meredith a couple of summers in Targu Mures, Romania doing ministry to orphans with the "Buckner Foundation." Meredith is currently a Missions Minister with a church in Greensville, South Carolina. Meredith was in Romania to visit some friends and stopped in Bucharest to visit with some of her church contacts. It was a big surprise to see her in Romania, but what a good one! It's great how God provides opportunities like this to catch up with old friends.

My Mailing Address!

My mailing address where you can send letters, packages, etc.:

Michael Lundell
Str. Theodor Speranta, Nr 104
Bl. S25, Sc A, Apt 24
Cod 030939 Bucharest, Romania

Some of you have asked me to post a "wish list", so here goes:

-Cooking spices (especially chili powder)
-Nestle Chocolate Chips, and/or tins of cookies (not just for me!). I am pummeled by requests to make chocolate chip cookies for my Romanian friends, but chocolate chips are extremely hard to find in Romania!
-Craft supplies (you name it) for several foundations and churches I know in and around Bucharest
-Kraft (original) Mac & Cheese (it's "soul" food)
-URGENT: a guitar tuner!!!! I currently know several church music leaders who need one.

I'm sure I will have more to add as things come up!

Some of my teammates

These are some of my teammates (who I have pictures of), with more on their way to Romania

My field director, Stan Downes, and his wife Donna, who teaches, researches, and is currently helping coordinate movements in Romania to assist in ministering to the handicap with

World Vision.

Alina Maoir, team secretary, prayer warrior--and a fellow youth worker (yippie!)

Russ Mitchell: Church planting researcher & Seminary instuctor

Jolean Rice: our Prayer Mobilizer

My New Home!

I found an apartment! Praise the Lord with me! This is a picture of my Bloc apartment. It is right across from the National Stadium and park, where many people go to watch concerts, football (soccer) matches, and play sports. The park even has bumper cars and those giant slides that you see at the carnivals where you go down on potato sacks--it's lots of fun!!!! My apartment has two bedrooms and a living room, so I can easily sleep guests. Plus, it is within walking distance to the office and a major Subway station, so I am pretty accessible, which is very important working in youth ministry. Well, my apartment is within budget, in a nice neighborhood and accessible. Thank you so much to those of you who prayed for me. I hope you can see how your prayers have made a difference! As I tell my teammates and Romanian friends, I truly hope that my house will be a blessing for others. Today I got some furniture and a desk, so I am really feeling right at home. The next order of business is to go out and get some chairs for my table so that I can invite my MANY Romanian friends over for dinner. I have so many people to invite over, that I don't think I'm going to have any break any time soon. But, I have been looking forward to having my Romanian friends over for dinner for a very long time. And, after enjoying so much good, down-home Romanian hospitality, it's time that I returned the favor. Perhaps I will be entertaining some of you in my apartment!!!!! It's something to look forward to. I truly thank God and my supporters who so graciously give so that I can minister in Romania. My apartment is a gift from God through the work of His people! I am humbled and extremely appreciative.

Steaua Wins!

Just an update to let you know that Bucharest Steaua is advancing on to the semifinals of the European Soccer Championship. The game actually ended in a 0-0 draw, but since Steaua scored more goals in the opposing team's stadium, they advance. Yes, the soccer tie breakers are quite confusing. Well, last night the streets were filled with thousands and thousands of fans honking their horns, chanting, etc. I got absolutely no sleep because it was so loud outside. Thus, I thought when in Romania, do as the Romanians. i got up at 1:30 in the morning (not having slept at all) and decided to put on my jacket and go be an eyewitness to all of the hoopla. In a word it was complete and utter "Uphoria"! Now, I can just imagine if Steaua ends up winning the whole European Championship--it will be cause for even more celebration (if that's possible). Go Romania!

Late Night Worship

Last night my friends and I got out the guitars and enjoyed a nice evening outside singing, worshiping, and praying together. I enjoyed learning some new songs and fellowshipping with my friends. We sang to our hearts content! We are planning to go out into the parks every so often to play guitar and see who we can meet. Music truly is the universal language and is a great evangelistic tool in Romania. You never know who you are going to meet when you start singing and strumming the guitar--last time we were able to meet several youth who we invited to church or youth groups.

I also received eight invitations for assisting with various youth outreach and ministry projects. I currently have more invitations than I can handle, so that is a good thing.

My friend Donna (who speaks four languages fluently) always has a big smile!

Something to Pray About!

From April 5th to the 8th, Bucharest is hosting, basically, a conference/convention on pornography. Unfortunately, one of the biggest industries to grow in Eastern Europe after the fall of the Iron Curtain was the sex business. Pornography is readily available to people on the streets, including young children, and it is not rare to see young and old men looking at extremely pornographic publications right in the middle of a bus or tram. Romania in particular is a breeding ground for the sex trade. The television news program 48 Hours did an excellent documentary about this industry in Romania last year. Not only can you buy sex on the street, you can actually BUY PEOPLE! Of course, it is illegal, but it happens. Many vulnerable, young Romanian women (and men!) are bought for large prices by groups like the Italian & Russian Mafia and sold as sex slaves. Please pray for the protection of these people and for the destruction of the sex business entirely. Why not pray big? We serve a mighty God! Also pray especially for the young men who are tempted by this each and every day--pray for their hearts and minds to be pure and set upon Christ. The topic of sexual purity is a topic we will be discussing a lot among young men in Romania's churches.

Communism & Christianity

Look closely at the picture to your left, and you will see an Orthodox Cathedral sandwiched (literally) between two communist blocks. This was the intent of the communist regime in Romania: to hide Christianity from the public view. Far too many of the beautiful Orthodox Cathedrals are hidden behind communist developments. This particular Cathedral, I'm told, was actually moved to this location because the government thought it was a place "better suited" for such a beautiful building. But walking by, if you blink, you won't see it. I gather that this was likely their intent.

Discovering Bucharest!

I just did a little research and found out that Bucharest, Romania is the most densely populated city in Europe. There are over 9,000 people per square kilometer (and keep in mind that kilometers are smaller than miles---why America has a different measuring system is still beyond me!)). By comparison, the second most densely populated city in Europe is Berlin, Germany with 6,000 people per square kilometer. So, I think that gives you an idea of how crowded Bucharest is on a daily basis. There are well over a million cars on the Bucharest streets each day. In 1990, just after the fall of communism, there were approximately about 100,000 cars on the road. Thus, there are 10 times as many cars on the streets in Bucharest than the streets were intended to handle. To go 5 miles in the morning could take about 40 minutes, to give you an indication of the traffic. Here are some pictures I took recently of Bucharest, which used to be known as the "Paris of the East":

The Charming streets of "old" Bucharest

The University of Bucharest

The National Theater where they are showing the musical Chicago in Romanian

Commercial Bank of Romania

Palatul Parlamentului

Commercialism & Capitalism are alive and well in Eastern Europe

This is the "Unirea Shopping Center" in central Bucharest

A Sign of Spring!

This is the tree just outside of the building I'm staying in that went into bloom this week!

Chapel at a Christian Seminary

Right now a big part of what I am doing in Romania is NETWORKING! This week I attended chapel at a Christian Seminary and was able to meet some people who are interested in doing more to help the needs of the youth in Romania's evangelical churches. I also attended an all-day Seminar on the "Kairos" course, which is similar to the Perspectives Course on the World Christian Movement. It's exciting to see efforts being made to increase awareness among Romanian Christians about their role in the Great Commission. The theme behind the "Kairos" Project comes from Genesis Chapter 12th--that we are Blessed to be a Blessing. I couldn't agree more!

At the Chapel service, I was able to catch up with a lot of good friends, including Mattei and Betty, who recently got married. Mattei is from Council Bluffs, Iowa and works via the internet in Bucharest for Deaf Missions. He is quite the artist! His wife Beatrice (Betty) is in her last year of studies at Seminary. I also caught up with my friend Marta (pictured with me) who is Betty's younger sister. Marta also studies in Seminary and nannies the four kids of my teammates, the Mitchell's, from Pennsylvania. I cannot say enough what a blessing and joy it is for me to be worshiping with my friends at chapel in Romanian and hear their very authentic and genuine prayers. That, my friends, truly feeds my soul!

Ahh, life in Romania...who can beat it?

Cows kind of do whatever they want in Romania

Just, a joke!

Nice lock!

This is a more common sight than you would think

This one made me laugh!

Well, it's one way to transport potatoes

Romanians are CRAZZZZY about Football

Last night was what the Romanian media called "The match of the century" between two Romanian soccer teams who are in the quaterfinals of the European Soccer Championship. This is the first time that two teams from the same country have qualified, so Romanians are quite proud. However, they will tell you that they think it is unfair that the two Romanian teams have to meet in the quaterfinals, rather than playing in separate brackets to potentially meet up in the championship. Anyway, the two teams are Bucharest Steaua (Stars) and Bucharest Rapid. Depending on what area of the city you live in--everyone in that zone will be for a particular team. If you think American football is popular in the States, than you have NO IDEA how big soccer is in Europe. Everyone, and I mean everyone is on the streets waving their flags, chanting, and honking their horns when their team scores a goal. It's complete pandimonium! It's also pretty dangerous to be say, a Steaua fan in the Rapid area of the city. Well, since I was in Romania and am a big Steaua fan, of course, I had to watch the match! It ended in a 1-1 tie! They play again next week in the other team's stadium (Steaua's) for the right to advance on to the semi-finals of the European Championships. Lupta Steaua!!!!!!! (Go Stars!)

Dinner with the Radan Family

The other night I had a wonderful time visiting with the Radan family: Ela (left), Mama Radan, and Daniel. Ela (left) teaches English at a school in Bucharest and has one of the biggest hearts and passions for Christian ministry of anyone I have ever met. This past year, she has done a great job in helping me with my Romanian language skills over email. This has been a tough year for her family, and without getting into too many details, let me just say what a privilege it is to be amongst a family that always puts the Lord first, even in the midst of extreme adversity.

Look Who I Found!

What a blessing it is to have so many friends in Romania who have made me feel right at home. I had a BLAST visiting with the Tamas family and my dear friend Catalin (We call him CAT for short). Cat is a great musician and is in his last year studying at a music high school. Whenever we get together, Cat and I love to teach each other new praise songs and even write our own music. His family lives on the outskirts of Bucharest and have a beautiful garden, dog, and home. They are a truly hospitable family who love the LORD. Cat's Dad helps with the Baptist Evangelical Alliance in Romania and has been involved with several church plants. In addition, he has helped construct many churches around Romania. Cat's brother, Florin (below), is in Seminary and has already been working as a missionary with several organizations. He currently helps lead junior-high youth at a church outside of Bucharest.. And their mother? Well, what a joy she is! She is a great cook and I must admit that I enjoyed stuffing my face with Romanian specialities--including sarmale (stuffed cabbage rolls). I even got to bring some home. I plan to visit the Tamas family often! They're the best! And last, but not least, another visitor dropped by my little (temporary) studio: none other than my friend Emi Panca. Like Florin, Emi has studied at a local Bucharest Seminary and hopes to do more missions work. Right now, he is working with an organization called, Open Hearts Ministry, which works with handicap children. Emi and I have worked together in camps and I have helped his Dad build a fence at their home in the Prahova Valley, which is about an hour north of Bucharest. They grow a lot of fruit there, and last summer I was able to come home with several jars full of homemade Gem de Zmeura, Raspberry Jam! And if you know anything about me, you know that I really love raspberies. I have a feeling that I will be seeing a lot more of Emi in the future! Stay tuned for details.... Yes, it is great to have so many Romanian friends already. I'll try to post pictures of my guests and outings.

I made it!

Well, I arrived in Bucharest on March 21st and was greeted by my boss and some of my good Romanian friends. My teammates threw a pizza celebration in honor of my arrival and my "Send Mike a Pizza a Month" campaignn. We all joined hands and sang the old hymn Great is Thy Faithfulness, prayed, and enjoyed a nice time of fellowship. My teammates made me feel especially welcome. Oh, and the pizza was good too!