Drum Bun Alex!

My good friend Alex will be leaving us to go do some of his master's studies in Dresden, Germany so we threw him a going-away party. I was the host and chef. We invited some of his closest friends and had a time of collective prayer for Alex. What I appreciate most about Alex is his willingness to serve (he has always helped us in our youth group with service projects, music, studies, etc.) and most of all his smile. Alex is one of those guys who just makes you smile, everytime he enters a room you just feel better. That, my friends, is a gift. Drum Bun Alex and God Bless, we'll be praying for you!
We gave Alex a t-shirt with some of his closest friends on it, so as not to forget us :)

My friend Simon is already a Viking fan, I think the horns are a good fit :)

More fun times with the youth!

Zilele Bucureştiului: Bucharest Days

This week the city of Bucharest is celebrating 550 years. There will be many parades, concerts, food tasting, games, etc. to mark the festivities. The churches in Bucharest are also taking part to show an evangelical presence by doing dramas in the parks, cleaning public spaces, and handing out modern translations of the New Testament in Romanian complete with testimonies of prominent figures in the city who have given their lives to Christ. Churches will also be holding an evangelistic concert and distributing food. Please pray for this combined effort to be a blessing to our city and the people.

As part of the events, Bucharest has "White Nights" where people can visit museums for free all night long and laser shows are projected onto the People's Palace as in the picture above.
In its day, Bucharest was known as "Little Paris" because of its rich character and Parisian atmosphere.

Let the Trafic Begin!

Towards the end of September, everyone in Bucureşti is returning from vacations and heading to work, school, etc. Hence, the traffic heats up. Here is a taste of what it is like. Going 13 kilometers can take 2 hours in the middle of the day. And no, I'm not exagerating.

Around Romania

Check out how we pave roads in Romania and it's no wonder why we complain!

Interesting!

I love how this zebra leads you right into the middle of a crossing street!

Anything to find a parking spot :)

Check out this interfon at a Bloc in the Ferentari neighborhood of Bucureşti

It's not easy washing windows when you live in a Bloc

Anything for "Gratar"

Take a look at how this Romanian family was able to fix up something on the grill. As I say, it's NEVER boring in Romania :)

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