Rachel's Romania Update - 2.26.2008

“And in that day you will say: Praise the LORD, call upon His name; Declare His deeds among the peoples, Make mention that His name is exalted. Sing to the LORD, For He has done excellent things; This is known in all the earth.’”
-Isaiah 12:4-5

Well February is coming to an end. My time in Timisoara is now over as well. I finished my language training and took an overnight train, 8.5 hours here to Bucharest. I am in the process of getting things organized and will start working in the hospital soon! I am very excited to get to work.

My last month of language training went very well. It was also a great time of fellowship with my teachers Dorina and Laura, as well as Laura’s whole family. I am truly blessed that the Lord brought them into my life. Their friendships mean a lot to me and I pray that I have been and will continue to be an example and blessing to them as well.

I also had the opportunity to spend time with my Romanian cousin, Julia. She came to my city this time and we spent the day together walking around town and talking about life, family and the Lord. It was very nice. We were both so happy to have another day together. Please keep Julia and her family in your prayers as her mother just passed away a couple of weeks ago, she was a wonderful woman.

The weather is finally warming up here Romania. Today it was about 60 out! Yea for spring! I spent today walking around the city...well my part of the city. I never would have thought I would end up living in such a big city. Bucharest reminds me of New York with all the tall buildings, cars and people people everywhere! I really enjoyed my walk today and seeing so many people out on the street. This city is huge! There are about 2 million people living here. It is actually the 6th largest city in the EU by population within city limits. In case you are interested in reading up on Bucharest here is a link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bucharest

Please continue to keep my health in your prayers. I’m still coughing! But I’m hoping the change in the weather will help clear that all up. Also please remember to keep Dorina, Laura and her family as well as Julia and her family in your prayers. The Lord is so good and so faithful! I am so blessed to be here, and really I feel so “at home” here in Romania. I look forward to my time with the kids and to learning more of the language as I interact with people. I’m excited to see the new things the Lord is going to do.

May the Lord bless you all! Thank you for your continued support and prayers!

Rachel

Missionary Update Letter - 2.1.2008

“As cold water to a weary soul, So is good news from a far country.”
Proverbs 25:25

Hello everyone! January has flown by and here we are in February! January was a month full of surprises and blessings! The Lord has opened up so many doors for me since I have arrived here. I just want to share a couple of highlights.

With some encouragement from one of the language teachers here, I looked into finding my Romanian family, of whom, no one in my family at home knows. I was able to actually find a cousin of mine, Julia, and praise the Lord she only lived an hour away! So my Romanian friend Dorina and I went to visit her and some of my other cousins. She even took me to see the house my great grand father built before he immigrated to the United States in 1914. So cool! It was great to be able to share with Julia and every family member I met, that I was here in Romania as a missionary and how the Lord has given me such a love for this country and the people here. I still keep in contact with Julia and hope that the Lord will continue to use me in this new relationship.

I have since met other family members even in America I didn’t know about through some pictures I had posted on the web. The Lord is really opening up doors for me to share what He has done in my heart and what it is that I am doing here in Romania. Please pray for my family members here in Romania and those in the States.

My language training has been going great..the Lord is really blessing me with speed of learning. After speaking with Nan”n in Bucharest we decided I should stay here in Timisoara for February before returning to Bucharest to begin my work with the children. Most missionaries here study the language for a year and I have met several couples here at the school who have been in Romania for 3 years and are still coming for classes! But 3 months is all that I will give to classes...I cannot wait to work with the babies!

A few prayer requests...
Please keep Aristrita, a baby ROCK Ministries works with in your prayers. Nann will prayerfully be bringing her to the states this month to get some much needed surgery. The Lord has really been opening up the doors for this to happen, please pray that He will continue to lead the way.
Please also keep where I will be living in Bucharest in your prayers. Nann and I will be living together but we have not looked for a place yet. Please pray that the Lord will provide the right place, for the right price, in the right location, with the right landlords!
Please also pray for my last month here in Timisoara. I am so thankful for the relationships the Lord has brought my way. My language teacher Laura, her husband Robert and their 5 children have ”adopted” me into their family. They only have one daughter, so I am the new official ”big sister”. I have spent Christmas and New Years and even a birthday for one of their sons with them...we have ”family meals” together, and the Lord has really opened up communication between us about Him. He has blessed me with so much this month, it is wonderful to be able to share all He has done. Please keep Laura and her family in your prayers as well.

Thank you for all for your prayers. Please continue to pray for my health...I can’t seem to completely get over this cold!

I pray you are all doing great...

Blessings,
Rachel