But as for me, I trust in You,
O LORD; I say,
“You are my God.”
My times are in Your hand...
Psalm 31:14-15a
Buna Ziua! Well, I cannot believe it, but I have lived in Romania for only a couple weeks short of one whole year now. The time has flown by. I was thinking the other night of all that the Lord has brought me through this year. It has been a year of growth and blessings. Great joy and even sorrow. But I find myself today, as I am looking back on the past year, full of thankfulness. It has been a truly amazing year. I have totally seen how the Lord has been faithful to take care of me and guide me every step.
This past month I finished volunteering for PTJM the ministry here in Oradea I was helping out with. I am very thankful to be moving on to some new things here in the city. I am still in the hospital and loving it there. One of our little ones, Anca, is 2 years old and has lived her whole life in the hospital. She is blind, and was considered hard to place in a foster home because of this. But after much prayer a home was found for her! She spent her first night in a real home for the first time in her life last week. What a miracle!
(Anca and Mia right before Anca left for her new foster home!)
I am now also helping out with another ministry in town that works with young adults who are physically and mentally disabled. It’s like a day center for them. I have really enjoyed getting to know the people there, and look forward to working more with them.
Marinela, the young girl I mentor, is doing great. We have started English lessons, and she is doing really well. I always enjoy my time with her. 
(Marinela and I)
Today, Marinela, Ana (another young lady who works with us at the hospital) and I all went to the local zoo. We had such a wonderful time together today, the weather was warm and beautiful! Totally different from the weather we’ve been having.
(Marinela, Me, Ana at the zoo!)
My prayer meeting is going great too. Not necessarily in numbers, it is generally just my missionary friend Kelly and I, but the Lord has really been answering specific prayers we have been having. We are thankful to have the time each week to lift each other up in prayer and to fellowship.
Well with my first year here in Romania coming to an end I will be leaving for California in 17 days! I am so excited to be home to see my family, friends and church. It should be wonderful. I will be home for 2 months and already have a packed schedule. I will be working for a couple of weeks while I am home at Casa Teresa where I was working before I left for Romania, to basically pay for my trip home. I’m looking forward to a time of refreshment and time with the Lord to seek His will for what is to come in 2009.
Thank you all so much for your prayers, I hope to see many of you while I am home. I will continue to write my updates while I am in California. Please keep the next 2 weeks in your prayers. I have to move out of my apartment before I leave, as there are some pretty serious problems with the place that are not able to be fixed. So I will be moving my stuff (AGAIN!) to my friend Ibi’s house while I am gone.
(Ibi and I)
There is a lot going on as always, and I am so excited for the holidays at home! Thank you all for your prayers about my back, it is doing much better, I am still not 100% but I am getting there and am very thankful to be back out working with the kids in the hospital!
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
Grace and Peace,
Rachel
