Grace

Grace
Originally uploaded by rachel_titiriga

"The sweetest part, if one may speak of one part being sweeter than another, is the rest which full identification with Christ brings. I am no longer anxious about anything, as I realize this; for He, I know, is able to carry out His will, and His will is mine. It makes no matter where He places me, or how. That is rather for Him to consider than for me; for in the easiest position He must give me His grace, and in the most difficult His grace is sufficient. It little matters to my servant whether I send him to buy a few cash worth of things, or the most expensive articles. In either case he looks to me for the money and brings me his purchases. So, if God should place me in serious perplexity, must He not give me much guidance; in positions of great difficulty, much grace; in circumstances of great pressure and trial, much strength? No fear that His resources will prove unequal to the emergency! And His resources are mine, for He is mine, and is with me and dwells in me. "

-Hudson Taylor


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Such a Great Day!

I had the best day on Sunday! I was blessed to be invited over to my friend Cami's house for the day. Cami is the play therapist I work with at the hospital. It was such a beautiful day out. We had a barbecue out in her garden, road bikes, took pics, talked, ate, laughed. It was so nice. And for the most part it was all in Romanian, which was sooo good for me. Normally I only hear little kids speaking in Romanian, so it was good to have some adult conversation in Romanian it helps me learn.

I love having Romanian friends. And Cami and her family are so wonderful. It is so great working with Cami, we always joke that we "share a brain". It is so evident that the Lord opened this door for us to work to work together.

I am feeling very blessed tonight. The Lord is so good!

Fall Delights

Fall Delights
Originally uploaded by rachel_titiriga

My landlady just brought me a bag full of fall delights! Walnuts, Pears, Plums and Grapes! All freshly picked and brought to me!

Rachel's Romania Update - September 2009

Let Your work appear to Your servants,
And Your glory to their children.
And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us,
And establish the work of our hands for us;
Yes, establish the work of our hands.

Psalm 90:16-17

Happy Fall!

I am so happy that it is finally fall time here in Romania. The weather has been so beautiful and cool, and the leaves have just started to change colors here. September has been a great month! Lots has gone on so I will try to keep it short and to the point!

I have to start off with a story from the hospital. We had a young girl, about 6 or 7 years old maybe, who was so sweet. (And wore glasses, I LOVE little kids with glasses!) She was visiting us because she used to be able to speak but due to her condition she no longer can speak. She only understands Hungarian (not Romanian) but she and I had such a great bond. We would work on puzzles and play together everyday. When I would walk in the room in the morning she would get a huge smile and grab my hand a pull me to the table to sit with her. There were 3 occasions when we were working together on puzzles that she stopped what she was doing, stood up and gave me a giant hug! I almost started to cry, they were the sweetest moments. We had no way of actually communicating through words, but the Lord still used our time together to bring her some comfort.

Honestly this month, has been filled with stories like this. I even commented to Cami, “I guess everyone just needs some love this month”. Children who were so standoffish at the beginning of their time with us, ended up playing and sitting in my lap looking at books or playing games. 2 little boys, spent time this last week in my lap everyday, just wanting to sit there and be held. It was so nice.

I completed, turned in my application, and had my interview to volunteer with the hospice program here in Brasov. It is an excellent program. I am on call right now to help out with any office projects they might have coming up. I am unable to help out with the kids or adults right now because the hours of the shifts conflict with my previous responsibilities. But I will be happy to help out whenever and wherever I can when they need me. They said probably around the holidays they will need more help in the office. And who knows, maybe things will open up to help out with the patients too someday.

I have been attending a fellow missionary’s Bible study once a week. Tim and his wife Liz are also Calvary Chapel missionaries. It has been great going to their house for study, and so fruitful! The Lord has really been blessing the study.

Last month I had asked for prayer because it was getting a little lonely here, and the Lord really blessed me this month with some great fellowship. Liz and I spent some time together this month, going to the outdoor market, walking around and having a little coffee together one time. It was really nice. Also, my friends Simone and Marten from Germany came out for 3 weeks this month to volunteer with HFTN. They helped us out in the hospital and with one of our Gypsy Girls Group meetings. They have been such a blessing to me. Their friendship and fellowship has been so great! We have walked around, ate together and talked a lot. I feel like I haven’t talked so much in a long time, but it has been very much needed. They love the Lord and the people here. It has been a great time. I will miss having them around.

Simone, Marten and I

Our Gypsy Girls Groups both went really great this month. My collegue Sarah had her Mom and sister lead our first Girls Group meeting, and we took our second Girls Group, along with Simone and Marten to the zoo. Both groups were excellent. Sarah’s Mom and sister did a great job with a Bible study and crafts. We are still doing memory verses with those girls and will begin Bible study and memory verses with our 2^nd Girls Group in December. The girls are all so sweet, I really enjoy my time with them, and love that the Lord has allowed me to be a part of this and is using me in their lives.

Group 1

Group 2

I finally got around to making some cookies this month. I made some for my neighbor, as she has always been making me things, I wanted to treat her to something. I also gave some to a couple of the play therapists at the hospital, including Cami of course! They all seemed to like them a lot. It was nice being able to share this with them.

Such a busy month, but such a blessing! This weekend is busy too! Saturday, Simone, Marten, hopefully Tim and Liz and I will all be taking the train to a nearby city, Sinaia. It is a beautiful city and I found train tickets for only $4 round trip! Then on Sunday, I was invited to visit Cami at her house for lunch. I am so excited! This is the first time I will be going out to her house. She lives in a village about 15-20 minutes outside of the city. I really love Cami and have been praying the Lord would grow our friendship. Then, on Monday, Simone and Marten will be leaving, which is very sad for me!

But good news, on Wednesday my friend Susie comes out from America and next Saturday, Susie, Tim, Liz and I all leave on vacation! My brain has been very fried this last week with this busy month and I am in desperate need for a vacation! I am so looking forward to all of it!

Another HUGE praise is I finally received my Romanian Visa this month! This means that I no longer have to leave the country every 90 days to renew my visa. Yea!

So I am sending out this update a little early, as my week is going to be much too busy and I wanted to let you all know about this glorious month I’ve had! The Lord is so good and faithful to provide! Which reminds me, and this is huge….my laptop has been dying lately. My cd/dvd player no longer works at all, the battery and charger/plug are dying and often the computer just shuts off all of a sudden. My computer speakers don’t always work and my computer has had some serious freezing problems. I was talking with Pastor Brent, the missions pastor at Calvary Chapel West Grove about this, and he was able to get the funds to purchase a new laptop for me! This is such a miracle! I was not sure what I was going to do, as laptops here in Romania are so much more expensive than they are in the US. And I am not planning on going home until February or March. But it all worked out perfectly, I found an excellent deal at WalMart and Susie will be bringing it out to me when she comes next week! Praise the Lord! My laptop is sort of my “lifeline” to the world. It would be hard to not be able to communicate with friends and family at home.

I love how the Lord always has perfect timing!

Well friends, I hope you are enjoying your fall time as well.

May the Lord bless you and keep you….

Grace and Peace,

Rachel

Prayer requests:

1. Traveling mercy for all of the journeys coming up.

2. Wisdom if I should move to a less expensive apartment and if so, that the Lord will lead me to the right one.

3. That the Lord would continue to lead me, guide me and provide for my needs

Simone and Marten

I have had been having such a blessed time with my friends Simone and Marten. They came out from Germany for 3 weeks to volunteer with HFTN. It's a bit of a bummer I have been so busy and haven't been able to spend as much time with them as I would like to, but our time together has been such a blessing and so much fun! They are a wonderful couple with great hearts for the Lord and the people of Romania.

As I have mentioned, sometimes it can get a little lonely out here in Romania, having Simone and Marten out has been just what I have needed. Some good fellowship and talking. It's been great walking around with them, and just having someone to chill with. :)

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Official!

Official!
Originally uploaded by rachel_titiriga

I'm finally official!

(bad "not allowed to smile pic" and all!)

woohoo!

Got my Romanian Visa this afternoon. :)

yea!!!!!

It is Time

Vajta - June 2008-44
Originally uploaded by rachel_titiriga

"Sow for yourselves righteousness;
Reap in mercy;
Break up your fallow ground,
For it is time to seek the LORD,
Till He comes and rains righteousness
on you."
Hosea 10:12

There are things that inspire me...words, songs, poetry, pictures, nature...but I love it when the Bible inspires me. I think that it is so cool how our Lord is a God who is creative, who's Spirit writes beautiful things.

I just thought I would share this verse, it inspired me tonight.

I love the idea of giving my all for my Lord, or serving Him, of seeking after Him NOW, waiting until that time when He will rain righteousness on me....so visual. beautiful.

:)

i love Jesus!

night friends

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missing...

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i'm really missing Timisoara this evening. There are few places in this World where I feel at "home" and Timisoara, Romania has always been one of those places. It is one of my favorite places on the planet...sigh....just being a little sentimental this evening I guess. But I have to plan a trip out there, I miss my friends and the beautiful city so much...who knows maybe one day the Lord will open up a door for ministry for me to do there....

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We Walk with Uplifted Faces

Psalm 89:14-18 (Amplified Bible)

"Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; mercy and loving-kindness and truth go before Your face.

Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are the people who know the joyful sound [who understand and appreciate the spiritual blessings symbolized by the feasts]; they walk, O Lord, in the light and favor of Your countenance!

In Your name they rejoice all the day, and in Your righteousness they are exalted.

For You are the glory of their strength [their proud adornment], and by Your favor our horn is exalted and we walk with uplifted faces!

For our shield belongs to the Lord, and our king to the Holy One of Israel."

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Flow with It

Some Friends
Originally uploaded by rachel_titiriga

Boy, this devo really spoke to me tonight. It is so true how the Lord works. Just in the last 2 years here in Romania and leading up to my move here, it has been amazing to see the ways He has lead me. It truly makes life so much easier when you just go with the flow, and trust the Lord even when things don't make sense and even when things hurt. To sit back and rest and trust, instead of always reacting right away.

He has a plan, He loves us, He wants the best for us. If we would just rest in Him and trust Him, life would be so much easier!

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Irritations (1Samuel 9:20)

Looking for the lost donkeys must have been frustrating for Saul. He was looking everywhere, trying to see where they might be. But it wasn’t really about the donkeys. God was using the lost donkeys to lead Saul to Samuel. God was working behind the scenes to bring the future king of Israel to Samuel.

Saul was probably irritated and impatient because he had no idea what God was really up to. Neither do we. Life sometimes seems so frustrating as things aren’t going our way and it seems like we are just wandering around randomly. But God is working behind the scenes; and if we realized what His ultimate plan is, we wouldn’t be nearly so frustrated.

God has a plan, and He will accomplish His will, which will always be best for us. And He generally leads in such natural ways, we hardly notice that He is leading at all. Life presents delays to us, we can’t get something done that we want to get done, and we get irritated because our plans are frustrated. But those little delays and irritations are all a part of God’s plan. We can sometimes see that in retrospect, but it is hard to understand at the time.

If you are God’s child, then He is leading you, even in the mundane events of life. Don’t get irritated; flow with it.

-Pastor Chuck Smith

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*fall is in the air*

*fall is in the air*
Originally uploaded by rachel_titiriga

"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns."
—George Eliot

I LOVE the fall time. It's amazing to me, to have grown up in Southern California and to really dislike the summer time like I do. But then the fall comes!

We have been having much much cooler weather here in Brasov. The leaves on some trees are already starting to change and to fall to the ground. The other night the smell of a few fireplaces filled my apartment. I sat on my couch all curled up in a soft blanket with my yummy candle burning, drinking my hot tea. It was a perfect night.

It's interesting how seasons play a role in how we feel. For me, summer is draining, it leaves me with little energy, I don't like being out in the sun or the heat. But then once fall comes into the air, I'm out walking around, enjoying the cool air and the smell of the season changing....watching the leaves falling and the colors of the trees. I love the position the sun has in the sky in the fall. How the shadows and colors it casts are so different from the summer, so much softer. It's amazing how happy my heart is this time of year!

I've been told we have a short fall season here in Brasov, this will be my first here in the Transylvanian mountains, and I'm hoping that it will last a long time! :)

I'm looking forward to seeing the trees change color across our little mountain Tampa.

Anyway, I know I'm crazy to have grown up by the beach, but to really dislike the summer and the sun as much as I do, but I guess the Lord knew I would be spending so much time in Romania with the lovely weather we have here! :)

happy autumn friends.
xo

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Discipline

TheGettyVilla-118
Originally uploaded by rachel_titiriga

“Bringing into captivity every through to the obedience of Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 10:5

Determinedly Discipline Other Things. This is another aspect of the strenuous nature of sainthood. Paul says, “I take every project prisoner to make it obey Christ” (Moffat). How much Christian work there is today which has never been disciplined, but has simply sprung into being by impulse! In our Lord’s life every project was disciplined to the will of His Father. There was not a movement of an impulse of His own will as distinct from His Father’s – “The Son can do nothing of Himself.” Then take ourselves – a vivid religious experience, and every project born of impulse put into action immediately, instead of being imprisoned and disciplined to obey Christ.

This is a day when practical work is overemphasized, and the saints who are bringing every project into captivity are criticized and told that they are not in earnest for God or for souls. True earnestness is found in obeying God, not in the inclination to serve Him that is born of undisciplined human nature. It is inconceivable, but true nevertheless, that saints are not bringing every project into captivity but are doing work for God at the instigation of their own human nature which has not been spiritualized by determined discipline.

We are apt to forget that a man is not only committed to Jesus Christ for salvation; he is committed to Jesus Christ’s view of God, of the world, of sin and of the devil, and this will mean that he must recognize the responsibility of being transformed by the renewing of his mind.

*bright*

*bright*
Originally uploaded by rachel_titiriga

"Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world" - Philippians 2:14-15

"We use lights to make manifest. A Christian man should so shine in his life, that a person could not live with him a week without knowing the gospel. His conversation should be such that all who are about him should clearly perceive whose he is, and whom he serves; and should see the image of Jesus reflected in his daily actions. Lights are intended for guidance. We are to help those around us who are in the dark. We are to hold forth to them the Word of life. We are to point sinners to the Saviour, and the weary to a divine resting-place. Men sometimes read their Bibles, and fail to understand them; we should be ready, like Philip, to instruct the inquirer in the meaning of God's Word, the way of salvation, and the life of godliness. Lights are also used for warning. On our rocks and shoals a light-house is sure to be erected. Christian men should know that there are many false lights shown everywhere in the world, and therefore the right light is needed. The wreckers of Satan are always abroad, tempting the ungodly to sin under the name of pleasure; they hoist the wrong light, be it ours to put up the true light upon every dangerous rock, to point out every sin, and tell what it leads to, that so we may be clear of the blood of all men, shining as lights in the world. Lights also have a very cheering influence, and so have Christians. A Christian ought to be a comforter, with kind words on his lips, and sympathy in his heart; he should carry sunshine wherever he goes, and diffuse happiness around him.

Gracious Spirit dwell with me;
I myself would gracious be,
And with words that help and heal
Would thy life in mine reveal,
And with actions bold and meek
Would for Christ my Saviour speak. "

- Charles Spurgeon

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