March 2010 Update

Oh come,

let us sing to the LORD!
Let us shout joyfully
to the Rock of our salvation.
Psalm 95:1

Happy Spring everyone! What beautiful weather we have been having here in Southern California. I was sitting here this morning trying to think of everything that happened this month and it seems crazy all that was crammed into March. It was a full month for me!

I arrived back in California on Friday, February 26th and immediately began working at my sending church, Calvary Chapel WestGrove on Monday, March 1st. I was so completely blessed to have had the opportunity to work at the church, helping out in the missions department. I am very grateful to Pastor Brad and Pastor Brent for working it out for me to be there. It is always really important for me to work a little while I am home to pay for my plane ticket, have some spending money while I am home and to have some money in my account for when I return to Romania. So this was definitely important! I had a great 3 weeks working.

I have been able to visit a couple of churches since I have been home. It has been so nice seeing old familiar faces and friends, and sitting under such great teaching.

I also was able to attend a fund raiser for Promise Child which is the Child Sponsorship organization my missions Pastor and his wife started. It was a beautiful Classical Music Concert, and it was for a great cause, supporting children in Haiti who have been displaced from the earthquake. (for more info visit www.promisechild.com)


During my first 3 weeks of March, while I was working, I spent very little time seeing people, as I was really just too tired after work, plus spending time with my parents was a priority for me. I was able to spend some time with my good friend Susie. She is the one who blessed me with the trip to Italy back in October. It is always great seeing her.


I was also able to see my sister and her family which was nice. The week after I finished working I took my oldest nephew Steven out to play miniature golf. We had a lot of fun, he is such a sweetheart. We had a great time talking and hanging out.


Then the next day, I took my other nephew Brett out to the movies so we could have some bonding time as well. We walked around and talked too. It is so crazy how much these boys have grown up this past year!

Last weekend, my mom and I went out to Tea together. It was a special event and we had a great time! We had bought tickets for this event months ago and it was a lot of fun. The Lord blessed us by sitting us next to two sisters in Christ, one of whom, I had actually read her blog when I was in Romania! It is such a small world! We had a lovely day together.


This past week, I finally was able to join my sister in her ministry of feeding the homeless (or “friends without homes” as she calls them). While I was in Romania I had some of the children in the hospital color some paper lunch bags for my sister’s ministry and so it was nice to be able to be a part of it myself. We had a great morning, being with her and people from her church that joined us. I was able to speak a little bit with a man who actually came from Romania 30 years ago! He totally remembers Romanian perfectly, and it was fun for me to be able to speak to someone in Romanian. I was totally happy it was all still there in my brain! And really, was thankful too, I always wondered if I would be able to use my Romanian in California. It was a blessing for me!

Last night I joined my sister and her family as my oldest nephew Steven received an award for his kindness, good deeds and grades. He was one of 16 children who received the award out of 8 middle schools in Orange County! That’s huge! I was very proud of him.


Well that leads us up to today! April 1st! Wow! My first month home has flown by. This Saturday my parents and I will be leaving for a week on vacation. We are going up to an area outside of Lake Tahoe to go camping. I am really looking forward to my time with them. April promises to be another busy month. With birthdays, my dad’s retirement and anniversaries. And I will finally be able to spend some time with friends I did not have a chance to see in March!

I am still praying for a lot of direction from the Lord. He is so faithful and good. This summer will be a busy one when I return to Romania on April 27th. Please keep me in your prayers, that April will be a great month and that I will be able to visit with everyone I need to, and that my trip back to Romania will be good.

I hope you all have a very blessed Easter this weekend!

Grace and Peace,
Rachel