I am just trying this out.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Day to Day things
Thought you might want to know some random day to day things as of May 10.
It is spring in GalaĊ£i. The trees are blooming and filling out with green, the flowers are up (the tulips have bloomed), and it is getting warmer. The grape vines have leaves and all the trees have a fresh coat of whitewash at the base of their trunks. There are some bushes right infront of my apartment building that smell like summer in Hueytown, Alabama. I walk by them and am reminded of sitting in the back of my grandparent's house in the A-frame porch swing. The city is really pretty when green.
Robin, Rachel, and Vali have begun working in the garden. I have helped Robin plant and transplant flowers and helped Vali plant tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers. I like gardening, just need someone to tell me what to do. (Last year I planted pots of tomato plants...at least 3 pots with at least 3 plants each...um, they didn't fare too well under my sole supervision...I got a few small tomatoes and then the plants pretty much died.)
Kids have been spending a lot more time outside. That's been really fun. May 1st is a holiday in Romania. So we took the kids to a woods/park and cooked out and played games. It was awesome! We played soccer (which we don't do at the center because of space) with them, as well as a few organized games/relays. It was fun to have all the kids there at the same time. They loved it. Also, a few of our boys (as in kids) took on some older boys (that happened to be in the same park) in a game of soccer. The random older kids won--but only in a shoot-out that went through like 5 people from each side. Anyway, our boys represented really well. Please. It was awesome.
Valentin (one of the kids) and I cleaned out the shed that houses all the garden tools. I told him I was afraid of spiders and he did most of the "reaching into dark crevices that may house scary creatures". Vali approved of our work, but Valentin gets most of the credit, as he made sure we took EVERYTHING out and swept the area really good. I was just moving stuff around, but he was like, "No! Not beautiful!" and made me move a whole stack of these thin strips of wood in order to clean. Valentin also knows quite a bit of english.
ST girls organized a "Girls Night" for the staff one Friday. It consisted of doing a Latin Dance workout video...and then eating pizza right afterwards. Then board games and more dancing. It was fun.
Recard, one of the 1st graders, has invented a new game using rollerblades and a random servant team member. He puts on these much-too-big pair of rollerblades, takes a hand, and then we pull him around (he would prefer using a jumprope, but I deem that a bit unsafe, so we hold hands). He and I start about 25 yards away from the gate (the cement slopes down infront of the gate to the center) and then after saying "uno, doi, tre, si!" we bolt towards the gate. I run like crazy, thinking that I need to stay ahead of him in order to not pull him over backwards by the hand. As soon as we hit the slope, he tries to spin around, using my hand to balance, and then throws his hand out to finish with a flourish. My role in this escapade is to keep him from falling and breaking himself. Recard doesn't know this. Our goal together is to get him to spin around (as in 180 degrees) only using one of my hands to balance. Most of the time it is me grabbing an appendige (sp) so that he will not hit his head on the ground. But he loves it. Once we tried it with two servant team members (myself and Mary Margaret). Halfway to the gate he slipped and we dragged him for about a foot on his knees before I realized he was down. So, we went back to one ST member at a time. Once he and Mary Margaret didn't quite make it 180 degrees, and as she was catching him I saw his little hand turn out as though to say "Ta-Da!". It was so cute.
My host mom is so cute, please. I think Doamna Dabija thinks I know more Romanian than I do, but oh well. I took Caitlin and Laura to meet her seperately within the last couple of weeks. They think she is cute, too. And funny. I think she is hilarious, but unfortunately can't really understand any of the stories. She seems to have great timing when it comes to telling stories.
It is spring in GalaĊ£i. The trees are blooming and filling out with green, the flowers are up (the tulips have bloomed), and it is getting warmer. The grape vines have leaves and all the trees have a fresh coat of whitewash at the base of their trunks. There are some bushes right infront of my apartment building that smell like summer in Hueytown, Alabama. I walk by them and am reminded of sitting in the back of my grandparent's house in the A-frame porch swing. The city is really pretty when green.
Robin, Rachel, and Vali have begun working in the garden. I have helped Robin plant and transplant flowers and helped Vali plant tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers. I like gardening, just need someone to tell me what to do. (Last year I planted pots of tomato plants...at least 3 pots with at least 3 plants each...um, they didn't fare too well under my sole supervision...I got a few small tomatoes and then the plants pretty much died.)
Kids have been spending a lot more time outside. That's been really fun. May 1st is a holiday in Romania. So we took the kids to a woods/park and cooked out and played games. It was awesome! We played soccer (which we don't do at the center because of space) with them, as well as a few organized games/relays. It was fun to have all the kids there at the same time. They loved it. Also, a few of our boys (as in kids) took on some older boys (that happened to be in the same park) in a game of soccer. The random older kids won--but only in a shoot-out that went through like 5 people from each side. Anyway, our boys represented really well. Please. It was awesome.
Valentin (one of the kids) and I cleaned out the shed that houses all the garden tools. I told him I was afraid of spiders and he did most of the "reaching into dark crevices that may house scary creatures". Vali approved of our work, but Valentin gets most of the credit, as he made sure we took EVERYTHING out and swept the area really good. I was just moving stuff around, but he was like, "No! Not beautiful!" and made me move a whole stack of these thin strips of wood in order to clean. Valentin also knows quite a bit of english.
ST girls organized a "Girls Night" for the staff one Friday. It consisted of doing a Latin Dance workout video...and then eating pizza right afterwards. Then board games and more dancing. It was fun.
Recard, one of the 1st graders, has invented a new game using rollerblades and a random servant team member. He puts on these much-too-big pair of rollerblades, takes a hand, and then we pull him around (he would prefer using a jumprope, but I deem that a bit unsafe, so we hold hands). He and I start about 25 yards away from the gate (the cement slopes down infront of the gate to the center) and then after saying "uno, doi, tre, si!" we bolt towards the gate. I run like crazy, thinking that I need to stay ahead of him in order to not pull him over backwards by the hand. As soon as we hit the slope, he tries to spin around, using my hand to balance, and then throws his hand out to finish with a flourish. My role in this escapade is to keep him from falling and breaking himself. Recard doesn't know this. Our goal together is to get him to spin around (as in 180 degrees) only using one of my hands to balance. Most of the time it is me grabbing an appendige (sp) so that he will not hit his head on the ground. But he loves it. Once we tried it with two servant team members (myself and Mary Margaret). Halfway to the gate he slipped and we dragged him for about a foot on his knees before I realized he was down. So, we went back to one ST member at a time. Once he and Mary Margaret didn't quite make it 180 degrees, and as she was catching him I saw his little hand turn out as though to say "Ta-Da!". It was so cute.
My host mom is so cute, please. I think Doamna Dabija thinks I know more Romanian than I do, but oh well. I took Caitlin and Laura to meet her seperately within the last couple of weeks. They think she is cute, too. And funny. I think she is hilarious, but unfortunately can't really understand any of the stories. She seems to have great timing when it comes to telling stories.
an orphanage
This post is a bit late...but I wanted to give some more detail about why I thought the orphanage in a nearby village was so appalling when we were in Moldova. Here's some of what I wrote after visiting:
"We went to a village on Sunday to see an orphanage and play with some kids there. We took a 20 minutes bus ride to there. On the way, Rachel told us that we'd be working with a 100-ish kids, and [admittedly] I was stressed out because I feld we weren't ready for it. We had a list of games, but I was trying not to panic. I remember praying on the way to the orphanage.
It was appalling.
First of all, we walked into the gates, and the yard was full of kids--all ages. The grounds around the buildings were barren and unkept. No grass or much of anything green growing. There were grown men (most in their late teens/early twenties) playing soccer in the field. These guys had no real connection to the orphanage, but were from the town and just using the grounds. Gave me an uneasy feeling for the kids--all these guys and little/no adult supervision with the kids around. At first I was completely overwhelmed by the number of kids outside, especially as I thought we were going to have to organize games with all of them.
The buildings were Soviet-era looking: grey, concrete blocks, run down. Adriana talked to some of the kids who then took us to a main office, but as the main person wasn't there we want up into one of the dorms. It had cracked floors, old doors, grey, dirty, chipped paint, broken light bulbs. Dingy is the word that comes to mind.
We followed Adriana and the kids into a room where one of the orphanage workers was located. She and another worker told us about the orphanage while John and Rachel translated. Currently, 400 kids live at this place, but over the last year 400 others had been moved/"re-integrated" back into families. So the kids that were left didn't have parents. Evidently there is a government intitiative in Moldova to close down all the orphanages by 2012. That means getting all those kids into families by that time--or sending them back to thier own families, which could include only grandparents or a guardian who is an alcoholic or can't provide basic needs.
She explained that the kids who are still on the grounds on a Sunday afternoon really have no one to care for them--as most of the kids who have parents around will spend Sundays with them. And she was telling us all this while kids were in the room, in such a matter-of-fact manner while the kids were right there. The 5 or 6 kids in the room could hear the stories of their lives compacted and abridged for some random foreigners. I felt like thier stories were being treated so impersonally. There we were, 12 foriegners just watching and listening like the kids were just objects to be observed. I hope we didn't give off that vibe, but I felt like it.
I thought about how each one of those kids needed so much one-on-one healthy interactions with an adult to help the healing process. And that each of them had their individual chasm of life hurt, experience, wounding. And a mere couple of hours wouldn't or couldn't change that.
The main room where we gathered to listen was a hodge-podge of carpets and chairs and curtains hanging. It was not warm or inviding or orderly for the kids. The rooms that the children sleep in are bare. Beds against the wall with sheets and 1 blanket. The decorations were of pictures colored with crayon, or make-up or skin-cream ads. It was sad to me that these young girls would compare themselves to an unrealistic "beauty" as defined by a company wanting to sell a product. It was so stark and a bit disgusting to me, that the kids have to live like this.
We walked to a whole other building, where there were only primary school-aged kids: kindergarden and 1st graders that lived there. Their rooms were little different, and we played games with these children in a large room with a piano. All of these kids are little ones who don't have anyone to come and get them or spend time with them on a Sunday afternoon. We played red light/green light, hot potato, Steal the Bacon, etc. The kids seemed to love it. It was hard to reconcile coming in for such a short time and then leaving with pictures. I am grateful to have pictures of the children, but difficult to think that any difference was made in their lives during that time. Angelique (ST member) said that at least it provided a distraction for a while, an opportunity for them to just be children for a bit.
Walking out was overwhelming--to see the kids, each with their own stories and to know or think about the hours needed by a caring adult to love each child. Someone to walk alongside each kid, to live life and provide support and love and guidance for each one. It was that same feeling that I had watching the DCG all-grade band concert last year: all these kids--who will love them and see them and remind them they are valuable?
"We went to a village on Sunday to see an orphanage and play with some kids there. We took a 20 minutes bus ride to there. On the way, Rachel told us that we'd be working with a 100-ish kids, and [admittedly] I was stressed out because I feld we weren't ready for it. We had a list of games, but I was trying not to panic. I remember praying on the way to the orphanage.
It was appalling.
First of all, we walked into the gates, and the yard was full of kids--all ages. The grounds around the buildings were barren and unkept. No grass or much of anything green growing. There were grown men (most in their late teens/early twenties) playing soccer in the field. These guys had no real connection to the orphanage, but were from the town and just using the grounds. Gave me an uneasy feeling for the kids--all these guys and little/no adult supervision with the kids around. At first I was completely overwhelmed by the number of kids outside, especially as I thought we were going to have to organize games with all of them.
The buildings were Soviet-era looking: grey, concrete blocks, run down. Adriana talked to some of the kids who then took us to a main office, but as the main person wasn't there we want up into one of the dorms. It had cracked floors, old doors, grey, dirty, chipped paint, broken light bulbs. Dingy is the word that comes to mind.
We followed Adriana and the kids into a room where one of the orphanage workers was located. She and another worker told us about the orphanage while John and Rachel translated. Currently, 400 kids live at this place, but over the last year 400 others had been moved/"re-integrated" back into families. So the kids that were left didn't have parents. Evidently there is a government intitiative in Moldova to close down all the orphanages by 2012. That means getting all those kids into families by that time--or sending them back to thier own families, which could include only grandparents or a guardian who is an alcoholic or can't provide basic needs.
She explained that the kids who are still on the grounds on a Sunday afternoon really have no one to care for them--as most of the kids who have parents around will spend Sundays with them. And she was telling us all this while kids were in the room, in such a matter-of-fact manner while the kids were right there. The 5 or 6 kids in the room could hear the stories of their lives compacted and abridged for some random foreigners. I felt like thier stories were being treated so impersonally. There we were, 12 foriegners just watching and listening like the kids were just objects to be observed. I hope we didn't give off that vibe, but I felt like it.
I thought about how each one of those kids needed so much one-on-one healthy interactions with an adult to help the healing process. And that each of them had their individual chasm of life hurt, experience, wounding. And a mere couple of hours wouldn't or couldn't change that.
The main room where we gathered to listen was a hodge-podge of carpets and chairs and curtains hanging. It was not warm or inviding or orderly for the kids. The rooms that the children sleep in are bare. Beds against the wall with sheets and 1 blanket. The decorations were of pictures colored with crayon, or make-up or skin-cream ads. It was sad to me that these young girls would compare themselves to an unrealistic "beauty" as defined by a company wanting to sell a product. It was so stark and a bit disgusting to me, that the kids have to live like this.
We walked to a whole other building, where there were only primary school-aged kids: kindergarden and 1st graders that lived there. Their rooms were little different, and we played games with these children in a large room with a piano. All of these kids are little ones who don't have anyone to come and get them or spend time with them on a Sunday afternoon. We played red light/green light, hot potato, Steal the Bacon, etc. The kids seemed to love it. It was hard to reconcile coming in for such a short time and then leaving with pictures. I am grateful to have pictures of the children, but difficult to think that any difference was made in their lives during that time. Angelique (ST member) said that at least it provided a distraction for a while, an opportunity for them to just be children for a bit.
Walking out was overwhelming--to see the kids, each with their own stories and to know or think about the hours needed by a caring adult to love each child. Someone to walk alongside each kid, to live life and provide support and love and guidance for each one. It was that same feeling that I had watching the DCG all-grade band concert last year: all these kids--who will love them and see them and remind them they are valuable?
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Back home in Galati
Hi. We just got back from Moldova yesterday, and without being able to write a ton right now, here's some highlights:
- I like Chisinau. A lot. Very interesting to see everthing written in Romanian and Russian. Lots of cool buildings. Although, if I moved here I'd have to buy a pair of boots with a 4-inch heel.
- We stayed at a place called the Bethany Center. It is run by the Pentecostal Union of Moldova and is located a bit south of Chisinau. Each family that lives there is made up of foster children that have been integrated into a family. Mary Margaret and I stayed with Luda & Pedro. They had 8 kids. Loved staying with a family and talking (as much as we could) with them. Also, saw the stars one night and loved it.
- Visited an orphanage in a villiage outside Chisinau. It was appalling. And overwhelming. More about that later post.
- Read through and discussed Henri Nouwen's Compassion while there. Was really interesting.
- I only have a few minutes left on this PC. Will write more soon.
- Thanks for praying for us. There is a huge need in Moldova. Especially for orphaned or abandoned children.
- Also, it snowed the first day we were there.
- And, I got to draw water from a well.
Love hearing from you all. Take care!
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Cartof
Friday my host mom brought out a kiwi for me. Her daughter (Marianne--lives upstairs) had bought it for me in her daily run to the store. Doamna Dabija was like "I've never had one of those. I don't know how you eat it! Looks like a potatoe to me!"
Well, this morning she asked how it was--"you know! the potato!" she said. I had taken it with me to eat later in the day, had forgotten, and it was still in my bag. So, I got it, cut it up, and gave her a slice. She liked it. I did too. It was a shared cultural moment.
Well, this morning she asked how it was--"you know! the potato!" she said. I had taken it with me to eat later in the day, had forgotten, and it was still in my bag. So, I got it, cut it up, and gave her a slice. She liked it. I did too. It was a shared cultural moment.
Moldova
Next Monday the Servant Team and some staff (Josh, Robin, Rachel, Iosif, and John) will take a train to Moldova for two weeks. We found out some more details about what we are doing this week. There is an organization there that has a group of homes in a camp. The site used to be a pioneer camp years ago (think Communist Girl and Boy Scouts), but has been purchased by the Pentacostal church in Moldova. Each house in the camp has a family that lives with (and ministers to) 10 kids. These kids have been orphaned or their parents are not able to take care of them. They go to school in Chisenau, and then live at this camp with families.
We will be staying with families, doing work on the school they are building at the camp, (hopefully!) working in the large garden, teaching a bit of English, and simply playing with the kids. Rachel, Iosif, and John are moving to Moldova in January 2010 to begin a Word Made Flesh site there. Right now they are really in the process of establishing relationships and community in Moldova. Hopefully the servant team will help with that. I really respect Rachel, Iosif, and John for moving there--right now they don't have a specific program, but know that there is a need and feel called to go there.
We watched a documentary (produced in 2006) about the sex trade in Eastern Europe. It followed the lives of two women, one from the Ukraine, and one from Moldova, who thought they were taking jobs in Turkey but it ended up they were sold. Sick. Taking a closer look at this reality made me wonder why God still bothers with us human beings. Sex trafficking is a huge problem in Moldova. More (and better) information can be found in the International Justice Mission website. Or here. Or, suggest other sites in which you have found information.
We will be staying with families, doing work on the school they are building at the camp, (hopefully!) working in the large garden, teaching a bit of English, and simply playing with the kids. Rachel, Iosif, and John are moving to Moldova in January 2010 to begin a Word Made Flesh site there. Right now they are really in the process of establishing relationships and community in Moldova. Hopefully the servant team will help with that. I really respect Rachel, Iosif, and John for moving there--right now they don't have a specific program, but know that there is a need and feel called to go there.
We watched a documentary (produced in 2006) about the sex trade in Eastern Europe. It followed the lives of two women, one from the Ukraine, and one from Moldova, who thought they were taking jobs in Turkey but it ended up they were sold. Sick. Taking a closer look at this reality made me wonder why God still bothers with us human beings. Sex trafficking is a huge problem in Moldova. More (and better) information can be found in the International Justice Mission website. Or here. Or, suggest other sites in which you have found information.
Chapel
An overview of Chapel seems to shape up like this:
Monday through Thursday = chapel with the staff from 9-10. Each day is a bit different. Mondays during lent Rachel (staff member) is focusing on the topic of Lent. Tuesdays are a time for reading a passage of scripture three times and meditating and praying (Leccio Divina -- sp?). Wednesdays are set aside for one of the staff members to speak about one of the lifestyle celebrations of Word Made Flesh. Thursdays we sing and are reading through the Psalms. Tuesdays we usually have book study, and I am helping with Heart of the Child on Thursdays, so unless plans are rearranged, I only can attend on Mondays and Wednesdays. But I'll take it.
We will usually start with prayer and singing--Rachel or Magda plays guitar and leads singing in Romanian. I was actually pretty excited this week as I've been able to understand the page numbers in Romanian. It's the small things, people. The staff is gracious enough to read the Scripture in both Romanian and English, and then translate the talks. Thankfully!!
This month the lifestyle celebration has been simplicity. I've come away from those talks on simplicity with the understanding that it is more than just not buying a lot of clothes or having a lot of things. It is also about having a still and quiet heart--about being able to just be and be present with others. Simplicity can be about letting go of things we want to control but can't, at least in our mind and heart, and then giving God the space instead. My mind is always going--thoughts may not be formed in complete paragraphs-or even sentences, but it is whirring usually. Simplicity is also in stopping that whirring activity.
I get the picture that I am pulling this sled behind me--full of things I think I might need. It's like I'm trying to anticipate all the time what I think everyone else may need, and so I lug around this sled with a bunch of different hats (or whatever) that will enable me to fill a need or help somehow. And the simplicity that I'm learning about is this: it's like God says softly "Drop it, girl." And as I let go of the rope attached to this huge sled of stuff, my arms drop to my sides. Empty. I don't have to think about how I can fill a hole, but can just stop. And really see the other person (staff, child, servant team member). And listen well. And love well. And the secret worry that I have regarding being enough? Well, part of this learning to trust God will be that even though I feel a little naked without the sled o'tricks, that maybe I'll be able to be in the moment more and see individuals for who they are a little better. And this is scary because I feel more vulnerable, but it will enable me to be more open.
Okay, so how does this play out in reality? Not sure. But even the weak attempt to describe it, I think, gives me peace. Or a stillness, at least.
Monday through Thursday = chapel with the staff from 9-10. Each day is a bit different. Mondays during lent Rachel (staff member) is focusing on the topic of Lent. Tuesdays are a time for reading a passage of scripture three times and meditating and praying (Leccio Divina -- sp?). Wednesdays are set aside for one of the staff members to speak about one of the lifestyle celebrations of Word Made Flesh. Thursdays we sing and are reading through the Psalms. Tuesdays we usually have book study, and I am helping with Heart of the Child on Thursdays, so unless plans are rearranged, I only can attend on Mondays and Wednesdays. But I'll take it.
We will usually start with prayer and singing--Rachel or Magda plays guitar and leads singing in Romanian. I was actually pretty excited this week as I've been able to understand the page numbers in Romanian. It's the small things, people. The staff is gracious enough to read the Scripture in both Romanian and English, and then translate the talks. Thankfully!!
This month the lifestyle celebration has been simplicity. I've come away from those talks on simplicity with the understanding that it is more than just not buying a lot of clothes or having a lot of things. It is also about having a still and quiet heart--about being able to just be and be present with others. Simplicity can be about letting go of things we want to control but can't, at least in our mind and heart, and then giving God the space instead. My mind is always going--thoughts may not be formed in complete paragraphs-or even sentences, but it is whirring usually. Simplicity is also in stopping that whirring activity.
I get the picture that I am pulling this sled behind me--full of things I think I might need. It's like I'm trying to anticipate all the time what I think everyone else may need, and so I lug around this sled with a bunch of different hats (or whatever) that will enable me to fill a need or help somehow. And the simplicity that I'm learning about is this: it's like God says softly "Drop it, girl." And as I let go of the rope attached to this huge sled of stuff, my arms drop to my sides. Empty. I don't have to think about how I can fill a hole, but can just stop. And really see the other person (staff, child, servant team member). And listen well. And love well. And the secret worry that I have regarding being enough? Well, part of this learning to trust God will be that even though I feel a little naked without the sled o'tricks, that maybe I'll be able to be in the moment more and see individuals for who they are a little better. And this is scary because I feel more vulnerable, but it will enable me to be more open.
Okay, so how does this play out in reality? Not sure. But even the weak attempt to describe it, I think, gives me peace. Or a stillness, at least.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Friday
Word Made Flesh is committed to serving those who are most vulnerable amoung the poor.
The Casa Valle in Galati has focused on working with kids who are at risk for living on the streets. The center is in the low income part of this 225,000 person city, and the kids who are part of the program can get tutoring, meals, showers, among other help. The staff are committed to the community and helping the kids in a holistic manner.
So how do I react with kids on the streets who are begging? Will some change really help their livelihood? Do I offer food? I can't hold a conversation or suggest being a part of Casa Valle because I can't speak the language yet. We are reading Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger, and more than an ideal book about how we in the West should spend our resources, the questions and stats given in this book have a face for me.
The fact is, I may not have much, but I have money.
Friday night Caitlin and I were walking back from babysitting and were meeting the rest of our Servant Team and Robin at a restaurant. A boy, probably about 8 or 9, came up and was begging. I looked at him in the eyes but kept walking. I didn't give any of the change in my pocket. Was that humanizing? What that right? Shouldn't I have given him something? Even if giving change doesn't answer the problem, was my interaction respectful? Very little separates this young boy that followed us for a block from Cristi or Vanush or Alex or Christina at Casa Vale. And the little isn't a matter of money. Opportunity, maybe? I would give anything to keep those kids off the streets. Why is it different for this boy? Or the kids begging in front of church this morning?
The restaurant, it turns out, was pretty fancy. The place setting kind of looked like the cover of Rich Christians.
I don't have an answer.
Much love,
Annie
The Casa Valle in Galati has focused on working with kids who are at risk for living on the streets. The center is in the low income part of this 225,000 person city, and the kids who are part of the program can get tutoring, meals, showers, among other help. The staff are committed to the community and helping the kids in a holistic manner.
So how do I react with kids on the streets who are begging? Will some change really help their livelihood? Do I offer food? I can't hold a conversation or suggest being a part of Casa Valle because I can't speak the language yet. We are reading Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger, and more than an ideal book about how we in the West should spend our resources, the questions and stats given in this book have a face for me.
The fact is, I may not have much, but I have money.
Friday night Caitlin and I were walking back from babysitting and were meeting the rest of our Servant Team and Robin at a restaurant. A boy, probably about 8 or 9, came up and was begging. I looked at him in the eyes but kept walking. I didn't give any of the change in my pocket. Was that humanizing? What that right? Shouldn't I have given him something? Even if giving change doesn't answer the problem, was my interaction respectful? Very little separates this young boy that followed us for a block from Cristi or Vanush or Alex or Christina at Casa Vale. And the little isn't a matter of money. Opportunity, maybe? I would give anything to keep those kids off the streets. Why is it different for this boy? Or the kids begging in front of church this morning?
The restaurant, it turns out, was pretty fancy. The place setting kind of looked like the cover of Rich Christians.
I don't have an answer.
Much love,
Annie
Saturday, February 21, 2009
You are hearing the "i".
This is probably the most common phrase so far in our 3 days of Romanian language class. Our teacher Simona looks at us, all six Servant Team members crowded around her desk, as she is holding a regular sized piece of paper with a vocab word written (both the singular and plural forms, because there are masculine and feminine words) in regular ball-point pen, and as we are repeating the word, she says all the time "You are hearing the 'i' ?" Are you confused yet? So am I. She writes a word, we write it down frantically before she gets excited and moves to something else. Romanian has what I like to call the silent but deadly "i". Like in the name of my town, Galati, for example. You pronounce the "i" but you don't at the same time. It's there, but not emphasized. In any case, the reality of learning a new language hit this week. Lots of straight memorization.
Other things of interest?
As of the first full week, the servant team's main activity has been to eat with the kids at 1:30 everyday, and then play with them. Since it was cold the last couple of days (in the 30's with wind. Yes people. It was cold.), we played games inside with them. A favorite here is Dutch Blitz. Can't get away from things Dutch. A few of us have been playing outside during playtime with the kids--a great game called "Chaos" (kids pronounce it "house"). It's dodge ball on crack, kind of. Anyway, as you know sporty-things are not my spriritual gift, but I still love to run around with them during this time.
I am hoping to volunteer at the Heart of the Child's home for a group of mentally handicapped young adults for a few hours each week. We visited there this week, and I think I can learn a lot there.
We have language class on M-W-F for about an hour & a half at Simona's office in the Art Museum. Wednesday (day two of language study) I was excited to use some new phrases (well, at least one) with a table of all Romanians. Well, then I was so intimidated that I didn't say ANYTHING during the whole meal. Kids didn't really notice, but it made me laugh. Friday went better.
We finished Nouwen's "In the Name of Jesus" this week for our book study. Read it. Next we will be reading Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger. This will be really challenging I think. A lot of the staff and team members have totally different views from me on issues like war, politics, economics, etc. I knew this before I left, and am looking forward to having to hash through what I believe the role of the Church and individual Christians should be when it comes to these topics. It is hard, but good. Let's be honest, I hope I take the time to do so. The first couple of days we spent time studying poverty--discussing issues that cause poverty, looking at what Scripture has to say about the poor. I realized I have never spent a lot of time thinking about this group of people, and am ashamed to admit that. This is all part of openning myself up to new ideas and culture, and really, taking a posture of the assumption that I may not be right.
The center (Casa Vale) puts out a newsletter each quarter to all the churches in Galati. This issue is on women and girls who are caught in prostitution. It is a very real concern for the staff because some of the girls are at risk for this.
Other random things: we organized the staff library at the center yesterday. Loved it. I took a real shower (instead of the bucket kind) on Friday. Lovely. Found out that one of my teammates can twirl a flaming baton, another can rap all the lyrics to very old school DC Talk, another can sing and play piano, another was in dance throughout high school. We hung out at a great coffee shop/cafe type thing on Wednesday(heavy on the smoke but really great drinks), and thought a no-talent show is definitely in order. I think my teammates are trying to forget that we thought it was such a great idea in the moment...I however, will not. :)
The servant team leaders, Josh and Robin, love a game called Carcassonne. Think Settlers of Catan, but not exactly. We are all hooked.
Three or four of us are going to the opera on Sunday night ( I am really excited, but I think the others not as much). We are going to see Traviotta (sp?). I'll have to tell you how it goes.
Doamna Dabija is great. We watch a turkish soap opera together, also other random things. Today something special was going on, and although she thouroughly explained it to me, I have no idea what she said. I will have to report back on that.
Lastly, I will try to update this blog more often. Also, I have no idea at this point how I can get pictures from my camera to this blog...so I am still working on that.
Take care and feel free to post questions.
Annie
Other things of interest?
As of the first full week, the servant team's main activity has been to eat with the kids at 1:30 everyday, and then play with them. Since it was cold the last couple of days (in the 30's with wind. Yes people. It was cold.), we played games inside with them. A favorite here is Dutch Blitz. Can't get away from things Dutch. A few of us have been playing outside during playtime with the kids--a great game called "Chaos" (kids pronounce it "house"). It's dodge ball on crack, kind of. Anyway, as you know sporty-things are not my spriritual gift, but I still love to run around with them during this time.
I am hoping to volunteer at the Heart of the Child's home for a group of mentally handicapped young adults for a few hours each week. We visited there this week, and I think I can learn a lot there.
We have language class on M-W-F for about an hour & a half at Simona's office in the Art Museum. Wednesday (day two of language study) I was excited to use some new phrases (well, at least one) with a table of all Romanians. Well, then I was so intimidated that I didn't say ANYTHING during the whole meal. Kids didn't really notice, but it made me laugh. Friday went better.
We finished Nouwen's "In the Name of Jesus" this week for our book study. Read it. Next we will be reading Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger. This will be really challenging I think. A lot of the staff and team members have totally different views from me on issues like war, politics, economics, etc. I knew this before I left, and am looking forward to having to hash through what I believe the role of the Church and individual Christians should be when it comes to these topics. It is hard, but good. Let's be honest, I hope I take the time to do so. The first couple of days we spent time studying poverty--discussing issues that cause poverty, looking at what Scripture has to say about the poor. I realized I have never spent a lot of time thinking about this group of people, and am ashamed to admit that. This is all part of openning myself up to new ideas and culture, and really, taking a posture of the assumption that I may not be right.
The center (Casa Vale) puts out a newsletter each quarter to all the churches in Galati. This issue is on women and girls who are caught in prostitution. It is a very real concern for the staff because some of the girls are at risk for this.
Other random things: we organized the staff library at the center yesterday. Loved it. I took a real shower (instead of the bucket kind) on Friday. Lovely. Found out that one of my teammates can twirl a flaming baton, another can rap all the lyrics to very old school DC Talk, another can sing and play piano, another was in dance throughout high school. We hung out at a great coffee shop/cafe type thing on Wednesday(heavy on the smoke but really great drinks), and thought a no-talent show is definitely in order. I think my teammates are trying to forget that we thought it was such a great idea in the moment...I however, will not. :)
The servant team leaders, Josh and Robin, love a game called Carcassonne. Think Settlers of Catan, but not exactly. We are all hooked.
Three or four of us are going to the opera on Sunday night ( I am really excited, but I think the others not as much). We are going to see Traviotta (sp?). I'll have to tell you how it goes.
Doamna Dabija is great. We watch a turkish soap opera together, also other random things. Today something special was going on, and although she thouroughly explained it to me, I have no idea what she said. I will have to report back on that.
Lastly, I will try to update this blog more often. Also, I have no idea at this point how I can get pictures from my camera to this blog...so I am still working on that.
Take care and feel free to post questions.
Annie
Sunday, February 15, 2009
We're Here!
Our Servant Team arrived safely and without any mishaps in Galati on Tuesday, 10 Feb. (We were even able to stand outside on English concrete for a while in London, watching the buses and taxis drive by the airport.)Josh and Robin, our Servant Team directors from Word Made Flesh, met us in the airport in Bucharest, where we spent the night at a really nice hostel. The four hour train ride to Galati went quickly on Wednesday. So far, Galati is similar to any other Eastern European city, although I know that the more I get to know this place the more unique it will become to me. I simply haven't discovered all of what makes Galati, Galati.
The Word Made Flesh staff have been very welcoming, and Josh and Robin continue to do a great job of introducing us to the Romanian culture, as well as the ministry at the Casa Vale. They have been very patient with all our questions, and already I can tell they want to encourage our spiritual as well as physical wellbeing. Casa Vale really is in the valley, and we take a bus and about a 10 minute walk to get there each day. I hope to post pictures as I figure this blog thing out. We played basketball and a version of dodge ball on Friday. I also bumped a "volleyball" around with a girl on Friday. We bonded a bit, so I hope to see her on Monday.
We went directly from the train to our host families. My host mom (I like to think of her as my Romanian grandma) knows no English, and I am way past limited on my Romanian as of yet, but we have been able to communicate...I think... This is her first time to host anyone, so it should be pretty interesting. Her daughter has come to visit a couple of times, and she knows a bit of English. Currently, our favorite activity (Dowmna. Dubija--my host gma and I) is to watch tv together. I get home, eat, and watch whatever she's watching for awhile. Think Romanian versions of telenovelas. Ha. Love it. She doesn't quite know what to feed me yet, so she's serving a ton for bfast and dinner. It's pretty endearing...and a bit funny. The first night I had 2 slices of chicken, pickled red bell pepper, bread and cheese. The next morning I had the bell peppers again, a sausage similar to hot dogs, bread and butter/apricot jam, coffee, and french fries. It was awesome.
This weekend the team has spent time together listening to each other's stories and expectations or goals that we have for the next 4 months. Though a bit of a vulnerable activity for our first week together, it is such a gift to be able to hear their stories. My teammates are Jordan and Angelique, Mary Margaret, Caitlin, and Laura. Hopefully through this blog you'll also get to meet them in a sense. They are cool. Pray for them too, please. :)
One question I find myself wrestling with at the begining of this time is "Is God enough?" It is as though His answer to my question of "what is my specific task or purpose in coming to this community? What gift do I bring?" is simply "Do you trust me? Is it enough to glorify me as I AM?"
Feel free to post questions...I'll answer them as I'm able!
The Word Made Flesh staff have been very welcoming, and Josh and Robin continue to do a great job of introducing us to the Romanian culture, as well as the ministry at the Casa Vale. They have been very patient with all our questions, and already I can tell they want to encourage our spiritual as well as physical wellbeing. Casa Vale really is in the valley, and we take a bus and about a 10 minute walk to get there each day. I hope to post pictures as I figure this blog thing out. We played basketball and a version of dodge ball on Friday. I also bumped a "volleyball" around with a girl on Friday. We bonded a bit, so I hope to see her on Monday.
We went directly from the train to our host families. My host mom (I like to think of her as my Romanian grandma) knows no English, and I am way past limited on my Romanian as of yet, but we have been able to communicate...I think... This is her first time to host anyone, so it should be pretty interesting. Her daughter has come to visit a couple of times, and she knows a bit of English. Currently, our favorite activity (Dowmna. Dubija--my host gma and I) is to watch tv together. I get home, eat, and watch whatever she's watching for awhile. Think Romanian versions of telenovelas. Ha. Love it. She doesn't quite know what to feed me yet, so she's serving a ton for bfast and dinner. It's pretty endearing...and a bit funny. The first night I had 2 slices of chicken, pickled red bell pepper, bread and cheese. The next morning I had the bell peppers again, a sausage similar to hot dogs, bread and butter/apricot jam, coffee, and french fries. It was awesome.
This weekend the team has spent time together listening to each other's stories and expectations or goals that we have for the next 4 months. Though a bit of a vulnerable activity for our first week together, it is such a gift to be able to hear their stories. My teammates are Jordan and Angelique, Mary Margaret, Caitlin, and Laura. Hopefully through this blog you'll also get to meet them in a sense. They are cool. Pray for them too, please. :)
One question I find myself wrestling with at the begining of this time is "Is God enough?" It is as though His answer to my question of "what is my specific task or purpose in coming to this community? What gift do I bring?" is simply "Do you trust me? Is it enough to glorify me as I AM?"
Feel free to post questions...I'll answer them as I'm able!
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