Its week 4.
this city isnt so depressing when the flowers come out and the sun burns away the gray. Its getting to be in the low 20's which translates to be 65-75 on the F scale. Quite an early spring in comparison to my New England norm. For whatever reason, the overcast gray days are much more memorable in this city than the bright sunny ones. Rather, I guess it seems this city's dominant color is gray, so the apropos gray sky accentuates this city's gray beauty. I suppose it is- stereotypical for eastern europe.
I hit a low point last saturday. Had some relational issues with Amanda--felt broken and disconnected from my only friend here. Its amazing how a person is what makes a place home. Its also amazing how relationships require work, and I am beginning to see that is what really makes them valuable.
I have been praying with volunteers at the crisis pregnancy clinic and been able to bless and encourage them, and share things That God has put on my heart which have actually been things spoken over them previously.
I feel like my timing in coming here has been divinely orchestrated. The number one goal for the director of the clinic is to share Jesus and the Gospel with everyone that comes in. This is the only remaining clinic in Bucharest, and the only clinic owned by this organization that is debt free. It also has the highest numbers of any of the other clinics owned by this organization in this country. Roxana, the director knows that this is God's favor because of her goal of sharing the gospel.
Anyway, Over the last month Roxana has been put under much stress -- her boss has been verbally abusing her as well as wanting to her discontinuing a number of very fruitful programs the center does, He is also telling her she needs to change the strategy of the center to discontinue prayer and by taking Jesus out of the mission. All of this because the bucharest clinic is making the other clinics look bad because the numbers are so high compared to the low numbers of the other clinics.
Anyway, as I have been praying about this, I have really been sensing a burden of spiritual attack on this clinic. Last night I got to share with the 20 workers of the clinic about the authority we in prayer, and the absolute necessity of it. It touched a lot of people and opened their eyes to the urgency about praying for this clinic.
in other news:
- Amanda and I have started praying nightly for her mother's arthritis in her hips. She has been able to move much more freely and with less pain since. Praise Jesus! we are continuing pray and contend for total healing.
-I made a good connection with an international church this week and will be playing percussion sunday mornings
- I picked up a new drum student--a European man from France who is fluent in 4 languages, has traveled the world -- one of those guys that makes you feel like you havent done much with your life. Great to feel like I have something to offer him.
I miss:
- being able to talk to strangers
- my amazing community
- the convenience of America
- customer service
- mexican food
- sushi
- frisbee golf
- smash brothers
- my family
end
Hey, Nate, it's Chris Dart. ("Cultural Ponderer" is my blog--check it out--it's a lot of reflective stuff I post for school, though) Anyway, great, honest post. I miss you man, we went out dancing last night for Christina Edwards' birthday and mentioned that we missed your presence on the dance floor! But the DJ totally sucked, so you didn't miss too much. The place should have hired me n' Josh instead, haha. Yesh, I would miss Mexican food, too, mucho. What, no taco trucks in Bucharest? What do they have instead? They've got to have some good vittles down in Roman town?
ReplyDeleteThat's crazy about the other centers being jealous of your guys' success. When you talk abt #s, what do you mean? Numbers of visitors or women who decide to keep their baby or what? Man, that's totally like the communist mindset, that let's all stay = and no one raise the bar, even if it means we all stay mediocre. It's like, isn't helping people the goal of the whole deal? Instead, they should be asking your clinic what you are doing differently, so they can be more successful in their mission, to! But it's so profound (and yes, almost comically obvious) that they want you guys to take Jesus out of the equation, in order to stay mediocre. That makes me wanna laugh. Really? Ha, ha. Like they know the power but willfully deny it, in order to maintain the status quo. Who are these guys, Pharisees? It makes the Gospel so much clearer--I guess people really do that. Man, we need to pray that these guy's blinders come off of their eyes or whatever it is that prevents them from seeing the goodness of Christ. If I'm understanding you correctly, that totally trips me out. It's so funny/dumb. :D