Some wild and exciting things have happened since I last checked in. I went to Bulgaria I got my one-year visa, and almost got deported in the process and I went on a mission trip to rural Romania.
First-visa:
As previously understood, I would be allowed to be in romania for 6 months before having to either leave the country, or get a long-term visa. Once I touched down on Mar 22nd, I would be allowed 3 months (90 days) before having to get a new tourist visa (a passport stamp--accomplished by going to some other country of choice and returning) once I have a new tourist visa I am allowed another 90 days. Figuring I was not going to have enough time to get all my paperwork together before june 20th (the 90-day mark) Amanda and I went to Bulgaria June 13th to get a new visa. Upon return, Amanda starts freaking out about getting my visa done before we would go on the medical mission one week later, June 20th for whatever reason. So frantically we Spend all day Tuesday the 16th getting medical insurance and paying tax. We go to 5 different notaries trying to get a document notorized that says I have not changed my identity in the last 5 years. Of course its not easy--all notaries require an official translator present for foreigners. Somehow at the 5th notary, by God's grace I am able to fudge my way into convicing the notary that I understand romanian enough to know what this contract say {its amazing how far "Da" (yes) and "nu"(no) will get you in this country}. We finally get back to the medical insurance office and get my insurance. Lunchtime.
After lunch we decide we should pay the taxes I need to pay in order to get this silly visa. Of course in true non-logical romanian fashion, we have to exchange 510 lei into 120 euros, get the receipt, and then change the 120 euros back into lei, and pay the tax. Then there are two other payments to be made at the cec (state-run) bank. We finish all of this about 20 minutes before English lessons at 4pm.
Thursday afternoon comes around and we decide we need to go get my visa. First try: after waiting in line for 1 hour We are missing my volunteer contract with asociate pasa iniante. its 2pm. The office closes at 6:30, and we cant meet with my contact until 5:00 to get my contact. at 5, i wait in line while Amanda goes to get my contract. She returnes at 5:30. By Gods grace, there is no line. We hand over all our paper work. -- housing contract, passport, volunteer contract, medical insurance, receipts for taxes paid, statement from pasa iniante about who they are. The lady converses with the other lady for a good 5 minutes and starts counting. She tells Amanda something. Amanda's eyes get enormous as she tells me "NATE! WE ARE SO BLESSED" As it turns out, the laws have changed -- you are only allowed 90 days in romania on a tourist visa before having to get a real visa, or leaving the country for 6 months. My bulgarian passport stamp means nothing now. Turns out I was 15 minutes away from getting deported. I was in Romania for 88 days at this point. Friday and Saturday the office is closed. I am now legally in romania for the next year. phew.
The medical mission:
There is a mid-sized city in southwest romania called craiova, it is 3 hours west of bucharest. This little city is our home base while we were to serve each day in a small rural village. We had a team of dentists, doctors, nurses, and I served on the evangelism team. We would see 300 patients a day, and I would share Jesus with probably 100 of them. It wasnt my ideal situation--I was very rushed, I only had about 10-15 minutes with each group of 3-5 or so. Sadly, we werent really meeting spiritual needs but on a rare case, as most of these people are orthodox christians. I think when you put the holy spirit on a clock you are limiting Him, and He wont really show up in the way He really wants to. Because of this, I think we werent as fruitful as we could have been. Many got saved, but I didnt really sense they needed the sinner's prayer, they needed the Kingdom of God, which comes in power and with an encounter. Though there were a few that I believe truly had needs met, and many said they now believed they had relationship with God and eternal life. I really wanted talk with them more, listen to them more and pray longer with them. Regardless, I was good trip. I got my wisdom tooth extracted, and I learned that there truly are people in the world that live in villages like hobbits.
