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Saturday
Once at church, everyone was waiting for me. I was late. I was supposed to be there at 12:30 and it was ten till one. The girls were there waiting with Cristi and some guys. I thought that everyone was going to park but it was just going to be me and the girls. When Cristi went inside for something, I asked Alina if she got him back and she said that she got him good. So when he came back to the car, I reveled in the glory of payback. When I asked about him getting "got" he just said that it didn't count because it was not me doing it. But us artists stick together and it is the same. Cristi took Alina, Malina and myself out to the park and dropped us off. I showed him some of my concepts to see what he would want me to paint. It was decided on 3 Crosses. Due to the fact that this is normally a progressive piece done over a period of days, it was good that I had painted this at a youth event just a few weeks before. A God thing. We were on our own until he would pick us up in a few hours. The park was very open with a basketball court and a skate ramp right at the front where we came in. This spot would do well to bring in people and attract attention. We found a place and began to setup. Andre, a student from BCA, came to watch and help. That was really cool. He had called around and found me out. I was blown away that he was even there on a cold, overcast day in November.
We gathered a crowd even as we were setting up. There was a definite interest. Once I was assembled, we came together and said a prayer that God would use us today. I asked Alina if she would be willing to speak to the crowd after I painted. Her face lit up and agreed to do it. This was the first time that I got to use the new speaker for my iPod. The music was loud and it drew people to us. I started into the 3 Crosses. It felt good to be there painting in the park. The excitement was bubbly over.
When it got time to finish, I looked around and Alina was speaking to a girl there. It seemed to be pretty intense so I keep painting. A few minutes later I looked back and she was still talking. Okay I will stall some more. It must be an important conversation. A few minutes later they were still talking but I turned around and walked off to the side. She saw me and came forward. In front of a good sized crowd, she shared why we were there and a little about the painting. It was encouraging to see that she was bold enough to speak. This is one aspect of the pictable ministry, to paint and then to communicate the meaning. She then said that I should share because it was my painting. So Andre translated for me. It turned out that Alina had traded phone numbers with the girl that she had talked with. A great contact and just one example of how God was using this day in the park.
I then went to work taking off the canvas, setting it out to dry and then to stretch the next canvas.
Then on the second painting, Alina and I did a tag-team painting. I asked he before what she wanted to do. This was going to be her painting. We would both paint on it but the concept would be hers. She wanted to continue the story from the first. It was
One guy was very interested in the painting. He asked her why there was so little darkness.
Once we got picked up, Cristi took us to church for a concert. It was great to hear them sing many of the same choruses that we sing here just in Romanian. Before the concert Cristi wanted me to hang the 3 Crosses in the baptistry for the concert. I was thrilled to see my work hanging in the sanctuary of a Romanian church.
I was then taken back to Abrams Rest where we were having a BBQ. The food was phenomenal. And the fellowship was just as good too. I even ate my tomato soup which I am not a fan of and I enjoyed it. That night at our debriefing with our team I got to share with them what had happened over the last two days since we didn't see each other for the past two days. I shared how God answered my prayer and others too. I showed them pics and told them about the girls. How we hung out, walked, connected, shared our struggles, told testimonies and bonded. This was why I came. God used me to encourage two young artists in their faith and talents. I wasn't worthy but God is merciful. This was a HUGE God thing! |
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Sunday The service was great. I began painting during the last praise song and then continued into Soterius's sermon. I couldn't understand a word that he said so I couldn't time my painting to finish with him. I just got finished early and walked away. They really enjoyed it. And after the service was done, they all stayed. They didn't run off for lunch or to watch the game. They set up the ping pong tables and played pool too. Music was blaring and they were all having fun.
That afternoon after lunch, I tried to meet up with the girls to see if they could paint with me the mural for AlphaOmega. In the end Alina was busy getting ready for the tea time after church but Malina was able to meet me at church. We didn't have time to paint but she did show me some of her work which I was excited to see. Both the girls are very talented in their respective area.
Afterward I hung out with the girls at the tea time. The tea was good. We laughed at each other and said "Seriously" a lot. We started to think about hanging out again on Tuesday which I had nothing planned. I wanted to see the art supply store that they have access to. When it was time to leave, I realized that my ride had left me there. So Cristi had to take me back. I got a chance to his wife, Brigitte, about the girls, art and my passion to encourage other artists. On the way I got to talk with Cristi some more too. Despite our similar senses of humor and our jokes, he's a great guy. |
The easel was really doing well and I was very pleased with how it had turned out. Not bad coming from my head and with a little help from some others. When I was stretching the next canvas people were just standing watching me. I didn't think it was that interesting but they watched intently.
Even though Alina was the one painting with me that day, Malina was hovering the whole time with a camcorder in hand recording every move we made. I think she ran out of tape because she shot so much. I can't wait to see it and I am still waiting for a copy myself. Hint hint.
going to be on heaven. I told her that I was going to push her. She started and painted for about 8-10 minutes. When I came in I didn't use any new paint at the beginning. I just spread out what she had put on and feathered it. She was using a lot of paint. Because the day was so cold and we were going to be picked up shortly, we couldn't use a lot of paint or it wouldn't dry. Once I had spread the paint around, I took a few bottles of paint and squirted paint in a few strategic places to guide her.
Then I just walked off and told her that she was up. Her jaw dropped not knowing what to do. She was very hesitant and tentative at the beginning but she warmed up to it. I gave her another 8 minutes and then I hopped in again. Spread the paint around and refine the concept. Then it was her turn to finish it. She was hesitant again to go after me but she finished it off great. She turned around to address the crowd but this time it was her painting that she got to share. She was a natural. She thought up a concept, created it on the run, completed it, presented it to the crowd and communicated its message. 
The concept was portraying heaven by illustrating the parable of the talents when the master tells his servant "Well done my good and faithful servant." She got to share with many people about why we were there and the meaning of the paintings. It was a great opportunity for her to stretch her creative muscles.
Alina said that this was a picture of heaven and that there is no sin in heaven. God is bigger than sin and He saves us from our sins. Wow! She was doing it. Art was being used to reach out and share the love of God. The same guy came over and talked to me about the 3 Crosses painting. He liked the colors and the composition. Andre was translating for me at that time. Then he just started talking to this guy and they conversed for awhile. The guy thanked me and left. Andre told him why we were there and that he should come to church sometime. The guy said that he had gone before and it just wasn't for him. So here was an example of a door being opened that may not have been if we wouldn't have been in the park that day.
I also got to meet Rebecca there at the park too. She is another artist. There is a large group of artists at Holy Trinity and ones that the girls know. I described the girls as two candles growing in brightness surrounded by a bunch of kindling. The potential and possibility for the arts to take off are huge.
Soterius came up to me and said that they were going to have the Lord's Supper. I asked if I could take it with them. He nodded with the understanding that that was the purpose in telling me. Because many of the people who attend are not Christians, the members quietly go to a separate office where they take cup and bread. This was another great time for me to be able to observe this ordinance with my Romanian brothers and sisters. A true blessing.
That evening we got to witness another blessing. At Holy Trinity they were having a baptism service. 22 people were to be baptized. The church was packed-about 800 people and many had to stand. We were shoulder to shoulder in the pew. Tim got to preach to this immense crowd. He was great and it was my first time to see him preach. The baptism was spine tingling. Everytime one person was baptized, the congregation broke out into a chorus. Believers are baptized. Believers are baptized. Alleluia. Alleluia. I got to observe both ordinances of the church that day.
