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Sunday, November 6
to
Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Team members
Shannon, Tim, Bob, Nancy, Tess and myself

Purpose
To partner with a church in Romania and to help them plant a church

Sunday
6:30amThe group meets at a home to load up gear and head to St. Louis to start the trip. On the way to the airport, we stop at a gas station to meet Nancy's daughter who has some food that we are taking over to a school in Bucharest for a fund raiser. At the airport, we head for the check-in to get rid of our heavy luggage. After a bit of drama, we leave St. Louis and head to Minneapolis. Then it's off to Amsterdam via a long flight and then to our final destination of Bucharest, Romania.

Monday
12:45pm We arrive in Bucharest, Romania. The worship pastor for Holy Trinity Baptist Church, Emanuel, meets us at the airport to take us to where we will be staying. Abram's Rest is the name of the bed and breakfast where we will stay during our trip. It is a ministry of Octavian and Merika and their family.

That night after we get settled in, Pastor Cornel picks us up to attend a meeting of their missionaries. One word describes the meeting–passionate. They were focused on evangelism by relationships. Many of the pastors of the daughter churches, the church plants, were there and gave updates for their church. When it came time to pray, they would fight for the chance to speak with their God. It blew us away and set the tone for the trip. At the end of the day, we didn't have a schedule for our trip and had no idea what we would be doing. Anxiety was building.

Tuesday
This morning we got to meet with Dwayne and Donna Brown, IMB missionaries to Romania. They were in charge of volunteers coming to the country. It was a great chance to meet and talk with real missionaries on the field. They shared with us an overview of what is going on in Romania. Their children attend Bucharest Christian Academy where we were bringing the food for a fund raiser. Due to the lack of a schedule, I proceeded to make my own. I spoke with Donna about painting at the school sometime this week. I shared with her my info about the ministry and she was very receptive. She said that they would have chapel the next morning and she would find out more.

We ate lunch with Cristi and Claudia, two servants of a new church in a Gypsy village about an hour away from Bucharest. Then we met with Pastor Cornel to discuss a schedule. Unfortunately nothing substantial came to pass.

That night a few of us guys got to go out with their Evangelism Explosion teams. I went with Daniel and Donna down to a park. That night the park was filled with lots of couples. So it was difficult to speak to anyone. After a few tries one couple agreed to talk to them. Because my Romanian is so poor, I didn't understand a word they said. As we left Daniel explained that they were receptive to the questions but he didn't think that they knew Christ. After we got back to church, I got to sit in on the men's youth meeting. They were going through the book Every Young Man's Battle. The discussion was animated, passionate and encouraging to see young men talk about their struggles.

That night it was confirmed that I would paint at BCA the next morning at their chapel on talents. Despite this opportunity, I struggled with the fact that I God brought me here and I felt like I wasn't being used properly. Where is the schedule? I had all of these canvases and nowhere to paint. I spent a massive amount of time and prayer preparing for this trip. I felt alone. I felt scared that this was a waste of time or that I was missing God's movement or speaking. I prayed a desparate prayer and called out to God.

Wednesday
I was picked up and taken to the school to paint. This was the first time I had to lug the golf bag easel and the paint carrying case around. It was heavy!! I set up and got ready to paint. Because the focus was on gifts and talents, it was natural that I paint Talents. The secondary students were glued. They really enjoyed it. So much so that I was invited to come back and paint that Friday for the primary students. Things were looking up.

When we got to Holy Trinity, Christi Ciuca was presenting a Powerpoint presentation of the Youth department's vision and activities. Shannon showed me the schedule. Woohooo! We had a schedule. The biggest part of the schedule was that they wanted me to meet an artist that was in the youth group who had been struggling with her artistic talents. I would meet Alina Thursday night and then hang out with her on Friday. Another artist may come too. Her name is Malina.

That afternoon Shannon and I went to Soterius's church. He had approached me after Monday's meeting about painting a mural on a wall at his church. We went to his church where I met Emi, Christian and Cristi. Emi works at a Christian video production firm. So I wanted to talk with him as much as time would permit. We talked about the concept for the mural. Instead of being painted on the wall, it was decided that it should be painted on canvas so that it could be taken with them if they were to move locations. Then when I found out that I had no plans for Sunday, I offered to paint for them during the service this Sunday. Later we went to eat at a Chinese restaraunt.

Thursday
The whole team was picked up by Pastor Nelu to go and pick up some items to take to an orphanage. We got soap, shampoo, tooth paste and some other small items to give to each child. Nelu took us to his church to prepare the bags. It is truly an underground church. They meet in a basement of a building that they are constructing for the Church. They are building one floor at a time when they get the funds.

Once at the orphanage, we got a tour. The building had just been renovated within the last year. It was bright and colorful with paintings of Disney characters on the walls. The children we happy and well taken care of there. I had taken my painting supplies in the hopes to paint that day but time was not with us. Instead we set up a time for me to paint on Monday.

That afternoon, Dwayne picked me up to go to BCA so that I could setup for the next day painting at chapel.

In the evening, we attended the service at Holy Trinity where Shannon preached. Only my second time hearing him preach. Good and long. Afterwards Cristi introduced me to Alina. We made plans for her to meet us at church so that she could come see me paint at BCA. That was important.

Friday
Dwayne picked me up and we ran over to the church. Alina was not there but Malina came shortly after we got there. Alina was late so Dwayne just ran me over to the school and then came back to get the girls. I painted the Jesus Hug and the kids really enjoyed it. It was a great opportunity for the girls to see how I paint.

Once I got everything packed up and dropped off at church, the girls and I were dropped off at the People's Place where there was an art gallery. This would be a great chance to get to know each other. We connected immediately. The art helped us get to know each other. We laughed a lot too. At each other. At the artwork. It was also a chance for them to work on their English.

After the art gallery, we walked and walked and walked and walked. Finally we decided to get something to eat at a Pizza Hut. A very late lunch. They eat later than we do over there. When we were finished with lunch/early supper, we hopped on a subway to get to Malina's photography class. They happened to be working on Photoshop and I had a small clue as to what they were doing. I actually wanted to tell them what to do when the teacher couldn't figure out what to do. I didn't reveal myself to be one of those know-it-all Americans.

We then went to Alina's studio that she shares with 10 other students. She wanted to show me some of her work. Very good. She works in oils and has a great eye and ability to get her ideas on the canvas. We then sat around and started sharing about our talents, struggles and how this pertains to our faith in God. It was a special time of bonding. We all shared that God had answered our prayers through what had happened that day and right then in the studio. In just a very short period of time, God had connected us on many levels. This was just the beginning.

On the way back to church, they shared their testimonies. One was shared in the subway waiting for a train. Very awesome experience! We confirmed our plans for Saturday when we got to church. We would be doing park evangelism using the pictable. And Alina would be painting with me.

That night I went to the home of Andre and Simona and their daughter Corina. They live in an apartment in a block of flats that was built during the Communist period. Small. Made me appreciate what I have. They worked with the teenagers at church. He is very passionate about it. We talked for a long time about church, music and how they come together.

Saturday
We went out the next morning to go to the glass area where you can watch the blow glass. They weren't there so we just wandered around. We saw an old Orthodox church and the ruins of the old palace.

Once at church, Cristi took Alina, Malina and myself out to the park and dropped us off. We were on our own until he would pick us up in a few hours. We found a place and began to setup. Andre, a student from BCA, came to watch and help. That was really cool. We gathered a crowd even as I was just setting up. There was a definite interest. Once I was assembled, I started to paint. The music was loud so that it would draw people to us. I painted the 3 Crosses first and Alina spoke to the crowd afterward. It was encouraging to see that she was bold enough to speak. Then on the second painting, Alina and I did a tag-team painting. She came up with the concept and I just pushed her. She started, finished and we swapped a few times in between. The concept really turned out well. It was a continuation of the 3 Crosses. She portrayed 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. I also got to meet Rebecca there at the park too. She is another artist.

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.

I was then taken back to Breams Rest where we were having a BBQ. The food was phenomenal. And the fellowship was just as good too.

Sunday
I was picked up Sunday morning and brought to AlphaOmega to prepare to paint. When we got there, I was amazed to see so many young people preparing for the service. It was an hour and a half before the service started and they were picking up, cleaning and doing sound checks. I was blown away. You have to be an active participant to be a member of this church.

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. I had the unique privilege to take the Lord's Supper with them. That was 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. Tim got to preach to this immense crowd too. I got to observe both ordinances of the church that day.

Monday
I got picked up by Nelu's wife, Virginia, and taken to the orphanage to paint. I painted a brand new one of smiling kids. They enjoyed it and were thankful that they get to keep it.

In the afternoon, I painted the mural for Soterius's church in the driveway at Abram's Rest. It was a triptych. I had a lot of fun painting it. Got messy too. Later I used a little glow-in-the-dark paint to add another dimension to it. But due to the cold weather, it took a few days to dry.

In the evening, we were invited over to Pastor Cornel's house for supper. We had a great time sharing stories and fellowshipping with him and his family. We pray that God will continue to bless his ministry.

Tuesday
I met Alina at McDonalds in downtown Bucharest before we headed to pick up Malina at the Art Academy after her class. We walked again. A lot. This time we looked at many galleries and even had the chance to visit a couple art supply stores to see if they had available the same type of paints and materials. They did.

The previous afternoon when I had finished painting, I had collected a bunch of bottles to give to Alina to use. I had always intended on doing this if I found an artist in Romania. But I did not intend on doing what I was about to do.

This morning as we were walking to meet up with Malina, I asked Alina if she would be an official part of the pictable ministry. She accepted. Later that night I told her about the paint and then went one step farther. I told her that I was leaving my easel and some tools. She was overwhelmed but I told her that this was from God and that He would be there for her. I'm also hoping that Malina might pick up the brush and become a part of the pictable team too.

After a great day together, it was difficult to say goodbye to these two fellow artists and sisters in Christ. They meant a lot to me. It was hard. Real hard! But I pray that God will bring me back.

Wednesday
We got a chance to tell the Brown's goodbye and spend a little more time with them. Cristi and Claudia took us to the airport. Another tough goodbye. Throughout the entire trip back, Shannon and I were throwing out ideas for "what's next." We've got some bold ideas but we seek His will now.

The trip was amazing. To see God move and answer prayers like He did, it completely renewed and strengthened my faith and dependence on Him. I just hope to get back soon. Until then I plan on looking for Him on the homefront.

To read more, go to the exhaustive story…