Please pray for team 2 this week as they journey to Poiana and as they work there. Pray for their safety, for their travel that the car doesn’t break down, for the building of the shelter and especially for the baptisms (5 adults) that will take place at the end of the week.
Team 2 consists of Andrew (leader)
John & Geraldine
Jean
Louise
David (Louises son)
Alison
Pam
Lynne
Pam
I sit here in the gap between my trip to Poiana in Romania and going on my annual holidays; this year we’re going to the Isle of Sheppey. its that moment of madness when I’m trying to get everything squeezed in before I go, knowing that there will always be some item I’ve forgotten !
Very conscious that I’ve been back from Romania for some time now and not shared anything with you. Its been a mixture of business and trying to assess what happened in Romania.
The picture above is of the team standing beside the finished wooden play area that we built, (notice the sartorial elegance of the team leader, orange shirt, green shorts and yellow crocs.)
Not only did we build the play area but we also ran a holiday club each day, spoke at the men’s meeting, attended an Alpha diploma night, visited three Romanian houses and families, I visited another Romanian project where Ripley Chapel have built a house, and I also preached on the Sunday morning service.
It was a packed week and in many ways it felt better than our visit last year.
The week began badly when the car that some of us were travelling in broke down on the Romanian motorway (A2). It meant that Anthony and I had an hours wait while the minibus went off to get a tow rope and then we had to be towed all the way to Poiana, a further 70~80 kilometres.
As you can see it was a rather lonely wait, but it was livened up when Alec invited Anthony and I to push start the car, ON THE MOTORWAY ! I’ll never forget Anthony shouting “Push harder Mike, there’s a lorry coming“. Let me tell you it did wonders for my prayer life.
The transport issue was a major cause of concern for us all week, as without a car the day to day work of the family was severely restricted. Fortunately the minibus was hired so we were able to get around but our concern was what would happen when it was returned at the end of the week ? Please pray for a resolution to the transport issues.
It was lovely to see the Romanian villagers again, Anngela and her husband and Tante Lena and others; it was especially lovely to see the children again, Vadeleka, Bobu, Coke, Dodo, Robert (hope I’ve spelt them right), but what was very touching to me was how many of them remembered me from last year. That was very moving.
I think that what was special for me was the opportunity to teach at the kids club and then to preach on the Sunday morning. What a powerful privilege and I found it so affirming for myself. Last year I felt as though I was a step behind the rest of the team and came away wondering how useful I had been. This year has had a very different feel about it and I think that because I had the opportunity to use my teaching gifts I felt as though I had played a more powerful part.
It was emotionally draining, physically shattering but powerful in a spiritual sense. God really worked amongst the team that week, opening each one of us to learn new things about ourselves. We go out to Poiana to bless the people and yet come back feeling more blessed ourselves.
Would I go again ? Well, there are still vacancies on the October team (24th October 2009) and of course we’ll be looking to take teams out again in 2010. Yes, I will go again as this year really felt as though I belonged.
Please pray for team 2 who travel out this coming Sunday that they may have as good a week as we have.
One final picture may sum up the sense of joy and achievement that we as a team now have.
Swings !!.
Only one more day to go !!! This time tomorrow I should be holed up in a Luton Travel lodge, fast asleep, ready for the flight at 8.00 a.m. Monday morning to Romania. Getting excited. Been learning my Romanian this week. Here is the first line of the sermon I should be preaching on Sunday 7th June.
Buna ziua, mai dragostea de Domnul nostru Iisus Hristos sa te binecuvânteze astazi.
Impressed ??? Heres hoping I can get the pronunciation right !!
Frantically packing and getting ready for Romanian trip on Monday. Only allowed 20 kilos in suitcase and 10 in handluggage, and so it becomes a tight squeeze trying to fit all the paper, pencils, toys and gifts in, and yet leave room for more than one t~shirt !!
Holiday club is going to be based around an olympic theme so everything is Biblically based around teaching of running the race for Christ. Should be good.
At least all this is helping me get over Newcastle’s relegation into the Championship.
Only a few days to go. Please hold the team in prayer……………………
Alison, Ellie, Fran, Karen, Scott, Phil, Antony and myself. Please also pray for the people of Poiana that we may be used by the Lord for their benefit.
Please continue to pray for the people of Ripley Methodist Church as their building project continues. The old Chapel and school room is now completely down, and building work on the new structure begins next week. Although folk are excited about the new building there is still, understandably, sadness over the loss of the old which has served us well.
Great night tonight at Swanwick Churches Together Barn Dance. Good food (pie and peas), good company, some nifty footwork (but not from me) and lots of laughter; this was just the tonic I needed after a bad day with Newcastle United.
Just goes to show that football relegation (almost certainly) really isn’t the end of the world. its occasions like this that put it into perspective. Having sais that “maybe we may beat Villa ……………………..”
Its been quite a week. I feel as though I’ve hob~nobbed with the great and good this week.
Last Saturday night my colleague, Alison, and I were guests of honour at the civic dinner for Lynne, the mayor of Ripley town council. It was a very enjoyable evening at Kilburn Hall in the home of Lord and Lady Fenton who were delightful hosts. Good food, good company and a pleasant time listening to Lady Fenton’s delightful tales of theatre life made it all a special and memorable time.
Then on Monday Dad and I travelled to London to visit Kensington Palace.
Dad was 80 years old last September and Alison and I decided to do something different so we booked a tour of Kensington Palace plus afternoon tea in the Orangery. It then took us almost 8 months to get him there !
Still, it was worth the wait; travelling down by train we hit on a lovely sunny day. The grounds were lovely, the house fascinating and I think that Dad really enjoyed himself. The tea in the Orangery was special too (if above our normal price range); cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches, followed by jam and cream with scone, and concluded with Victoria sponge cake. In addition with a delicious cappuccino it was very special.
It made for a very pleasant afternoon but what was best of all for me was simply spending time with Dad and enjoying his company. I’ve no shame in telling people that he is my hero and so it was lovely just to be with him.
This year Kensington, next year Buckingham ???