Firmly Planted

But his delight is in the law of the LORD...

He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,

Which yeilds its fruit in its season...

And its leaf does not whither;

And in whatever he does, he prospers.

Psalm 1:2-3

Saturday, February 7th was my first time hiking in Romania! The day was a perfect day. With the sun shining brightly, and the temperature at nearly 50 degrees, I was comfortable clothed in merely a long sleeve shirt and vest! Myself, along with 5 others made a 41/2 hour trek throughout the hills and forests overlooking the valley of Sighisoara. We were accompanied by one of David's friends, Tibi who was a biologist/ecologist. He was an expert on the land, the inhabitants and the trees and offered a great deal of interesting facts and knowledge! David calls him the "froggie" expert, as that is his specialty! hahaha :) He has conducted a great deal of research on frogs and is one of the most knowledgeable about that species here in Romania! So we were quite well accompanied on this adventure.

As you can see from the pictures, the trees were graceful giants... kings of the fields. The oldest one with which I am pictured at the bottom of the blog is 800 years old. I could only imagine what that tree has "seen" throughout its lifetime.

I just loved hiking, and it was a refreshing time for me to be in God's creation. There were times I just stopped to listen, to breathe, to stoop down and look at a leaf, or touch some moss on a tree.... I realized I had not really taken much time to be in nature over the past few months, and I have greatly missed it. I think it is something I did not realize I missed until I began to experience it again! So I am thankful for my hiking class, and that the Lord knew, yet again, just what I would need during my time here... he is so faithful.

Well, it has been a while since I have last written, for which I apologize! It will be hard for me to update on all that has happened over the past week and a half! But here are some majors..

One of the clubs in which I work with is the kids club. The age group I work with is 7-10. This past week I had the opportunity to lead the lesson time for the week (Monday and Wednesday). I was able to choose any topic I wanted, so I decided on the Golden Rule.

Monday rolled around, and I had prepared a lesson with the aid of a flannel graph, as well as various activities. Well, by the end of the 2 hour time.. I felt quite discouraged. The time definitely did not go as planned! I had gone into the lesson with a certain idea of how it should go, and NOTHING went as hoped! Ahh, so yes, its a good thing my days are so busy, and I was unable to afford myself time for pity and tears :). But looking back, I think I was a little hard on myself, and they are kids... kids can be unpredictable at times! And the Lord, so caring, provided Anita to encourage me when I came home (she is a teacher ;) ). So on Wednesday,with new ideas and some experience under my belt now, the time was quite different! I had them act out the parable of the Good Samaritan, and they each had a part and a prop. They were so precious and enjoyed the time immensely! The activities went well, and I was so thankful!

Its interesting to realize that both the trials and the successes of this experience had much to teach, and I know that there was much to learn from the errors. Through mistakes, there is alot that can be learned!

In regards to my main work with the elderly, this next week will mark the beginning of my involvement in leading groups, activities, and teaching English classes! (little did I know I would have the opportunity to actually teach!) Tomorrow Sandy and I have planned a devotional on the parable of the soil and I have created bingo board with the names of trees, seeds, etc of which we can play! I also was able to find some new and interesting chair exercises to spice up the aerobics time, and hope to soon locate some upbeat music to help get them moving a little more :). Tuesday will be our first English lesson, and this week we will beginning two craft activities- making a calendar and creating cards! I am so thankful for a woman named Morag, who is here from England. She teaches many English classes and has a great amount of resources that I am free to use! It has been such a great help and she is so giving! I am excited to see how these elderly ladies learn and how the class goes.

Well, I also have some prayer requests:

• There is a sweet woman here, who is not a follower of Christ. She is a volunteer and we have had some interesting conversations so far about the Lord and religion, etc. Please pray that the Lord would season my words with truth and grace, and that he would soften her heart to the gospel and salvation through Jesus.
• I listened sermon today, and was truly convicted. It was on Romans 12:11, "Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord" ...it was entitled "Boiling" and given by John Piper. The message was just what I needed to hear. So please pray that for me... pray that I would not be slothful and lazy, but fervent, hardworking and passionately serving for the glory of the Lord!
• Also, I talked with my family and my grandfather's memory continues to worsen. Please pray for my family and for him as they go through this increasingly difficult time... I love my grandfather so much, and he has been such a testimony of service to the Lord. Of all the things he has forgotten, I will never forget playing hymns on the piano in the living room, and him singing along... singing the truths that have been etched on his heart, that he had not forgotten.

Well, before I sign off, here's to some randomness...

• Chocolate Finetti and peanut butter on bread with coffee is my morning ritual... mmmm, yum!
• Almost every day I listen to the song "Your love is strong" by Jon Foreman
• I really miss playing the piano.
• I have been having alot of dreams lately.
• When Ceausescus was the dictator- "often needed blood transfusions. To this purpose he selected healthy young boys from villages, had blood taken from them, and then had them killed." (From Hole in the Flag a book about the Revolution which I am currently reading) This is just one of the many horrible things he did during his time as dictator..
• It has been strange for me not to have classes all throughout the day!
• Everyone roller blades here :)
• Today I sat in the dining room and watched a shepherd and his sheep on the hill across the way for nearly 30 min.... it was intriguing. I learned more about being a sheep ;)
• I am in a gospel choir here! Its fun to be a part of a choir again...
• The instant coffee here is delicious.
• Toilet paper is scented here- it smells fruity! :)

Well, as we say here "o seara buna" ! (have a good evening)

Blessings and Joy,

Lauren