Days 5 and 6

We started our work in the villages yesterday (Monday). Each team went to a different village to run the children's Bible clubs; these will be 2 days and then move to the next village. The village where our team served the past 2 days is one that has a high percentage of gypsies (I know) and is very poor. We had 48 kids show up the first day and 58 today. I couldn't believe how many there were. I suspect some of them came out of sheer boredom--especially the older ones. But most of them just want to be with someone who will pay some attention to them. And we had plenty who did anything they could to get it. In fact, Monday was probably the most challenging ministry experience of my life. Several of the older kids were very difficult to control which made it that much more difficult to maintain the attention of the younger kids, who were barely holding on anyway. The entire team was exhausted by the time we sent the kids home, a full 45 minutes ahead of schedule. Speaking of the team, besides Stacey, Josh, Adam and me, we have 4 local teens who are helping us out--Christina, Eliza, Alin and Samuel. They provide a lot of stuff we need, especially translating skills. We are learning some Romanian words though; stuff like 'come here', 'go over there', 'sit down', 'be quiet', 'line up'; all the basics.

Day 2 in the villages (day 6 of the trip) was today. After yesterday I was braced for the worst, but hoping for better, fulling expecting that God would have his way regardless of how difficult it seemed to us. Things were certainly not as chaotic as yesterday, but still plenty eventful. I had a talk with the older boys first thing in the morning and that helped keep them somewhat in check. Some of the little ones were testing us, but it was overall a much better day.

We took digital pics of the kids yesterday and used a small photo printer to print them out overnight and took them back today. It was amazing and humbling to see how much appreciation they had for something as simple as a photo; something so taken for granted by us that we can't fathom the thrill it is for them.

Each day consists of games, stories, crafts, songs, etc. that we do with the kids. The second day focuses on the stories of the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus. We had 2 kids in our group who talked with Stacey and Christina and prayed to accept Christ. I always wonder if the kids really understand what's going on. And Lord knows how hard it will be for them to get any real reinforcement of what they have heard the past 2 days. But I pray that their experience was real the that they will be able to find support for their faith in that poor village.

The other groups had 40 and 38 kids yesterday and then 50 and 38 today.

So far it is thrilling, frustrating, exciting, fulfilling and everything in between.

Mike