From Omatako...

I know I have been saying lately that time flies away but I just can’t help myself saying that again. Almost 7 weeks passed since I stepped on the Namibian ground and it seems only like yesterday that I was in the airport saying goodbye to the loved ones. I know most of you are wondering how’s life in the desert and how do I find here. So, here I am to try to tell you about the challenges and the beauties of the desert life. As some of you already know, our camp is located in Omatako, somewhere in the North-East Namibia in the Bushman Land. 160 Km away for the closest town, we are pretty isolated, without cell phone signal or electricity. So, as you see, I’ve already got used to such condition. There are things that I experience again but there are also new experiences for me. Living in a tent is one of the new things I am trying out. My first tent was a small one, with a broken zip. No wonder that one night I woke up realizing that there is something heavy on my legs. Could it be a snake, or a dog, or another beast? You see, the boys kept finding snakes almost every day (black mamba, green mamba, cobra) and we have been also told that there are wild dogs around. I fearfully turned on my headlamp, scared to death at the thought of the things I might discover. Thankfully, it was only Luna, one of our dogs.  One other day I was cleaning my tent when I lift up a pair of pants to fold them only to discover a pretty big scorpion on them. Thank God it didn’t sting me. After only 3 weeks, I had the chance to change my residence. This time I moved into a big tent. In fact it is a married couple’s tent (there are 4 like that in the campus and I am the only unmarried person who lives in such a tent). I will have to change my big residence for a smaller one as soon as Sebastian comes but I am thankful I got to live in a wonderful place at least for a few weeks.

Living in the desert can be fun and can also be a challenge. One of the big challenges we have is not having a place to lie down when you feel tired. During day time is almost impossible to stay in your tent. At 50 something Celsius degrees, the temperature in the tent becomes unbearable. The same thing happens sometimes in the kitchen. I like heat and I am thankful that I can stand it.

So far, I have been working in the garden and in the kitchen. I am supposed to study the educational system in Namibia but we went to the Ministry of Education and they sent us to the regional offices. I am just waiting for a chance to go there, study the system and also the curriculum and try to make a curriculum for our kids. We have already 17 kids in our camp. We do not have an official school but we are trying to teach them a little bit.

Meeting Nora and going to Opuwo to visit the Himba land are two highlights of my staying so far. Nora is an Austrian teacher who was here for 8 weeks. I met her 2 weeks before she left. We both discovered we heard about Himba people and about a SDA missionary who is working with them and that we would love to find out more about this interesting people. So, as Nora’s cousin know the missionary very well, we give him a call to find out if we can go for a visit. Leaving for Opuwo was quite an experience. The car which was supposed to pick us on Monday or Tuesday didn’t show up. On Wednesday night we found out they are not going to Opuwo anymore but only to Tsumeb so we decided to hitchhike from Omatako to Opuwo (over 600 Km). The Lord was good and he arranged all the things for us. It took 6 cars and 12 hours to reach Opuwo and we reached safely. If only you could see the van’s drivers grabbing out bag and trying to persuade us to take their hike… That was really fun! As I was used to this from Guyana, it was not hard to ask them to leave us alone, to take my bag back and decide by ourselves which van we want to take. Getting to know Himba culture, visiting one of traditional villages, getting dressed (of better said undressed) in their cow-skin suits made the whole trip worth it. Then , meeting the 3 SDA missionaries that live in Opuwo and the 17 pathfinders they are working with, made it worth again. On Sabbath we had a picnic for girls. On Sabbath afternoon we went to close the Sabbath on a mountain with everybody. Friday morning we went jogging and ended up on a 6 hour hike being lost 2 times and with no food or water with us. Then on Sunday evening they had the Pathfinder investiture. Sabbath afternoon we had a Bible study with the kids. Sabbath morning I gave my testimony at the pathfinder Sabbath school group. So, as you see, we had an enjoyable trip.

Omatako and Opuwo - Pictures

I still did not get the time to write a few updates but I posted some pictures hoping that I will soon post a few things about life here. Last weened Nora, an Austrian friend and I went to Opuwo where we visited the Himba land. So, enjoy the pictures!


Omatako

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=45183&id=1176913306&l=7bc424a0cb

Opuwo

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=45185&id=1176913306&l=ac91103582

Namibia...

Here I am, in the wonderful land of Namibia. I have landed at 7 PM this morning. It’s 9 PM and it seems I have been here for at least 2-3 days. Dan Serb was talking today to Sebastian and I asked him to tell him hi and that I arrived safely. When he told Sebastian: “Raluca arrived safely this morning” I was thinking in my mind: this man doesn’t know when I arrived here. Everything is so familiar and we have gone from here to there the whole day so I have the impression I’ve been here for a few days. Yes, I’ve enjoyed every single minute since I arrived here. Meeting old friends (just a few for now) and being able to face another culture makes me so glad. When we were coming from the airport I was so happy to see again baboons (this time not in the jungle but along the road). I’ll be here in Windhoek until Friday morning when we will take off for Omatako where our camp is. So, I will hopefully be able to be back with news in 3-4 weeks.

Time for a Double Celebration

“My God is great/ When He is four days late/ He’s still on time..” This is what says a song about Lazarus’ death and I Have to admit that it is so true. We’ve all passed through hard times when it seemed that God forgot about us and our problem. We’ve all been there, felt what means to be “forgotten” by God. I’ve been there myself so many times. For the past 6 weeks I’ve been waiting, and waiting, and waiting. Only four weeks ago my visa, along with the visas of 3 other friends, was denied. Plane tickets were canceled, money was lost, and we were confused but not without hope. Though it was not easy to wait, the fact that there were 4 of us in the same “pot” made things easier. At least we could encourage each other. After two weeks, two of my friends got their visas. I was happy for them but I couldn’t help the fear and doubt that invaded my soul. I just couldn’t hold back my tears for a whole morning. Why, Lord? Why do I have to wait? Why me? Do You have something else for me? Do You want me somewhere else? These were the questions pounding in my mind, questions without answers. Though I found it hard to accept that God wants me somewhere else, I just prayed that He will close the door to Namibia if He doesn’t want me there.

At the beginning of this week I told the Lord I just cannot wait any longer and I am willing to wait until the end of the week. If He still doesn’t provide the visa for us, I have to start looking for some other place where I could serve. Wednesday night I called Florin. He had no answer for us… The week was coming to a close and we still didn’t have any answer. Thursday evening I found Sebastian online and I started chatting with him. “Did you hear the news?” he asked me right away. My heart started racing. I knew it was something about the visa but I didn’t know if it’s good or bad news. “You’ve got your visas!” was his answer when I asked him what the news is. I just couldn’t believe my eyes. It seemed too beautiful to be true. I called Florin right away and he confirmed the good news. Though I do not have all the answers to the question: “Why did it take so long?” I have a few. In fact, this is what kept me and what made me hang in there: knowing and finding reasons why God has kept me back. It just “happened” that Sandro and I were the two who were left back (who else could have helped Sandro get his transit visa for Germany?), it also “happened” that two Fridays ago I was just leaving the house to go visit a friend for the weekend when a received a phone call and I was invited to speak at a Mission Festival. Then, there is this friend who, upon hearing we are still in the country, said she wants to send us some money… And, I can still go on like this with small, personal things.

Three days and I will finally be on my way to Namibia. I don’t know what God has in store for me there. I don’t know if I will find more answers to the question: “Why did it take so long?” but at this time I do not care if I do or not… All that matters is that He answered and granted our visas, and we will soon be on our way. I’ll be happy to find more reasons but if I don’t, I’ll just trust Him that He knew what He was doing.

November 10 is the beginning of the Namibian adventure… On November 9, exactly four years ago, I started my first overseas mission trip to Guyana. I had no idea at that time that, instead of spending 6 months in the mission field, I will choose to do this for as long as God needs me. I can’t believe that it is four years since my life is not the same, four years since I started to learn to love a simple life, since I found new dimensions of life, of the love for people, of the trust in God. And I know this is just the beginning.

I’m so happy God chose to celebrate with me the four years that passed since I fist left for the mission field by giving me the desire of my heart: the Namibia visa. So, it’s time for a double celebration.

Back Home, For a While...

Life is full of surprises sometimes and God allows all kind of situations in our lives... As you know, I left for Cluj a week ago, then Budapest where I was supposed to take the plane for Namibia. On Tuesday we were told our visas are approved but not issued and that we should go ahead and go to Budapest because they will be issued. And so we did. We left Tuesday night and reached Budapest Wednesday morning. We waited in the airport continually checking our email and hoping that the visas will be there... The check in time came and we didn't have our visas. So we had to come back home. :D Not only that our visas were not issued but they were refused. The authorities asked for some more certificates from Pilgim Relief Society. Thank God we could change the plane ticket and postpone our departure for October 20. There are 4 of us in this situation.

So, here we are, still waiting and hoping that God will perform a miracle for us. Even though I do not want to ask God why, the question is there. Is God allowing this just to teach me some lessons and to teach me to trust Him or is He showing me that He wants me somewhere else? Or is this Satan trying to discourage me? I know for sure God allowed this with a purpose, but I can't see it right now so I keep asking myself why. Hope I will find some answers soon since the silence and darkness are becoming heavier with each passing day.

Namibia, Here I Come!

Who thought just 2 weeks ago that in a couple of weeks I will be on my way to the African land? We were supposed to leave on the 14th of September. Great was the disappointment when we were told that due to the financial crises there is no money for our tickets. But we were promised that we will be leaving on the 4th of October. Two weeks before the departure date I received again the terrible new: no money so, departure is postponed again. It's no use to tell you that the disappointment was even greater. While talking to Sebastian on the phone, he told me we could come if we can pay for our plane tickets. He also asked me to let him know when we get the money so he can apply for our visas. Did I have the money? No, I had just part of the amount but I told Sebastian to apply for the visa. I knew that, if God called me there, He will provide the whole amount of money. So I just went ahead through faith. And the Lord was faithful. He blessed my faith and made it possible for me to buy the plane ticket. So, in just 5 days I will be on my way to the Namibian land along with 5 other friends.


I know that this is just the beginning of a new journey, a journey of faith, a journey of grace. I know God will work and I am looking forward to it. Right now, I am looking forward to see how He will take care of my financial needs. You see, when I bought the plane ticket, I was left with empty pockets. But I know that my God who provided the money for the ticket, will not let me go without any money to Namibia. So, I'm looking forward to seeing Him more at work in my life. I was talking to one of my friends from Namibia the other day and he was telling me that there are great things going on there. God is really working! And this is what makes me so happy!!!

Letting It Go....

To let go... one of those painful character building experiences we never want to experience. But we all pass through here and we all have to let go certain things or people from our lives sooner or later. 

I asked myself why is the process of letting go so painful. And here is the answer I came up with. 

When we have something or somebody in our lives, things or people that we cherish, that are so important to us, they make us feel secure. They give us a reason of living and being, a reson to smile and laugh, to look forward to the future. We may feel that with them we can go through everything in life because we know God brought them there. Once they disappear, once God considers He has to take them back or allows Satan to take them, we lose the security, the identity, the reason to smile and look forward to the future. 

I have wondered over and over if it is wrong to find our security and identity in things or people. Is God asking us to find those things just in Him? Are we to go ahead in life without having something tangible that will give us a reason to live and laugh and enjoy life? Are we supposed not to get attached to things and people and to live an austere life? What's then the purpose of everything God sends us?

I see our identity, our reason of being and living, our sercurity like a tree. A tree with deep roots, with trunk and branches and leafs and flowers. I think that the root belongs to God. The root is the identity, security and reason of living that we find in Him and Him alone. And I also see the trunk and branches as the tangible things, the people He sends in our lives to give us an identity and security, a reason to live and enjoy life. Sometimes, God considers that the tree needs some adjustments, some more shaping. So He cuts a brench here and there. Sometimes the shaping process needs cuting the whole trunk. But if the root is well anchored in Him, if the tree finds the source of life in Him, then the root will feed the tree and a new trunk and new branches will grow again. Finding our identity and security in things or people is not wrong as long as we have our root in God. Because it is Him who gives us things and people, sometimes for a longer period of time, sometimes for just a while, so we may enjoy life, so we may have the power to smile and be glad.

I realised that a lot of times what brings the most pain is not losing the thing or the person in itself. Sometimes it is more painful to loose the security and the identity that came along with that thing or person. It's normal to get used in time to not having the presence of those things and people in our lives, but we certainly cannot get used to having the emptiness, the insecurity and the lack of identity that their disappearance brings.

Though it is hard to lose both things and people, I must admit that losing the latter is much harder. It takes a lot of courage and real love to be able to let them go. It takes real love for them and real love for God. Would we risk to ask God to give them back to us at any price, at the price of their happiness and their salvation? Have you ever prayed for somebody that God will not give them to you but do what is the best for them? As young people when we admire somebody, can we pray that God will give them the person that will make them happy, that will help them shape their character and be saved? Can we say "Your will be done" when it comes about being with someone we cherish? If we can, than we should know that this is true love. Yes, sometimes love means to be able to let him/her go because their happiness and salvation is more important to us than having them... Because true love is unselfish. We may understand or we may not understand why God brought them for just a period of time in our lives. But we should know that He surely had a purpose and we should be thankful if they helped us be better persons, if their presence brought a smile on our faces and made us feel secure.

So I thank God for teaching me to let go of things, to let go of people. And also for teaching me to be happy that I had them even for just a while. He surely knows what He is doing. And I'm sure it's for my best.

Some of you may think I'm talking from books. Let me tell you that I'm not.

Freedom

Have you ever found yourself wanting to be free from your desires? I'm not talking about bad and sinful desires. It's all about good and legitimate desires. I do find myself sometimes in that position. There are good things that I deeply cherish and I surely would like to have them. But sometimes, instead of asking them from the Lord, I'm just asking Him to take away the desire to have them. Maybe it's because sometimes I become their slave and I tend to live in the future and forget to enjoy what I already have... Maybe it's because I am afraid I will never have them. Or maybe it's because I've prayed for some of them for such a long time and I didn't find any answer... Don't get me wrong. I'm not tired of praying for them. It's just that I want to be free, to be able to always enjoy life just as it is. I've always been a dreamer and I always liked to live in the future. Thank God He started to teach some time ago me to live and enjoy the present (it all happened while working in the jungle). So I'm still learning to live with my desires in the present... I guess that when I learned that lesson I can say I am trully free. Will I ever learn it?

It seems we finally have a date for our departure for the African land. October 4 is the day when we are supposed to take off for the Kalahari Desert. Though there is dissapointment in my heart because I was hoping we would leave earlier, I am also at peace because I know this delay has a purpose and it is for my best. I miss working for those helpless people. I find myself more and more not finding my place here... Home is one of those words I can't really say I know the meaning. It's good to be with my family but I long to be there where I find a reason for my existence, where what I do gives me a sens and a reason of being and living. So, right now I am learning to live with the desire of being there and enjoy the life I have right now.

Waiting Season... Again

It seems that the Lord considers that He has to work on my patience again so He keeps creating situations in which my patience is tested. We were supposed to leave for the Kalahari Desert sometimes around September 15 but so far we are not sure when we will be leaving. We might be leaving when we were supposed to, or we might be leaving later. It all depends on God and on His timing. We are waiting for Him to provide the funds for our plane tickets. So, I am back to where I was every August for the past 4 years. The good news is that even if I had to wait, God never failed me and He always sent the money I needed. I know that, if He keeps me here longer, He has a purpose. It's all about His timing. It is not easy to wait. It is much easier to become tired of waiting and restless. But I am learning to wait on Him even when I want so much to be able to do certain things right away. There are around 23 of us supposed to leave so please keep praying for us and for the money we need in order to leave for the African land.

Master Classes Are Over...

Master classes are over and I am happy and thankful that Sebastian sent me back from Vanuatu to take the last 3 classes in order have all the credits for my Master. I have learned a lot of useful things this summer. I am especially thankful for my Leadership class and for the amazing teacher I had. It has challenged me a lot and helped me understand some vital principals in leadership. I know God worked all the things out for me to be able to come back and attend these classes. I think that Carmen (Sebastian's wife) was right when she wrote me: "I have a feeling that all this amazing knowledge will soon serve a great purpose". It might not be great things in people's eyes but I am sure they will be great things in God's eyes.

For the last two Sabbaths Sandro (my Guyanese student) and I have been traveling to share with people our testimonies and the amazing things God has done for us. Two Sabbaths ago was for the first time when I heard him sharing his testimony... It was so powerful!!! I love listening to him sharing the way God changed his heart and the amazing way He worked in his life. When I think where he was just a year and a half ago (from all the points of view) I can only thank God for the way he worked in him and for him.

Just yesterday I came across a Sebastian's transmission from Zambia for the Loma Linda SDA Romanian Church from last Sabbath. I was so thrilled to find it. It made me miss Africa so much. It also brought tears to my eyes. :( I try to hang it on there since there are just a few more weeks left...

Right now I am getting ready to leave for Spain to spend a couple of weeks with my dear friend, Ana and share with some more churches about the amazing things God has done for me. Then I will be back to get ready for the next adventure of my life.

Vanuatu in Colors...

Here are some links to some more pictures from Vanuatu. Enjoy!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=26800&id=1176913306&l=50d02bad5d

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=27210&id=1176913306&l=5374558e0d

Back Home...

Life has been full of unexpected things lately... Things have not been as I have planned them. As I have told you, I was not planning on going to Vanuatu. But when the Lord said something, I had to obey. Then I was planning to come back home in December but the Lord changed again my plans. So, here I am, back in Romania for a couple of months. I am so thankful for the blessed time I had in Vanuatu. The Lord taught me many things there. I have also seen some other sides of life... and experienced things I have never experienced before. God knew I really needed this experience. It was a wonderful gift and I thank the Lord so much for it.

Now, new chapters of my life are waiting to be written... The Lord had so many surprises for me so far and I am sure He will continue to surprise me and continue to give me more wonderful gifts. So far it seems that the new destination will be Africa but only the Lord knows what is next... I'm looking forward to seeing God's leading. I know I am in His hands and I am sure He has wonderful things in store for me. Didn't he promise that "eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him" (1 Cor. 2:9)? I've seen this promised fulfilled in my life so many times and I know this is just the beginning. So, here I am, trusting and waiting for the Lord to fulfill what He has promised in Jeremiah 33:3: ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’

More About Malua Bay

5.04.2009

Three weeks have passed since I came here. I am so happy I moved into my house. Even though it has no windows and I do not shelves for my books and cloths, it feels so good to have your own house, my own place. It is true that the rats and ants are going all over the place at all times but I still prefer living here than with some other family. I watch the rat every night running on the beams of my house and I also hear it every night when it comes to check what I have in the kitchen. So I have my own Zoo in my house. Sometimes we play hide and seek.  It’s been also good to be able to cook for myself. Somebody gave me a propane tank and another person a stove so I can cook in my house. Last week people kept bringing me fruits and vegetables. I had so many that I didn’t need to cook and I have also shared some with other teachers. I have eaten so far lots of papaya and avocado and pomelo.

I have finally started using the drum-oven since some students set it up for me. The firewood that people use here is very light and it takes lots of it to be able to bake but it is good to have something than nothing. So every Friday I bake bread and usually some banana bread and I share most of it with teachers and the church members at the fellowship launch on Sabbath.

Being a single girl has sometimes some disadvantages in the jungles. One of them is that people try to marry you. I have three options so far . There are two families who said they would like me to marry their sons and the minister’s wife wants me to marry her brother. So it is hard to choose at this time !!! I keep telling them I am not going to marry a ni-Vanuatu boy but it seems useless. It’s good that none of these boys are here in the village. This makes things easier for me for the time being.

I like so much the schedule I have here. Usually I wake up around 5, 5:10 and I go jogging for 35-40 minutes. Then I stop on the shore to talk to God. After that I go and take a shower, then I go and read my Bible. At 7:45 I have to go to the teacher’s worship. After the worship I come and eat if I do not have the first class period. It’s soo good to be able to stay on rock on the shore and talk to God… Sometimes on Sundays or when we do not have classes, after I jog I go to pray and read also my Bible on the shore. I just love this jungle life. I wouldn’t trade it for nothing in the world.

News from Malua Bay

21.03.2009

Dearest friends,

Here I am, in the middle of the jungle with limited access to electricity but happy beyond measure and content with what I have got. I’ve been in the deep jungle of Malekula Island (Malua Bay) for about a week after spending 3 weeks in Port Vila, the capital city of Vanuatu.

After spending a week here I understand now why Sebastian fell in love with the people of Vanuatu. I felt at home right away. The friendliness and care of ni-Vanuatu people is beyond imagination. They have taken care of me as of their own child.

Life is just like I have imagined it will be: simple and beautiful, no stress, no reason to hurry. Life is just following its own way.

Right now I am living with the minister’s family since my house is not ready. They have built it in two days but they made no windows and partitions and it has no door. My house is just as I have wanted it to be: made out of bamboo with grass roof. I still need a kitchen but I understood they can build it in a day from the same materials: bamboo and grass. So it can be built pretty fast if only these people knew what means to work a little bit faster. They have just two gears: the rear gear and the first one. Believe me, they are just taking their time and know not what means to hurry a little bit. So I have to adjust to their style…  I do not find it too difficult because people in Guyana were almost the same. I know accepting them will be a real challenge for some people who are used to work fast. 

The first bath I took here was a real challenge. I laugh now when I remember it. My host has pointed a pipe with no walls around that was in front of the house and said I can take a shower. How???? was my question since I have no privacy and everybody can see me? So I had to try to take a shower just so… Next time I wanted to bath I told my host I want to go to the river and that is where I have gone to take a bath ever since. So, thank you, God, for rivers. Not all the villages are blessed by the presence of a river but we are and I am more than happy about it.

I have already started to teach. I am teaching English and Religious Education for grade 7 and 8 (17 hours a week). I took over the classes of the school principal. The school is a SDA private school and has 82 kids from grade 1 to 8 and 8 teachers including myself. For English I have the books and the syllabus from the government but for the Religious Education I have only the notebooks from 2 students from last year. So I have to guess what I need to teach. The problem is that they have an exam at the end of the grade 8 and he students need to know what the government is asking them to know. I wish you could see how they teach here. It’s pathetic. They are just copying on the blackboard what is in the teacher’s text book, even the requirements that are addressed to the teachers and tell what to do in class. I wish we had our own school and I hope we will, soon. A big problem here is that the students do not really know English because they speak Bishlama and dialect at home and because the teachers have also taught in Bishlama so far even though they were supposed to teach in English. So that makes the process of teaching slow but at least they understand something so I am happy about that.

When I am not teaching, I am helping Cloudine, my host, in the kitchen. They have treated me as a queen and if it was for them I didn’t have to do anything. But I insisted that I help her cook and wash dishes and clean and wash my own cloths. If it was for her she would have done all these things by herself. This past week she taught me how to do simboro, a local food that is like the cabbage rolls but has cassava or yam or taro or banana inside and that is boiled in coconut milk. While we were cooking some ladies came and were so surprised to see the “white man” (that’s how the kids and even the adults are calling me here) cooking local food. They said they have never seen a white lady making local food and they have never thought a white lady can cook their food. This past week the church had a family revival series so we have attended church every evening. While the pastor was preaching I usually took a child in my lap and at the end I would play with some children. When the people saw this they told him that I must be a good lady since I am playing with the children.

Baking has been a real challenge for me since we do not have any oven. My host knows how to make bread so we bought some flour and have baked bread in a pot over the fire. I have also decided to teach them to make some cakes with the local stuff since they do not know to make any kind of cake. So I made some cassava pond and pumpkin and coconut pie. As I have told you baking was a real challenge but we did it… You should see how surprised they were especially about the cake with cassava (or manioc how they call it here) and coconut when we shared with the villagers at Sabbath fellowship launch the cakes we made. Some of them told my host they want me to teach them how to bake. I have just bought a drum on Friday in order to make an oven (I will just suspend it on some stones and I will make fire on top and at the bottom). Oh, how I thank the Lord for the experience from Guyana. I have learned there so many useful things about cooking and baking in the jungle with the local stuff that they are growing here. I have no words to describe my thankfulness for everything that I have learned there. I am also thankful that they have almost the same greens and vegetables and roots.

The English they are using here is funny at times. For instance they will say they are going to swim when they want to say they are going to take a bath. Or when somebody wants to talk to me they will say they want to tell me stories. They also sometimes say that they drink instead of eat. For instance they will say they want to drink pomelo or pawpaw. It is also funny how they use good night instead of good-bye. So, even if it is noon or morning they will say good night. The way they say how they are related is very strange for me. For instance they call their uncles and aunties dad and mom, they will call auntie their cousin. When a lady is talking about her husband she will say “dad for Jerry” (with Jerry being her son). And I can go on like that.

People are not really using the time here. If you ask them what time is church or any other meeting they will just tell you to listen to the bell. The school and the church have a bell (you can see it in my pictures) and they ring it 60 times, then 30, 15, 5 and 2.

Back to the Civilization for a Few Days

Here I am, on Santo Island for a few days after almost 5 weeks of no Internet access... I have come to get my visa and I am thankful to have a few days off from school and to be able to meet Mario and share how God is working in our lives. It thrills my heart when I see that God is at work and that He is so mighty and powerful. Believe me, we have lots of stories to share (as ni-Vanuatu people would say). Mario and I have been going all around the town yesterday afternoon and today shopping and trying to do everything we need to do before we go back on Monday to our villages. I am so thankful he knows the town and is so kind as to take me around.

I will be back tomorrow with more news about my life in Malua-Bay and how God is working there.

If you want to see pictures just go here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=23133&id=1176913306&l=05e49779c3

Some Pictures from Port Vila

For those of you who want to see pictures, go to the following webpage address to see them. The internet connection is very slow so I uploaded them on facebook. Enjoy!

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=363397&l=b5642&id=1176913306

First Week in Port Vila, Vanuatu

Here I am, trying to give you a taste of Vanuatu. I so wish that I can bring all of you with me here so you can see it for yourself. I just love being here. I've been in Port Vila for a week. I still do not know when exactly I will be going to Malakula Island, but I think it will be in a couple of days. A missionary's life is full of surprises – I just love it. Until then, I am trying to do the shoppings (and believe me, I need to buy a lot of stuff from small things to stove and propain bottle, pots, matresse).

It has been very good to be here with my friends. I like that we are a team. God has really blessed us with a wonderful time together. I've been used to working alone and being alone and it is such a blessing that we can be here together. It is true that I will be going alone to the place where I will volunteer, but at least I will have signal for my phone and I will be able to keep in touch with my friends. I've been told that it is cheap to call here in Vanuatu.

Port Vila is a very small town. Georgetown is much more developed than Vila. They have two supermarkets. The majority of shops are Chinese shops. One can also find very expensive shops for tourists, but they are not for us.

I've been gathering information about people and customs, food and life style. I am so glad to find many similarities between Guyana and Vanuatu. A lot of the fruits and vegetables are the same (here are a few of them: papaya, mango, pineaple, bananas, pomelo, tania, sweet cassava, avocado, plus the vegetables that we are also using – carrots, peper, tomatoes, cucumber). As for people, they are as relaxed as they were in Guyana, if not even more relaxed. They are just taking their time and making sure that they do not get tired. I understood that it takes ages to start and to complete something. Why should they worry and stress when life is short? As for food, they are eating mostly Lap-lap. Even if they have vegetables, I understood that they do not know how to cook them. If one asks how to cook a certain vegetable or root, he will be told he has to boil it. That's all. Food is not really tasty because they do not know how to give taste to the food.

People are very, very friendly. I was amazed to see them greeting me on the streets of Port Vila. I was also surprised to see that it is not dangerous to walk through the town at night. Coming from Guyana where men will call you all kind of names and try to get your attention and where it is dangerous to walk through town by yourself especially at night, I really came to appreciate that people are so different here.

From what I have been told, I will be teaching in a Malua Bay SDA school. I was told that I will be living with the minister's family (they call here minister the bible worker) for a while until they will fix my house. I have no ideea what I will be teaching, or how many students has the school but I like this life full of surprises. Florin told me that they were glad to hear that I know a little bit of music.

I can hardly wait to go to Malua Bay. I know God has wonderful things prepared for me there. I know He will do whatever it takes to grow me there and to shape me more and more.

In Auckland for a Few Days

We spent an awesome time in Auckland. God was so good to lead us to a pentecostal family who was so kind to keep us for almost a week. On Thursday afternoon we got to see Takapuna beach. We were supposed to go shopping on Friday and since all the stores are out of the town and we also wanted to go to the Adventist Book Center in the other side of the city (by the way, the city is 80 Km long) it seemed pretty impossible to do everything in one day. But God was good again and sent a friends of our host to take us shopping for the whole day on Friday. We only payed for his fuel. God was good and we found what we needed and even things we didn't think about but were needed in the jungle.

Sabbath morning we decided we need to go to church. The wind was blowing hard and the rain was pouring outside but we left the house. With our new raincoats and a map we started walking to find the church. So if you saw two crazy people walking in the cold weather and rain in church clothes and one of them bare feet (my new shoes made me blisters) that was Mario and I who couldn't spend a Sabbath in the coziness of our host's home.

We had a nice time in church. People were very nice and kind to us. They came to greet us and talked to us. Even the pastor came and talked to us and was impressed when he saw we are wet and we walked all the way to church (by the way, it took us 40 minutes to reach there).

I don't know how many of you know, but three and a half years ago, when I was thinking about going to Guyana I also had another option: New Zealand. They needed a secretary for 2 pastors and a youth leader. They have even accepted me to come and work only as a youth leader when I told them I hate secretarial work but I received their email a day after I decided to go to Guyana. When he pastor started his sermon and I saw his name on the screen, I realized that name is not strange at all. I knew it from somewhere. Where from was the question. It was not hard to realize that the only contact with someone from New Zealand was 3,5 years ago. So, after the sermon, I went and asked the pastor if he was looking for a secretary and youth leader 3,5 years ago. And yes, he was the one. I just couldn't believe my ears and my eyes. Here I was, 3,5 years later, visiting the very same church were I was supposed to volunteer. Isn't God wonderful?

The church invited us to stay for launch and then go with them for a baptism. Mario met an Indian guy who offered to take us to the baptism place that was next to a water fall. We had an amazing time at the baptism and then visiting a black sand beach. Just before we left, the pastor came to pray for us. It was so nice of him to do that for us. He also made me laugh... While praying, he asked God to bless out marriage life. Poor him, he didn't know we were just friends traveling together to the mission field. So, I was cracking up while he was praying. Later on, Mario had a chance to tell him we are going on separate islands. Then, he realized we are not married. Poor him, he was a little it embarrassed.

On Saturday evening our Indian friend offered to take us to a restaurant to try Indian food. Since it was Valentine's Day, the place was packed and we had to wait more than usual but is was worth waiting even though we ended up waiting around 10 PM.

Sunday morning we left for the airport bright and early since our flight was 8 o'clock. We had no idea that another surprise was waiting for us there. To make a long story short, we were not able to leave because of the same problem: their system said we need a visa for Vanuatu. So we changed our tickets for Wednesday hoping that meanwhile we will be able to get a paper that will mention the fact that we do not need a visa.

On Sunday afternoon, our Indian friend took us Rotorua, a 3 hour drive to an active volcano and a place where we could see Maori traditions and music. We had an amazing time there, took lots of pictures and enjoyed the volcano and the Maori music.

Monday and Tuesday we spend the time trying to reach a Vanuatu Embassy or Immigration office to get the papers. But all our efforts were in vain. We even went to see the honorific consul of Vanuatu in Auckland and we waited to for in the front of the house for over two hours just to realize we could have got in touch with him by phone. He promised to talk to the immigration office in Vanuatu to send us the paper. But we received no email from them.

On Monday we also went to change our tickets (Auckland - Port Vila) and to bring them from December to March. But when we went to the traveling agent, I discovered that I forgot my ticket at home. So we could only make the booking. We promised to come back the next day to change them and pay for it. The next day, since we waited in front of the house of the consul, we arrived after the office closed so it was impossible to change it. We no official paper and the tickets not changed, it seemed that everything was against us. But God knew why I forgot my ticket at home and why we arrived too late at the traveling agent. He knew that will be an expense that we didn't need to pay for since our budget was already running low because of the extra time we had to spend in London and Auckland.

Terance, our Indian friend was more than kind to us. He took us all over the town in the evenings, took us to dine in town and even gave us very nice things to remember New Zealand. We had nice talks with him and we had a blessed time together talking about God and about the way He has led us so far. He even told us that he has never been to close to anybody in the 12 years he has spent in New Zealand than he is to us. So, thank you God for people who are so willing to share what they have with strangers. I know the Bible promises that he will be rewarded for what he has done for us.

So Wednesday morning we went again to the airport knowing that chances are few for us to be able to fly since we didn't have the official paper. Believe me, I had butterflies in my stomach and I was praying that the Lord will do His will. We went to the check in desk, the officer asked for our passports and tickets, he issued our boarding pass, took our luggage and that was it. He didn't say a word about the visa, about the extra kg we had... Nothing. Mario and I were just looking at each other not being able to believe what is happening to us. Upon arriving at the gate we just prayed, as we always have done, thanking the Lord for the miracles He performed for us.

Our Romanian missionary fellows waited for us at the airport. It was a happy and joyful reunion. There are 8 of us Romanian missionaries here. We have had a great time together so far because we are a family, aren't we?

I'm not sure how long I will still be staying in Port Vila. I am supposed to go on the island of Malakula, to teach in a SDA school in Malua Bay. We will see how the Lord will lead things and where He wants me. I am sure He knows the best place for me and I am looking forward to seeing the miracles He will do for us here.

I am very, very excited to be here. I just cannot believe that I am back to the mission field and back to the jungle. This is the life that I want to live. I just love this simple life. I feel at home here even though I have never been to Vanuatu before. And I know I feel at home because I am where God wants me to be and because I want to do what He wants me to do. I know I do not deserve God's goodness and I cannot understand why He loves me so much. I just know what He loves me and this makes me sooo happy.

Please, pray for us. Satan is angry. Our friends here have different problems with visas and other stuff, but we know that God is powerful and that He will never disappoint us. We know that, if there were so many obstacles so far, it is only because Satan is angry, because he is afraid and he knows that God has might plans with us and for us here.

I will try to keep you posted with what is going on. I don't know how often I will be able to go to the internet (anyway, it will not be before a month is over) but I am happy that at least I have a phone and I will have signal there.

Trip to Auckland

Where do I start and where do I end? So much has happened in the last 10 days that I feel I cannot keep up with it. I saw these 10 days the Lord working and leading me more than I have ever seen it before. I saw closed doors that I thought will never open because it was impossible humanly speaking but the Lord opened them. I have never ever lived such an adventure with God and I so glad God chose to teach me so many things while passing me through the valley of darkness.

We left Romania on Monday being supposed to stop for 3 hours in London and then in Dubai to change the planes before we were supposed to reach Auckland, New Zealand. We where were supposed to stay there for a couple of day and then continue our flight to Vanuatu.

When we reached London, we were told the plane is stopping in Australia (the ticket didn't mention that aspect – we only knew that the plane is stopping somewhere for fueling). So, here we were, needing a visa for Australia and not being able to take the flight. We could have applied for an Australian visa but that meant to stay in London for a few days. It seemed there is no way out and we have to buy other tickets but the Lord had a solution for us. One of the ladies who was working for Emirates changed out ticket to Air New Zealand so we had to stop in Hong Kong instead of Dubai and Australia. The flight was only in 24 hours so we had to stay a day in London. Thank God for Irina and Gabi who were willing to squeeze in and put us up for a nigh and for the lady who didn't charge us a penny for the change even if the ticket was more expensive.

Since we were going to be in London for a day, we decided that it will be good to see a little bit of the city. The weather forecast was not too promising. Rain and strong wind has been announced for the next day. But the Lord was good again. Not only there was no rain, but we had sunshine and a very good time visiting for a few hours the well known places.

Tuesday evening, we presented ourselves at the check in desk just to be told we cannot leave because we need a visa for Vanuatu. All our efforts and reasoning were in vain. They system said we need a visa and nothing but official papers that we didn't have could change their mind. It was late. All the check in desks were closed and a lot of officers were around us trying to figure out what to do with us. Time was passing by and no solution was in the sight. We tried to make some phone calls but nothing seemed helpful. Somebody suggested that we buy refundable tickets but we didn't have the money. And anyway, the tickets could have not been issues before long. Time was passing by, the check in was supposed to close and we still didn't have a solution. Finally, an elderly officer said: I assume the resposability of letting them go. That meant he will get a fine of 3000 pounds if we were sent back from Vanuatu because we didn't have a visa. God bless this man for his goodness. They asked us to write to them and let them know if everything was OK. So, this was again another big miracle.

Still on the Way...

It's been 8 days since we left Romania. So much has happened in these 8 days that I feel I cannot keep up with everything that is going on. I tried to make a summary but I didn't have time to finish it so I will be posting it later. A summary of the summary is that Satan is angry but God is working and He is more powerful.

Until I will be able to finish writing more about the trip, I thought of posting some links with some of the pictures we have taken so far:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=18456&id=1176913306&l=4cb9e
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=18457&id=1176913306&l=94618
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=18451&id=1176913306&l=8c63f

So, enjoy!!!

Leaving... I'm Really Leaving!!!

The past two weeks have been really hectic for me. Having just two and a half weeks to get ready for Vanuatu (with everything that this includes - buying plane tickets, working on paperwork, packing), I had to run from here to there. Even though I am tired right now, I am really happy. In less than 24 hours I will be on my way to the jungles of Vanuatu. I still cannot believe it!!! It's just like a dream.

God is working in mysterious ways. Last week I got my passport back from the Guyanese Embassy and I had one of the biggest surprises ever: my Guyanese visa was granted. Huh... too late. I guess the Lord knows what is He doing.

I guess I have to get some sleep so, I'd better run...

It's Official... I'm Leaving on the 9th of February!!!

I just cannot believe it... Just 6 days ago I was not sure as to where I will be heading and what I will be doing. Today not only that I have an answer, but I also have the plane tickets and less than two weeks to get ready for a long, long journey. I'm speechless and overwhelmed. God is so good...

So, as I already posted, on Thursday I decided to go to Vanuatu Islands. That was all I knew. I didn't have the money for my ticket and other expenses, I didn't know exactly where I will be working, if I will be working alone or with someone else, if I will be traveling alone or with somebody else.

Just yesterday I found out that somebody else is leaving for Vanuatu on the 9th of February. That meant in two weeks. So just two weeks to get ready and 2-3 days to buy the ticket with the money that I didn't have... It seemed pretty impossible but I prayed and waited for a miracle knowing that God made so many miracles in my life and he took care of every detail and every need in the past. I didn't know how God will make it possible or if He will help me get it so fast to travel on the 9th but I kept praying. Yesterday Sebastian wrote me and asked me if I want to work alone or join some of the missionaries who are already on 3 islands. I told him that I prefer team work but I am ready to go wherever he needs me. So I let him choose for me because he knows the needs.

I woke up this morning knowing that I need to buy the ticket today even though I didn't have the money. And I did!!! Yes, I did buy it! I had to borrow some money for a while but I did buy it. Today I also found out I will be spending 2 days in New Zealand. Mario, the other missionary I am traveling with, wants to see Auckland so I will be staying, too. I am sure we will have fun. It will be a very, very long journey and I am so happy I am going to have somebody to travel with. We will be leaving from Bucharest, stopping in London and also in Dubai before we reach Auckland, New Zealand.

So, here I am, having just 13 more days to get ready... I am so happy and excited more than words can describe it. I am happy that I have a Father who loves me and takes care of all my needs and surpasses all my expectations. I feel so privileged... I feel unworthy of such a love. I know that He doesn't love me because I deserve it but because He is my Father and He is LOVE.

I Have Finally Decided...

I almost cannot believe it! It's still like a dream. After pondering and praying for direction, after wondering where God wants me and where will He take me next, after trying to understand what decision I should make, after months and months of waiting and praying and hoping, here I am, having already made that BIG decision. I cannot believe the turn things took in my life. I was determined I will be going to Guyana and that God wants me there as you already know. But things got pretty rough with my visa. I just kept having obstacles in my way. Last time I called they said they didn't have my invitation there even if it was sent almost 3 weeks ago. Interesting enough, God had started to work on my heart impressing me that He might want me in Vanuatu for a few days before I found out they hadn't processed my visa. I asked the Lord to grant me that visa He wants me there and He just kept putting obstacles in my way. So, on Thursday when I found out they still hadn't worked on my visa I decided to make the decision I have never thought I would make: go to Vanuatu.

I wrote Sebastian who was waiting for me to make a decision and I told him what I have decided. He is very happy to send me there. So, the Lord solved the problem with my choice. He showed me the direction and the way I have to follow. Now, He has to provide for my needs. I do not have the money I need to travel and to live there, but I know He will provide. Every year I am faced with the same challenge when I have to leave and so far He has been faithful in providing for my needs. I just pray that He will do it fast because I am tired of the civilization and I miss so much the quiet and simple jungle life, I miss cooking over an open fire, sleeping in a hut, enjoying the tropical scenery, talking to people and find out things about their culture... He makes everything in His time so I'm waiting.... hoping that I will be soon on the way to the jungles of Vanuatu - my next earthly home for a while. Believe me, I am pretty excited about going there. I am also nervous since I am not going to an established mission like I went to in Guyana. I am going there and I will have to use all the talents that the Lord gave me to draw close to those people and befriend them, to make them my friends and make myself useful. What is really making me nervous is that most probably I will be there ALONE (Sebastian was in a hurry and didn't write too much but he said he will write again soon to give more details, but so far he sent some other missionaries by themselves), alone on an island, without any electricity and internet - I might have signal for my phone but if there is no electricity to charge it, I won't be able to use it for a long time. So, even though I am nervous, I can hardly wait to go and see what life will be like and how God will work in my life there.

So, here I am waiting for God to provide and hoping to be able to leave soon for my new home - because HOME is for me where God wants me to be.:)

My Sweet, Sweet Nephew

Isn't he adorable???

Thank You, God, for Strangers!!!

Yes, I thank the Lord for people that I don't know, or maybe I met them just once - strangers in a nutshell - whom He uses to talk to me, to reveal things or maybe just make things clearer for me.

This morning I decided to listen to one sermon while I was cooking. So I picked my computer and wondered if I should listen to one of Ron Clouzet's sermons that I hadn't listened to. The title didn't sound too promising to me: "Saul, Saul why persecute me?" I am not a persecutor, am I? I needed something to help me understand God's will for me... And even tough it seemed unpromising, I decided to give it a try. Little did I know that God had some many things to tell me through this sermon (I highly recommend it to everybody). He had a special message for me and I am so happy that I have listened to the still small voice that told me to listen to it.

There are many things that God told me but I will tell you just a few of them. I chose to write almost word by word the preacher's words... I wish you could listen to the sermon. It makes much more sense.

• In Acts 22 Paul was the only one able to hear God's voice. Others heard something but not the voice of Jesus. The same thing happened to the people of Israel on Mount Sinai. God spoke the 10 commandments. Only Moses understood God but people heard thunder. Sometimes we think that people ought to understand clearly what God is telling us clearly. But all they hear is thunder. But sometimes that thunder is our thunder because we have heard God and we have heard Him speak very clearly to us, then we thunder to others exactly the things we think they should have heard. But is nothing but thunder to them. Jesus deals with us individually. He knows exactly the timing, the process for each one of us... I'm not trying to discourage anyone from sharing what Jesus have said to them but keep it to that. Perhaps then God will use the Spirit in terms of your testimony to say to them: I want you to think about it. We try to make up with volume for what we assume it's a failure of the Holy spirit to speak with sufficient clarity sometimes.

• God's call to service is never ahead of His call to know Him. When God calls you He first calls you to know who He is and then He shows you whom He was. Are you going to let Him do that? Are you going to allow Him to take you through both these processes? Do not skip one for the other. Many of you here today are wrestling right now with where God wants you to work, whom does God want you to reach. If that is not clear to you, stick to the first part of your call: get to know Jesus. Get to know Him, get to know how you have persecuted Him, what He has done for you, how patient He has been with you, and He will show you at every corner, at every turn: these are the people I want you to reach, these are the doors that I am opening for you. He will not do that clearly until the first part of your call is settled in your heart. That's why missionaries come back burnt out. That's why people with a great zeal for God sometimes fall great distances: because they forget the first part and run away with the second. God is calling all of us to know Him personally.
• If God wants you to grow He will disturb your peace.

It may not make too much sens to you, but it makes to me. I know I have concentrated so much on understanding where God wants me to be, that I forgot to concentrate on knowing Him better. If God is still silent, I know now it is because He wants to teach me to concentrate on getting to know Him. I know that He disturbed my peace just because He wants me to grow. So I decided to leave my future in His hands and to concentrate on knowing Him. It's hard to describe in words evey impression, every thought that God gave me this morning. You know, these things are not new to me, but it is amazing how God make them clearer and make them appear new just because of the vessel He uses, just because of the way somebody is presenting them.

If God talked to me today it is because of someone (a man who is completely stranger for me) was willing to share what God taught Him at GYC and because another person whom I met one time was willing to share with me the sermons he had.

So, I thank God so much for unselfish strangers!!! Even though they do not know it, if one day I will be in heaven, it is also because of them and their willingness to share what they knew or had with others.

The Promised Stories - First

Three and a half years ago I was working as a secretary, not being happy at all with what I was doing. But since I knew the Lord had brought me there (that's another whole story), I couldn't leave without having the assurance that God wants me to leave. I remeber as now that on the 3rd of June, 2005 I was reading my Bible in the morning and I read from Isaiah 43:18-19: “Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert."

I had been praying for guidance for some time and it seemed that God is quiet and not making His will known to me. As I was reading these verse something deep inside me told me: "This is for you. This message is especially for you." I didn't know what it meant. I didn't know why it is for me and what is it telling me but I new it is for me.

A few hours later I was in my office checking my emails when I saw a new email from the principal of the school I was working for (who was also a good friend of mine). In short, the message was telling me that I am fired. The school board decided they do not have enough money to afford to have a secretary. So, starting with the 1rst of July I was jobless. Do you want to know my first reaction? Panic. I really, really paniced. It took some time to remember the verses I had read that morning but thanks God, I did eventually remember. The result? Peace. I knew my future is in His hands. I knew He told me just that morning to forget about the former things because He is making new things for me. What were those new things I didn't know. It took 4 months to understand His new plans for me and another month to get there. Five months later I was on my way to start a whole new life in a new place, new culture, new climate... That's when God brought me to Guyana -the best years, the best time, the best experience ever.

He Cares.. He Really Does...

I was sure that today I will be breaking the so-long-waited news: visa granted or not granted. In fact I hoped to be able to say: visa granted! But it seems the Lord has some other plans.

I woke up this morning and I spent time with the Lord. I have read from the Bible and Patriarchs and Profets about David - I just continued my study from where I left it yesterday. While I was meditating, I started thinking about David who was anointed when he was just a little kid and who became a king only when he was 24. In fact, he became a king only for Judah at the age of 24. Only when he was 30 the Israel accepted him as a king. What was in between? Playing the harp for Saul, killing Goliath, running away from Saul, befriending Jonathan. In fact, most of this in-between time David was chased being insecure and trying to save his life. And I couldn't help wondering why. Why did he have to run away when he was the king in God's eyes? Why did he have to have such a life when he was the one God anointed? Why did God alow him to live such a cruel life for such a long time? Just think that there were not just a few months.. there were years...

Having this in mind I started my day not knowing that God had a special message for me that I was going to understand later in the day.

When I called the embassy I had butterflies in my stomach. In fact, the whole week I could hardly eat. I could feel the stomach ache but I had no desire to eat, I felt even nauseated. I talked to the lady at the embassy and she told me she hasn't seen the invitation. Call back next weekend...I tried to talk to her see if there is any chance that I should know earlier if she found the invitation but she was very determined so I had to give up.

Then, as I was cooking today, David's story came again to my mind - and I finally understood why the Lord had me meditate on David's life this morning. If David waited for years to get what he knew it is his, what the Lord has promised Him, can't I wait a few months? I cannot tell you what a joy brought to my heart to understand the fact that God warned me, He wanted to prepare me for what was going to happen and to give me hope... Some will call it coincidence but I call it the LOVE of my Father.

You know, it is not the first time when God warns me. It is also not the first time when he uses David's story to answer a prayer, to give me direction and hope. But more about this tomorrow...

Happy Sabbath everyone!