Day 16 and 17: Break my heart for what breaks Yours...everything I am for Your kingdom's cause

Yesterday was Sunday, and our first church service that we attended was also a 50th wedding anniversary celebration for a couple in the church. It was such an honor to get to be a part of that celebration, and even though I couldn't understand what people were saying, it was still beautiful to see the children of this couple get up and speak about their parents. I could only imagine their words, but I'm sure that the couples lives had been extremely influential, as everyone there was very emotional.

Later on that day we went to Targu Mures with some of our friends from Gornesti and Reghin to see a concert(Attila had to preach). The group was called The Messengers, and Attila was really sad that he didn't get to go because they're one of his favorites. Imagine a Romanian version of the Gaither Homecoming. :) But, it was actually really fun and Katie and I were excited because we realized that we actually have friends here - comparable to our friends at home. I know that sounds strange, and I guess it's really not the same, but it was just so exciting for us to have people call us here and invite us to do things with them. We both thrive off of what little independence that we have, and our free time is so limited that we get excited about doing small things that are unplanned or by ourselves.

I have a prayer request that I would like to bring to your attention. The Seventh-Day Adventist group here are constantly doing everything they can to start conflicts with Attila and the gypsies in Apalina - sometimes it is worse than others, but they hate Attila and the ministry that he is doing with the people. This past week when we were teaching in Gornesti, he wasn't able to spend as much time in Apalina with the gypsies, and the Adventists apparently took note of this and took advantage of his absence. They targeted about ten of our older children in the village, namely the ones who are within a year or two of being considered adults by the village standards(12 and 13 year olds). They told the children that if they would come to the Adventist church, and quit spending time with Attila, then they would pay for these ten to go to an Adventist camp. And if the children would be baptized into the Adventist church they would take them to camp every year. The problem here is that they are using the children to deliberately hurt Attila. If paying for these kids to go to camp was just a gift, then that would be one thing, but manipulating them into the church is completely different. These children don't know the difference between the two groups and don't understand anything about doctrine; they simply see an opportunity to go to a camp about Jesus every year and have fun. They don't understand what they're doing. I don't want it to sound like we just want the the children to come to our camp because it's ours so it's better; I know I am biased, obviously I would rather the children came to our camp. It is just the way that the Adventists are going about manipulating the children that is upsetting, but there really is nothing that any of us can do about it and like Katie said in her blog, "This battle isn't against flesh." I'm asking for your prayers on behalf of these children, because thankfully God is in charge of their salvation, regardless of the decisions that they make this summer, however, I ask you to join us praying that all will end well.

Today we started our teaching in Reghin. We only have two classes, Beginner/Intermediate and Advanced. Katie and I are so excited though. Both of are classes are wonderful - and my "son" Alex from Apalina is in my Beginner/Intermediate class. Attila was surprised that he came, because he didn't even tell Alex about the English classes. He's the only child there! All of my students are either in their late teens or twenties, and Alex is 9. :) He is so precious - he didn't have any paper yesterday, so I gave him some, and that boy took a page and a half of notes, front and back! I went to the Billa and bought him a notebook, so he can take notes in that from now on. I want so much for everyone to enjoy them, but especially Alex because Katie and I long to be able to speak with our children in Apalina more than just a few words here and there.

Attila has informed Katie and I that we are to learn a new song every week to sing for the churces...we decided on Hosanna from Hillsong this week - I apologize for the length of this blog, but I'd like to share the lyrics with you because they I think they're so beautiful:

I see the King of Glory
Coming down the clouds with fire
The whole earth shakes
The whole earth shakes

I see His love and mercy
Washing over all our sin
The people sing
The people sing

Hosanna Hosanna
Hosanna in the highest

I see a generation
Rising up to take their place
With selfless faith
With selfless faith

I see a near revival
Staring as we pray and seek
We're on our knees
We're on our knees

Hosanna Hosanna
Hosanna in the highest

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you
Have loved me

Break my heart for what breaks yours
Everything I am for your kingdom's cause
As I walk from earth into
Eternity