Day 43 and 44: The Fourth of July Romanian style

Yesterday was Independence day in America. I've been really homesick ever since we got back from Vienna. I think Katie put it well when she said, "Going to Vienna was like going to the West, and now we're back in the East here in Romania." I loved our trip so much, and I love it here in Romania - it is my second home, so I feel guilty saying I'm homesick, but really I just miss my family a LOT. Especially on days like July 4th because of the memories associated with it.

But enough sad talk. Katie and I were determined that we would celebrate regardless of where we were located, so we made a box of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese(brought from San Antonio,TX) cut up hotdogs and put them in our macaroni, had BBQ chips, and we even bought ice cream - although it was a little bit of a disappointment. Attila made us suffer through his version of American patriotic music - I'll give you one guess as to who the artists were...That's right the Gaithers. Haha, it was painful, and I'm afraid Katie and I gave him a hard time about itfor a little while. :D
But then we found out after dinner, that there was a huge celebration in the Reghin City center, so we walked up there to check it out. Apparently, every city has a three day celebration every year, and this weekend was Reghin's. There are going to be fireworks tonight!! So we'll only be one day off. Every one comes to the center - it's an all day thing, and they have TONS of food, and games, and live concerts. It was so much fun. There are even people selling jewelry and other handmade crafts and toys. Katie and I are so excited to go back tonight. The fireworks are at midnight, and we have heard that it's a very good show. So we're getting our 4th of July celebration after all. God takes care of us in such little ways, I think a lot of times, I don't even notice it, but this was so unexpected and I didn't realize how much it would mean to me. "How amazing is your love. How can I keep from singing your praise? I know I am loved by the King and it makes my heart want to sing."

Aunt Bonnie is coming in tonight!! I cannot WAIT to see her. I'm so ready for our camp with the children. I missed them a lot this week, and I am so excited about getting to spend so much time with my favorite children in the world. We leave on Thursday. I hope that God blesses our time at the camp in Sibiu, and we are able to build on the relationships that we aleady have with the children and form new ones with the new children coming. Please pray for a safe bus ride there - it's about four hours and many of the children have never been in a vehicle, so they get very carsick. I ask also for prayers that every word that we say and every action would be from God, and that these children would come to know His love through us, and that we wouldn't be seen at all, but that He alone would be visible.

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;

where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love;

for it is in giving that we receive,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.