Salut from Romania!

Salut!

Hello from Romania! We have been here for a week now and how the time has flown by. After arriving in Bucharest last Saturday, our journey continued as we traveled north through the Carpathian Mountains and across Transylvania to Tarnaveni. We have spent the last week teaching the Gypsy children VBS at the Fundatia Buckner Day Center in the mornings as well as visiting group homes in the afternoon. The children at the Day Center, or CDC, are as precious and rambunctious as can be! Although initially they were a little timid to meet this strange group of smiling Americans, they quickly warmed to our smiles and were more than eager to share their thoughts and hugs with us.

When I prepared for this trip, I asked that the Lord would use me as a vessel to share his love with the children of the world. It was, and is, my prayer that hearts would be touched. I knew that I would experience a wealth of emotions but I didn't realize the extent to which these children would move me. I had hoped to bring them joy and love but did not expect the generous love that I have received in turn. In the mornings, we teach 3-6 year olds. Yesterday, we began with a Bible lesson and two children beckoned me to come sit with them. One little girl greeted me with a wide grin. She reached up to hug me with arms spread wide and tiny hands, each adorned with a sticker she had received the prior day. Here, these stickers, or "stampile" are dear treasures so I was humbed and overwhelmed with emotion when she reached to remove one of her treasures and presented it to me as a gift. I was so touched by her generosity. As I thanked her in Romanian, she responded, cu placere, or "with pleasure"-and that's exactly what she meant. The smile that ran from ear to ear was full of joy and reflected a heart of love. She was more than happy to give of something that she had so little because the love she had in her heart was so great. She then grabbed my hand while a little boy next to me reached up to put his arm around my shoulder. For the entire story, he streched his tiny arm up mine and placed his hand behind my shoulder. While the little boy may have been one of the oldest of the children in the group, his display of affection was so pure. He smiled as I put my arm around him and the display of contentment that covered his face conveyed that he simply wanted to be loved. I looked down at the little girl who rested her head on my lap, and I knew that she too yearned for affection. As she clutched my hand and drew it to her chest, my heart was broken and began to overflow with love for the children that surrounded me.

I feel there is so much I am learning from these children. Their eagerness to learn and their joyous smiles could truly move mountains. I am humbled by the Gypsy children's generous affections and so thankful to have the oportunity to share God's word with them. Each and every day that I spend with them is truly a blessing! I know that my life has been touched and I pray that theirs may be as well.

Pace! (peace)

Lauren