Preparation and prayer

7-1-13 

Today bro Dave had a couple of surprises for the team, we didn't know what he had planned for us.  So we started the day off with breakfast as usual with the team followed by a trip to 2 markets to pick up food and water for the next couple of days. I couldn't help but feel that something was off and that satan was going to attack in some way whether it was through health issues or some other means I wasn't sure. Going to the different stores was quite fun because a lot of their foods are spelled with funny words in English.... When we finished shopping we went back to the Manary's to drop off the food and pick up Bro. Dave's family to go to the surprises that they had planned for us. Bro. Dave received a phone call that we would not be able to do the bigger surprise and this really bummed the Manary's out and they revealed to us what exactly the surprise was going to be. We were going to go to the orphanage to see the kids and get to play with them. Bro Dave's phone call revealed that the guy that they deal with at the orphanage has been placed on administrative leave for at least a week and a half, and that could be due to the fact that we are Baptists and the orphanage director is Romanian orthodox and she didn't like the fact that the Manary's were working in the orphanage, she didn't want them trying to convert the children, he is possibly coming back just when we  are to head home, satan is definitely trying to stop God from doing something amazing.  Naturally the team and I were bummed that we weren't going to get to see the kids. ***please pray with us a special prayer that God will soften the heart of the lady that runs the orphanage and that we will be able to go and spend time with the kids.  I believe that God is still in control and that if he wants us to be there then we will be, if not then he has something else amazing planned for us.

 The day went on, Bro Dave moved on to the 2nd surprise and on our way there we stopped to eat the lunch that sis Manary had made for us combined with the groceries that we picked up. Along the route to the surprise was a scenic place at the top of a mountain. We got out, took a few pictures, ate lunch, and fed the local dogs with our leftovers. (There are stray dogs everywhere here in Romania, they do not believe in spaying or neutering).  Sis Manary is trying very hard to make sure that we don't go hungry, and her cooking is delicious. As we were pulling away from our lunch spot we noticed what appeared to be a bunker so we stopped and a few of us got out to have a look. What we found was very cool, it appeared to be an old Cold War bunker with some spots for people to shoot at the enemy. So we took a few pictures and then continued on our way.  What bro Dave had for us was the opportunity to visit an old monastery where there was a lot of history. It was built in the early 1400s and is a major part of the Romanian Orthodox Church.  (Pictures on Facebook). As we went through the monastery we were given access to a few areas that are off limits to the general public. There is a lot of biblical paintings that were very cool to see as well as some sculptures. The people in Romania are very devoted to the Orthodox Church so it makes it very difficult to teach the truth because as they say if you are Romanian you are orthodox and vis a versa. It is engrained into them from a very young age. 

When we returned from the monastery bro and sis Manary needed to go to the hospital for a visit so the team went for a walk into town to get some postcards and ice cream. (What mission trip would be complete with out ice cream).  We made it back to the Manary's for another awesome dinner that sis Manary made for us. Then we moved into our nightly devotional time in which Lori gave her devotional on the importance of words then she gave a very emotional testimony, and we had another great night of discussion. We ended the devotional time with a circle of prayer for the orphanage situation. We had some discussions about the VBS for the next day and figured out some details... we are ready!! Tonight we were able to play a game with the team and Jessica (the Manarys oldest daughter). We had a great time of fellowship and actually ended the night a bit early so that we could be well rested for the VBS tomorrow. Please pray for us and the kids that will be at vbs tomorrow, I know out team is excited and ready.