I had a great day today-full of little things that made me smile:
-waffles-they actually turned out:)
-reminders of the love of my heavenly father
-park bench in the sun for writing letters to dear friends
-laughter
-cheap and delicious strawberries-you can't beat $0.50/lb
-walk in the rain
And heaven can only be better!
Saturday, May 28, 2005
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Did you ever wonder?
-Why do people feed street dogs that whimper and whine?
-Why are children disrespectful to adults?
-Why do the taxi operators get so frustrated?
-How can you instill in children a desire to care?
-Why do museums close before their posted closing times?
-Why are elevators so small in Romania?
-Why are words so powerful?
I am guessing that many of these never cross the minds of the multitudes, but they cross mine.
Father, please give me your wisdom and help me to understand those things that you want me to understand in the present. For the rest of the things in life that are beyond understanding in my mind, I trust you.
-Why are children disrespectful to adults?
-Why do the taxi operators get so frustrated?
-How can you instill in children a desire to care?
-Why do museums close before their posted closing times?
-Why are elevators so small in Romania?
-Why are words so powerful?
I am guessing that many of these never cross the minds of the multitudes, but they cross mine.
Father, please give me your wisdom and help me to understand those things that you want me to understand in the present. For the rest of the things in life that are beyond understanding in my mind, I trust you.
Saturday, May 21, 2005
Friday, May 20, 2005
Pieces
My heart broke today. It isn't the first time and I am sure it won't be the last time, but it was a bit unexpected. It started with the words, "Ms. Westrum, there's been an accident." I turned and one of my students was down on the grounds at the park where we were having our picnic lunch surrounded by students watching with concern. Even as I comforted her, I had no idea what had happened or what was the cause of the tears. Eventually, we were able to stand and walk toward a bench where she continued to cry. I was at a loss of how to help her. We started walking toward the church where we were going to practice for the spring concert. It was slow moving as I walked beside her holding her up and trying to support her as she hobbled along. The rest of the elementary swiftly passed us. I so wanted to be able to do anything to help her, to take away whatever was causing the pain.
I wonder sometimes if that isn't how God looks down on his children. He sees the pain that is in our lives, sometimes self "inflicted" and longs for us to tell him our hurts. I think he is also willing to walk beside us, supporting us while we hold onto our own pain.
When we arrived at the church, this young girl took some time in the bathroom and emerged with her pants legs rolled up, revealing wounded and bleeding knees. It was only when I could see what was causing the pain that I could do something. We found some bandaids and by the end of the day she seemed to be mostly recovered.
I am so thankful that God knows exactly what causes the pain in our lives, sometimes before we can identify what is causing it in our lives. He is our healer and comforter-even before I can "uncover" my hurts, he is working to bring about healing. Praise God!
I wonder sometimes if that isn't how God looks down on his children. He sees the pain that is in our lives, sometimes self "inflicted" and longs for us to tell him our hurts. I think he is also willing to walk beside us, supporting us while we hold onto our own pain.
When we arrived at the church, this young girl took some time in the bathroom and emerged with her pants legs rolled up, revealing wounded and bleeding knees. It was only when I could see what was causing the pain that I could do something. We found some bandaids and by the end of the day she seemed to be mostly recovered.
I am so thankful that God knows exactly what causes the pain in our lives, sometimes before we can identify what is causing it in our lives. He is our healer and comforter-even before I can "uncover" my hurts, he is working to bring about healing. Praise God!
Monday, May 16, 2005
Come again?
I am not sure whether my parents would find it so comforting to know that at two different times today, I had some "interesting" conversations with men today.
The first was this morning at the beach. I was in Constanţa for a field retreat this weekend and I decided to take one last walk on the beach before heading back to pile on the bus for the "short" ride home. On my way back toward the hotel, a man walking in the opposite direction asked for the time. After responding in Romanian, he decided to pursue the conversation further-did I live in Constanţa, where did I live in Bucharest, why was I here, was I single, could we walk together? After repeatedly turning down his pleas to walk together I was able to convince him that I needed to be on a bus immediately. Thus ended the interlude.
After arriving back in Bucharest, some 3 hours later than planned, my roommate and I stopped at the grocery store before heading to our apartment. We were obviously conspicuous because of our luggage and "American" look. While standing in line waiting to check out, we were discussing details of the weekend. A friendly man in front of us proceeded to give us advice about taking taxis in Bucharest. After checking out and claiming our luggage, we stepped outside to see him waiting for us. He asked which hotel we lived in and was surprised to learn that we lived in Romania (he was from Denmark here on business). Apparently from this new information, he decided that we weren't helpless women about to be taken advantage of by any passing taxi driver. Who would have known?
The first was this morning at the beach. I was in Constanţa for a field retreat this weekend and I decided to take one last walk on the beach before heading back to pile on the bus for the "short" ride home. On my way back toward the hotel, a man walking in the opposite direction asked for the time. After responding in Romanian, he decided to pursue the conversation further-did I live in Constanţa, where did I live in Bucharest, why was I here, was I single, could we walk together? After repeatedly turning down his pleas to walk together I was able to convince him that I needed to be on a bus immediately. Thus ended the interlude.
After arriving back in Bucharest, some 3 hours later than planned, my roommate and I stopped at the grocery store before heading to our apartment. We were obviously conspicuous because of our luggage and "American" look. While standing in line waiting to check out, we were discussing details of the weekend. A friendly man in front of us proceeded to give us advice about taking taxis in Bucharest. After checking out and claiming our luggage, we stepped outside to see him waiting for us. He asked which hotel we lived in and was surprised to learn that we lived in Romania (he was from Denmark here on business). Apparently from this new information, he decided that we weren't helpless women about to be taken advantage of by any passing taxi driver. Who would have known?
Saturday, May 14, 2005
Picking Rice
Last week, I decided to make chicken stir fry for dinner. I pulled the bag of rice out of the cupboard and proceeded to measure out the rice. As I was measuring the rice into the pan, I realized that there were small rocks throughout the rice. I proceeded to search through the entire pan of uncooked rice and remove all the small rocks and other foreign objects.
Later as I considered my actions, I thought about my life. I am so quick to accept only the "grains of rice" in my own life-those things that I think are nourishing for me and somewhat pleasing. I am quick to pick out or avoid those situations or experiences that would be like biting on a rock in the midst of a bite of rice. Whether it is a hard day at school or a difficult situation in a relationship, I am quick to "jump ship".
I recently read a book by John Piper entitled, "The Passion of Jesus Christ". In this book, Piper outlines fifty reasons why Jesus suffered and died. In one of these short chapters "To Obtain for Us All Things That are Good for Us", Piper states, "What then does it mean that because of Christ's death for us God will certainly with him graciously give us 'all things'? It means that he will give us all things that are good for us. All things that we really need in order to be conformed to the image of his Son (Romans 8:29). All things we need in order to attain everlasting joy."
Each situation is being used in my life to bring about God's plan and he will work it for good. Who am I to question what God uses in my life or to easily accept the "easy" situations and shrug off the ones that I find more frustrating or painful?
Later Piper continues, "God will meet every real need, including the ability to rejoice in suffering when many felt needs do not get met. God will meet every real need, including the need for grace to hunger when the felt need for food is not met. The suffering and death of Christ guarantee that God will give us all things that we need to do his will and to give him glory to attain everlasting joy."
Praise God that He is all that we need-for each and every situation. We can do all things through Him.
Later as I considered my actions, I thought about my life. I am so quick to accept only the "grains of rice" in my own life-those things that I think are nourishing for me and somewhat pleasing. I am quick to pick out or avoid those situations or experiences that would be like biting on a rock in the midst of a bite of rice. Whether it is a hard day at school or a difficult situation in a relationship, I am quick to "jump ship".
I recently read a book by John Piper entitled, "The Passion of Jesus Christ". In this book, Piper outlines fifty reasons why Jesus suffered and died. In one of these short chapters "To Obtain for Us All Things That are Good for Us", Piper states, "What then does it mean that because of Christ's death for us God will certainly with him graciously give us 'all things'? It means that he will give us all things that are good for us. All things that we really need in order to be conformed to the image of his Son (Romans 8:29). All things we need in order to attain everlasting joy."
Each situation is being used in my life to bring about God's plan and he will work it for good. Who am I to question what God uses in my life or to easily accept the "easy" situations and shrug off the ones that I find more frustrating or painful?
Later Piper continues, "God will meet every real need, including the ability to rejoice in suffering when many felt needs do not get met. God will meet every real need, including the need for grace to hunger when the felt need for food is not met. The suffering and death of Christ guarantee that God will give us all things that we need to do his will and to give him glory to attain everlasting joy."
Praise God that He is all that we need-for each and every situation. We can do all things through Him.
Thursday, May 12, 2005
Strawberries
Little red berries are starting to show up in the market more frequently. It was wonderful to bring some home with me the other day. What a wonderful snack! I look forward to watching the prices fall with each day.
Monday, May 09, 2005
Mega Image
Earlier this week I was in Mega Image (our neighborhood grocery store) and noticed a new product that was really exciting to me. It wasn't taco shells or even good quality peanut butter. Instead, Magnum bars have finally made it to this part of Eastern Europe. I enjoyed a wonderful ice cream bar on my walk home.
Saturday, May 07, 2005
Thunder
Bucharest was hit with a thunderstorm that came back again and again during the day yesterday. Scattered throughout were times of sun and calm and then a bolt of lightning and rolling thunder would signal the impending rain. The streets of Bucharest were flooded with the rain when I ventured out and I ended up mostly soaked on my walk home-only intensified because I had left my umbrella at home.
It made me think of how God cleanses us-completely and thoroughly, again and again. He takes and washes everything away-as far as the east is from the west just as the water swept away dirt and debris. It never returns to us. May we allow God to completely cleanse us and allow our dirt and debris to be completely washed away. May we believe that he has truly forgiven us and satan has no business bringing things up again.
Baby Hospital
I spent the morning at the hospital near my apartment. There are two rooms there with babies who have been abandoned by their parents. I can't imagine how anyone could leave their child in one of the hospitals in Romania-being so uncertain about what will happen. These babies haven't been named so we talk to them by their last names: Georgescu, Margu, Parvan.
I arrived at 11:30 expecting that the nurse would bring in bottles around 12. They are fed every three hours whether they are hungry or not. It was after 1:00 when I finally left and still there had been no bottles for these babies. I was alone in a room of seven infants. There were two swings in the room which helped occupy two while I alternated holding the others. Hold one until it stopped crying and then switch to the next one that started crying. It was heartbreaking to have to put babies down that so needed attention and food in order to comfort another.
As I held these babies, it was amazing to be able to offer words of hope "isus te iubeşte" (Jesus loves you) and to be able to talk with them in my limited Romanian and fluent English.
Father, may they know your love. Please watch over each of these children, your children. May you provide for their every need. May they know that they are not alone-for you are with them. Amen
I arrived at 11:30 expecting that the nurse would bring in bottles around 12. They are fed every three hours whether they are hungry or not. It was after 1:00 when I finally left and still there had been no bottles for these babies. I was alone in a room of seven infants. There were two swings in the room which helped occupy two while I alternated holding the others. Hold one until it stopped crying and then switch to the next one that started crying. It was heartbreaking to have to put babies down that so needed attention and food in order to comfort another.
As I held these babies, it was amazing to be able to offer words of hope "isus te iubeşte" (Jesus loves you) and to be able to talk with them in my limited Romanian and fluent English.
Father, may they know your love. Please watch over each of these children, your children. May you provide for their every need. May they know that they are not alone-for you are with them. Amen
Sunday, May 01, 2005
Hristos a înviat!
He is risen!
Last night I attended a midnight Easter service at the main Orthodox church in Bucharest. There was a large crowd gathered outside of the church even prior to 12. Large screens were set up so many could see what was happening in the entrance of the church. Bells tolled marking the beginning of the service marked with tranditions.
I was amazed at how many Bucharestians ventured outside of their homes at such a late hour to celebrate an event that has no meaning. As a part of the service, we each lit our candle and at least began the journey to our apartments carrying lit candles-to symbolize the light Christ brings to the darkness of this world.
And yet even as candles lit up the city on this night, I was reminded of the great darkness that remains in this city.
Father, may you bring light to the city of Bucharest. May I shine for you in the darkness of this community. Thank you for being the light of the world.
Last night I attended a midnight Easter service at the main Orthodox church in Bucharest. There was a large crowd gathered outside of the church even prior to 12. Large screens were set up so many could see what was happening in the entrance of the church. Bells tolled marking the beginning of the service marked with tranditions.
I was amazed at how many Bucharestians ventured outside of their homes at such a late hour to celebrate an event that has no meaning. As a part of the service, we each lit our candle and at least began the journey to our apartments carrying lit candles-to symbolize the light Christ brings to the darkness of this world.
And yet even as candles lit up the city on this night, I was reminded of the great darkness that remains in this city.
Father, may you bring light to the city of Bucharest. May I shine for you in the darkness of this community. Thank you for being the light of the world.
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