Romania #2

Today was our first day serving with our local partners. We ate breakfast as a team at our hotel, had a quick devo, and headed to the church. This Romanian Baptist church is a main center for UBC 22 (Ukraine Bucharest Churches) and is currently housing and feeding 25 Ukrainians. Today people were getting haircuts from professional hairstylists in the lobby and later in the afternoon kids were taken to a climbing gym for an afternoon out. The church was full of people of all ages coming in and out all day, with Romanians, Ukrainians, and Americans occupying every room. 

Pastor Jon, the main pastor, met with us to give an overview of the events of the last year and the ways they have sought to meet the needs of all the Ukrainians coming through to Romania. He took us on a tour of the facility equipped with washing machines, showers, dormitories in previous Sunday School classes, and kitchen. Their resourcefulness and dependence on God was so evident and encouraging. Pastor Jon told many stories of the ways that God had provided land and buildings to the church even before the war in Ukraine. Today that land and those spaces are being used for the purpose of hosting many displaced families due to the war. As a team, we spent our time sorting and re-bagging plastic forks, knives, spoons, sugar packets, salt and pepper, and napkins (close to 2,500 of each!) so that meal times could go as smooth as possible. We were glad to help with this seemingly simple project that took our team of 10 several hours but will allow the Romanian church volunteers to focus on more pressing needs! We hope to get a good nights rest and are excited to be serving again tomorrow!

- Riley for the team