Planning and Preparing

Maura Elkins

Hello, This is my first time being part of a mission team overseas and I am thrilled to be a part of this journey. I'm not always on time, definitely not always organized, but I like to plan. There is such a joy that comes from waiting down the tasks for the day and plans for my life. 

Yet the Lord's plans are often quite different from mine and my dreams don't always line up with His. When I was asked to consider being a part of this trip my heart was quite hesitant. This was most certainly not in my plans! Through prayer and counsel the Lord gave a clear, "Yes, you should go!" The Lord is so amazing and has provided this opportunity to worship with believers from across the globe and share my testimony. It is a joy to give my time and plans to share His love and proclaim His goodness in Romania. 

It has been a marvelous time preparing and planning for this trip. I've enjoyed getting my passport, travel luggage, and preparing my heart to see the wonderful things that the Lord will do in April. Please pray that the team will be free in giving and bold in sharing the Gospel. All glory to God! He truly deserves the praise!

Mountain Tops and Bran Castle

The team saw many beautiful sights while driving on the Transfagarasan, which is the highest road in Romania. It was sunny and beautiful, it rained, it hailed, but most of all it was an experience of God's handiwork. The following day they took a tour of the Bran Castle. This is such an interesting historical sight. The grand finale after lunch was papanache. This is a fried dough, similar to a doughnut covered in a sweet sour cream sauce and fruit preserves. The close-up photo of panache is served without the cream sauce. However, the apricot preserves were excellent as the sole accompaniment! 

Waiting to Board!

We are excited to be on our way. We are missing one of our team members who had a medical issue that prohibited him from coming, however, we are all anticipating God to work in and through us as we connect with our friends in Romania!

Please keep us and the Romanian people in your prayers.

Young Friends at the Danube Delta

Our team traveled all the way across Romania and down to the Danube Delta. While there we got to spend some time with some young friends. We sang, played games, and laughed a lot! You can watch a very short video clip of a couple of the songs we sang together. There were more pictures taken, however the cable didn't make the trip with us, so we may get to see them later. But for now, enjoy the short video.

Adventure on the Danube Delta!

We had an exciting opportunity to take a boat ride down several channels and through four lakes in the Danube Delta.  This is a massive wet land where there are many many bird species.  It was a three hour tour and we had sun, wind, and rain.  But we also had black cormerants, swans, and pelicans!  By the dozens!  You will enjoy these pictures and few short videos!



               

Our boats and guides

At times we were covered by an arch of trees

Beautiful willows were everywhere

This is a wild dog that one of our guides has befriended
and knows the sound of his engine and
ran along the shore for a very long way with us

White Heron

Unknown bird enjoying his catch!

Black Cormorant Baby in the bamboo

White Cormorant in flight

One of the four lakes we explored

The other boat goofing around

The sea of lily pads were unbelievable!

These yellow lily pads are protected as are the white.
That might explain why they spread as far as you can see.

Our guides got us up close and personal

Here is an expanse of the white lilies.  

And a few shots closer up

All the vegetation in the water kept binding the outboard motors.
They had to keep cleaning them off.

As we made our way out of this lake we followed the channel between the lily pads.
It was quite a sight.

We ran into a rain storm.  It was a good one!

One of the boats used a tarp to keep us dry.
The other used a canopy.

But we all got significant wet!  But it
was definitely worth it.

Ducks flying in V formation

A bamboo fork in the channel.
We picked the right channel.

These are Black Cormorants

Here are a few still photos of our God given encounter
with the Pelicans.
 

Photo Credits go to: Amy and Matthew Walker and Daphne Edmonston

Șiria Fortress And Cookout With Friends

Team at the top of an arch in the ruins

The team was invited to a great day of adventure and fellowship.  We drove out into Arad County near the ruins of the Șiria Fortress and then we had a wonderful cookout with some of our friends from Betel Baptist in Arad.

The picture above is of our team on top of an arch in the ruins.  It is amazing to be that close to a building that is that old.  If you continue with this post you will see some stunning pictures of the hike up - and I mean UP!  As well as more of our time with our friends.

This is the wonderful group of friends
that have kept us well fed.  We love you!

We want to thank George and Aurelia for their hospitality at their wonderful cabin and for George’s great cooking.  We also thank Florica and Florica for being so faithful in helping to cook and serve us so many wonderful meals.

This is probably also a really good place to thank our hosts and friends the Zaharia family.  Pastor John and his wife Mariana and Cristian and Alina!  We are so happy God has brought us all together.




Here are a few pictures from our hike, exploration and visitation!

Tabitha finds a friend

George answering plant questions