Day #9-I will always remember

Oh the kind of memories you make on missions trips. Some funny, some serious, and some life changing. But no matter what category they fit in they all are important. Some of the memories I have already made are enough to fill a book....but don't worry, I'll only share a few. The first is probably eating a traditional dinner at Vera's house. Her hospitality and great food show's how wonderful people can be....even to total strangers. It was so nice to be able to share a meal with a total stranger and feel completely comfortable (and at home!). The second I found pretty hysterical. Yesterday at the orphanage their was a young woman who was obsessed with rings. She would come over to you pull your hand up close to her face and inspect your rings. She would touch them to her face and would touch them delicately. As she was "inspecting" my ring she noticed my thumb. Now for those of you that don't know, most people make fun of my thumbs saying that they look like toes on my hands (and I have to agree that they look pretty abnormal :). So when she noticed my thumb I thought to myself....oh here we go. She was fascinated with it and pulled at my other hand to make sure my other thumb was the same way. I couldn't keep from giggling at the escapade and was very pleased that my thumbs brought enjoyment to her. The third memory would also be at the orphanage, but this time with a girl named Rodica. She was the first to greet us as we came out of the van, and her enthusiasm was contagious. As we toured the last building Rodica came over to me and started carrying on a very random conversation. Then she went over to a stack of papers and pulled out a picture she colored. When she gave it to me I couldn't help but smile. Her smile was so big and her face just beamed (you would have thought she had painted the mona lisa). Shen then quickly grabbed my hand and would not let go. She told me repeatedly that she thought I was beautiful and she was so excited to show me her room. When we went in she pointed to all the pictures she colored on her wall and hurriedly went to her dresser and pulled out a ripped photo of herself and presented it to me. I was touched and I will never forget her face as long as I live. The last memory is the babies. I will always remember the way they cuddle up to me when I hold them, their smiles when you make silly faces at them, and their sweet faces in general. I thank God for every moment I have with them. I'm sure more memories will be made in this next week and I'm so anxious to tell all of you out there about them. Until then, GOD BLESS and have a great week :)

Day #8 - Heaven never looked so good!

Today was our recharge day as we didn't have to work at the hospital or village. We did, however, get to do some pretty cool things. First of all, we drove about an hour outside the city to a place where there is a special-needs orphanage. We got to see the four house-like buildings that comprised the housing and practical facilities such as class rooms and learned a few things. About 60+ special needs individuals live at the orphanage and their independence varies. I was informed that most of the young adults that we saw there today were actually there from childhood and would likely stay there until they died. Unlike the U.S., there are no jobs and no rehab/training for these people so the orphanage IS their life. The staff were all warm and welcoming and I could tell that they loved those young adults which was good to see after some of the hostility I was used to seeing in some of the nurses at the hospital. The orphanage provides the residents with activities and practical training in motor-skills and some hobbies which they employ to pass the time. As can be expected, the residents loved the visitors and it seemed that each of our group members were selected by one resident or another with which to lavish their little gifts - namely colored pictures, braided bracelets, and some photographs they had of themselves. We gave a few gifts ourself which were fruit and candy, both of which they enjoy very much and it was cool to spend some time with them.
Going back some years in Romanian history, special needs children were completely neglected and Romanians were actually taught that a "special needs romanian" didn't exist; they were a perfect race. That idea, though ignorant and foolish, became common opinion and it wasn't until the special needs orphans were seen in their hid-away orphanage that people actually realized they existed. Today the children are acknowledged and programs designed (though somewhat basic) to take care of these people to the best of their knowledge and the expertise they have to offer.
After we returned from our orphanage visit, we got some down time then went to a birthday party at a dear family's house from the church we visited last sunday, an acquaintance Scott had made on a previous trip. We weren't sure what to expect but we went hoping for a good time and I can honestly say, the family and their friends delivered! The small apartment that the family lived in was jammed full of friends and family plus our 8 member team and I assure you, it was most definitely standing room only. However cramped the house was, however, the warmth of the Romanians overwhelmed any discomfort the team felt. Although a few couldn't speak english, most could and we were able to have wonderful, meaningful, laughter-filled conversations with a group of Romanian believers. While the purpose of the gathering was to celebrate another year of life for one person, it turned into a glorious celebration of all of our lives, united under the Lordship of Christ. Much to my surprise, the birthday party was filled with some reading of a few Bible passages of blessing and many worship songs. The group was so accommodating and sang songs that we also sang in America which allowed the whole room, both Romanian and American alike, to lift up their voice in one song. Although we were singing in two different languages, the unity I felt as I looked around that room couldn't be stopped by language; it was much bigger than that. It was an experience I wish everyone gets to taste one time or another in their life. Heaven never sounded so good as it does at this moment.
There are so many things that won't fit into this blog that I wish I could include; there are so many details that are rushing into my mind right now that I don't have room to write; there are conversations, feelings, impressions, and revelations that could I could fill a book with. But you know, I don't thing I want to. Some things won't ever fit into words; its the way things are. And you know, I think some things were never meant to...

<3 Lindsay

Sunshine and Sorrow

As the title states, we are experiencing wonderful weather here. Mostly all sun with temps. up to the 50's. GLORIOUS!!! But as I walk in the sunshine and view the sights, I'm constantly reminded of the children in the hospital. The only sunshine and spring air they feel is what pours in from the tiny crack in the window that the nurses open. When I cradle them in my arms I constantly wonder, what does their future look like? What kind of life will they lead? Will some of them even make it out of here alive? Today I was in a room where I have been often, just haven't said much about. It's still on the genetics floor, but there's only one with a genetics disorder in this particular room. But there is a child with down syndrome(kevin), a normal child(alexandra) and twins(sonia, and stefan). Stefan is like any other 8 month old (only on the small side, like every child here), but sonia is a good 4 months behind her brother. They also believe that she is either partially or totally blind. It's so heart breaking to watch her try to achieve a rather ordinary task for an 8 month old. Something like putting her thumb in her mouth takes her a good minute or two. She puts her hand in front of her face stares at it and then attempts to reach her mouth, but usually hits her cheek. She's a dependent little thing though. Every time I try to guide her hand in her mouth she pulls it out and tries herself. Her determination shows me that she's a fighter and she'll make it through ok. Everyday God shows me through these babies that just because I may have a small obstacle in my way doesn't mean I should give up. Kevin for example is such an inspiration to me. His digestion system is so messed up that every time his bowels move he screams because of the pain shooting through his body. But after the screaming ceases he looks at you and smiles. Kevin goes through this many times a day...EVERY DAY!!! What strength to be able to wake up every morning, know the trials you face, but still keep on going. These are just some of many children their that go through daily struggles. I am deeply humbled and will think twice next time I go to complain! I challenge you to do the same!!!

Day #6 - They call us "the village people"

Today was my second day at the gypsy village, helping out with kids from ages 2-10. Scott has endearingly dubbed us "the village people" and asks daily if I'm the indian. :) But seriously, what an experience... Although not all the children are gypsies, they are all impoverished and...well...violent. I'm not sure if it's their environment or parental example (in Romania, domestic violence is acceptable) but the children are excessively physical and violent. Today alone, I broke up three fist fights from boys and girls alike and these children are definitely NOT taught ground rules like sharing, personal boundaries, and how to be nice to each other. Biting, hair pulling, slapping, punching, and scraping are how they communicate and it was rough to watch them interact in such dysfunctional ways. My heart goes out to them but I was the most frustrated i've ever been on this trip at the village. In a way, I just felt powerless to make a difference when I could not speak to them and I could not change in a day what they've been taught throughout many years. I did my best to have a good attitude and concerns spinning around in my head that it was deafening. The kids also suffered from very poor hygiene and it was obvious as they walked in with mud-caked pants and torn shirts that smelled of body odor and refuse that the children aren't well cared for. I'm sure Leslie will post something about her experience in the village, but in my opinion, it was rank, devastating, frustrating, saddening, and depressing to the deepest levels. Facing situations like the village are part of what this trip is about and I'm grateful for the experience but I now know the heartache God must feel as He looks down at these children. The staff at the village do a great job but I know its not a job I could do.
On a lighter note, we visited the house of a volunteer nurse tonight for dinner. Vera and her family hosted our entire team and served us a wonderful meal that was matched only by the warmth of their hospitality. I was grateful for such a pleasant experience after two hard days at the village and hospital. I got to moved to the 7th floor of the hospital yesterday and today which still houses abandoned children but these children aren't suffering from any health problems. I enjoyed meeting some new babies and although the nurses were gruff, I also met a few kind faces that I desperately needed. I wish I could paint an adequate picture of everything I'm seeing and experiencing but some things can't be shown in words. I am absolutely exhausted as I write this and am gladly anticipating having the afternoon free tomorrow. Until Saturday, stay posted.

<3 Lindsay

Day #5- This is what it's about!

What a rough day! I had P.M. shift which I thought would be less stressful. Boy, was I wrong. At the beginning of my shift I was on our usual floor(genetics 9th floor) but today they needed us on the 7th. There are no genetic disabilities on the floor, but that doesn't mean the atmosphere was any different. There were two rooms that me and lindsay had to watch between the two of us which I thought was pretty easy. The first room had an adorable 2 week old that was a little peanut. I decided to go over to the second room where there were only two kids. A little girl: four months old and a little boy:1 1/2 years old named Daniel. I put Daniel in the swing while I entertained him! As I was swinging him a nurse busts through the door and starts shouting romanian. Not far behind was an indian family. 2 parents and an older girl(around 10 years old) and two screaming little boys(about 1 and 2). It didn't take me long to figure out that I was about to witness another drop-off. The boys(the ones being dropped off) were clinging to there mother while she forcefully pushed them into the crib. I will always remember how the youngest one tried to jump over the crib gate as the nurse was pulling it up. The parents and the girl then quickly hurried away with not even a goodbye or a second glance. I was mortified! Unlike the first drop-off, this one was very forceful and the nurses had no compassion what so ever. I decided to make myself useful and entertain the children. I pulled out some toys and tried to get them engaged; it took me 10 minutes to get them to stop looking at the doors and windows and to cease crying. I finally got them to quiet down when the same nurses busts through the door yet again, grabs the youngest boy by the arm and carries him out. His screams could be heard all the way down the hall way. The older boy was crying again by this time and it took me another 5-10 minutes to quiet him down. Yet again the nurse reappears, throws the younger boy in the crib(hitting his head off the rails) and dragging the eldest to his feet and making him walk down the hall way. I looked at the younger boy and noticed that they put a small port in his foot for easy IV access I guess. Right then and there tears started pouring down my face. I tried to smile and entertain the screaming toddler, but how on earth do you comfort a kid who has lost everything he has ever known?! A little later the nurse comes back in with the other boy(also with a port in him) throwing him down on the crib and roughly changing both their diapers. I was shocked she did this much. The older boy kept looking out the window with a distant look in his eyes. After looking a couple of seconds he would begin to cry. I was thankful that he fell asleep, because the look in his eyes was unbearable. "How can any one do this?" I kept asking myself. I wanted to give up and come back home. But then I was reminded that someone needs to show these kids love. The younger boy started to calm down and actually started to have fun. The brothers crib(yes they were in one crib) was beside Daniels' and it didn't take them long to connect. The abandoned boy would swing his stuffed animal hitting it on the crib bars making Daniel laugh so hard it was barely audible. I couldn't help but giggle as I saw the smiles on both their faces. I guess this is what it's all about. Giving love to those who have none. If I go home with accomplishing nothing but that....I will be a happy girl! Well, thats all for now. Please continue praying for the brothers and every other child in the hospital! CIAO for now!!!

Day #4 - Little victories and a bleeding heart

What a day! I've been having a lot of fun venturing around Oradea, trying new things and giving my wordless communication a try, and I want to say that its been a blast. Today was my first day shopping and there's really only one real place to go - where the locals go, of course! We went to a local market and it was great! I managed to buy an alarm clock that I desperately needed from a Romanian man who spoke no english and even as I type this, I'm laughing as I remember our hand gestures and guessing that comprised our communication. Both I and my shopping companion were successful, however, and we walked away victorious.
I only spent half the day enjoying this small victory though because after lunch as a local cafe, we headed to the hospital for my second shift of the week. The babies are simply beautiful and I can't help but smile when they turn their big eyes to look at me. As much as they make me smile though, some of them will rip your heart out as they struggle through each day in pain. Sebastian is two years old but looks to be about 6 months old. His typical position is a perfect 'U' shape - his head craned backward and his legs straight as boards from hip to toe. One of the nurses told me a little about him and informed me that 6 days out of the week, he is in excruciating pain that keeps him from sleeping. Even when picked up, Sebastian retains his 'U' shape and often grunts because of the pain he is experiencing. Heartbreaking? You have no idea... Samuil is also 2 years old. His neck is also craned but not as severely; he cranes his neck for a practical reason - he can't close his mouth, he can't swallow, and he can't coordinate saliva running down his throat and breathing. It is absolutely heart wrenching to listen to him breathe; you can hear all the fluid in his lungs and whenever he get's his bottle, it is a giant ordeal of trying to get the milk into his stomach and not his lungs. He will sometimes lay his head on your shoulder but only for a moment or two because he will then jerk his head backwards so the saliva that has collected in his mouth will hopefully go down his throat before he tries to breathe again. It is a devastating ordeal to watch. Roxana is 1 1/2 yrs old and has what is thought to be separation anxiety. She lays on her stomach all day and refuses to be held. She cries whenever you put your hands around her and whenever you touch her little hand, she quickly retracts it like she touched something hot. She is pittifully small and her skin is so sickishly pale, its almost see-thorugh. It brings tears to my eyes as I think of how badly I want to hold her and take her pain away. Her abandonment, however, has isolated her into a world she won't let anyone in.
Sebastian, Samuil, and Roxana are only a few of the many needy children that we are working with. It hurts my heart but everything is worth it when you can make them smile or at least quiet them for a moment or two. I am so grateful to be here and it was worth every bit of sacrifice I made. I am most definitely where I need to be! <3 Lindsay

Here are some pictures of our adventures so far:

Day #3-

Today was our first work day in the hospitals. Me, Hannah, and Janice worked the morning shift while the others stayed at the hotel or went to a village nearby. The first thought that popped into my head was "this is it?". I tried to prepare myself for what I would see, but I don't think anything could have prepared me for what I saw. First off the building had chipping paint with a dirty walkway that led to the front door. When we entered you could tell that cleanliness was not one of their concerns. Everything was dark and dingy. There was no front desk area at all! We got to the 6th floor where our storage room was. This floor was probably the nicest floor in the whole hospital...(which isn't saying much). At our meeting last night, Mihaela told us we would be working with the Genetics Ward. She said there were some genetic disability kids there but most were just overflow. When I walked in, I thought "this isn't too bad". But when I looked at the first kid(one who had a genetic disability) I actually thought about running out right then and there. It was heart breaking to see this two year old child who looked like a 8-month old laying on it's back and whimpering. This poor child couldn't even cry audibly because of the junk in it's lungs. Every breath it took you could just hear the congestion. The clothing situation is interesting. In the U.S. you can usually tell the gender of the child by the clothing...but not in this case. So i'm not even sure if this child was a boy or girl. Well anyway when I held this child(sammil was it's name) my heart was crushed. Through big, tear-filled, crusty brown eyes I could see pain. Sammil looked at me and as I started humming to it, it started to calm down and snuggle with me. I have to admit, at first I acted like Sammil had an infectious disease and for that i'm ashamed. But this was just a hurting child that really got no love. The hospitals had gotten better since last year. There was one nurse who showed love to the children, and for that I was grateful. But most of the other nurses yanked the children out of their cribs and roughly carried them to wherever. I got to witness a pick-up and a drop-off. The pick-up was very interesting as the parents came in with a pile of clothes maybe a foot high. By the time the couple was ready to leave all the clothes were on the child. The most effective thing I saw so far was the drop-off. A puffy eyed woman came in to the room I was working in and of course I didn't really understand but the nurses chased her out. Not 5 minutes later, the supervisor(or someone higher up) came in a started talking aggressively with the nurses. After that the puffy eyed lady came back in, gave her baby to the nice nurse, and walked out. The screams of the child still echo in my head. This child was changed quickly and placed in a crib. He cried for 30 minutes. We didn't want to pick him up automatically because we didn't want him to get used to being held but after that grueling 30 minutes or so, we gave in. How anyone could treat a child like this baffles my mind. Feeding the children was just as interesting. The nipples of the bottles were the size of a regular straw. The milk looked like melted butter with chunks of oatmeal in it. The baby Janice held downed the bottle in 2 minutes. The one baby I fed, Viola, took a little longer. She coughed and spit some up every 2 minutes. You could tell by looking in her eyes that she was very sick. After five hours we were done with our shift. Right now Lindsay is on the PM shift. Keep praying for us as this is very exhausting; emotionally and physically! For now, BLESSINGS FROM ROMANIA!

-Lesloe

Day #2 - Food brings out the best in people

Well, day #2 is almost at an end and let me say, it's already been quite the experience. Today was our first official day in Romania and we commenced our trip by attending church this morning. What an awesome experience! Besides the fact that we looked like the freak show rolling into the sanctuary (scott + 7 women, all but one of which are blonde=SHADY!), we had a wonderful time. Thankfully, there were several kind congregation members who spoke english and translated the service for us. The pastor preached from Numbers 17 about holiness and how we, like Israel, lose sight of what holiness is and get confused as to our identity and who are target example was - Jesus. It was very challenging and I loved every minute.

After service, we decided to get food at a restaurant recommended to us by the missionaries. The catch: we went by ourselves. Being the brave souls that we are, we decided that ordering food without a translator would be a fun challenge. It was fun alright. All of the team members took a different approach to ordering. Scott took the educated approach - he converted what little spanish he knew and guessed accordingly. Diane took the blind approach - she closed her eyes, put her finger on the menu and that's what she ordered. Hannah took the surprise me approach - picked a meat and guessed the rest. Leslie took the yes approach - she told the waitress she wanted steak and whatever the waitress said next, she said yes. My oh my did we get some interesting results. Scott wanted steak and got smothered beef, Leslie wanted steak but didn't want the mooing kind, Hannah wanted fish but didn't like the head included, but luckily Diane's blind approach rewarded her with a pesto pasta that she enjoyed very much.

As funny as our dinner was, it demonstrated the team’s personalities that are truly starting to shine. Its fun to watch everyone as we interact and I am really excited to see how we work together in the upcoming weeks. We begin working at the hospital tomorrow and I’m sure Leslie will have lots to tell you. Until then, keep us in prayer and keep watching the blog.

<3>

Day #1-Traveling Adventures

I've come to realize that traveling is one big adventure in and of itself. It started with us departing Value City parking lot early Friday morning. The riding conditions were not the greatest I have to admit. Because of miss calculation and the over abundance of luggage, I spent half the trip on the van floor, although it wasn't as bad as it seemed. After some ticket confusion and a small delay we drove into NEW YORK CITY! I've always admired the city, but it's totally different when you see it in person. After we had a wonderful lunch at a diner in Queens, we made our way to JFK. No real issues there and no frisking by security which greatly disappointed Scott(our fearless leader). LOL :D The trip from New York to Brussels was pretty good. I have to say, JetAirways is pretty nice :) It wasn't till we got to brussels that the fun began. It doesn't make your trip enjoyable when you get pulled by security and a creepy security dude goes through your carry-on, glancing and smiling at you the whole time!!! Oh well, I guess that adds to the adventure. We then got on a small flight to budapest where Gobi(one of the missionaries) met us. Everything was going great, with all the luggage accounted for except for one suitcase. And I bet you couldn't imagine who's suitcase that was!!!??? Yours Truly :) Apparently my suitcase wanted to stay in brussels and check out the sights! But no worries, it should be here within a day or two. The drive through Hungary into Romania was interesting. The landscaping in Hungary was beautiful(your typical european farmland). Once we crossed the border though, the change was massive. Nicely plowed farmlands turned into decaying old buildings and the brightly painted houses turned to dismal shells. This made me realize quickly that we are needed here, more than I could have ever imagined. Well, that's all for now. Lindsay will update you all on tomorrow's activities. For now, GOD BLESS and have a great weekend!