To Catch you up ...

So - I haven't posted because I couldn't find a way to get to my own blog. I am a little technologically challenged here in Romania. But I will attempt to bring you up to speed from my emails.
Yesterday I was successful in walking from my host home to the center all on my own. Which is it's own kind of success. It takes about 30 minutes to walk but is all down hill. The center is in an area of the city which used to flood from the Danube River. Many of the poor live in the area. Once you are near the center there is a staircase to walk down and I want to take a picture of the scene for you. It will give an idea of the poverty all around.
Each morning during the week we have Chapel from 9-10am. We sing in Romanian and pray and just sit in the presence of God quietly together. All the staff are present from the center and any volunteers and Servant Team members (that is me).
Afterwards I spent time weeding the gardens that are overgrown here at the center. It was hot and to make the work more spiritual I tried to think of bible verses but all I could think of was the one about letting the weeds grow up with wheat. Not very encouraging for the task at hand.
In the afternoon, David (field director here), asked if anyone could speak with an English accent. I volunteered and he said he had an assignment for me. So... my adventure was to ride in a taxi down to the river where I was dropped off at a business to meet a woman named Christina. She had connections with Word Made Flesh but works for a software company. The task was to create a recording of a script used in language software in Cypress. Basically, peeps there will be hearing my voice while they learn English, only I will sound like Pride and Prejudice - hopefully. Today I went back to make corrections and was able to hear myself. It actually didn't sound perfectly British but nobody could tell the difference here in Romania.
I am trying to make a better effort at learning Romanian and spending quality time with Irina, my host momma. Two nights ago I just parked myself on the couch with two language books and started picking out things and words I wanted to say. It was ackward but I don't know what else to expect from such a situation. As hospitable as she is, staying in anothers home remains the most difficult part of being here. I would appreciate many many prayers in this regard.
We start language lessons tomorrow. I am a little nervous. Actually a lot nervous. But ... this too shall be overcome.
I have spent more time with the kids now. As I have perhaps told some of you, they are not so different from the kids I worked with in the States at least in terms of behaviors. There is a boy that wears anger like a shirt and I recognize his face from kids at home. I try and speak friendly English to him but he just makes fun of me. I have started to brainstorm how I might win him over a bit. No ideas yet.
Something to consider: Here the children are effected often with attachment disorders. This happens for many reasons but one of the things they do to help the children is an exercise called the position of self-control. The have the children sit for 5 minutes perfectly still in a chair. Now all the children here can do 10 minutes. I have seen them do it! I was challenged. I can't sit still that long. They teach that you have power when you can control yourself and this is one way to have it and learn discipline. Today in Chapel the children sat and I twitched. I was so convicted that I am fidgety in the presence of the Lord and need to practice this lesson myself in a way. I am not explaining well but hopefully you get the idea or can at least ask me questions.
Well, that is all for today.
love,
e