Thursday, July 5, 2007

We decided to swim

This week we were thrust into yet another new situation where we were forced to sink or swim. Monday evening we arrived at Gyanta, Romania where we are spending the next 2 weeks running 2 week-long English Bible camps. Monday evening we also found out what we were doing tuesday morning to start off the camps. Fortunately we have recieved lots of support from the local pastor, Jozsef, and his wife Orsi. We are also working with a seminary student who speaks both Hungarian and English. Even though we felt unprepared for the week, we have been able to rely on God and he has carried us through.

We work with 3 different English groups: Those who speak English well, those who speak some English, and those who speak Hungarian. This week Jordan has been working with the first group, Charlene with the second and Matt and Karlynn with the last group. The last group is predominantly village children. Altogether we have 16 teenage campers and about 20 village children who just come to the programs during the day.

Gyanta is a very nice village with a local river where we often go to swim in the afternoons. We are staying in a camp with 4 bedrooms: 2 for boys and 2 for girls. The dorms have running water but drinking water needs to be carried uphill from the well 15 minutes from the dorms. This has been delegated as an exclusively male duty.

Thanks again for keeping us in your prayers. We love reading your comments and feel blessed to have so much support.

Charlene and Karlynn

7 comments:

Gary Wybenga said...

Thanks for the updates. They're great! Also, they help focus prayers.

If possible, more photos would be wonderful.

Just remember . . . we serve an awesome and loving God.

Anonymous said...

Wow, Charlene, it's so good to hear what's going on with you!!! Praying for you! (Haha, like how I revived my Google account just so I could leave you a comment?) Praying that the four of you will continue to be greatly dependent on God and each other!

Unknown said...

Hey Suzy,
Yeah, you're awesome. Thanks for your prayers.
Charlene

Michelle said...

HEY!
Thanks for the update! Sounds like it has been a challenging experience thus far. I can't wait to hear stories!
Many Blessings!

Karissa said...

You seriously have to carry your drinking water from 15 minutes away?! Somebody deserves a medal.
Wow.

Ben Becksvoort said...

Hi Team:
Thansk a lot for sharing these updates. It was a joy to spend some time togetehr with you while you were here in Grand Rapids for orientation. We want you to know you are in our thoughts and prayers. Give our love to Daniel Szabo, David Pandy, Janos and other swho may ask about us.
Love, Ben and Bev Becksvoort

hannah said...

Hello! This is Hannah- Rhonda's daughter.
Sorry I haven't yet emailed you the pictures I promised... about a month ago. Unfortunately I can't use lack of internet as an excuse. Anyway, I'll try and do so in the next few days... otherwise, if any of you have facebook, "facebook me" and I have them all in an album.
I'm praying for you all!! God bless!