Our mission trip to Romania from my 9 year old's diary

Day 1 

We just arrived.  We are sleeping in an apartment.  We arrrived at 3:00 AM.  We all slept till supper then we went to a church, my dad did a little speech(with a translator).  We all made some new friends.
Lesson:  Even if you can't speak the language you can still make friends.


Day 2
Today we went Christmas carolling with the people we met at the church.  Then we went back to the church to warmup.  We had lunch but I didn't have any.  Then Vanessa, Cole and our translator practiced some music together.  They played at the church in Roseti.
Lesson:  Even if you can't speak the language you can still learn.


Day 3
Today we went to 2 church services.  The first one was like our services at church back home.  The pastor talked about how Jesus came at the perfect time, at the perfect place and died on the right day.  The second service was at the Hope Center where meals were served for the poor kids.  The leader there talked about the true Christmas story.  They we handed out cookies and Samaritan Purse boxes.
Lesson: Small things can make a difference.


Day 4
Today we learned the tradition that the Romanians do for Christmas.  They kill a pig in their own backyards and have it for Christmas dinner.After the first feast we split up, went to people's houses to pray for them.  Then we met up and went carolling again.
Lesson: Even if you are not the same you can still bless each other.


Day 5
Today, Christmas day, we had our own service at our apartment.  We talked about what happened in the last year that stood out.  Then we went to the Hope Center for supper.
Lesson: Giving is the best gift.


Day 6
Today, after lunch, we went to the Hope Center and played games with the gypsy children.  Vanessa taught the grade 4 kids the recorders that she brought.  Then after supper we went to some other houses to pray.  It was a nice short day.


Day 7
Today we went to a church, had supper, went for a walk before the church service.  We saw Bulgaria.  I am enjoying learning some of the Romanian language.  I am practicing all the time.
Lesson:  Learning is one of the keys to life.

Day 8
Our last full day here.  In the morning we went shopping to make food hampers for some poor families.  After we made up the bags and boxes we set off to deliver the food.  We prayed for the people when we delivered the boxes.  One of the houses didn't have any food or firewood so we returned with some firewood as well.  Then we went to a youth church service.
Lesson: Anything is possible with Jesus.