Language Success Stories!

Recently I've had quite a few language success stories while out and about in the city. I must be starting to look like I belong since so many people random people are asking me questions/directions. So, while I'm sure the epic fail and foot-in-mouth stories are still to come, here's language success story time:

The River that runs through the middle of Oradea.

Sitting at the tram station waiting for the the tram to head all the way across town. I knew I would be on the tram for a while, so I had gotten out my iPod and headphones. I was also reading a book on said iPod via Kindle app. In other words: I was in my own little world, being quite the American! At some point I realized a lady was trying to talk to me, I popped out the earbuds to see what she was saying. The lady repeated her question, asking if the 3R tram had already come. I responded in my broken Romanian that no, it had not come yet. Then I apologized and told her I am still learning Romanian. She encouraged me that I was doing well. Then she asked if I was German. I told her I was actually American. I didn't know how to tell her that I do have German heritage and a very German last name. In the end I still felt good about being able to communicate with her.

Another time I was sitting on a bench in the park. A man was sitting on the other side of the bench and after a little while, he asked me a question. His speech was a bit muddled, I asked him to repeat what he said, but I still wasn't catching it. I tried the whole, I only speak a little Romanian excuse. He was persistent. After a moment or two he tried again. By this time I had caught of whiff of his breath which was definitely tinted with alcohol. He kept holding out his phone. Eventually, I figured out that he was waiting for his daughter, who was supposed to be coming on the tram. He wanted to call her and see where she was at. He asked me to find her name, Mihiela, in his phone so that he could call her. Once I figured out what he wanted I was able to find her name in the phone and help him out. He was very appreciative and after a couple more minutes, his daughter showed up. Pretty sure that understanding slurred Romanian bumps me up to a whole new level of understanding! (P.S. for all you worrisome types: I was in a very public, very safe place on a Sunday afternoon, no danger in this story for you to worry over!)

One evening I was walking along near the train station when a mother and daughter asked if I was from Oradea. Without really thinking, I responded "yes," since I do live here. They were looking for a hotel. I did happen to know the hotel they were seeking and was able to confirm that they were on the right path and just needed to keep going straight. In this instance, my response was so quick that I hardly realized what I was saying. Afterward, I was thinking: "Wait what did I say? Was that right? I guess so, cause they understood." They also asked if it was far away and I was able to assure them that it wasn't far. Sometimes I shock myself with my ability to respond in Romanian without translating in my head for EVERY word.

A couple days ago, when I was out in the Roma village that I visit a couple times a week, I was pleasantly surprised with how much Romanian I was speaking. There was a visitor from the States who only knew a couple words in Romanian as well as an American who just recently moved here and I found myself translating for them. I'm much more able to translate Romanian into English than the inverse. However, I was able to help them ask questions and get to know the people a little better. I was also having more conversations with the friends I'm making in the village. At one point I was talking with a mother and daughter about cats and dogs. They had some kittens and were eager to show me. However, I'm really a dog person. We were talking about the difference between cats and dogs and then I was telling them about the dog I used to have at home. The mother then responded that she had a little dog too. The daughter was instantly confused, asking: "What dog? Where? I jumped in saying that it was "imaginary"and we all had a good laugh. While this may seem like a simple moment, it carried great meaning for me. I often think of something funny I would like to add to a conversation, but don't know the right word, or just miss my moment while sorting out the "Romglish" in my head. So, this moment was encouraging for me. I was quick and able to beat someone to the punch, definite language success. I'm now adding cracking jokes into my list of Romanian language abilities (however, premature that may be.)

This & That

Currently.... 

Reading:  Just finished a book called "Captive In Iran" about two Iranian, Christian women who were imprisoned in Evin Prison for their faith in Christ. They wrote an honest, transparent account of their time in prison and shared many stories about the people they met along-the-way.

Listening: Jenny & Tyler, Harvest Bashta, Judah & The Lion, & Elenowen

Missing: Oh boy (this list could be really long)...  going to my little brother's baseball games with my family,  my "nephew," Shepherd's first birthday,  my favorite running buddy-Laura,  big-juicy-grilled-homegrown steak, and Sonic limeades.

Enjoying: My new apartment, especially having my own kitchen to cook/bake in whenever I want. Long runs on rainy days. Fresh fruits and veggies from the little market down the street. The sun staying up til after 9pm.

Looking Forward to: My roommate arriving from America in 9 days! Running with Sarai in the mornings. Getting to know all the summer volunteers at Beauty from Ashes. Spending more time in Sabolciu (Roma village).

Appreciating: Feeling better after being sick. My wonderful neighbors: Ema, Alex & Ania. Great landlords that love our Lord and are gracious and helpful. My Church family. The grace of my Savior!

Planning: a Bible study, kids clubs, to buy a bicycle, to learn more Romanian, to see God at work in mighty ways this week!

Hoping: to get out of the city & go hiking, to find a vehicle to buy, to go hammock hangin' in the park, to find people to play basketball with, to go to IKEA

Hearing from God:

"Abide in Me" 

Şase Luni - Six Months!!!

June first marks six months since I moved to Romania! In some ways I can't believe it has already been six months. In other ways I can't believe all that has happened in the last six months. Looking back on this time there has been...

the expected and unexpected

a big black eye!

joy and pain

Sittin in the ER waiting room

struggle and growth

learning to love and live with 7 girls who grew up without families

confusion and clarity

moments of pondering how such incredible beauty
is paired with such deep pain

new experiences and embarrassing moments 

going snow skiing for the first time
and falling on my butt ALOT!

Romanian, English and Romglish

Ania and I speak Romglish quite often!

Old friends and new friends

Kelly, my apartment-mate from my first trip to RO

Friends, coworkers and people I now see as family

Jen, my roommate for almost 4 months

tears and laughter

Emily & I laughing on my birthday!

I have yelled in frustration; I have sang for joy. I have loved and I have torn down. I have asked for forgiveness and I have forgiven. I have ran from chaos in search of peace; I have stood among the chaos and found the peace of God. I have been a listening ear; I have needed a listening ear. I have laid in my bed sick and tired; I have ran, hiked and danced with energy to spare. I have held, hugged & loved hungry children, both young and old; I have needed hugs and encouragement myself. I have stepped out in faith; I have held back in fear. Through it all I have been blessed by a Father who never leaves my side and somehow uses some of my mess for His good purposes.

This has been a time of great paradox. It seems life is full of polar opposites. Just when I feel at home here, I miss someone desperately from home. I'm so thankful I was warned of this paradox in my training at MTI... that "pair-of-ducks" stuff was right-on. The "Yay Duck" and "Yuck Duck" have definitely made their presence known in the last six months. While it has often felt like a roller coaster of emotions, I have definitely held onto the positives and used them to help me ride-out the valleys.

I am definitely a glass-half-full kinda girl and I like to look for the positives in every situation and every person. For every negative I like to match it with at least one positive truth. It's a way, not only to keep myself positive, but to keep the conversations around me positive. I remember my mom teaching me something as a kid. She said, "If people around you are gossiping about someone. The easiest way to change the conversation is to say something positive about the person they are talking about." She explained that confronting them about their gossip usually just makes them defensive and can even fuel the fire. However, saying something positive and true has a much greater power to change the conversation and tug at their heart without causing those defensive reactions. My Mom also displayed this truth and how it could go above and beyond gossip. She helped me learn to look for the good in every situation. She was always telling me to stop whining and pointing out my blessings. (thanks Mom, you're the best!)

I've found the wisdom my mom shared to be true in many circumstances: in conversations about people, culture and life. Speaking positive truths holds the power to sway a conversation, a mood or a whole day. Sometimes, this can mean speaking truths over my thought life. If our God IS truth, then speaking truth over our thoughts is inviting God to cover them. Filtering our thoughts and words through God's truth can really help clear our vision.

So, as I reflect on my first six months living in another country I'm reminded of my need to abide in my Savior. I'm remembering the joys & struggles, while looking forward to many more in the next six months, and beyond. I know God has been working here and I trust Him to continue; my prayer is that He would choose to use me in His work here. I want to be a part of sharing His love, hope & truth and bringing glory to the Lord of All Creation alongside the people of Romania! Thankfully, my Savior is in the habit of using the least likely of candidates.

I also want to say thank you to all the family, friends, supporters, churches and church family both at home in America and here in Romania. I wouldn't be here without all of YOU! Thank you for encouraging me, praying for me and blessing me beyond my wildest imagination. I cannot tell you how much you all mean to me. I often get the chance to share with my friends here in Romania how great all of my family, friends and church family are back home (in other words, I brag about how awesome you all are, a lot!) I am also constantly amazed that God has so richly blessed me with friends and family here in Romania. I wouldn't survive living so far from home without the blessing of friends who make me feel right at home here too! I don't know why God has blessed me so much, but heck, I'm grateful. I hope I can use that blessing and turn around and bless others, for this blessing is not mine to hoard.

~Daughter of the King