Romania – July 12, 2023

Wednesday presented another hot, sunny day in Tinca within the Crisul Negril river valley, just west of the Carpathian Mountains. Thankfully Alex (our REMM team leader, translator, and foreman on the house project) recommended we start early all week long in order to avoid the even-hotter afternoons.  And we heartily agreed.

Today Daniel and George finished installing the beige clapboard siding and corner pieces, with Jamal and Graham making the precise cuts necessary. Becky, Stacey, Emily, Andrea (Alex’s wife), and James (Lucacius’ grandson) all tackled the styrofoam insulation inside.  Each block of styrofoam had to be custom cut to fit tightly in between the joists.  Alan and Lucas (another grandson) completed the metal roof installation. There were two sheets of metal remaining when God decided to welcome us with cool raindrops from heaven for just a few minutes, but it didn’t last long and the roof was able to be finished.  Meanwhile, Patti and Ana sorted through all the donations PBC brought to bless REMM’s ministry.

REMM provided us a lunch of large but delicious sandwiches and our choice of pie from the Coffee House.  (I’m starting to think that we might not be having the typical missions trip gastronomical experience).  Afterwards, boys and girls from the village returned excited to watch Becky’s lesson on Paul’s willingness to follow God’s leading and the Holy Spirit’s empowering him.  The kids were intent as Stacey led them to make decorated candle holders to represent letting the light of Jesus shine through them and bookmarks.   

The outdoor activity was once again the beloved game of soccer.  After games, we passed out hygiene kits which seemed to create some buzz in the village as many new kids came by that we had not seen previously. Pray that they would return for tomorrow’s full lesson.

After returning to Beius, Peter took Alan to see REMM’s garden outside town, where they are growing additional produce for the Coffee House and the missions teams that come to work with REMM.  This garden also provides opportunities where REMM can employ hard-working people from the Roma community that typically face workforce discrimination. 

While safely back at REMM HQ, the floodgates opened up full of wild wind and horizontal rain and hail.  Thankful to God that we were able to finish that roof.  Pray that the children will have open hearts.

Tomorrow will be a mad dash to the finish line of (hopefully) completing the house.  If so, then we can work on assembling a bunk bed for the house on Friday.

– Alan for the Romania team