Wow... I can't believe it is already over.  It seems like just yesterday I was thinking about all the details of this trip and all that we needed God to handle for us.  Now all I'm left to say is, "Wow!!!"  Our God is a gracious and merciful God.  As we were talking tonight at our final coffee together after dinner, we didn't have one breakdown, or fight, or youth gone wild, or sickness, or lost luggage, or lost person (), or anything else of significance.  Given that we had 27 people on this trip, we all must give glory to the only ONE it belongs, our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.  Our God is awesome, and the song "Awesome God" rings through our ears as we reflect on a wonderful 11 days.

Since it has been a little while since I have written with any substance, I will pick up on where I left off.  We enjoyed lunch Wednesday afternoon with the people of Romania.  In fact, Nicu told me that he had request after request to have us in their homes.  Our team was touched and absolutely flabbergasted at the love and service they provided to us when we eat.  They never actually sit down and eat with us.  They have us sit at a table they prepare for us and serve us until we are blue in the face we are so full from the appetizer to the dessert.  This is when Romania really becomes Romania because this trip is all about the forming of relationships.  They don't have "stuff" here like they do in America, but they do have meaningful and long-lasting relationships.

At the Wednesday night service, they asked me to share my impressions of the trip.  I shared exactly what I wrote above that they treat us like kings and queens when our goal was to serve them like kings and queens.  Even now as I think about this and type this out, my eyes fill with water as I consider what a humbling experience it is to do this the past three years.  I'm filled with inexplicable joy that 18 other people who had never been to Romania could experience this time together.  Even now as we consider what we will share with pictures and words Sunday morning, we know that we cannot truly capture the experience.  Nor will you believe us until it becomes an experience all your own.

I have a number of pictures to post and walk you through the events since Wednesday afternoon.  Before I do, please pray for us tomorrow.  As you go to bed tonight, we will be working our way through check-in at the Otepeni airport here in Bucharest.  Of all the things on this trip, the check-in in this airport is by far the most stressful time that I think about.  It is complete chaos in this airport, and we will need God's hand of grace and mercy to have an uneventful check-in.  Pray it to be so.  If I can hack into the airport's wireless internet as I have done in year's past, I will post again.  Otherwise, I will post in London during our layover and at home to let you know we have made it back safely.

One final thought... I find it a complete honor and privilege to write this blog.  The fact that more people than my family read this blog with regularity just blows me away.  I hope you have tasted a small piece of our experience and have enjoyed the ride as much as we have enjoyed the trip.  You are participating in the spread of the gospel by praying for us and thinking of us.  Pray us to the end of the trip please.

Pictures...

Again, in random order... we had a bonfire Wednesday night to have smores during our final night together.  Unfortunately, the rain came that everyone had been diligently praying away.  This ended our smores event, so we all hung out in the church until we went to a local restaurant to dine together to have a midnight snack.

Don, J.P., Steve, and I decided to take the van up to a famous cross on a mountain overlooking Pucioasa.  It turns out we were probably trespassing on the property, but Don and I climbed halfway up the cross to take some pictures.  Come Sunday morning to see pictures from others who captured Don and I up there.

The cross is the structure at the back left. (Note: I'm holding a Mountain Dew.  What better time to have a Mountain Dew than on a mountain.)

A picture of J.P. from up on the cross.

We concluded our trip with a thirty-five minute walk to Hard Rock Cafe tonight.  We had a fantastic dinner celebrating our great trip.

Afterwards, I negotiated a trip via a water taxi to change our walk from 35 minutes to five minutes.  Everyone was very appreciative!

Here are pictures from yesterday's lunch.  This woman, Sister DeDe is new to the church.  She was an absolute delight.  She even called her son in Bucharest to have me talk to him.  I encouraged him to get involved in church as he had done in the past but no longer.

This was dessert.

This is her pinky-sized turtle, Monica.

This is how we all looked after lunch.  We were stuffed!

By far the hardest part of our trip is saying goodbye to our Romanian brothers and sisters.  Here are some good pictures and some bad quality pictures that illustrate how we all feel.

Finally, here is a picture of the building as we left it.  The men did a wonderful job to accomplish all that they could.  They built two floors as well as complete the structure of the roof.

Thursday morning...

Thursday right before we left.

This concludes all the pictures that I have prepared at the moment.  Come Sunday morning to catch a glimpse of our amazing time.  Let me finish by handing out compliments to the whole team.  Every person played a major role in the success of our time.

The Building Team - Don Owens, J.P. Murdock, Russell Parkin, Steve Zettlemoyer, Paul Bertuccini

Fieni VBS Team - Dani Ayoubi, Isabelle St. Clair, Stuart Holland, Michelle Ayoubi, Kathy Murdock, Katie Murdock, Jacob Murdock, Mark Holland, and Miranda Parkin

Pucioasa VBS Team - Sara Krupke, Kelli Zettlemoyer, Holly Canon, Alex Parkin, Cassie Parkin, Michaila Bertuccini, Hunter Britton, Alanah Owens, and Jessie Mathews

Comic Relief Man - Giles Britton aka George Bush

Amazing Planning Lady and Food Preparer - Chrissie Owens with DJ at her side

During the youth retreat, J.P Murdock and Russell Parkin did a great job preparing our meals.  Our team was as low maintenance as it could be while also being "Primped and Prepared."  In fact, at the Wednesday night service, Dani is decked out putting the rest of us to shame.  Go Dani... isn't she beautiful!

Off to shower and bed.  I love you all, and I praise God for your participation in the gospel from our first day until now. (Phil. 1:5)

Well, last night I did not have internet connection, so I'm writing this Thursday morning.  We had 70 kids in Pucioasa VBS and 40 kids in Fieni VBS.  The rain stayed away until after 10pm last night when the internet went down.  We leave today at 3pm.  The tears have begun to flow continuously for many as everyone has been touched by the lives of the Romanians, which always happens.  The chaos of getting ready to leave has begun even though we have one morning left.  The weather has been perfect.

We had lunch in people's homes Wednesday, and it was some of the best food I have had.  I will hold off on perfect for now, but I will post again when I am available.  Today I am checking out of all the hotels.

Please pray for our safe travel to Bucharest and our final evening in Romania.