Emerywood - Olympics, Sports, Jewelry, and Teaching Tips - Day 1

The day dawned cool and foggy. However, the sun soon popped out and the games began. The 1st and 2nd graders competed with each other in the first round of the Olympics. They raced around the cones and their laughter was heard through the neighborhood. While over at the Naomi Center a group of women learned how to make beautiful jewelry with just a few simple steps. The afternoon was spent teaching basketball skills to 5th and 6th grade boys while the girls (and a couple of adventuresome boys) made necklaces and ping pong games. Meanwhile the Ruth School teachers were fine tuning the new assertive discipline program and learning new ways to control their classrooms. To some one casually observing it may have looked like chaos but it was a great day with teachers, students, and their moms getting special attention. Today the love of Christ was shown with hugs, basketball hoops, and pats on the back.

Emerywood & Worship

"Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet..."  with the words from Psalm 119 made popular by the artist Amy Grant, the Emerywood ministry team shared in worship today at the Roma Baptist church in the village of Glina and at Providence Baptist, a Romanian church.  At the Roma church Judy and Al shared a personal testimony about their faith and Clista gave a word of greeting at Providence.  Clista brought the greetings and the assurance of prayers from the Emerywood members.

Then it was on to lunch at a local restaurant called "La Mama" which translates something close to "Grandma's."  And it was typical home cooked style Romanian food.  As is the tradition on Sundays there were 4 courses - luckily we asked for half portions or I'm not sure everyone could have gotten out of their chairs!  Everyone will long remember the best dessert ever - Papa nash!  (a big donut ball with sour cream, fruit sauce, and powdered sugar.  Yummy!)

The afternoon was spent in preparation for Monday.  Piles of supplies were organized into smaller piles, while teacher supplies were bundled, sports equipment was checked, brownies were baked, and a whole host of other activities were completed.

Tomorrow is the busiest of days with the Olympics, teacher in-service, sports clinic, moms craft time, and girls craft time.  We need lots of prayer for energy, patience, stamina, and good weather.

Below are a few pictures from Sunday:

 

Emerywood Baptist Church Team Arrives

How does one best get over jet lag in Bucharest?  By taking in a few of the sights of course!  The ministry team from Emerywood Baptist Church, High Point, NC, arrived yesterday for a week of ministry at Project Ruth.  We gave them a day to recuperate before they begin their week tomorrow.  You see them pictured here in front of Parliament, the 2nd largest building in the world.  They also experienced Romanian fast food in the form of shaorma (similar to gyro).  The day came to a close with a tour of the Ruth School and a warm lasagna supper in the cafeteria (not your typical school cafeteria fare!)  Tomorrow we are off to Glina to worship at the Roma church where the team will sing and give testimonies.  It's a reminder of how great our God is when we can worship together despite not sharing a common language.  Sunday evening the team will be at Providence Romanian Baptist Church.  The church's mandolin choir is truly a worshipful experience.  Then Monday comes... Kids, moms, teachers, sports, crafts, staff training, OH MY!

"Hittin' The Ground Running..." GSS & Hairbows

"Ah-h-h-h, home sweet home."  We arrived back in Bucharest September 29th after our summer of off-field assignment.  I will admit after nearly 18 years of saying good bye it does not get easier.  We had a fruitful time of seeing family & friends, relaxing with our children, and sharing the stories of Project Ruth and Roma ministry.  With touchdown in Bucharest our feet hit the ground and we were back into the swing of things before jet lag had even reared its ugly head!

 The fall Gypsy Smith School for Church Leaders session began on Monday.  Dr Roy DeBrand and Dr Andy Tooze, both from North Carolina, were the leaders.  The sessions were lively with discussions as the Roma leaders continued their quest to learn to serve their churches as best they can.  The group was small because the weather was unseasonably warm.  This means the men have more opportunities to work and they have to take advantage of that.  Often the work they find in the fall must get their families through the winter.  It was hard to be disappointed in a small number for class when we knew it meant a better life for others.

Carolyn DeBrand journeyed to Bucharest with her husband.  (Carolyn & Roy are good friends.  Roy officiated at our daughter's wedding.)  Carolyn is a gifted artist and we put her to work.  She went into our newest class, Zero (in between kindergarten and first grade), and taught them the basics of drawing.  Carolyn also spent time with the Naomi ladies showing them how to make a bag from a place mat and how to make hair bows.  The ladies giggled like schoolgirls with the hair ornaments!

One of our newest endeavors at Project Ruth is trying to help the older students as they transition from the Ruth School into high school.  So we have begun building relationships with these students to help identify their needs.  Carolyn helped by offering two sessions of hair bow making for the girls.  They had a blast.  With the gift of a smiley face sticker she spoke on "God Loves a Cheerful Giver."   She emphasized that while most people think that means giving money or material possessions, we really have so much more we can give that is free.  She listed smiles, friendship, love, a helping hand - just to name a few.  A timely message for middle school girls.

We Feel Loved and Supported...

We only have a few short weeks left in our off-field assignment time.  It has been a very busy season for us.  We've traveled to several churches speaking about the wonderful things God is doing among the Roma in Romania and particularly about the ministry of Project Ruth.  Through this time we have felt blessed by so many that assure us of their prayers and of their financial gifts to CBF.


Thank you!

Gipsy Kings, A Cultural Experience

As you know we  minister among the Romany or as many Americans know them, the Gypsies.  Over these last 18 years we have been dismayed and entertained by the stereotypes many believe about this cultural group.  This past week we did a first hand investigation of the "Gipsy Kings" band.

We have been asked many times about the group but had no personal knowledge.  Our good friends, Vicki and Peter Nelson, changed that with an invitation to hear the band while sitting on the grassy hillside on a warm summer evening enjoying the company of good friends.  How could we refuse?  We considered it a "cultural experience" and an "investigation" into Romany stereotypes.  Yeah, right, right...

It was a great evening and we discovered the "Gipsy Kings" (that is the way the spell it) are Spaniards who fled to France during war time.  The Spanish version of their group name eventually turned into "Gipsy Kings" when translated into English.  They are really NOT Romany.  However, like the Romany culture they love music.  Their music is fun and certainly makes you want to move your feet, swing your arms and sway your hips.

It was a fun evening and we recommend seeing them in concert if you have the opportunity.  Just don't go expecting to see Romany. :)

Project Ruth - Associated Baptist Press

Take a look at the Associated Baptist Press article about Project Ruth's 20th anniversary celebration.

http://www.abpnews.com/faith/missions/item/7617-project-ruth-grateful-for-past-2-decades-as-it-plans-for-next-20-years