Sofronea

This weekend, Aubrey and I stayed with Angi, one of the first children placed by RCE more than ten years ago. She is now 20 and her wedding is in August! Angi grew up in Sofronea, a village near Arad.

Mimi and Carmen, husband-wife duo in the Social Department, are the driving force behind the adoptions RCE has arranged in Sofronea. Through their relationships at the Baptist church there, a total of eleven children have been placed or adopted into Christian families. It is so encouraging to sit in the Sunday morning service and look around at all the families worshiping God together in this place.

Yesterday, I interviewed Nicoleta Bogosel, another child adopted into a Sofronean family. Nico played the piano for an RCE event a few years ago in the U.S. and her mother teaches at the Sunshine School. Aubrey and I had the privilege of staying with them for a week at the beginning of June. Here is a picture of Nico holding Claudia, one of the children in the cottages. (Thanks to Sylva for the photo!)

Official Beginnings!

Just arrived in Arad after intern training. We met each day of the three-day retreat to discuss Tim Keller's book "Ministries of Mercy." This is the largest intern class ever, which can be burdensome for the directors, but also helpful because it means more people are helping with the kids which keeps people fresh and avoids burnouts.

The retreat was at Leuca, a mountain getaway three hours by car from Arad. Shortly after our arrival, we trekked up the mountain visiting several waterfalls along the way. The hike was steep and difficult -- I was surprised to hear no complaints. Most Romanian interns brought a camera and spent a good twenty minutes stiking poses in front of the spectacular scenery. I guess some things are the same in every culture.

Aubrey and I will be working with the children Monday through Saturdays in the mornings, and Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays until 7 p.m. Each cottage houses up to ten children each, so between the three cottages you're interacting with up to 30 kids all day long.

My schedule will vary more now that Carmen and Mimi's daughter, Sylva, is back from Denmark. She will translate for me as I interview people key to the story of RCE in villages surrounding Arad.