September 14, 2008: Workday Two, with Jeremiah

Dear Friend,

Another work day. I woke up this morning, had breakfast alone because Tibi was out hiking, and then went to bed. I tried reading, but just couldn’t do it. I was so tired. I finished my Warren Wiersbe commentary on James, and am now working on starting Kay Arthur’s Lord, Heal My Hurts. I’m hoping the book will help in my own healing, and also help me reach others as they go through their healing. I finished the introduction and had to go back to bed.

I woke up at noon to find Tibi working on some mushrooms he had picked. By some mushrooms I mean a whole heck of a lot of mushrooms. And, once again, mushrooms as big as my hand. Some of these would be for lunch. I made note to stay away from the olive oil. I mentioned to Tibi I used to not like mushrooms, but assured him these were delicious.

I did most of my work at Tibi’s flat. Less honking in the streets. I also read a little from the book of Jeremiah. I especially like the first chapter, when God calls Jeremiah to prophesy to His people:

The word of the LORD came to me, saying,

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

"Ah, Sovereign LORD," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child."

But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.

Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now, I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant." (Jeremiah 1:4-10)

I remember Professor Vonder Bruegge saying in Intro to Biblical Studies this past semester that while we don’t understand prophecies (a lot of what was prophesied was done so in the context of the era and the culture), it’s widely believed that what was being prophesied was happening either at that time or was going to happen soon after. That being said, I feel that just about any of us on this trip could be considered a prophet. In a way, the work that we’re doing with New Horizons, and especially the work I’ll be doing with A.R.T. Fusion, speaks of a foreseeable future for Romania that is very different from the present. Our collective struggle to promote social capital is not in vain. It’s slow work, but there is evidence in the lives of the children, the lives of the workers, and even the life of New Horizons that proves things can change for the better. It may even be that we are prophesying what has already been prophesied: Christ’s redemption is for everyone, not just for the West, and it is for Romania, as well. Exciting!

I showed Janelle and Daniel the “Sacred Stage” trailer on youtube when I showed up at the office. Tibi doesn’t have Internet, so my posts are first typed out in Microsoft Word, and then copied to my blog. They were really impressed not only with the trailer, but also how my hair color changed during the trailer (ha!) Maybe Terror Texts can come to Romania sometime!

I’ve completely updated my blog now, which I wanted to get done before I left for the week. Tomorrow we pack our backpacks with everything we’ll need for the week. I’m really hoping this’ll be a good experience. I’m a little concerned about the team, how we’ll work together and survive a week in the wilderness together. I know it’s going to stretch others more than it will stretch myself. Grace is a good thing to pray for. Grace to you, friend.

Blessings.
Kailen