Romania, France and beyond.

Okay, so where I left off I was just about to go on a mission trip to Romania. That was Thursday 16th Aug, so it's been about 3 weeks since then. I have a LOT to blog, but bear with me, it is all pretty exciting!

 So, that evening we left North West England and travelled for 18 hours by car, plane and then minibus, finally arriving in the small town of Baru, Romania, at about 6pm the next day! It was HOT! The rest of the day was unpacking, showering to get rid of the sweaty bus, journey, then going to the House of Hop orphanage for tea; getting to see lots of gorgeous kids who are like a second family! Then the weekend was spent preparing for the football and craft clubs we were going to run for the weekdays. On Sunday we registered the children (all 60 of them) for the clubs, and then went up the hill to look over Baru and pray. This is something we do every year before the clubs begin, so that we know God's presence will be with us as we try and show his love to the poor children of Baru. It was, as always, a great experience. 

During the weekdays we ran the clubs each morning and the kids got to make a vast array of crafty things, much better than I could. But it was great, we all were responsible for a table of children, and I had the chance to get close to the best kids I have ever met in my life. The rest of the craft team also felt the same, which was my parents, and two friends Emma and Hester. My brother Josh and two of his friends Chris and Jake were running the football. In the afternoons we would either have a chilled time as it was FAR too hot to do anything, or go to the local swimming pool which was completely not heated - which is perfect when you aren't used to the 40 degree heat!

Wednesday night I had one of the most incredible times of summer. It started off with a lovely dinner for a friend's birthday, and then the villages church youth group were going up into the mountain late at night for a bonfire, prayer, worship and of course some toasting over the fire! It is their version of a youth group social, but it is fairly different as it started at 9, ended at 2:30am! We also were taken up the mountain on a trailer that appeared to be falling apart! So it was pretty extreme youth group, but it was amazing! Hearing the children and adults singing praise in Romania, sat in front of a bonfire in the early hours of the morning is not an experience you get to share every day!
On the Friday we took the craft club children up into the valley by a river and played some games with them, and it was hot and stressful for us, but they had so much fun! :) It was extremely hard to say goodbye to 30 children I are in love with, but it had to come to an end. The Saturday was our final day in Romania and we visited a castle where Dracula had stayed a long while ago, and a McDonalds after!! The evening was spent at the House of Hope orphanage, with lots of love, prayer and laughter shared. It was the hardest thing I have had to do in a long time to leave, and I feel God putting it hugely on my heart to go back one day for a longer period, so I am excited to see how that works out. 

As we left at 12am again, we had a similar journey back, and stayed overnight in London on Sunday night. The Monday morning we were off again, this time through a tunnel under the sea to France! For a week we stayed on a campsite, just me, my parents and my best friend Hester. We visited the D-day beaches of Normandy, and all the key historical cemeteries, St Michael's Mount etc. We also got to relax a lot and swim, read, go out for lunch on the beach, and for the first time in a few years we had a holiday! It was good for us all. Then the following Monday we packed up for a final time and headed home, and another 17 hours later we were home! 

Since we got home, I have been settling back into normal life, school, and catching up on sleep. It has been fairly emotional because of the relationship area, but also after having the most incredible summer of my life, but I am ready for the last year of school, a few rounds off late night Mafia games! and for a chance to share God and His love to everyone I meet, because I cannot thank Him enough for the miraculous things He has done in my, through me, and all around me this summer. I love Him, and all you lovely people reading this, very much! Happy September everybody! God bless :)

P.S. Also jumped in a river fully clothed, and had a waterfight with my brother whilst in Romania. Forgot about that crazy one! The first photo is the Romania team of summer 2012, before we jumped in the river!