Compelled by Love: And the Adventure Begins...

It was during the Sunday morning service, hearing the beautiful worship music that reality set in. Yes, we are finally here! Timisoara, Romania will be our home for the next 12 months while we study the Romanian language. It's been a three year journey where God has perpetually shown us His grace.

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WizzAir

Changing airports with all our heavy luggage was quite tricky!

Anticipation of this trip was an adventure in itself. We flew "stand-by" to London, and after a slight delay, were blessed with bulkhead seats and plenty of leg room. We changed airports, then flew from London to Timisoara via WizzAir. Yes, that's really what it's called! We booked the low-cost ticket online so we weren't sure what to expect. But it was a newer, business-type airport and the plane was quite comfortable.

Also, we had rented the apartment site-unseen! Pastor Liviu, picked us up at the airport and took us to the apartment. We met our landlord and enjoyed a nice time visiting with him. The apartment is what they call in Romania "two rooms" which means 1 bedroom and 1 living room. It has been freshly remodeled with fresh paint and new flooring. It is adequately furnished and the cost for 1 month is less than we would have spent for a few days in a hotel while looking for an apartment. The refrigerator was in the living room but after a few days, we figured out how to move it into the kitchen!

Our landlord, Eddie, met us at the apartment

Mike Scheer, Denton Bible Church missions director, John Brown and Sam Buliga were in Romania for BTCP during our first week and spent time with us as well. It was a blessing to share our excitement of being here with them. They went to the Areopagus Center and met the staff there. They also drove us to the Real store (pronounced Ray-ahl) where we bought the necessary clothes drying rack and ironing board. :)
We met an English-speaking Romanian couple who recently moved back to Romania after living in the states for many years. Danny and Gabriela have been very sweet and helpful to us. The most exciting news of all is that Gabriela accepted Christ as her Savior right here in our living room, after hearing the gospel explained by John Brown. Now, how awesome is that for the first week?

Below: Gabriela, Jim, Brenda and Daniel

on the steps of the Cathedral downtown where the secret police killed
hundreds in 1989.

The believers have been so welcoming and warm. The people on the street and our neighbors are looking at us with caution but we occasionally get a return smile or "buna ziua." We'll keep trying! We are frequenting the same stores, clerks and sidewalks and praying for opportunities.

We walk everywhere! The language school, grocery store, church, and bus stop are all within 15 minutes walking distance. For anything else, we take the bus. We should be in good shape soon! :) We have time each morning to read our bible and spend time in prayer. We know our spiritual life is of utmost importance! We are praying for open doors and like-minded friends with whom we can have fellowship and support. God has been so good to go before us and provide all our needs. It's an awesome thought that He knows what we need before we even ask.

Please keep lifting us up to The Father! We are continually aware that we can't do anything aside from Christ in us. We desire to live a life that reflects the Love that compels us to serve.

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Ephesians 3:20-21