New BLOG!

While I will keep this blog up, I have started another blog called "One Week Challenge!"

Since I have been home, i have found myself lacking in the area of self discipline- so I started this blog in hopes that it will keep me accountable!

Check it out! http://oneweekchallenge.wordpress.com

New things!

I am sitting in my warm house in Minneapolis, MN, finally summing up the energy to write! In case you didn't know, I moved to Minneapolis in September so that I can be closer to Bethel University where I will start classes in Feb. 2010.

It has been another transition that I wish could have done without, but a transition regardless. I have been working part time and am praying for a 2nd job- life in the Cities is expensive! I have had a lot of time to reflect and think, which I don't know if its been good or bad. But I am slowly getting settled in, have found an amazing church (www.beingsubstance.com), and am surprisingly excited for classes to start in a few months!

My brother's wife, Tana, just had a baby at the end of September- Addison Karie Padilla! I was able to go and see them for a few days last month. I, along with everyone else, am captivated by this beautiful baby!

Its been hard adjusting, but I am learning so many things from God. Hard things but good things. I know that in the end things will be great so I am holding onto to His faithfulness to provide financially and to provide friendships that will be life long! Thanks for your prayers.

3 months later

I have been back in the States, living in Iowa for three months now. The first 2 months were filled with the joy and comforts of being back in a familiar place and understanding what is happening around you. I enjoyed eating goodies I hadn't eaten for months, and the ease of living in a 1st world nation.

But if I were to be honest with you, I would have to say that I am not without my struggles. Loneliness and disillusionment seem to be a part of my daily life. Friendships have changed, people have moved on, and I am someone else. I try not to get sucked into the routine that seems to plague 9-5 life, just so that I don't lose focus on things that are really important to me. But just as my first few months in Romania were, life here has come at a surprising price of effort on my behalf. Its an effort make friends and keep them, an effort to shop, an effort to go out of the house.

But the future looks bright, and I hold onto the hope and knowledge that there is more to life than this. I am happy that I was able to find a small job working at a coffee house. Though the pay isn't very good, its something I enjoy doing for now, and its paying for my small needs. I have enrolled at Bethel University in Minnesota where I will start classes, God willing, in January next year. My brother is also going to have his first child in September. So there are many things to look forward to.

I just have to remind myself, just like I did when I first arrived in Romania, that the hard part is the beginning. I must hold on to my faith and live these next few months like they are the last few months of a great season. Because, who knows, life might never be this easy again. :)

My last week in Romania

This my last week here in Romania before my detour home. I am hoping that it won't be too depressing as I say my goodbyes to the many dear friends I have made in the last 2 years. Last week I had a goodbye party, and about 33 people came. There was fun, food, dancing, and it was a great way to celebrate my life here in Romania.

I think I am getting used to saying goodbye to people (you get a lot of practice with this in YWAM), but that doesn't mean its easy. I hold onto the hope that I will be able to come back at least to visit all my good Romanian friends. Thank you for your prayers for me during this challenging transition period

Singing at Youth group Coffee house

I was invited to perform at a local church's "youth night" which takes place every week at the YWAM base. It was fun to play and sing in a coffee house setting. I enjoyed sharing some original song, but what really got the crowd excited was when I sang some upbeat Spanish praise songs. I was accompanied by my African colleage, Isaac, who played the hand drum. This added an extra special touch!

Done

Making Sarmale (traditional Romanian cabbage rolls) with Vera
Celebrating New Year's with Romanian friends
Playing at a concert at a church in Medias, Romania


Friday was my last official day working with YWAM Targu Mures. As I walked home from a "de-briefing" meeting with the base leaders (where we talked about my experience here with YWAM), it started snowing. I felt the light snow flakes on my face as I walked the dirt path from a busy road to my cement block apartment building, and I had to fight back tears that seemed to have been provoked by the snow... I was surprised at the hollow feeling I suddenly had. I am relieved that my work here has ended well, but to walk away from something that I've been spending the last 2 years developing is especially tough.

It has been an honor being part of many things happening with YWAM Tg Mures. A list of things I have been involved in:

- worship band, playing at conferences and seminars
- communications and office work
- staffing and developing a DTS
- staffing and developing the 1st School of Worship in Romania
- pioneering the organization here in Tg Mures.
- helping organize 2 worship seminars
- orphans
- other things that I can't see or remember

Its been an amazing journey.. I would never take back any of it, not that I could... but I wouldn't even if I could. Not even the hard parts like the physical sicknesses that seemed to plague me almost the entire time I was in Romania, the suffering, the homesickness, the conflicts, the loneliness, the life-changing friendships... none of it. God is amazing, and I look forward to the road up ahead.

Christmas story.

Christmas was a busy time here in Romania. I have discovered that there is no such thing as a "quiet and relaxing" Christmas in Romania! Christmas is a time to party, stay up late, eat lots of food, and carol with all your friends! The party starts Christmas eve and lasts until New Years Day. At 11:35 om on Christmas day, I heard a knock on my apartment door. I rushed to my door, and soon as the door swung open, there were about 50 young people (from a local church I attend) crowded into the stairwell of my gray cement building. They sang a beautiful song in 3 part harmony, about praising the God who was born in Bethlehem...of course my eyes welled up with tears of gratitude. It was a beautiful and a profound moment of how blessed I am here in Romania!

I discovered that caroling in Romania is a major part of their Christmas tradition. You carol all night for 3 nights... some of my friends went caroling until 5 am for 3 days! I was invited to go with the group that caroled for me, and since I was so impressed with them, I went. Even though I didn't really know most of the songs and they were in Romanian, I had a blat and it will be a Christmas I will never forget!

Orphan home 2008 Christmas

Thanks to Samaritan's purse, we were able to take gifts and throw a little Christmas party at the orphan home where my friend, Feri, grew up. It was a lot of fun! The kids there are really nice and I had lots of fun playing cards with them!