The First Days

Well, after waiting over a year, I am finally in Romania and getting adjusted to my new life. I am helping a Byzantine priest in his parish as well as helping out at the orphanage in the next town.

So, I'll start from the beginning. I flew from Cincinnati to Charlotte, NC to Munich, Germany to Cluj-Napoca, Romania and then drove 4 hours to Turt (pronounced Turts). Needless to say, it was a LONG 24 hours of traveling with about 10 minutes of sleep. When I arrived in Turt, I was shown my apartment and it's like ridiculously nice, but that's how Romanians are. They want the best for those who are visiting.

Most of my time so far has been spent helping Fr. Remus' wife, Iulia around the house and with their almost 2-year-old son, George. When some of you read the previous statement, I can imagine what is going through your head. Because Fr. Remus is not Roman Catholic, but an Eastern rite Catholic, he can be married. So, now that is cleared up, I can continue. Hahaha. I have been helping her cook and I've been playing with George. I have come to learn that he LOVES Snow White to the point that it's hilarious. He's always talking about it. When he says something about Snow White, either Fr. Remus or Iulia translates. He absolutely loves the dwarfs. Today, while he was eating lunch, he watched the movie. It was so cute. Iulia is an amazing woman who is SO full of incredible wisdom. Today, she was telling me how so many people here just see money as everything (Romanian culture is VERY materialistic). They work 20 hour days and do nothing else - they don't enjoy life. She says that it's because they don't know the Lord.

I've been to the market with Iulia twice and while we are there, she's pointed to things to tell me what they are (Tonight, I was sent to the market alone to get beer. I succeeded. Hahaha). She's been so great helping me with the language. I'm getting some of the very basics down. I have to keep reminding myself that I've only been here 5 days and no one expects me to know Romanian yet. I'm just having a hard time with it because I just want to talk to people instead of awkwardly standing by while Iulia or Fr. Remus explains that I am "Kate from America." I know I'll get there and soon be able to at least understand what's being said.  My name is too hard for George (and most Romanians, actually) to say, so I was quickly given the nickname Kate. So, that's what they call me at the orphanage too.

I FINALLY got to the orphanage today. It was so amazing to be reunited with the kids who so radically changed my life last April. At first, some of them were hesitant to be around me, but once some of them remembered who I was, it was like I had never left. They have all grown SO much that it's crazy!!

I am so blessed and humbled that God called me to by a missionary to His people in Romania. Please pray for me and I promise to pray for you.