DTS Constanta 2009

I can’t believe this is our last night in the Philippines at this wonderful base with these wonderful people! We have been so busy while we have been here with all the different ministries and it has been such a wonderful blessing for us. Last night, Pearl, Cherrie and Dulce came upstairs to our room and lit candles and played music and set up a little salon Pearl gave us back massages, Cherrie did the foot spa treatment, and Dulce did a wonderful job giving manicures and painting our nails with wonderful detail! It was sooo amazing and so sweet of these women. I am really going to miss the people here at the base and I’m never ever going to forget the people we have ministered to. We had a wonderful night of dinner, icecream, games and fellowship.

Our time here in the Philippines has been bittersweet for me. I have fallen in love with the people here. The staff, the people, and yes, even the children (haha). But, on the other hand,  my heart broke for them because of the suffering I saw them living in. I asked for God to break  my heart for what breaks His,  and to give me His heart for these people. Mistakeningly, I didn’t think He would. He did, and it hurts, but it’s … incredible. I see exactly why God loves the people of the Philippines. How could He not? Not only did He create them, but He gave them such a uniqueness about them.

Tomorrow, we leave to go back to Romania and it feels like it was just yesterday we arrived. It feels like just yesterday we first experienced the Manila heat, and it feels like just yesterday we took our first jeepney ride and experienced the way of the tricycle Oh … the many random things of the Philippines!

Well, I finished my Christmas shopping today .. so now I’m going to pack and attempt to fit everything in my bag! God bless you all Thank you for your prayers!

In Him,

Melissa

Romans 11:36

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This was our teams first experience in the Smokey Mountain

Philippines Outreach – 2009

Where am I?

I am currently in Manila, Philippines – more specifically in an area called Tondo. My team consists of 8 people from 4 nations and we are staying at a long-established YWAM base. The people here are wonderful and so hospitable! Last Friday, we traveled about 2 ½ hours North to a town called TayTay that was hit with a recent typhoon where we did some food distribution and prayed for families. I am going again this Friday to help the medical team de-worm children and provide routine care. Next week, we are going to a town about 2 ½ hours south called Batangas where we will stay for 1 week as part of our outreach.

What am I doing here?

I am with my team from my DTS on my 6 week long outreach. Everyday we go to at least one ministry. Here is what this week looks like for us:

Sunday – Church and the rest of the day off

Monday – Day off/Celebrated my birthday

Tuesday – Breakfast then the children feeding program in the morning (with a bible story skit and songs) and then in the afternoon either TB bible study or Family bible study (our team splits 4/4 – we lead the study, songs and sometimes games)

Wednesday – Fasting and Intersession in the morning then in the afternoon we help cook food for another feeding program. Then after lunch, 6 of us go to the Smokey Mountain Dump Site for the feeding program (bible story skit, songs, games) and 2 of us go to Family bible study (study, songs, games)

Thursday - Breakfast then 4 of us go to the Day Center for Malnourished Children. Then after lunch, 2 of us go to the Tuberculosis Bible Study and 2 of us go to TB Family Visitation. After dinner, we all go to the high school ministry where we lead a bible study, worship, fellowship and have games.

Friday – After breakfast, we have worship with the base. After lunch, my team will head to Mother Teresa’s Orphanage, while I go with the medical class here to TayTay to do some de-worming and other routine care.

Saturday – After breakfast, 4 of us will go to the elementary kids program and 4 will go to the TB feeding program again at the dump site. After lunch, 4 of us will go to the high school ministry and 4 will go to the college ministry.

Sunday – Church and rest of the day off

Monday – we leave for Batangas at 8 am.

What is the hardest thing for me so far?

The first week we were here, we visited families and made a stop at all the ministries to get a feel for everything. That was unarguably the most difficult week of my life. The buildings that we walked through were representative of prisons – with no light and gray cement walls, the place smelled like urine, bleach and filth. The dump site was unbelievable. People are living on garbage. Their entire life in on garbage. They sleep on garbage, eat off garbage, play in garbage – everything is in garbage. This is literally a mountain. It’s the size of a town.

The absolute hardest thing for me, is to know people live like this. I am just a person and so are they. Why do I get to live where I live and they have to live where they live? It’s so hard to see naked, dirty children running around in this garbage. I saw a woman who had broken her leg (Tibia) and because she had no access to medical care, the bone and everything healed the way it broke. Her bone was sticking out of her leg with her skin stretched tight around it! I was so infuriated that she had to suffer like that.

What is the best thing so far?

The best thing for me so far, is the people. Everyone is so full of joy and it’s so encouraging to see! No matter what condition their house in it, no matter who is sick in their family, no matter if they have nothing to give except a smile, they have joy and faith. For me, this is so amazing! I have a hard time smiling when we go through some of the ministries because of the things I see. It’s hard for me sometimes to find joy in this, but God is giving these people joy! It’s so humbling for me. I see these children and these families that have nothing, and yet, they have each other and God, and for them, that’s what’s important. I wish we could all feel like that.

It is so encouraging for me to see the staff here at the base as well. They are doing so much for the community! Everyday, they are giving their all and more. Whether they are doing a feeding program, or giving a bible study, or caring for malnourished children, or visiting families, they are doing something! What’s so great about this, is this is all done with love. There is no grumbling or misery or complaining about going out to the ministries. They love what they are doing and they love the people they are serving.

When we go to the children feeding program, I am always amazed at how the children behave. They are so good! They all come in and sit down at their chair and bring their plate and spoon. We sing songs and they all participate. When they are led in prayer before eating, they all pray. When we are getting ready to serve their food, they stack the plates up and hand them to us and wait patiently for everyone to have their food before they start. The sweetest thing I have seen so far with the children, is that when we put the food on their plate and place it on their table, they don’t just grab for it. They make sure that the right child gets their correct plate. They make sure everyone has enough. They really look out for each other. We don’t even have to tell them. The staff working in this ministry have put so much time and care into these children and shown them the love of God, that these children show love better than most adults I’ve met.

What is God teaching me right now?

God is teaching me so many things. He is teaching me to appreciate what I have. He is teaching me to be content. He is also teaching me how to really love people. I’m learning to connect with people that are more than half way around the world from where I am from. God is showing me so many things and He is breaking my heart for what breaks His. God is also teaching me to really value loved ones. I see these people everyday who have almost nothing but each other and God. If this is enough for them, it’s enough for anyone.

Well, I just wanted to update everyone on what we are doing. It’s been a little difficult to get online since we are all sharing one computer and we aren’t always sure the internet is going to work. Our team is doing great and we are all enjoying the ministries we are involved in and the wonderful people that God has brought into our lives. On our off days, we still have fun and we get a chance to recharge our batteries from the week. We have team time every night after dinner, and sometimes during the day. It’s encouraging to get a devotional everyday and sometimes we just take time to worship God and praise Him for all the wonderful things He is doing for us!

It was a long trip getting here, through Bulgaria and Turkey with a quick change over in the United Arab Emirates. But we all made it safely and with all of our luggage! I know that none of us will come back the same person as when we left. God is challenging us everyday and He is continuously refilling us with the Holy Spirit so we can share the love of Christ with others.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and thank you for all of your prayers! We can feel them and we know God is working! I will attach some pictures of some of the ministries and if anyone has questions, feel free to ask! God bless all of you!

In Him,

Melissa Dietrich

Romans 11:36

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another peaceful Saturday afternoon… sitting in the base office, enjoying the breeze… 1 journal entry and 1 book report need to be done… 2 months gone, 3 more months to go…

Last week we all (12 students and 3 staffs, Leah L + Sarah + Martin 2) traveled to Draganesti Olt. It located at the south of Romania and only 0.2% of the population are Christian in this area. The outreach was amazing. We did kids club, street evangelism, practical work at the church, share testimon, songs and messages.

It was the one and only time for the whole team work on ministry todather. Next month, 7 students will go to Phillipine and 5 will go to Serbia for the 1.5 months long “big” outreach. I really treasure the time with all the students and staffs. And I am amazed how God put us together. There is no accident in God’s plan. We all have weakness and strength. But in God, it just works out perfectly.

another peaceful Saturday afternoon… uploading videos and photos…  so people know we love each other and we are His disciple…

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Last week, me and 5 other students went for a small outreach at Medgidia (an hour away from Constanţa) with the staff Leah L. and Calin. We visited 2 villages and have kid’s club with the children there. They are very different from the kids that we serve at the neighbourhood. They are quiet and gentle. They enjoyed the time with us and love the song and craft. Kids from Volea Dacilor, one of the village, suprise me. Their families are so poor and their house were built by the church. Most of them are not going to school and they just wondering around. They are all so sweet and love to spend time with us. They smile is timid and I just like to know their stories.

Coco from the local church took Me, Nat and Lead L to an old lady on our first evening at Medgidia . The lady cried once we all settled down. She said she felt embarrassing as her home wasn’t in good shape and not clean. But for me, the pink broken wall is warm and loving. She shared her difficulties, financial problem is one of the main issue. She worried that she could not pay for the heat in winter. And her body is pain and her heart is pain because of the problem of her daughter. Her tears really broke my heart and I could feel her loneliness.

The other day, we visited a widow. In an Orthodox society, being a Christian could be describe as “crazy”. And as the lady is a widow, she’s in a very difficult situation. But she has so much faith in God even I couldn’t see a smile on her face. As she has leg problem, she couldn’t go to church. Her money has been stolen and once again not enough money for food. But she told us that she know God is with her. What a faithful lady. We always care about the orphan but have very little time to the widow. How could we help them? How could we reach them?

Three nights four days at Medgidia. Tired but fruitful. We got back yesterday at about 5pm and I love being home. “Home”, yes! A month since the school have started, I already feel that the YWAM base in Constanţa is my home.

Nat just woke up and she is going to prepare a big pancake breakfast. Yes, pancake is our usual Saturday breakfast. Sun shining in my room as usual. I am glad to be here. And I am waiting for the stories from the other outreach team.

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August. Time passes so fast. I have been here for more than 20 days. I feel that I have been in Constanţa forever but on the other hand I couldn’t believe that the 2nd week of teaching has finished.

God’s Kingdom was the topic of the teaching last week. I am sure I need much more time to think about this subject. Random thoughts/ notes… Jesus talked about The Kingdom more than any other topics… “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” … on earth, yes, on earth…, concern about Justice, Poverty and those who are oppressed, the Kingdom is a place to serve…. to FOLLOW Jesus and to invite people to follow Him, not about repent from sin but a new mind, a new way of thinking…not about IN or OUT of the circle but following… shine the glory, make Him visible…

Last Wednesday I joined the Kid’s Club ministry. Our team went to a poor neighbourhood and we just played games, sang songs and drew with the kids. I love them so much and we had so much fun. I will keep working in this ministry and I am looking forward to meet them again.

Friday, Coffee House Ministry. We had the “New Wine Cafe” at the ground floor and it opens every Thur and Fri evenings. This Friday I went down to try to see what I could do. There wasn’t any new visitors but the 2 boys who always come. Then I realise, it’s not about making a good business. Sometime, it seems like “nothing” is happening. But it’s just because we haven’t seen the whole picture yet. I enjoy the night at the cafe. Don Stevens, our teacher last week, gave us a short message at the cafe. And he played beautiful piano for us. Sweet.

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This is my second Saturday morning in Constanţa.

Me, Sara, Emliya, Melissa, Natalie and Titus just came back to the base after we went to see the sun raise at the beach. With a cup of tea, I sit in the warm room, listening to the sound of the fan, roommates are all sleeping sweetly and I smell the taste of nice pancakes from the kitchen. Then I realise, everything is perfect.

After a few days of introduction, we started our lectures last week. Hearing God’s Voice. I always find it difficult to reconise His Voice. Is the idea, the sound in my mind from You, God? Or is it just came from myself? I have had my quiet time by the Black Sea for a week. The scenes were different everyday. The colour, the sound and the smell could be very different. God is actually talking to me, through His creation and His present. And yes, He just makes it perfect.

Bună Dimineaţa! Good Morning, my Lord.

Hazel Chang (Student, DTS Constanţa)

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Hi everyone!!

Matthew Siemens here, I’m 18 years old and from Saskatchewan Canada. There are 12 of us from quite a few different countries here in Constanta. We’ve been here nearly 2 weeks now and its been amazing meeting everyone and and finding more out about they’re country and culture. Our YWAM base here is located only 3 blocks from the Black Sea and it has been lots of fun exploring Constanta, swimming in the Sea, and just living together in community.

This week we had Helga Nuremburger as our speaker. She’s originally from Germany but she’s been living here in Romania since 1991. She was speaking on Hearing God’s Voice this week. We also had our first small group meeting today, we meet together once a week in small groups and discuss what we’ve been learning that week and any other issues or questions that have come up during the week.

I also uploaded a few photos from our DTS so far, please follow this link to check them out!! Photo Album

That’s all I have to report for now! Thanks from all of us out here for all your prayers!! It means so much to us!

God Bless

Matthew Siemens

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