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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Arrived Uzice near 2 weeks. Time fly.

Titus went back to the State yesterday morning because of his health problem. The Serbia outreach team down to 6 people now. We tried to pass the news to the Philippines team but as they are on the outreach at the villages, seems that they still haven’t got our update. I could imagine how sad they will be. But I believe separation just bought us together.

Sun is shining bright in Uzice!

We had English Club, 2 sessions, with the high school dorm students. They are wonderful kids. Very smart, open, full of dream and passion of their own nation. I love them!

Last night, half of the team went to have a kids’ programme with the orphan. They are special needs kids and we had to use extra strength and patient. While we were doing the kids’ programme, the reminding team was preparing for the concert! Yes, we have a band!! Far From Home is the name!! Woo! See you poster on the street of Uzice! Concert at the cafe, try to reach out to the local. And it went so well! We made some new friends and some youth that we met on the street came to support us.

Ministries here in Uzice are all in the beginning. That’s a new experience for me. On one hand, I feel like I am not doing anything. Most of the time is just hanging out, try to make friends with local. But on the other hand, I value this experience. Cos I believe this is the real situation working in mission. Start from scratch.

This morning, the team heading to Sarajevo, Bosnia. I couldn’t get the visa, so I stay with other missionaries at our mission house. They will be back this Sunday evening and I wondering how I should make good use of these 3 days… Walking out of the house, again, this wonderful view is in front of me. The mission house is located at Bela Zemlja, mean the White Land. Such a beautiful place. And Serbia is such a beautiful nation. May God bless this place and the people here. May they see the beauty of the Lord, the glory of His kingdom. Amen.

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The Journey Has Begun!

We arrived in the Philippines after traveling with a bus for 10 hours to Istanbul, Turkey and then a 13 hour flight to Manila! We left Sunday afternoon and arrived on Tuesday. We were pretty tired but thankful to finally be in the Philippines! The heat hit us like a wall when we got off the plane. This is a world like I have never seen before. The traffic goes everywhere. Scooters and bikes weave in between cars and jeepneys (their public transport that look like home made buses). The YWAM base here is very nice! It is a huge building with 4 floors. There are around 27 YWAM staff that live on the base and they eat all their meals together. The community is great and I am enjoying getting to know all of these beautiful people.

Joy In The Midst of Poverty

During our first day of ministry, half of the team went to YWAM’s Day Care Center for malnourished babies and the other half of the team went to visit families with TB. I went with the team to visit TB families. We brought a bag of rice and a few eggs to each family. These families live in small apartments with around 10-18 people in each unit. The government built these apartments after they shut down the old Smokey Mountain garbage dumpsite. There is no running water and the conditions are not good but better than still living in the temporary housing. The temporary housing is basically shacks built on top of shacks made with cardboard, scrap wood and whatever they can find.

One of the families we visited had a son with extreme cerebal palsey. He was laying on the floor when we walked into their apartment. He looked really frail, just skin and bones. I thought that he was maybe 2 or 4 years old. I asked the mother how old he was and she said 20 years old. I couldn’t believe my ears! This boy laying in front of me with a diaper on was 20 years old. His mother is a widow with 8 children and 6 living with her. She sat in front of me rocking her small frail son. We prayed for her, encouraged her and gaver her some food. I walked away feeling a bit helpless and overwhelmed by her situation. She is a woman of strength that’s for sure.

The Garbage Dumpsite “Smokey Mountain”

Today I went to the TB Bible Study at the garbage dumpsite of Smokey Mountain. There were 6 adults who came and many children. Ana one of the DTS students shared about the Kingdom of God and we sang some songs with them. Next to where we had the Bible study about 20 feet away men were picking through garbage and a group of boys were playing basketball. I still don’t understand how people can live amongst all the garbage at this dumpsite. I see the joy of the Lord on their faces and am encouraged to see that these people have hope even amongst their circumstances.

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Saying goodbye to the Philippines outreach team 2pm this afternoon. It will be a long traveling for them. And I am sure it will be a unforgettable one.

The base became so quiet after half of the students left. Dinner, fried chicken, was amazing as usual. Thanks Kristen and Denali for cooking!! We played RISK after and it was just a relaxing evening.

Tomorrow, we are leaving for Serbia. Taking a bus to Bucharest and get on the overnight train to Serbia. After we leave, the base will be so empty. Couldn’t imagine I am going to leave this house soon. How will the following 6 weeks be like? How is the other team going? I guess they are now sleeping on the bus to Istanbul. Miss them already, on this silent night.

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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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