Here’s my Trip Journal. It’s long, but so was the trip! God really blessed many people on and through this journey. Rejoice with me!
Wednesday, May 31, 2006 – Traveling – Portsmouth to DC, DC to Frankfurt, Germany, Frankfurt to Bucharest, Romania.
Thursday, June 01, 2006 –
Photos: Frankfurt airport & bus ride into Bucharest #001-012
Gypsy village at dump in Bucharest #013-056
Outreach was good. Socializing, then general prayer to receive Christ, then individual ministry.
Dani, a young lady, took Rosa (my roommate) and me to show us her house. She showed us her medications, too – physicians’ samples. Why? Could have been to get money to buy more medications. The team did not give away any money or our personal items.
Friday, June 02, 2006 – Lord, You have Your reason, don’t you? Here I am, wondering, “Why me, Lord?” and You know! Breakfast chatting this morning, another lady, U__ from USA via Austria, said she still doesn’t know why You have her here. Lord, I ask You to keep me focused. I choose to pray, to intercede. Let me not be distracted by taking pictures even! Teach me to pour Your Spirit out on others. Let me not be distracted from prayer, hands on prayer! You are taking care of my foot, my energy, my all. Steep me in Yourself, Lord, and flow from me, through me. Lord! You are my All-in-All. Give me a word today. Yesterday, Georgian spoke of sacrifice. So, Lord, keep me mindful of Your sacrifice!! And to not shy away from my own!
Today we cross from Romania to Bulgaria over the Danube River. This group has prayed God’s blessings to be carried to Romania over the Danube for years, but this is the first year they’ve gotten onto Romanian soil. Thank You, Lord! Let Your Word reach throughout Romania & Europe through the Gypsies! Save Your People, Lord!
This afternoon we go to Varna. Use me, Lord! Leave the camera behind. Pray, pray, pray. Take stickers and pray. Lord, I pray your blessing with each sticker. Like the hem of your garment, like Paul’s handerchiefs, and Peter’s shadow, Lord, let these little stickers carry Your anointing of Love and Grace to the Gypsies, children and adults alike!
Here is Your Word for me today:
John 6:37-40(NAS) “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent me. This is the will of Him who sent me, that of all that He has given me, I will lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”
Lord, manifest Your Self through me, that all who see me, who look upon me, will believe in You, that they may also have eternal life, and that You, Lord, will raise them up on the last day.
Thank You, Lord!
Midnight, Friday night – 02/03 June 2006 –
We travelled from Romania to Bulgaria today. Budapest is such an oppressed city; it even feels sad & pitiful. Things did not “lighten up” until after we crossed into Bulgaria. I am not surprized that Jon & Ana’s family wanted so much to get out! I’m thankful they did.
My roommate & tour “buddy” is Rosa, from Ft. Worth, TX. She’s a sweetie, and 10 yrs older than we are – you’d never guess it, though! Georgian’s mom (“Mama”) has really taken to her! (She is 78 yrs old.)
I left my camera on the bus when we visited the Varna gypsies today. I felt the Lord told me to do that. I took my shakey and broke it again from just shaking it! I think perhaps we need to use a heavier gauge wire. Natasha (Gypsy worship team, Sofia) and the Sofia pastors (Zhorro & Marianna) joined us today. Lubcho & Mitko we will see when we get to Sofia. I can hardly wait! Natasha called my name out and I looked up – Pure Joy!! We hugged and said, “I love you!” and “Jesus!” and both of us were so happy!! She is a precious jewel!
I prayed for a number of children Gypsies tonight – they liked my shakey, too! – and several adults. The last, a man named Ali, was so precious! You could see when he felt the power of the Lord! He looked a little started and smiled and said, “OK, OK.” He was really soaking it up! Such a sweet man! He kissed our hands and was SO appreciative! No guile.
Tomorrow we go to Dobritch to Mitko & Albena’s (& son, Christian) church, not far from Varna. Then after lunch we will probably go back to Varna and see the Gypsies again, as we were late getting there today. A small group of us will go to minister at the Gypsy church in Varna, pastored by Peter and Effize.
Comparison with last year:
o Last year, I played my violin on the rooftop. This year I was in the midst of the mob – OK, not dead center, but still very crowded! And so noisy! We had loud speakers for the music.
o Stickers, stickers, stickers! Everyone wants stickers! Pushing & shoving and hitting are not uncommmon among the kids! And “fini!” means “no more”. ASL hand sign for “finished” works, too!
o I was more comfortable last year, out of the crowd, on the rooftop. Several people have asked if I brought my violin, and were disappointed when I said no. They tell me that I played well! (I certainly didn’t feel like I played well, but I deeply appreciated their words.)
I went to use the bathroom in a private house this evening and decided I could wait!! It’s an attached outhouse with a stall-type wooden door, no light, and a porcelain squat-potty at one end. A hose transports water to it from an outdoor laundry sink. We won’t talk about the smell! But this might be an improvement over the little camp we visited yesterday in the Bucharest dump. There the people just went out into the field to relieve themselves. No, I think the field is preferable!
The Lord told me on the bus today to “Let My Glory show – don’t hide it.” I hope I am doing that.
Midnight, Sat/Sun night – June 03/04, 2006 –
We went to a great church service in Dobrich, BG, this morning! Small church, about the size of ours, maybe a little larger. Great Worship team! Steve (Ivy) would love it!! I bought some cd’s – their first ever. All original music. I hope some of what they did this morning is on the album. This church reminded me so much of ours! They blessed us with a fire tunnel at the end of the service – so much love!! Thank You, Lord!
My feet are swelling terribly – too much sitting on the bus, probably. They are not giving me much pain. Some, but quite controllable with the ibuprofen, 2-3 times a day.
Time for sleeping. Tomorrow we get the day in Nessebur, BG, on the coast of the Black Sea, then a night train to Sofia. J
Photos: Dobrich Church #57-98
Nessebur #99-149
Enthused with the morning discoveries of beauty, I and my camera proceeded downstairs and out the back door! There we found more worthy subjects to share with you!! 
