Taco Night and Good Friday!!

Tonight we gathered together as a team and ate yummy tacos complete with all the fixings: salsa, cheese, onions, sour cream, cheese, etc. They were delicious. This was especially exciting because you can't buy tortillas here. They do have unleavened bread/pitas, and lavas available though. Almost the same...but not quite. So, the tortillas were homemade!! There were also movies playing, fun games, and we even broke out the Wii(newer version of Nintendo, if you didn't know). Side note: I was just introduced to the Wii this week. It is fun-filled game that provides a lot of laughter and a good workout(the first time, at least). I have been so sore since I started playing. :)

The best part of the evening was when we celebrated Good Friday together. Easter is celebrated here this weekend(Orthodox calendar). We prayed, had communion, and sang songs.It was so great. It is always a humbling experience to take communion and remember the sacrifice Christ made for us on the cross. It is so incredible to me to think of His pain and blood that was shed to wash us white as snow. I am so thankful that my sins are forgiven and remembered no more. I am also so blessed to serve a Risen Savior.

Zooming Out

"Worship is zooming out and refocusing on the big picture. It's refocusing on the fact that two thousand years ago,Jesus died on the cross to pay for the penalty for my sin. It's refocusing on the fact that God unconditionally loves me when I least expect it and least deserve it. It's refocusing on the fact that I have eternity with God to look forward to in a place where there is no mourning or sorrow or pain. Worship is forgetting about what's wrong with you and remembering what's right with God. It is like hitting the refresh key on your computer. It restores the joy of your salvation. It recalibrates your spirit. It renews your mind. And it enables you to find something good to praise God about even when everything seems to be going wrong."-Mark Batterson, from the book: In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day

Yesterday I zoomed out as I stood singing in church. I am really getting the hang of singing the songs in Romanian. I don't get it all right, but man I give myself an 'E' for effort. I was able to lay down all the events of my week and the world around me and just focus on who God is. It was wonderful. We must have sang songs for nearly an hour, but honestly I think I could have sang for another hour. I was most excited and surprised when we sang, "Shout to Lord." This is my favorite worship song of all time. The Romanian words of the song pierced my heart just like the words in English do. The part of the song that gets to me every time are these words:
Forever I'll love you, forever I'll stand
Nothing compares to the promise I have in
YOU!

Indeed, what a promise we have in Him. I am so thankful for this! I was really refreshed as I zoomed out and sang these words yesterday.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

A bonus at church: There was a Turkish Christian who shared his testimony about how he and his wife converted from Islam to Christianity. Powerful stuff. Besides his powerful story, I was surpised by his English. He shared his story in English and then the pastor translated in Romanian to the congregation. What a joy it is to hear English in church. I don't think I fully understood before I came here how much English really is the universal language. It is amazing how many people speak it and speak it well here. It never ceases to amaze me. It is times like these that I am so thankful I was born in America. :)

Speaking of Turkey...Did you know that I get to go to Turkey in June? Yep. I'm really exctied. I will be there for retreat.