Europe 2014: Brosov

From April 21 to April 24 we were in Brosov, Romania. This is a much smaller city than Bucharest. I think the city has about 80,000 people. It is a well known college town and you can tell it immediately. In my opinion, it has a lot more character than Bucharest, specifically with its buildings. We arrived in Brosov by train from Bucharest....about a 3 hour train ride aross the beautiful countryside of Romania.

Brosov is located in the foothills of the mountains and thus the climate at this time of year is cool and rainy, but we did see the sun shine one day we were there. Our first night we went our to see the town and get dinner (our meal for the day). We went to a local Transylvanian restaurant (authentic). Let's just say their cuisine is not exactly vegetarian friendly. They are famous for wild caught meet like deer, wild boar, and fish. Now, Adam and I are vegetarian and have been for almost 2 years, but we feel very strongly that it is important to try authentic cuisine.....so we did! I had a wild caught salmon steak and Adam had wild boar.....yes wild boar!!! They both were done well and we enjoyed them with an authentic Romanian wine. Their side dishes; however, far outweighed the meat in our opinion. They had amazing mushroom rice and a vegetable au gratin that was honestly the best part of the total meal. We had a lovely night sharing stories with our other travelers and enjoying authentic Transylvanian cuisine. The waiter and waitresses were also all dressed up in traditional attire that added even more authenticity to our experience.

 

Day 2 in Broso, the ladies headed out for a day tour to a few castles a ways outside the city and we stayed in. Slept in as it was raining heavily, had a lovely croissant with tea for breakfast and bundled up....we wanted to go hiking! We had marked out a trail and headed up to see how far we could get as it was raining and the trail was muddy. We started climbing and kept going.....and going....and going until we reached the top! The view was incredible! It took us about 2 hours up. We were covered in mud and decided with another storm coming in we took the cable car down and then had espresso, hot chocolate, and a chocolate pastry at this adorable little coffee shop! The perfect end to a great day. It was an awesome day!

 

Day 3 we travelled to Bran castle, the famous vampire castle and Peles castle. Both were very different, but very beautiful! Bran castle was much older and much simple, whereas Peles castle is newer and much more elaborate.

 

Brasov was a breath of fresh air from the city of Bucharest. We enjoyed our last meal in Brosov at Pilvax, a traditional Hungarian restaurant. We had goulash (which is actually a soup), potato ravioli, a great Romanian wine, and a perfect hot chocolate!

We are off to Greece on the 25th.....Greece here we come!

 

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Europe 2014: Bucharest

After a long trip with little sleep we made it to Bucharest. We met up with one of our other travellers (Estella) from Peru (now living in the US). We took a taxi for 30 lei (approximately $9 US) to go 17+ km. CHEAP compared to the US taxi rates. The Lei is the national currency, also called Ron. Apparently, a few years ago the Lei became so large with multiple zeros that they dropped the zeros and changed the name to Ron, but everyone still uses Lei. The exchange rate is a little more than 3lei:1$. We stayed at Villa Zorba where we had a small apartment with 2 rooms, 2 living areas, and a kitchen all for 6 people. Plenty of space! It was well kept and in a fairly convenient location. The weather was cool and rainy the first 3 days we were there. Temperatures in the low and mid 40s. Definitely glad we brought our rain jackets!

When the rest of our clan arrived (Gramma, Teresa, and Rosa) on April 18th, we went out to dinner at a lovely little restaurant down the street from our apartment called Gaudi. We enjoyed soup and pasta and our first Romanian wine made with a Romanian grape (feteasca neagra). It was a smooth bodied red that paired perfectly with our tomato based soup and pasta. Adam conveniently stumbled on a wine shop where we met two lovely people, one of whom is from England and spoke extremely fast. We went back the next day and bought a few different wines from the region! All were around 44 lei which is less than $15 US.

The next few days we spent walking....lots and lots of walking. I have to hand it to our other travelers (all over the age of 60), they did great. We must have walked over 5 miles each day. We walked everywhere rain or not. Our 1st full day we visited the National Museum of Art which is in the original royal palace. We saw rooms and rooms of Romanian paintings, drawings, and sculptures. We also saw Revolution Square where in 1989 the communist party was overthrown after mass murder was ordered by Caeacescu (communist dictator). It was a sorrowful place where many innocent lives were lost. It was this event in 1989 that gathered the people to action to take back their freedom. Bucharest has a very sorrowful past, but it appears they are recovering. We also saw the Romanian Atheanium which is a large and elaborate theater where the symphony plays. We toured this building and it was incredibly beautiful. The theater holds only 800 people but it looked like much less. It was an intimate and antique building. In the theater there is a mural that stretches around the auditorium wall that tells the history of Romania. Beautiful!

The next day we walked down to the Lipscani District that has a variety of vendors and restaurants. Here they were selling art, traditional candy, and crafts. One of the unique things they do in Romania for Easter is they hand paint eggs. These are extremely elaborate. Easter in Romania was different as the majority of the country practices Eastern Orthodox. They had a variety of church services from Friday to Sunday. We were never able to actually sit in one; however, we did visit a couple after a service and they were all very quiet and reverent. I did not see the outward celebration that we see in the Protestant culture back in the states. They did celebrate Easter with egg decorations in the town squares called (piata). We also saw an Easter breakfast at the Hilton hotel for 195 lei/person roughly $65/person. Needless to say we had a granola bar instead! Haha! They did decorate with rabbits and baskets similar to the states.

The entire city was full of extremely expensive stores like Armani and Gucci. Their sidewalk displays were elaborate and beautiful.....you would certainly see us pointing in awe at the displays as we walked by. Let's play a game.....can you spot the tourist?

The culture is extremely unique. They have a mix of gypsies, well-to-do society, and what we would call middle class, just as in every culture. Their clothing is also unique, but all very different. People watching is extremely fun!

We also visited the Parlamentary Palace which is apparently the 2nd largest building in the world second to The Pentagon. Needless to say, it was huge! It was closed for tours the day we visited, but we did get to marvel at its size and intricate architecture.

Last night we had dinner in the district and afterward stood and watched a gypsie duo play music. They had a violin and an accordion and they entertained for hours. They played such pieces as Beethoven and apparently had them memorized. Amazing! Gramma and the other ladies decided they wanted to dance to the music and started dancing in the middle of the square. A man came and asked Gramma to dance and they danced together to the music. Come to find out, this man (a former priest) is from Ilinois and went to Knox college and grew up in Sterling and had Gordon Speer as a teacher! Small world huh!? We also met another girl who had come to the states for her job....to Moline because she worked for John Deere. Small world!

 

We are on our way to Brasov on a train as I type.......that's all for now!

Kristin Noel

 

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Europe Bound

We are off!
After moving out of our house, finishing work, packing and prepping for our trip ...... we are finally sitting in the airport ready to go. We spent last night with the Layers and are incredibly grateful for their hospitality and a good night sleep! We leave St. Louis around 1pm, head to Dallas, then London, and finally Bucharest!
Adam and I can't thank our family and friends enough for their support and help in our move and trip preparations.


We hope to update this blog frequently and share our adventures with you!

Blessings,
Adam and Kristin

What is Driving Your Home?

Week 7 focused our hearts and minds on Our Ministries.  Those in and out of the home.
As a wife and potential mother in the future, it was important for me this week to focus on my role, where my ministry is, where it should be, and how this might change in the future.

{Week 7 Challenge}: Pray that God lays on our hearts people we can minister too.  Then think of some practical ways that we can bless them.

{Week 7 Memory Verse}:

{Week 7 Statement}: This week I'm going to be intentionally focused on where and how I am ministering.  

{Week 7 Lessons}:

• invest your time and talents where they will make an eternal difference (1Peter 4: 9-10)
• invest in people
• use our gifts for others - not to please ourselves
• my first priority for ministry is in my home (Proverbs 31:27)
• be intentional about ministering in my home - attentive to their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness
• devote time and energy to help those around you (1 Tim 5: 10)
• do not hesitate to offer hospitality (Romans 12:13)
• do not entertain, but practice hospitality
• build your home on the foundation of God's love (Proverbs 14:1)
• sometimes tearing down what is not God driven is necessary
• guide our home with Christ as the center

When speaking ---> speak as if you are speaking the very words of God!

When serving ----> do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God will be praised through Jesus Christ!

{How to use our abilities}

1. as God directs
2. to help others
3. see Jesus in our service - "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for me" (Matthew 25: 40)

{Characteristics of a faithful woman}

1. care for those around her
2. does good deeds
3. raises or helps raise children to know the love of God
4. shows hospitality
5. does humble deeds for others
6. is a caring ear to come too
7. help for those in trouble
8. takes time out of her day to help those around her

{How to practice true hospitality}

1. focus on the guests and their needs
2. be a place for others to stay
3. offer food for nourishment
4. be a listening ear
5. show genuine acceptance and support

*Hospitality is not about inviting people into our perfect homes; it is about inviting people into our imperfect hearts!*

{Characteristics a Godly home should embody}

1. be a sanctuary for our husbands and children
2. be safe from worldly seductions and temptations
3. where the weary find rest
4. where the sad find comfort
5. environment where character is formed
6. be joyful
7. be peaceful
8. be filled with love!

During this week, Adam and I took time discussing practical ways to build our home on God's foundation and maintain it with Christ as the center.  We spent time answering this question: "What is driving our home?"  The discuss that developed from this question was profound and enlightening for our family.  I encourage you; whether married, married with kids, or single to answer this question honestly.  We found it to be pivotal for our relationship and how we build our home and will continue to build our home as it grows and changes.    

"What is driving your home?"

"Are you building up your home or tearing it down?

"What are some practical ways to make Jesus the center of your home?"

{Quote}  

"Home is the true wife's kingdom.  There, first of all places, she must be strong and beautiful.  She may touch life outside in many ways, if she can do it without slighting the duties that are hers within her own doors.  These are hers, and no other one's."  - J.R. Miller

{Prayer}

"I pray for each of you, that you be encouraged to minister using the gifts God has given you, to serve others, please God, and grow closer to him.  I pray for your homes, that you let God lead them and take time to assess what is driving your home, your schedules, your meals, your free time.  I pray you grow closer to God with each passing second and that your ministries inside and outside the home are blessed and prosperous in showing and sharing love." - Amen

Blessings,

Kristin Noel

Preparation for the Future

Week 6 was about children.....hope for the future!
I found this to be an enlightening week full of thoughts and ideas to store up and consider.

{Week 6 Challenge} Spend time with children around you and intentionally make a point to talk about the praise worthy deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done.

{Week 6 Memory Verse}

{Week 6 Statement} "This week I will be intentionally focused on my example and discussions with the children in my life."

{Week 6 Lessons}:

• Make God apart of your everyday life (Deut. 6:7-9)
• Teach children to see God in every aspect of their life
• Children have a RIGHT to knw about God. They are 1st His children! (Psalm 78: 3-4,6-7)
• Tell children of God's love
• Show children God's love by your actions so they will trust in Him!
• Children are a blessing, not an inconvenience (Psalm 127: 3-5)
• It is an honor to be asked to raise God's children
• God regards children highly
• Interact with children with an open heart and mind....they may have things to teach us
• Show children the importance of serving rather than status (Matthew 18:5)
• Do not be a stumbling block for children (Matthew 18:6)
• It is our responsibility as adults/parents to share God's love with children (2 Timothy 3:15-17)
• Teach children to analyze, trust, and use God's word
• Seek the scriptures often to know how to do God's work

Action steps to living with God everyday and being an example for the children around us:

1. Know God's word - spend time in the scriptures as often as possible
2. Use God's word - ineract with God's word and apply it to your everyday life
3. Speak God's word - share God's love and forgiveness

This week I found myself focusing on these lessons in 2 ways: 1) preparing if the day comes when God calls us to have children, and 2) in the present with the children and families I interact with daily. Although it might not always be appropriate to sit down and talk about Jesus, specifically in a school setting or during therapy, but I can ALWAYS show God's love through my service and interaction with them. I found myself spending more time contemplating how I would speak to the children and how I would engage with them in a loving way to intentionally show them God's love and encourage them to trust me and therefore learn to trust God. This is a huge responsibility as a therapist and teacher, one that I do not take lightly and take even more intentionally after this week's study. I also spent a fair amount of time thinking and mostly praying about the future. Praying for God's timing, praying that I will have what it takes, that if we are called to raise children that we do it right, that we lead them to God and that we show His love. This week's recap questions Adam and I actually went through together and these are the points we came up with--->


How do we plan on incorporating God into our everyday life when/if we do have children:

1. Teach and model radical forgiveness
2. Teach and model critical thinking and analysis
3. Be intentional with our actions and words that they show love and forgiveness above all.
4. Spend time daily in God's word as a family
5. Spend time daily in God's word as a couple
6. Encourage our children to spend time and interact with God's word individually
7. Make child-approachable material available for our children to learn God's word
8. Highlight an attitude of thankfulness in our actions and words
9. Spend time daily in prayer as a family
10. Spend time daily in prayer as a couple and individually

This was an extremely informative and thought provoking week of study. One I am thankful I worked through. One final note that Adam actually mentioned while we were discussing the recap questions together. We were discussing the importance of preparing ourselves for God's calling and he said:
"Well, it's just like if you were to raise bilingual children. You can't learn the language along with them, it has to be something you already know and live." - A

This was a profound statement to me. God is a language, He is that essential and we can't begin to think that we can teach our children God if we don't already know Him. We are preparing NOW for God's calling. Thankful for my husband and thankful for this week of study!


{Prayer} "I pray for each of you, for your influence on children. I pray that you first look to God for guidance and then lead little ones. I pray your heart is open to the children around you and that you recognize that they are 1st God's children. You have been honored to raise them and influence them, they are a blessing. I pray you own this blessing and take responsibility for it by showing them the radical forgiveness and love God has for you. Amen." - K

Blessings,
Kristin Noel

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