Back to school

   It's fall and the kids are all back in school... and so are we!  We have just finished our first week of language lessons- and we have already learned so much.  After 3 lessons, we already have 600 flashcards, so it's going to be a long path to fluency!  We have really been enjoying learning Romanian.  It is a latin-based language, so it has similarities to Spanish and Italian, but also has some Slavic and German sounding words as well!  We also get help from the kiddies- when we say something wrong, they correct us!
   We have been spending our time at the baby hospital, and the orphanages.  We get to help with youth group for the middle and high school aged kids.  This is a really cool gathering because the kids do not have to come to this, so the ones who come are choosing to come learn about God (and of course play fun games.)  Steven is helping to lead worship for the kids- and they love to sing!  We don't know the words in Romanian yet, but the kids try to help us :)

little cutie pie with some school supplies that H2H was able to donate to the orphanage school

our lego people- he was trying to make mine talk to his, but I only have limited phrases to choose from!

Steven is not actually holding this kid- his legs are wrapped around him like a monkey!

a new little buddy

  We got to spend this past Saturday at the orphanage for a play day.  It has dropped about 35 degrees in the past two days, so we spent lots of time indoors that day playing cards and building with legos (although Steven was of course playing futbol with the boys outside!)

the classic long-arm shot

   This boy is one that I met the first time I came to Romania in 2006.  When Steven and I came together on a trip in 2007, he performed a "wedding" for us when he found out we were engaged.  He even put a tissue on my head like a veil!  He is very charismatic, knows a good chunk of English, and LOVES High School Musical!  When we were hanging out the other day, he went back into his room and came back with a picture of the 3 of us we had sent him back in 2007.  It is very special to know that he saved this- the kids lose stuff a lot, or it gets stolen, so it made us feel so special that he kept it all this time.  It is amazing that we have come here to serve these kids and love them, and yet they end up blessing us with their genuineness and love.  It truly made us so thankful to be here!