We're Here!

We arrived in Bucharest around 5:00 pm on Thursday and are starting out our second full day in the country. We survived almost 26 hours of travel time-- Bend to Seattle, Seattle to Frankfurt, Frankfurt to Bucharest. This is the beginning of our second full day in Bucharest and the team is doing well, despite some jet-lag and looking somewhat like zombies from time to time.

We're staying with host families here in Bucharest, some in Soviet-era bloc apartments, some in newer apartments, and a few lucky ones in a home with a pool-- which sounds heavenly in this muggy 88 degree weather. Yesterday we toured the People's House, the main government building in Bucharest, where the former dictator lived and worked, and walked around Bucharest to visit some of the key sites of the 1989 Revolution.

Yesterday evening we spent time with the members of Missio Dei, a 9-month old church plant comprised mostly of young people (its oldest member is 34). Missio Dei is a progressive community emerging among a rather conservative church tradition. They have had some opposition from the older generation, who don't completely understand their vision to be missional and more active in the community. The church was started by former Moody students and is pastored by two dynamic brothers. Last night we had some sessions with thier young people-- the women with Brenda speaking about dating and relationships and the men with Rick speaking on apologetics.

We're having a couple more sessions with the church this morning and evening, and some time with our host families this afternoon. Right now we have to catch a bus and head to the church building. Ciao!

-Megan