We have spent much of the week helping our contacts to clear out the attic at the YWAM base.  They are preparing for construction to start probably next week in the attic to built new classrooms and bedrooms.  We meet for intercession with everyone on the base after breakfast and then work the rest of the morning. In the middle of the morning work we have a coffee break (or pausa de cafea) at about 11:30.  The coffee and tea here is really good and we have chocolates and other snacks with it.  Everyone on the team has agreed to continue having the coffee breaks when we get back home! :) 

Yesterday and today we moved everything into a shed (bakaza). The bakaza is on the left with Alen, one of the guys who live here at the base. We were told that we’re going to be dismantling the bakaza and moving it behind the base next week which will be quite a task…!

This afternoon we ventured into a village about 20 kilometers from Medias (pictured at right).  There was a very large, very old church in the center of the village.  It had been built between the 14^th and 16^th centuries by the Germans.  A large group of Germans lived in the village until after World War II when the Romanian government forced them to leave.  The communists moved groups of Gypsies (Roma) to the village.  Today, there are three main ethnic groups in the village: Romanians, Roma, and some Germans still remaining.  Our contracts told us that there is a lot of tension between these ethnicities.

We will be spending time with the children and youth in the schools and churches of this village and other villages in the area soon. Today we met some of the children (right) and tried to figure out the best place do do outreaches next week. Pray that we have the wisdom to know how to reach these people, many who seem to have little hope. We will be organizing two children's outreaches tomorrow (Saturday) in Medias and two church services in the villages Sunday. Pray that the Lord will lead us in our planning so that we can effectively build relationships and communicate encouragement and life to the people.