Hey Everyone,So as many of you may know, in May I went on a mission trip to Tinca, Romania to do mission work with the gypsies there. In short, the gypsies are the most hated people group in Romania, not counted in the country's population, hated by the government, and considered the lowest form of life. (For more information please visit fmnministries.org) We went to show God's love to them, and show them Christ through our love, actions, and service. We had an amazing trip, and knew that lots was accomplished for Christ, however, we just received an email from Rachel, the leader of Forget Me Not Ministries, and our contact while in Romania, who told us what has been going on since we left Romania. It is amazing, and I'm blown away and in tears over God's goodness and faithfulness to the Gypsy people, and the way He used us to reach them....please enjoy this email!

Dear BrandonI wanted to give you a quick Tinca update. I think I told you, but afteryou all left, I received lots of feed back from the Gypsies and they kepttalking about how they saw that you all had "true faith in Christ," unlikethat of what they have in the village with their 2 Gypsies pastors. Rodica(one of our employees) began crying as she told me how moving it was to beable to watch the Jesus Film next to you all, and how everyone was cryingthe next morning about how you all simply rub their arm or back to comfortthem. Amazing how such simple touch and comfort would leave such animpression on them.In other news, regarding those some who gave their lives to Christ thatevening and others who are no longer putting up with the corruption oftheirchurches....there has been a group of 25 people begin meeting, praying,and worshipping together - a small church! They are ones who want the faiththat they saw in you all, and are longing for that closer relationship.Forthe moment, I have bought them a cd player and then I just purchase PastorCiuciui's sermon cds each week for them to listen to. Pastor is going tomeet with them soon to see about getting them a leader for their churchand several other issues, of course, that would need to be addressed. It'samazing to see God work in the village and cause a spiritual hunger sogreat among the people. It is a ripple effect of the impact that you all madewhile you were here!!I'll keep you updated as God contiues to blow our minds! Hope you and fuel are having an amazing summer and experiencing God's goodness!

Be blessed!

Rach

The "pastors" of the "churches" (I use that term loosely because of the corruption that goes on in the village between pastors and churches), are so corrupt that the people are fed up and ready to experience God at His very core and heart. They are taking it upon themselves to experience God for themselves in His true form! About 20 people accepted Christ on our last night there, and these people have continued to seek God and meet and pray together!! Starting a small church! AHHHHHH!!!!!!!

SHUT UP!!!! God used 126 college students to plant a church across the world!? Who even knew what an impact we would have on them? I am so humbled it is unbelievable...God has rocked my world from all I experienced from that trip already, and now this! I am continually blessed! And He chose ME to go and be His hands and feet for this purpose! Whatever!!! I don't even know what to say....but I am in awe. My God is amazing, although amazing seems insufficient to describe His magnitude and awesome power. I am continually amazed, blessed, humbled, and in awe of my Savior! The God of America, the God of Romania, and the God of the gypsies in Tinca! AMEN!!!!!

I Am A Dreamer

If you're like me, you haven't ever really taken time to assess whether or not you know what an alabaster box is, let alone whether you have one, what it is filled with, or whose feet you will break it at. I have been challenged in the past 24 hours with thinking about those very things.

An alabaster box was something that in Jesus' day was purchased by a young girl's family when she reached the acceptable age of marriage. The box was then filled with precious ointments and the size of the box and value of the ointments inside would parallel the family's worth. The box was used as part of the girl's dowry and when a young man would ask for her hand in marriage, she would respond by taking the box and breaking it at his feet. This gesture showed the young man honor.

In Mark 14: 3-9, there is a lady, who is described as "A woman in the city who was a sinner," who took her alabaster box, broke it, and poured the valuable ointment on Jesus' head. She knew that He was worth that sacrifice. As it turns out, she was the one who had annointed Jesus' for burial! How amazing! All because she thought Him worthy enough to sacrifice her alabaster box, and her hopes of a future at His feet! She had dreams, and decided to sacrifice those dreams at His feet, knowing He was the only one who could make those dreams come true!

The above paragraphs were paraphrased from the book Lady In Waiting. At the end of this section, it goes on to ask what is in your alabaster box? Who are you running to that you think is worthy of breaking it for? Am I frantically searching for someone who I think is worthy of me breaking my alabaster box for?

I have dreams. A lot of them. In college I dreamt of getting out, finding a job, and being a successful adult. I am there. I dream of becoming a virtuous woman in God's sight. Am I there? No...but I can only hope I'm on my way. I dream of finding a godly man who I can share my dreams with. I dream of raising a family with him, and loving God together, and impacting His kingdom together for eternity. I dream of changing the world...even if it's in small ways...small greatness. I dream of every tribe, tongue and nation hearing the gospel and having the chance to respond to the Lord's calling. I dream of a Heaven I know nothing about, but have confidence I will one day experience because of my salvation in Christ. But more than anything I dream of the one and only Man who will ever validate me and give me worth, and the only one whose worthy of my alabaster box. His name is Jesus, and He is the only one who can possibly grasp the dreams of this dreamer, and the only one who CAN and WILL make them happen.

I can only know if I'm living my life with my alabaster box broken at Jesus' feet, if and only if I am living in wreckless abandonment to Christ. If I break the box of dreams open at the feet of my Lord, I can have full faith and confidence that He has each of my dreams in His hand, and is ready to rock my world with their answers. When will I realize this? When will I completely SMASH the box at His feet and let this beautiful process begin? When will I hand it all over and truly submit to the Lordship of my Jesus. I am just beginning to realize how truly freeing this can be, and loving it! I can only hope I can respond to difficult tasks and assignments from the Lord as Mary responded to the Angel upon being handed the most difficult task of all,

"I belong to the Lord, body and soul....let it happen as you say." (Luke 1:38)