Planting roots in this city....

has been one of the best things that God has done during this trip. Those roots have been planted in the lives of people. My relationships have had a chance to truly develop more and more since I have been here this time around. Also, my friendships within the Bucharest International Church have been a blessing and quite frankly are priceless.

The majority of my time has been spent encouraging women in the local church, starting a small group, assisting with some behind the scenes needs in the community, continuing to grow in the language and culture, and doing some more indepth reading to help me think through this city and what God wants to do here.

I have been really encouraged in our small group of women and seeing Jesus grasp a hold of the hearts of the young Romanian women and seeing Jesus bring more freedom and more of his love into their lives. As a small group, we have served orphans together, sang some karaoke, and engaged in real life conversation, prayer, and teaching of the Old and New Testaments, laughed together, and cried together. I have been helping one of the ladies be ready to take over the group when I leave on December 14th. I am really excited about these young ladies continuing to grow together and also be open to other women who need a place of belonging to foster their growth in following Jesus.

There was a specific night when I just could not sleep about a month ago that Jesus clearly reminded me once again how clearly he has called me and a team of people to reach the underprivilieged of this city and to start a gathering of people that really goes for it in that population. He often has been speaking me to his heart for both the widows and orphans and his heart for us to empower local Romanians to also care for their "least of these." From the orphanages to the numerous elderly people begging on the streets, I am constantly reminded of God's heart and what will come.

To make this all tangible, I was going to the grocery store with my friend Rami and there was an older woman who began sharing with usr how she doesn't have enough money to cover her expenses and how her family is negligent of her needs. We offered to pray for her and as we ded she bagan to cry and a smile broke through her tears. We invited her over to dinner that night but she was unable to come because she didn't feel safe walking outside in the dark. This was a simple yet powerful picture for me and even deeper conviction of how God wants to pour his love over the underprivileged and also this whole city of Bucharest.

With all of that said, God has also confirmed strongly for two of my friends from the states to be moving here with me when the time is right... which honestly, is much sonner than later.

I am in the process of leaving this country of my heart again on December 14th. Then I head to the Czech Republic for another 4 and half days and then fly to Denver on December 19th.
I will then spend a few weeks in Ohio until January 10th with my family for the holidays.

What I need?

Prayer and resources for the practical things
- I sitll need to raise $1000 to cover the cost of this trip.
- I need a car to borrow, or be able to take over someone's loan payment for a few months and drive their car when I return on January 10 through the end of March.
- I have one job but pray that I get enough hours at that location.
-Continue to raise support for the next trip in the spring of 2013.

Pray for my budding relationships here in Bucharest
- My relationships within the Bucharest International Church
-My small group of women
-My friends with others that are church planters and / or pastors in this city

When will I return?

The scheduled return is for early April 2013 for my next 3 months to serve in Bucharest and to continue stepping in step with what the Father is doing to reach the underprivileged of this city and to serve the local church in the process.

Back at Home in Bucharest.

As many of you know, I returned early on my last journey from Romania because of visa complications back in mid-Februrary 2012. I spent the last 7 months working at a couple of my old social work jobs, met some new friends, spent quality time with the old ones, and made a plan with my pastor and friend, Jay Pathak, to come back for two more 3 month trips before taking the next big step to move here permanently. I am now in Bucharest for that next trip and I returned on September 16th. I am working again with the same loving community that I had joined with before - Bucharest International Church.

During my time in these 3 short months, I am coninuing to grow in building relationships, continuing to learn the culture and language, I am focused on helping start a small group, discipling a new leader for the group, and starting an outreach conversation group with some people who have yet to know Jesus. I am also helping serve this community in any other ways that I can on Sundays, during their prayer meetings, and other events that happen with young adults. Most of all, I continue to be humbled by God as I know this is the place that he has me to be for this time and place in my gradual transition towards living full time in this country.

I am grateful for my community worldwide that Jesus has given me along my journey with Him - growing as a young girl in southern Ohio, finding myself and planting my roots to mature in Colorado, and now in gradual transplanting mode to Romania to love and be loved along the way by amazing people. This is why I am back at home in Bucharest.

I have raised 3/4 of the money have needed for this trip by working in these last months but there is about $2000 I still need to raise for expenses while I am here. These expenses include food, rent/utilities, transportation, language lessons, and money to bless the Bucharest International Church community. My goal is to have it raised by November 16th and my departure date to leave Romania is December 14th. You can give online or mail a check as before please see the side column on the blog for details if you feel called to do so. I am grateful for you prayers, friendship, and ongoing support.

Thank you for being a part of my story and joining in the greater story of God's heart for the people of Romania.

The latest and greatest...

Through the rest of December and to the present I have spent some quality time building relationships in the church that I am serving at - Bucharest International Church - and with other area pastors and church planters in the city. I have found myself graced with a core of friends that I will be doing ministry in the city of Bucharest for many years to come. In the meantime, I have been able to experience and support what they are all already doing in the city (working with refugees, the poor, single mothers, addicts in recovery getting off of the streets). The biggest thing that has been on my heart will begin next Monday as some of my new found friends and I will gather together to begin a collective prayer meeting to pray for both Bucharest and the country of Romania.

I have been spending my time not only experiencing their ministries but praying about God's specific heart for me and others to engage in. I am still praying through the details of this but I can say my heart is being lead towards the Universitate and Romana sections of the city. Both University students and street people hang out in this area. I have had a few experiences praying for people here and have seen Jesus engaging their hearts. This is beautiful. I believe this is a small scale of what is to come and what God wants to do in this part of the city.

I have had some fun experiences with my friends inviting me to the countryside to see the Christmas Eve tradition of the Pig slaughtering. I even tasted the traditional pig skin delicacy (after it was torched and cooked). Not bad actually. I had a great time with them and through out Christmas with other new found "family" and friends celebrating Christmas with lots of meat and lot of love.

After trying to figure out the process for a possible stay for the whole 6 months, I have decided to return back to the states after 3 months on February 8th because of some laws that have changed that I was not aware of since I have been in the country. Missionaries used to be able to go in and out of the country for a week and return to renew their tourist visa. Because the law has changed regarding this in the past few months, I do not want to risk obtaining any fines or tarnishing my record. I shall come home on February 8 for 3-4 months with hopes to return for a second short term of time in May. During this time I will be able to continue the process of building relationships that will join a church plant on both the Romanian and American sides.

Please pray for wisdom over the next 3 weeks as I continue to build relationships and pray around the city and please pray for unity amongst my friends and as we seek the heart of God together for both Bucharest and Romania.

Also, please pray for the country as many riots have been breaking out in a lot of cities in the country and in the city center of Bucharest in the Universitate and Romana areas which are very close to my apartment and the areas of the city that I have a heart for Jesus to show up in. Romanians are dissatisfied with the way their Presdient has been running the country. Go to www.romania-insider.com for more details.

Thank you all so much for your prayer and love. I will see you much sooner than later. Love to you all!

As usual, feel free to email, facebook, or skype me. My email is keldapolomik@gmail.com, facebook is Kelda Polomik, and skype is keldarosiecheeks. :)