That is how many countries I was in yesterday! I left Bucharesti at 6am, arrived in Budapest to sort out my legal stuff and then back to Slovakia. Budapest held good news and bad news. The good news is that I had more documents than they needed and that I could come back to Slovakia. The bad news is that I have to get permission from the Minister of Foriegn Affairs in order to apply there, and that it would take significantly longer than anticipated. But, that's ok. We can handle that. I was a little nervous coming home, but everything turned out alright in the end. I just have to go back there in a week and find out if they'll let me apply there. So that's something that you can continue to pray for,
Oh, I totally changed my look. Nancy and I went to get our hair done! I have gotten nothing but good responses, although I have to admit it's taken a little to grow on me. It's completely different than anything i've ever had!
I am SOOOO glad for that trip down to Romania. Exactly what I wanted and needed. I was able to get the information that I wanted and more, and I had a fabulous time with old friends and getting to make new ones! It's funny. I had seen so many pictures of these people before, that I felt like I knew them when I arrived. It was almost like, "what do you mean you don't know me? Oh yah, we've never actually met!" So I am so incredibly glad that I was there. And so very thankful to Nancy for hosting me and being ever so wonderful! :)
Well, I arrived in the airport in Bucharest Thurs night, and I have been having a great time since! I came to pick the brain of Nancy, a Canadian missionary, about the cafe that they have down here. I have to say that I have been thoroughly impressed thus far! We also took a little trip up to Brasov in the mountains, and had a nice time up there, also with Karen Cunningham, an american who teaches pre-schoolers. It was nice to out of a city enviroment, and breathe in the crisp mountain air. If you are curious about my visa situation, I have allievieated a lot of stress from that by routing my flight directly to budapest, instead of going to Bratislava, then budapest by train. It also saves me from 2 more border crossings! Yeah! Please pray that they are able to process my paperwork quickly, and that I'll be able to come back to Slovakia quickly.
Yes, tommorrow I am off and running. Or flying should I say. I'm going to Romania to spy out the land. Or just spy in general. I hope Nancy's prepared for some brain picking! :) Please pray for me for safety as I travel, and for all the complexities of my legal situation. May God be glorified.
I got an instant message on my cell phone from Ludka on Fri asking if I was going to the Worship Festival in Košice (eastern Slovakia). Not having any other real plans, I decided to take the plunge and go! So, I boarded the train with about 20 other young adults from Bratislava for the 6.5 hour train ride to Košice.
It was SO much fun! It's funny that 6.5 hrs didn't seem too long with this bunch of people! I only knew a couple people before, so it was good to meet new people. What was so awesome, apart from all the silliness,
before coming into Košice, we took time to really pray and to worship together before we even got off the train! Spontaneously I might add as well! I don't think I can recall that ever happening in Canada with my friends... could be wrong though...
When we arrived in Košice, we went to the town centre,
went for coffee at AIDA, the famous coffee shop! It's funny. People in Bratislava laugh at people from Košice who come just to go to Ikea. And people in Košice laugh at people from Bratislava who come to have coffee and cake at AIDA! Then at 5pm, the worship festival began. 2,000 young people from all over the country. Hello Holy Spirit! :)
The bands were great, but there was also something so powerful that happened while we were there... All the pastors from all the various churches in Košice prayed over each other. Then the mayor of Košice came on stage, said a few words, then all the pastors prayed for him. It was beautiful. Catholic priests, Lutheran pastors, Pentecostal pastors, Baptists... all joined arm in arm, praying God's blessing and direction over the mayor. Wow.
After the festival, we left quite hurriedly in order to catch our train back. Yes. We came and left in the same day! We got on at 10:20pm, and I got off at 5:12am. Drove for 30 min, slept for an hour, and off to church I went! Craziness?? Oh yah! It wouldn't have been too bad though, we rode on a sleeper train, so I had a bed, pillow, blanket... but did I sleep?? Not a wink! :S But I have NO regrets. NONE! I'd do it again in an instant!
If you could remember to pray for me at this time, I'm facing some troubles in the visa section of my life. You see, they changed the law on me, and I am now in violation of it. So, I am running around trying to get the right documents, get them translated and get them fired off to the right authorities. I am going to Romania on Thursday, and there is a possibility they might not let me out, or not let me back in. We'll find out on thurs! Pray please!
I need to ask you to pray in increasing fervency for us over here. There have been some serious spiritual activity happening, and that only mean one thing... something is happening! I have been placed in situations where I have felt the spiritual battle, and the urgency to arm myself with the armour of God and take a stand. I have also been seeing demons in my dreams, and have felt evil presences around me and in my house. My friend, Ludka, who is a professional theatre actress has been facing attacks. Last night, Ludka, Mirka, Liz and I engaged in some serious prayer warfare. Some of the most intense praying I have engaged in since being here. We were praying in such loud voices, crying, declaring, proclaiming... I shook for about 10 minutes afterwards.
Nitra is a very spiritual city, not necessarily good. I am 2 houses away from Devil's Pub. I am directly behind the theatre, where all kinds of ungodly behaviour takes place at night, I am just off the main strip for pubs. The police are on my street at least once a week. And in my house, we have church!
Don't forget us in prayer. I have such a sense of urgency in my spirit. A sense of importance. Don't forget us. We have to do battle together, to fight against our enemy which we cannot see with our eyes. But who is real in every way.
