Romania

Wow, I don't know where to begin.

Our time is a bit more than halfway through in Romania. It reminds me of a European version of Mexico! These Swiss students here are the most incredible students I have ever experienced with Mission Adventures. We've been working with gypsy villages, doing VBS, and today we will paint a school.

This country has so much heaviness over it, yet it is so beautiful. I am so lucky to be serving here. God is speaking to the kids every day and showing them new things, as well as myself. I've really been stretched and I have grown so much on this trip -- and it's not finished yet! 

Last night we took a train to see Dracula's castle. We planned to take the train back and were stuck at the train station for over 3 hours. However, no body complained and it was a blessing in disguise because the kids got to really unite, and I was able to speak and pray for some of the kids, and watch them pray for each other. It was incredible. 

God's really teaching our team and the Swiss team what He meant when He said, "Be FLEXIBLE."

God has a sense of Humor.

I can't wait to tell all about the rest of the trip.

With Love from Medias,

Rachel

Today is the day.

Today is quite a historic day in the history of YWAM Burtigny/Switzerland.
Today is the day that the first ever Mission Adventures team arrives.
Today is the day that all of this preparation and prayer really comes into play.
Today is the day on which people will look back and say "The first ever MA in the summer of 2012...."
Today is the day I get to be a part of something historic. I am so blessed to be able to pioneer this programme here with so many incredible people.

Our staff consists of: a Korean, American, English, Swiss-French, Swiss-Italian, Mexican, and a Canadian. If there is one thing I love about this base, it is the diversity.

All of us have put in countless hours of preparation for this day. We've put in hours of prayer before and during the time I've been here. Everyone of us has gotten God's word spoken over the lives of each individual coming here -- very specifically and clearly.

I'm so excited but nervous because I speak NO French, and it's mainly in French.........and Romanian because we are going to Romania. Pray for that whole tricky situation would be appreciated, because it changes a lot of what I normally do during cycles.

file://localhost/Users/rachelvillaire/Documents/MA/Switz%20'12/Staff%20Photobooth/DanBuck%20copy.xcfI am so proud to call myself Burtigny MA Staff. I love each one of these people and can't wait until the team arrives - the countdown is on...Now, it's less than an hour.

The wonderful MA staff! Dressed up for our Rules Video
The theme was "sports" because of the Olymics

Dressed up for our staff video - we did cultural cliches
 I was a cowgirl, and Beth was a proper English lady :)

Beautiful view from the little restaurant Beth and I visit.

Prayer Requests: 

• That God would use me and give me peace about not speaking French/Romanian which makes things pretty difficult
• God would speak clearly to these students lives, as he's already shown He has so much to teach ALL TWENTY of them! Including the leader, Gael.
• Continual Financial Support - I still owe a chunk of staff fee's, and am in need of monthly supporters. God has provided this far, and I believe he will continue to.

July 3

Today I sewed about a total of 5 costumes (not including the ones yesterday and the day before!) for the Jesus Passion Play we are going to have next week. I also taught two other staff members how to sew.

Tonight we had prayer and intercession for Mission Adventures and we interceded for two students specifically. God revealed many amazing things about these kids, and we were able to pray into their lives, and prepare ourselves on just how God wants us to show His love to them. I am excited to see what God has for their lives.

Today Beth and James and I took a walk down the road to take some photos of the area around us (Soon to come). We couldn't help but stop and stare at the beautiful sight of the fog on the hill, and the sun shining through it onto the valley, with mountain surrounding us, and green as far as the eye can see. It was so humbling to look at, and a great reminder of the ginormous and magnificent God we serve -- I am honestly struggling for words to describe Him. He is simply...Indescribable.

Please continue to pray for the students as God continues to reveal things to us and prepare their hearts for what is to come this next week.

Also for flexibility as a team, because we will be doing most of our sessions in Romania, but none of us have ever seen the base, so it will be a big challenge

Love from Burtigny,
R

PS: Happy Independence Day, America ;)

Welcome to YWAM Burtigny (Geneva) Switzerland

I finally made it (after 19 hours of being in the air) to YWAM Burtigny in Geneva, Switzerland!

It's still a bit hard to wrap my mind around because I have been dreaming of going to Europe for years. At first it seemed a bit surreal, but now I've gotten used to it...until I drive around, and think "Wow this looks like some place in Europe...Oh wait, I am in Europe!"

The base is located on a farm, where we get free potatoes and discounted milk for the base (free to the staff) -- straight from the cow! The only thing in the village is a tiny little diner-like place (basically the main building) and the nearest town with stores is about 10 minutes down the mountain. It's quiet and kind of a culture shock! Thankfully, my friend Beth from England is here staffing with me, and it has been such a blessing having her here with me to be myself with.

It's been a busy week planning for MA, which begins July 7th. With painting, sewing, paper maché-ing, brainstorming, note-taking, crafting, cutting, gluing, singing, worshiping, and interceding, we have started to become close as a team (only 4 of us previously know each other) and are learning each other's strengths and weaknesses on how to work together.

So far I've been to lake Geneva, pet some baby cows, went to a city called Nyon and visited a legit castle, ate a chocolate eclair, and have attempted to speak french at all of these places.

Today we are going to an English speaking church to meet the speaker for the youth that are coming. It's been a challenging adjustment to life here, and a bit homesick, but I know this is a great experience and God has brought me here so I am excited to see what's going to happen!

Please keep us in your prayers, as the little details are going to fall into place this last week before the team arrives!

Love from Switzerland
-R

Here are a few photos for you to see:

The main building at the mission (my room is on the second floor just near the tree :)

I love that nearly every house has flowers and shutters

The view from up the road. We literally live at the base of the mountains. I saw the Swiss Alps flying in!

A bit of what the houses in the village look like

 My lovely English friend, Beth, hanging out in the front garden

Many more photos coming soon...