Update #7 Eastern Europe

Hello everyone from Eastern Europe – Nathan here, bringing you today’s update from the field!

We’re officially one week into the trip, and today was full of stories, sweat, surprises, celebration, and even a scoop or two of gelato. So grab your coffee (we definitely did) and enjoy this peek into our Saturday!

Waking Up and Warming Up

The day started like most: with sleepy-eyed travelers wandering downstairs, lured by the smell of coffee and the kindness of our GEM hosts, Matt and Rebecca. These two have been a true blessing, constantly serving, encouraging, and keeping us fed and focused.

A Special Birthday Shoutout

Before we get too far… today is Levi’s birthday!
Most of us had quietly signed a birthday card earlier and made sure to congratulate him on surviving another trip around the sun. Celebrating with him was a highlight, we’ll come back to that!

Morning Devotions: A Word on Perseverance

At 9:00 a.m. sharp, we gathered for our daily devotional. Each team member was assigned a day and came prepared with a printed devotion. Today, Karina shared a timely word on Perseverance, a fitting message for this mid-trip moment. She quoted Max Lucado:

“God never said that the journey would be easy, but He did say that the arrival would be worthwhile.”

Amen to that, Karina. What a needed reminder as we balance physical work with spiritual focus.

Work Assignments and… Dishes!

After devotions, Matt laid out the day’s assignments. A quick note: at the start of the trip, we all signed up to do dishes three times. Today, Levi and I had this responsibility. So for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, we were responsible for doing all the dishes.  

Work Teams:

• Group 1 (Me, Levi, Karina): Concrete basketball court repair
• Group 2 (Katya, Vincent): Bench sanding and staining
• Group 3 (Danyelle, Chris): Paver driveway repair
  

We worked hard through the morning, and the projects are really shaping up. We also owe a big thank you to Tibi and Genica, the caretakers of this property. They not only care for the land but make us feel incredibly welcome here. They brought us lunch today, chicken and potatoes from a local restaurant.

Birthday Celebration Time!

At lunch, we surprised Levi with his birthday card, a vanilla cake, and some of his favorite sweets (thank you Danyelle!): chocolate with marzipan and nerd gummy clusters. Levi, we’re all grateful to celebrate you today. We are so glad that you are here and able to celebrate with you. 

Shopping (a Cautionary Tale)

After lunch and a quick dish-washing shift, Levi and I had finished our morning work, so we headed to the store with Rebecca. For those who know me well (looking at you, Lisa), you know it’s dangerous to take me grocery shopping, I always come back with more than we need. And yes… pickles were not on the list.

We visited Kaufland, a German-style supermarket. It was quite the experience; you have to insert a coin to unlock a shopping cart (which you get back when you return it), and you weigh and label your own produce. Thankfully, they use pictures!

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

After unloading, we all rallied around Danyelle and Chris to help with the paver driveway. For the first time this trip, all ten of us worked on the same project. It was an awesome moment of unity, laughter, and accomplishment.

Dinner… and Cabbage Confusion

We wrapped up work around 6:00 PM and were served dinner by Tibi and Genica at 6:30. Tonight’s meal: steak, mashed potatoes, and… cabbage. A lot of cabbage.

Unsure of how to serve it, Rebecca looked up how to make homemade coleslaw. Later, we wondered, perhaps they mix cabbage into the mashed potatoes? Still unsure, but hey, we’re rolling with it.

Gelato, Police, and Laughter

Just when we thought the day was winding down, Matt surprised us with a trip into town for gelato at “Gelateria Ciao Toscana.” Amazing flavors, everyone picked two or three. A sweet way to end the day!

On our way home, we had an unexpected moment of humor: a police checkpoint. All the men were in one van (looking very suspicious), and the women were in another. Surprisingly, the police waved us men through and pulled over the women. We pulled ahead and waited, watching the scene unfold before us. It appeared as though they were only stopping white cars (their car was white). They let the women go shortly after, but it made for some good laughs and storytelling.

Evening Reflections

Back at home, we tackled dinner dishes together and then gathered for our evening reflection. Vincent led us with the question:

“What keeps you going?”

It was a meaningful way to reflect on the day. I also had the opportunity to share my personal testimony, how God has been faithful throughout my life.

Final Thoughts

To our friends and family, thank you for praying, supporting, and encouraging us. This group is amazing. Every person is giving their best, staying positive, and working hard in a ministry that will have ripple effects far beyond this week.

We feel your prayers. Keep them coming. And please, keep commenting, we read them and they bring light and a taste of home. We love hearing from you.

We miss you. We love you. And we’ll keep persevering.Until tomorrow,
Nathan