MI Seed is Sown in _________ Ground

Today was the first day we got to sleep in. And by "sleep in," I mean we got up for breakfast at 8. I had an earlier start than everyone else because there is a lovely flock of roosters that rest right underneath my window. Needless to say, I consumed some Double Shot coffee that we brought over from the States. After a long breakfast, we had a wonderful morning devotion led by Jamie Baker. This morning's passage was Matthew 13:23, the same passage we enacted in the school yesterday. Our theme verse for the trip is 1 Corinthians 3:8 (He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.) The passage in Matthew is the Parable of the Sower; the two are related. In short, it teaches that those who sow seeds in fertile soil shall reap the most reward. However, it also acknowledges that some seeds fall astray. Some land in shallow land, springing up quickly but lacking the roots to last through the trials of life. Others land in fields of rocks, where they are simply tossed about by the wind and never develop.

At Feri's.

One of the interesting points that was made was that we, as Christians, do not have the place to judge the ability of a seed to be receptive to what we have to offer, but rather our charge is to provide the fertile soil in which it can thrive. One of the members of our team admitted a relative personal challenge: she shared that her son does not believe in Christ. She said that she does the best she can every day to share Christ's light with him, but sometimes, she feels she is powerless. Dr. Miller then shared a very interesting concept-a growing seed cannot be dug up every day so that the farmer can check to make sure that it is progressing; it's counterproductive. It's like staring at a painting that's two centimeters from your nose. It's undeniable that something is on the canvas, but you can't understand the significance of the smallest details until you step back and look at the painting as a whole. 
After our devotion, Courtaney, Janette, Ana, Steve, and I headed to Feri's apartment to give him a surprise. Upon arriving, we promptly kicked him out and began our version of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Feri lives in a Habitat for Humanity home about a mile from our clinic. Although we were given the day to "take it easy," this project was a pleasure to undertake-few are more deserving than Feri. We cleared off his porch, cleaned and organized the kitchen, redecorated the living room, and power-scrubbed the bathroom and walls. While Courtaney and I missed the "Move that bus!" moment, we got to watch the Casa Josef girls so that everyone else would have a chance to see the apartment. Nati, Pami, and Delia worked on their gymnastic skills while Geta continually put me in pauza (Romanian "time out"). Then, we all gathered at The Bridge for pizza and sharing time. After dinner, we played some volleyball then came back to the clinic. 

Me, Geta, and Courtaney at The Bridge.