So we have arrived in Timesora, Romania! First order of business…let me introduce you to the team….April Carter: Logistics Coordinator and Groups Director for Browns Bridge Community Church, Shae Sweeney: Service Programming Coordinator for Browns Bridge Community Church, Davis Harwell: Phenomenal Musician, Phil Stax: Man of MANY Talents, Elliot Moon: Music Director for Browns Bridge Community Church, Chris Briley: Production Manager for Browns Bridge Community Church and his wife, Kelly, Casey Darnell: Michael Jackson Wanna Be, and Brad Long: Best guitar player ever. They are amazing people and have enjoyed getting to know them so much. Rich in spirit, laughter, and talent!

The Team (minus Chris and Kelly)
So the scoop thus far…the first 2 days are days to rest and site see before the conference begins…sooo…
Day 1: Took 16 hours to get here with the combination of 2 flights and a slight lay over. And no, sleep did not happen as much as I thought it was going to. Got off the plane and loaded up in a van, which I thought my trip was going to end early by getting killed. Got to the church…beautiful! Met Audi, the pastor…unpacked….ate our first Romanian dinner which nothing short of starch (French Fries and Bread…that’s it) and then off to bed for a 13 hour sleep. I got homesick as I was laying there and shed a few tears because I missed Dustin and all of you that are dear to me.
Day 2: Got up before everyone else. Around 8:30am here….um it would be 2:30am in Ga. Had my first taste of Romanian Coffee which kicked my butt and then when on the roof and journaled for a while. Our place overlooks the entire city!! From a distance straight ahead you can see the top of the cathedral where the Revolution started. To the right is a soccer field, to my left are apartments and down below is this beautiful cemetery! About 10:30am we took off to the city.
This place is amazing! Not in the least bit culture shocked…oddly, feeling a bit at home. I think I am 1/2 European or something but my soul is drinking every bit of it up.
We went to the Cathedral where the Revolution began. To hear the story of how the people revolted and millions gather in front of the Cathedral yelling “Freedom!!” Across the yard from it was the opera house where the first killing was at the start of the Revolution….there were bullet holes all over the buildings. The scene was much like the one on Mary Poppins where pigeons covered the courtyard…and there, my friends is where I caught my first pigeon!! Haaa! Pic is included. Then we ate some good Romanian Shwarmaz and came back to have our first rehearsal. We learned a bit of Mighty To Save in Romanian…it was awesome! Marta, the romanian worship leader there….sang a song called “Heart of Praise” and I wept through the entire rehearsal. I didn’t even understand the words but I understood the language of the heart in it.
Afterwards, we ate dinner and then took a field trip through the cemetery.
It was an incredible day! A feast for the soul!
To read more and see more pics…. go to our Team blog!

Freedom Square where the Revolution Started (The Cathedral)

Shae, Gabe, and I loving on the pigeon.