Pictures from the trip (part 2 of 2)

Hey, I posted an update from the trip in the previous post. I'm just posting pictures here so make sure you scroll down and read the last post.

Pictures from Romania Youth Camp '06 (click to see full size)

Post-Romania Update (part 1 of 2)

This latest trip to Romania confirmed several things for me. I love Romania and the Romanian people. I love the people from the Baptist Church in Sighisoara, Romania and the people from Ephesus Baptist Church.

We were able to see the beautiful countryside of Romania while we were there and, more importantly, able to share the gospel with some Romanian youth that haven't had a chance to hear it so clearly in the past. We broke the Romanian youth up into groups on this trip with the American youth leading groups of Romanian youth that were already believers, and the American adults leading the groups of Romanian youth that were not believers (most, if not all, had not been attending any church prior to the youth camp).

During our Bible study sessions the Romanian youth in the groups led by adults were able to ask questions about the gospel and they all seemed to listen intently. At the end of the week, 2 of the Romanian youth decided to accept Christ - that was the main reason for our trip! One of the guys was the guy that I shared a bunk with during the week. I thank God for everything He did on this trip!

Before this trip, and during this trip it was my prayer that God would confirm some things for me. Is He really calling us to international missions and could Romania be the place that He sends my family? I didn't get any kind of supernatural vision of handwriting on the wall (not that I was expecting or needing one) but I do know that God is still leading us, slowly but surely, to serve Him in the place only He knows at this time. I still feel very strong that He has called us to international missions. I also know that I have a deep love for the Romanian people.

Please continue to pray for us as we seek God's more specific direction. It is such a great joy to be on this adventure that He has called us to. Although it is stressful at times I would not want to be on any road that I am not depending on God for His daily direction. Pray that we will stay faithful to the God who is SO faithful to us!

A song that Drew Stone sang on one of the nights in the camp expresses how I feel. It is "He will Carry Me" by March Schultz - here is part of the song:

And even though I feel so lonely
Like I’ve never been before
You never said it would be easy
But You said you’d see me through the storm

And even though I’m walkin’ through
The valley of the shadow
I will hold tight to the hand of Him
Whose love will comfort me
And when all hope is gone
And I’ve been wounded in the battle
He is all the strength that I will ever need
And He will carry me


I'll post some pictures from the trip in the next message.

July 9th - Pre-Romania Update

picture of one of the bridges over the Ohio river - during a thunderstorm

Well, so much for updating this blog more often. :) I am always planning on updating it and it gets pushed back. I am really sorry about that because I do want to keep this thing updated with what is going on with us up here in Kentucky.

I finally finished my paper this week. This paper was for my apologetics class this summer, it was 20 pages and I'm glad that I finally finished it.

On the 4th we had a get together with some of our friends from our church up here. Somehow I got put on grill duty - I didn't burn to many hamburgers and hotdogs though.

I will be driving back home next week to take the girls to my mom's - they will be staying there while I go to Romania with the youth this year. I am very excited about the trip! Please pray for the group that is going and the group that we will be ministiring to while we are there.

While I am away, across the ocean, and the girls are down in GA, Andrea will be stuck here by herself. She will mostly packing for our move the week I get back from the Romania trip. We are moving to a new apartment complex when I get back. It will be less expensive per month but we are moving from a 3 bedroom apartment to a 2 bedroom. So we will have to trim down on stuff again probably.

Today I have been feeling extremely blessed!

• God has given me an awesome wife that supports me no matter what (yeah, the one that will be stuck here packing while I'm on the Romania adventure that God is sending me on). It would be awesome if someone from home could give her a call while I am away - It would pick her up I know;
• He has given me two beautiful daughters and I get to spend tons of time with them;
• He has given me an awesome church family back home (I really miss you guys) - today I got another card (with a check in it) from some of our friends at Ephesus. It is extremely encouraging to get those cards - to know that people are behind us, praying for us. I cannot describe how much it means to us - to get a card, especially when I'm feeling stressed out or depressed about being away from home makes my day! I realize that people are thinking about us, praying for us and believing in us;
• He is sending me back to Romania - and the money from the trip was completely provided for me (see the above blessing). I am very excited about this trip.
• He has provided for our every need;
• The list could go on and on with His blessings!

Stuff we need prayer for:

• Please continue to pray for our house (the one in GA) situation. We still own the house and my Dad is still staying there but we really would like to sell it. It is not currenlty on the market (long story) but our goal is to sell it. We have an adjustable rate mortgage on it now and the interest rates have been steadily climbing since we moved up here. Not sure how much longer my dad will be able to afford the payments if they keep climbing and we are not able to refinance (same long story).
• Pray that the youth trip to Romania is used in a mighty way by God.
• Pray that Andrea is okay while the girls and I are away from her.
  
• Pray that our move goes well when I get back.

I WILL update this when I get back from Romania with what God did and hopefully some pictures.

Thank you guys for everything - especially your prayers!

Chad Bragg