Author Archives: Lauren Cardell

  As we came upon celebrating 2 years here in Romania (Nov. 20), I was looking through my old journal entries around that time. I specifically remember my mom telling me to write it down so I would remember what I was feeling during that time of transition.  So I found my entry from ourContinueContinue reading “Remembering Two Years Ago”

During the winter everyone retreats. It is cold. The sun is brief and the buildings seem to match the sky, a nice shade of boring grey. The trees retreat. The birds retreat. The people retreat. I retreat. This is an exhale. I wait in anticipation for   Spring. Some people think of spring as aContinueContinue reading “Why I Love Spring in Timisoara”

“A man without a timezone.” Famously quoted by my dad at a late night game of cards, as he described his jet lag proudly.  We had the privilege of mom and dad coming to visit us in Timisoara for a week at the beginning of October. We have been here for 10 months and weContinueContinue reading “When the Browns come to town”

Whether you think language learning is easy or hard, there is one common standard: it is great for comedy! In honor of our first week back at school, here are a few of our most favorite language blunders! Lauren going to the bread store and asking for bread and a set of grandparents, instead ofContinueContinue reading “Blunders of the Tongue”

3 years of marriage So exciting and so much fun! I think I say this every year, but how can it already be 3 years, and all in the same, it really has only been 3 years? We celebrated on Wednesday with a day to ourselves in the city. We started the day off withContinueContinue reading “3 years…Already?….Only?”

Tabara de Aventura We had the pleasure of supporting Biblia Pentru Toți (Scripture Union) last week with an adventure camp for youth. The camp had youth, ages 13-17, from different parts of the country and different denominations (baptist, pentecostal, non-denominational and orthodox). At an Adventure camp, you have to have some fun! We had fieldContinueContinue reading “Adventure Camp”

Birthday Traditions Every family has different birthday traditions. In my (Lauren’s) family, it is all about family. Every birthday the grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins get together to celebrate. My mom always cooks whatever meal and desserts ( yes, multiple) we want for our birthday. I have only missed 1 other birthday before, so being away thisContinueContinue reading “Birthday Traditions”

When a team comes …it is the most exhausting week ever. But we were so glad to have seen friends and family for a week. The team continued to work on a house in progress and decorate 2 children’s rooms, they put on a VBS for a local church in a village near-by, they hadContinueContinue reading “when a team comes…”

We rented a car and traveled to Transylvania last week! Jeff faced his fear of driving in Romania and it was my first time outside of Timisoara. Timi is on the plains and very flat, so it was nice to spend some time in the mountains. It was partly work and partly vacation for us.ContinueContinue reading “Transylvania and English Worship”

We have all been told marriage changes you. We have seen it before. But after only 2 1/2 years, we usually only see how we are different and how to compromise. However, last week we caught ourselves in the change. Lauren: “What do I need to get at the non-stop (a small store here)? Oh!ContinueContinue reading “When you catch yourself changing…”