Buna! It’s Sammy and Morgan featuring Iazman (pronounced Yaz meen, or Yaz man if you want to make him a super hero). After a long (long long long -Iazman) day and night, we’re munching on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on a bus to Craiova. Our first flight to Zurich was filled with food, drinks and traffic jams through the aisles of the plane. Throughout the eight hour flight, it is hard to say we achieved a solid 40 winks (probably more like 20). We landed and caught our next flight to Bucharest at nearly 5am Madison time. We learned quickly that the Swiss airport was a lot more laid back than ORD, and heard a lot of French and German. Morgan says boarding that second flight was awkward because we were the last ones on and had to walk past many staring eyes.

When we finally landed in Bucharest it was cool and cloudy. We were met at the airport with smiles all around, and tons of friendly new faces for us first-timers. The returning folks were tired, but excited to see their friends again and introduce us to them. After the introductions we all piled onto the bus and are attempting to make up those last 20 winks while getting to know our new (old for some) friends.

The general consensus we have from the newcomers is that the first time in Romania has been “pretty good” (awesome – Iazman) so far, based on a quick survey of the exhausted passengers. To my flatlander family back home (this is Morgan), a geographical comparison of Switzerland to Romania would be comparing a hilly and “mountainous” Wisconsin to a far-as-the-eye-can see Illinois. In the upcoming weeks we will be traveling further into the country for a more “altudinous” (thanks Dan for the new word?) view. The returners say its shaping up nicely, and are rightfully excited about the fact that this bus has some air conditioning. In our opinion, the weather has been perfect, the people fantastic, and the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches superb.

We’re looking forward to the next couple weeks and the accompanying blog posts, but now it’s time for Jesse to shine:
Jokes with Jesse: Wanna know what’s great about Switzerland? Well, the flag is a big plus 😉
Shoutouts:

To the Piascik family: I’m alive and well! The jet-lag isn’t too bad if you get lucky and time things right, and I’m looking forward to telling you all about the trip when I get back (once more stuff has actually happened.). Love you guys! – Sammy

To Jesse’s mom/aunt Sherry and Dan’s mom/aunt Linda: There are still two Hershbergers and they’re both alive, happy, healthy, and telling jokes!

To the family and friends of Mo(rgan): I apologize for my lack closure and goodbye texts. I was given access to free wifi on the plane that I quickly learned didn’t exist. However, I am (suhhh) excited to return with many stories, pictures and videos to show you all. Don’t eat my custard and try not to miss me too much. I love you all! -Mo

Hi. -Iazman

hey y’all it’s your friendly neighborhood cabbage checking in. We just got off of the plane from Chicago to Zurich and are waiting for our next flight to Bucharest. Be sure to keep us in your prayers, cabbage out y’all peace emoji.

Can’t get photo to upload correctly, but you get the idea!

Yo yo yo! Comin’ atcha live from the OG ORD. Noah and Ali here, ready to give you the low down on our travels so far.

To start, we are all so unbelievably thankful for the send off you all gave us. For those who could make it, and prayed with us in that sweat-causing heat, thank you! If you couldn’t make it, we totally understand and still appreciate you just as much! It is so uplifting to know that we have so much support even though we aren’t currently with you all. Yay for so much appreciation!

We all got situated on the bus no problem and quickly settled in to light-hearted conversation and eventually a lot of naps (Ali, I don’t think that many people napped, it was mostly just you – Noah). We ended up having more time together than we expected, because the bus travelled about 15 minutes in the wrong direction adding a glorious half hour to our time. Good thing we planned some buffer time! After a quick stop at an Oasis for bathroom, water and quick snacks for those who needed a bit more, we all got on the bus a little more charged for the adventure. Sammy pulled out his speakers after we all got re-situated and soon the whole bus was shaking with our semi off-key (once again, Ali, you were the only one singing off-key) sing alongs to The Jonas Brothers, Justin Bieber, Kansas and the Bee Gees. When we got to the airport, we found that the airline was a little stricter than we were expecting with bag size. Luckily, it was also generous enough to check our “oversized” carry-ons & guitars for free. Let’s pray they all make it to Bucharest!

Now, we are sitting at the gate playing Euchre, reading, listening to music and snacking on Cliff bars. Soon we will be boarding and ready for takeoff!

Please send prayers for safe travels!

And now for our “Jokes with Jesse”:

What do you call a bagel that can fly?

A plain one! (What a cream cheesy joke :p)

Shoutouts!

To the Karbusicky’s Grandma: THANK YOU! We all passed around your snacks and devoured them in no time! – The Whole Team

To Momma Pollard: Fourth year out of four blogging first just for you. Yes mom, I am safe (and Noah too)! – Ali (LOVE YOU!!! <3)

To Madison: We are still crying. Please don’t leave to go adult. Much love. – Ali, Alyssa and Noah

To Papa P: Hey, I think you’re pretty cool, I like you a lot… Maybe we should hang out or… something… – Noah (LOVE YOU MORE THAN ALI LOVES MOM!!! :O )

To Jimbo: Did you ever find that sticker on your back? – Ray

To the Piasciks: Eat the cream cheese for me! Add something sappy at the end like “love you” or “much love” or something… – Sammy

Hey everybody!

My name is Alyssa, and I recently graduated from Waunakee High School. Some of my obvious loves are French and music, some less known loves are Jimmy Fallon and Babcock Blue Moon. 🙂 I like to be outside no matter the season, and this next fall I will be spending all of my time outside… of the country, that is! I will be doing a discipleship training school with an organization called Youth With A Mission at a base in Quebec, Canada!

I am so blessed and beyond excited to be going back to Romania TODAY! This will be my third time to Romania. The people and heart of this trip has taught me so much about the love of Jesus. Over the past couple years I’ve heard the testimonies of the Romanian leadership team, many of whom grew up as orphans, and it leaves me in awe of their devotion to the Lord. Their stories, along with the campers’, show God’s faithfulness in their lives even during extremely difficult times. I am so excited to continue learning about their stories, meeting them where they are at, and just loving them. I am also extremely excited to spend time with this beautiful girl in the pic with me – Brianna is the daughter of one of the Romanian leaders.

I would love it if you could be praying for presence while we are there. That I would be able to focus on living in the moment and not be thinking about how hard it is going to be to say goodbye with this being a returning trip, and the last time I am able to go as a student. I appreciate all of the love and support that people have given thus far!!

Serving with Open Roads in Romania has shaped my faith in ways I cannot explain. I am honored and humbled to get to be part of a team that gets to experience God’s work in Craiova. My first time as a leader on this trip was in 2014. I didn’t know at the time how pivotal that season would be in my life and I am so thankful for the Open Roads team and the Blackhawk students and leaders that shared their wisdom, challenged me, and shaped my faith. My heart is anxious to reunite with our friends and campers in Craiova and be a small part of what Open Roads is doing.

I cannot wait for the unpredictable adventure God has planned for this team. Thank you for your support and prayers!

Melissa

Hey everyone! Dan here. I will be embarking on my second journey to the nation of Romania this year. I can’t wait to see everyone I met last year and build new relationships with both leadership team members and campers.

It’ll be awesome to see what God has in store for this year for me and the team. 

America: Don’t have too much fun without me.

Also: The internet is a wonderful thing, and you should use it to its full potential and comment. 

BUNAAA!

My name is Ali, or Alissa, (Ali(ssa)?) and I am so excited to be a part of this team! This will be my third time going to Romania to work with Open Roads and my fourth time travelling internationally with Blackhawk. I am so excited to go back and continue the relationships that I have built.

I just graduated from Middleton and I will be going to the University of Minnesota just a few weeks after we get back. I am not sure what I will end up majoring in, but I’m excited to see where God takes me (and at least try to continue my Spanish). In my free time I love playing ultimate frisbee, skiing/ski jumping, tennis and just staying active as well as playing my sax.

My biggest fears/prayer requests go along with the other graduated seniors: that I’m able to be present while in the midst of so much change and preparations for the next adventure.

Thanks to all of you for your continued love and support, you are just as much a part of this as we are! Please please please comment often so we can continue this journey with you and feel all your love even while we are so far away!

The beautiful Pollard family!

I’m Noah and I will be a Junior at Middleton and I’m so excited to be going back to Romania for the second time! I loved getting to know all of the campers and Open Roads leaders as well as goofing around with them. Here at home I love playing soccer (which I also get to do in Romania, yay), ski jumping and playing some stringed instruments (viola and cello) when I have time to practice. I am also going to be the president of Middleton’s Global Outreach Club which a group of friends (headed by none other than Ali(ssa) Pollard herself) started a couple of years ago to help engage the school in raising money and awareness about organizations like Open Roads. If any of our fellow readers are Middleton students, you should definitely join.

One thing to know about me, I speak my own language of quotes and references from a variety of music, movies and experiences. In my last blog bio I had 4 quotes hidden throughout. Unfortunately, my sister, Ali, you may know her, she is on the trip, wrote much of this year’s bio for me because I was hard at work (Pizza Brutta anyone?) and Franny keeps harassing us to turn our first blog posts in. I’m sure while we are gone I will get a chance to write and you will finally be able to hear my true voice (and favorite quotes).

A few prayer requests: That my sister doesn’t go too crazy this year, that our mom doesn’t miss us TOO much, and that, like many of the others, I can be be fully present while there.

Thank you all so much for being awesome people and supporting and loving on us. PLEASE COMMENT so we can have some contact with all of you lovely human beings.

P.S. There was some concern as to whether I was a team Jacob or team Edward fan when it comes to the Twilight series. I’m surprised there was any doubt, team Edward all the way!

P.P.S. If you have to ask… don’t! Well, it’s okay to ask about the trip and stuff, but don’t worry about the whole Twilight thing.

-Noah

My name is Pat, or Mama Pat, as some of the Romanians refer to me.

Thank you for taking the time to read our posts. It is important to us to know you are out there following, caring, and praying for us.

I’ve been a leader on this trip since 2008. The ministry and ministers of Open Roads and those they serve are close to my heart. It is a privilege to be a part of this team and I am thankful to be going again this year. We have an awesome team of students and leaders – as we usually do –  that loveGod and have the desire to serve.

When I meet people that serve abroad as missionary doctors, nurses, teachers, and more, I am humbled that God chooses to use me. I’ve always said I am not a teacher or a doctor so I don’t have much to offer if that is the need, but I do have long arms to give loving hugs and offer a shoulder to cry on. This ministry can use what I have to offer. Praise the Lord! It is such a blessing to meet and encourage the young people we serve. Their lives have been extremely challenging by no fault of their own. Many of them were abandoned at birth into an institution where they were neglected and abused. And, now as adults, they are marginalized and discriminated against because they are ‘orphans’. Open Roads shows these young people that they are loved by the creator of the universe. They show them the love of a family, help them discover their potential and worth, and give them hope for the future. Really, what could be better than that? And we get to be a part of what they are doing. We sure are blessed!

Please pray that I will be sensitive and quiet as I listen to the Holy Spirit speak to and direct me. He has laid it on my heart to keep my eyes open and be aware of what is going on around me, to look for subtle messages, and discover those in need that are quietly calling for help. This trip can be a whirlwind of activity and I can easily get caught up in it all. But, this year I am thinking I need to take a step back and be sensitive to what is taking place. I am not exactly sure what this means but I want to be sensitive to what God is laying on my heart.

Thank you for your support. We all appreciate it. Please continue to read the blog posts throughout the trip… and make comments. We love to read your comments. The funnier the better!

– Pat

Hello, I am Larry. I have been going to Romania since 2009. I work at a small publishing firm and enjoy the great outdoors. Serving in Romania has been a privilege and honor. It has become one of the most life changing things I have done.

-Larry