THE RIPE OLD AGE OF 22

Greeting Friends,

My oldest son turned 22 today.... He has flown way more than I have, owned more cars than I have personally owned, studied probably more scripture than I have, earned more money than I have, cooked way more than I have..... sort of makes you feel old~


We are proud of him. He is the CHEF of the family. Here is a picture of him and his cheese cake Josh and I made for him today. Josh was so excited to put the two on the cake today. We couldn't find another two in the house so we improvised...You will see. This is the first birthday in the family I can remember as of yet, that Josh now knows what 'birthdays' mean. Right know he knows you get a cake and can say, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY'

It was 22 years ago, my very first home birth, April 30th, we were so proud to be parents. We did end up in LeBonneur for 7 days with a Bladder infection. He was fine after that.... always one for crying for breakfast. There has not been a day go by, the boy makes himself breakfast. It is his first meal of the day. When he became old enough to do it himself, it was cereal, then eggs, and now it could be omelets, or egg sandwich or eggs, bacon and toast.

He is quite the world traveler. God has a call on his life and he is following it~
I will post his Romania Pictures soon here on my blog.

So.. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO PAUL J.GALLINA, 22 AND GETTING WISER~!

Romania Love

ADMIRING ALL THE FINISHED PRODUCTS OF THEIR LABOR......

CHRISTMAS IN Romania All the children showing off their chef friend....

The place where he bought his Kitchen Aid... resturant supply place in romania

Hello Friends

Here are just some of the pictures that Paul and his friends took. He actually has 763 pictures on his computor. I'd say 300 of them are from the children taking pictures. They were quite good at them. I'll get Paul to update more later.

ENJOY

Liz

COOKING SON IN ROMANIA

Hello Friends,

Got these new pictures from the Director of the children's home today. Here is what she had to say.

"Paul teaching some eager students how to make a cake. These were all abandoned children but now have a home and a great future ahead of them."

What a blessing to see this. What a future these children will have. Having another skill to cook is important to any child. It looks like he is giving some one on one attention.

Notice the ingredients on the table. I'm sure olive oil and flour is the same in any country. You can double click on the pictures to make them bigger.

Will keep you posted.

A Proud Lizard

THE CHEF IN ROMANIA

Hello Friends

Got this picture today of Paul and some of the kids cooking. They made bread and chicken stock.
Don't they look good? The kitchen Aid made it to the the home. It was bought there.
Hopefully he will be able to send more. I'm sure the kids are loving this~

Liz

ROMANIA AGAIN

Hello Friends,

My oldest son is off to the skies again. He left yesterday for Romania. He is somewhere over land I hope. There is this vast empty ocean they fly over before they hit land. He will be there sometime today late. When he gives me his flight plan, I'm never sure if that is MY time he lands or his time he lands. This is one of those trips he planned, got the plane reservations, and flying solo. He is confident.

His mission this time:

1. Teach cooking classes to the children at the children's home, Casa Shaloam children's home.
He is armed with notebooks for the children and recipes. He was there this past summer over the July 4th holiday. I know he is looking forward to seeing the directors and the children and even the progress on the building they helped to build. What thrill if it is finished and he could cook in it~ This time it is for a different season and a different purpose.

2. He will purchase a Kitchen Aid while he is there. That would of been tough to take.

3. Plus he will be making long range plans for when our church takes a crew over there in June of '08.

He came and hugged me before church started yesterday and he had on a cool jacket....
he had 'CHEF PAUL GALLINA'.... monogrammed on his jacket. WOW~~
I would like to take credit for some of that...but no.... that is all on his own. The only credit I can take is providing the food when he was little. He was and still is starving when he wakes up and eats first thing. Breakfast is a priority when he wakes up. Maybe the cooking of that spurred something in him to learn more.

Okay~ He promised to email. Will share more later.

Liz

BOYS AND USA SOIL

Hey friends,
Theres no place like home! Theres no place like home....Ever heard that... so true... nothing like your own bed, eating off your own table, seeing all your clothes and knowing this is where you are grounded at the time.

My boys returned home last night very very late. Being shy of 4 hours they had been up almost 24 hours and were very tired. They were almost to tired to talk. I was the only chadder mouse or is that a chipmunk? in the bunch. I had already gotten my daughter lost once so she was finally following her mapquest directions to get us on the interstate. It's not really hard, you just have to pay attention to the signs. I was anxious to hear ALL ABOUT the trip. I'm yet to hear all the juicy stuff that goes on Missions trips. I like the DETAILS. Like, why can't you use someone elses phone to call, you can't eat in the airport, why do you have SO MUCH luggage, why did you break my camera, how far were you out, what hotel did you stay at, why isn't there any English speaking churches in Romania.... you know just the small details.....

Well I can tell you how 4 people and 8 pieces of luggage can fit in a 2006 Saturn. You give mom the hardest piece of luggage and she will ride with it in her lap and a huge tent rides across the laps of two boys.. Cozy huh??

Okay~
Just wanted to write a snipet of what life must be to travel 20 hours to a foreign country, eat their food, drink their bottled water, sleep in hotels, drive cars and show the love of Christ to people by your actions and labor~~

There will be more~

Liz

SONS IN SANTA CRUZ AGAIN.. COMING HOME

HEY FRIENDS,
I got this letter from Paul yesterday. I asked him to write something that will be read at our church. We attend an assembly of God church so some of the references you might not be clear to you. Speed the light vehicles are missionary vehicles that folks give money to. Sandy and Richard Farthing are our AG missionaries in Bolivia. Paul has been there before, 2 years ago and built a church for this Indian tribe. A very civilized group of Indians. They have had a time of their lives. So glad money is given and sons can see God move in the hearts of people somewhere else than just their 'world'.
Liz

The boys are back in Santa Cruz and sight seeing this weekend and will fly out tomorrow.

Bolivia update. Week 2 Oct 15-19

Early Sunday Morning we took team 1 to the airport and picked up team 2. We used 4 wheel drive Speed the Light vehicles to get around. We were planning on taking all three of them back to the Guarni Village for week 2. But the Ford Explorer we had was having problems. We zeroed in and found out we had a faulty starter. With a team full of part time mechanics, we were just bummed that it would not start. Finally the entire team laid hands on the vehicle and prayed for God to intervene. You can’t buy anything on Sunday in Bolivia, especially a starter. God seemed to instill peace in our minds that He has a reason that this vehicle needed to stay in the hotel parking lot. It would make sense that he kept it there so it would not break down 6 hours in a Guarni Village, in the middle of no where. Romans 8:28 says He makes all things work together for His good. Everything happens for a reason, trust God with this.

Our Journey seemed to start out slow; the rain reminded us of what possibly lay ahead. Mud and water filled the roads, keeping all 4 tires working and possibly a wench or two if needed to get to the destination, leading to a longer journey on a long road. Thankfully the path was dry, with the exception of a little dampness to keep the dust settled.

We arrived just as the sun set and quickly set up our camps. We prayed before hand, to finish this Church a lot quicker than the first one. This Church was smaller in size, but also we had a smaller more In-experienced crew. With the weather cooperating, being not to hot and to not to rainy. we finished the entire church in 3 days. With a built up platform area completely concreted. The next day we bricked the floor in. We had a church service that night. The place was decorated with balloons and completely packed. The people were excited.

We have been apart of 4 church services. We have seen many give their heart to Christ--- at least 10. Many people have been prayed over for healing. God Is doing an awesome work in Bolivia with the pathfinder ministry with hand in hand ---with missionary Mike King and Richard and Sandy Farthing. I am glad to come to Bolivia and see them again. They are probably the best Host Missionary couple that I have worked with. They need our support along with Mike King.
We made it back to Santa Cruz after a 7 Hour truck ride. It took us longer than it could have. But we were still able to bring everything back, with only 2 vehicles. God took care of our needs.

Be blessed Missionary’s Paul and Jed Gallina

Bolivia and Gallina Boys

I mixed in their first and last letters together~
liz


Hello mom

Me and Jed are doing good. This trip has been a good one and it keeps going. Right now we are in Santa cruz resting from the work over this last week. The trip was 5 hours from the airport, but still long.. It was 2 hours on pavement, then 3 hours on a dusty road filled with potholes. When it rains it is difficult to travel. It did rain on us the first night, and the winds blew . Thankfully our tent has held up.We built a brick church in a village for the Guarni Indians. This building was not to far from the last church I built in 2005. Our team have been apart of 2 services. One was in the new building we built. We have seen 8 people come to know Christ. And many have been prayed over for healing.


I have probably have ate more food than ever before and after work. Jed has emptied his Texas Pete hot sauce with the help of the team. Even know we are in a very remote place we are still eating good.

Jed is doing good, he is working hard. We have had a really good time.

We go back today, Sunday, to help build another brick church

Be home on the 22nd.
Tell the family we said hi

Love Paul and Jed

THE BOYS HAVE WROTE- BOLIVIA

Hello Mom

Me and Jed are doing good. This trip has been a good one and it keeps going. Right now we are in Santa Cruz resting from the work over this last week. We built a brick church in a village for the Guarni Indians. This building was not to far from the last church I built in 2005. Our team have been apart of 2 services. One was in the new building we built. We have seen 8 people come to know Christ. And many have been prayed over for healing. We head back Sunday with the new team to build the second church. We have experienced good and bad weather this week. Our first day it rained and the wind blew. Jed is doing good, he is working hard.
We have had a really good time.
Tell the family we said Hi

Love Paul and Jed
____________________
Always good to hear from your children no matter where they are! I did find out the place where they are building the churches is about 8 hours via the transportation of a truck... bumpy bumpy....... makes your thankful for shocks on our own cars!
Liz

BOLIVIA HERE WE COME

FRIENDS,

Sorry I have not mentioned this before. My two oldest sons are leaving today, Friday, for Bolivia. They will be arriving in Santa Cruz tomorrow morning. I need to find out if there is a time difference. They will meet up with their team in Miami and then traveled on together.

Well seasoned folks that travel together often. This trip will be like the one Paul did in 2005.

At the airport, they will met up with the AG missionary and then travel by truck to a remote location. They will be sleeping in tents this time. More roughing it. A church will take shape while they are there. They will get the opportunity when they come back into the city to spend some time sightseeing and comfort of a hotel room. I'm sure they will LOVE that by then.

This will be Jed's last harrah before leaving for the Army. They will be gone for almost 3 weeks. We will miss them. Josh will miss them.

Here is a photo I made them take~ They never pose voluntarily~ but I know they love it~

Liz

COOKING IN ROMANIA

Hey Friends,

I will figure out how to make these pictures bigger... he had sent these via email. I know they can be much better! sorry...

Wanted to send out a few more pictures of when Paul was in Romania. I was reading the paper today and came across this: " Romania is home to about half of Europe's brown bear population, but attacks on humans are rare." A man was mauled by a bear in Bucharest. That was information I didn't know....... or do I want to know it????

I'm sure where Paul was, they were safe. I have attached some pictures of Paul cooking breakfast one of the mornings. He had brought biscuit dough to make biscuits. I'm sure everyone appreciated it. I've always teased, Paul is a breakfast eater. When he was very very little, nursing would have to be done first, then as he grew up, he learned how to pour cereal in the morning, then as he got older, scrambled eggs, now.... i wake to him making a hearty breakfast before a 8am shift. So..... making breakfast for 30 people is easy for him!!

I'm sure they all enjoyed his culinary delights of eggs with cheese!!

Liz

PAUL'S TRAVELS IN ROMANIA

all the children at casa shalom. Pray for them!

the usa team after finishing the walls for a bakery that a team from Ireland will come and finish for them in August.

one of the children who live there.

4th of July picnic

Here Paul is in front of the government building. Very impressive! Do you know when their freedom day is?

These are the two ladies, mother and daughter who helped cook each day.

Here is the team from the USA and all the children from the orphanage. Paul is two people on the left (kneeling) from the guy in the camo. shirt.

Paul got back and is very tired. He went to work the very next day and had to work all day. He is still pretty tired tues night as I write this. I finally got him to sit down with me and go thru all the pictures he took. He had a really great time. They fed him very well. He made breakfast every day. He took biscuit dough with him to make biscuits every day. I'm trying to find the picture they took of him. He enjoyed that very much.

He was there for the 4th of July. They had a cook out with some American looking food. They fly the American flag, Romanian Flag and the European flag. Will try to post that picture also.

I think he said there was 22 children there. Several of his pictures were taken by the children.

He didn't seem to mind. They were good too. They were quite taken by the Americans

Several of the children worked along side with them helping to build the wall and were rewarded with going site seeing with them on their free day.

If you could see the house they stayed in it was like a three story apartment building. Very nice. They will eventually have this for the children. It is very modern.

Paul has a picture of the thermometer outside that shows the temperature in the shade. A whooping 1oo degrees. Hot every day.

So much to say and not enough space or words. You will have to see all the pictures and see what he saw. Most places are modern enough to have malls.. believe it or not! That was how their site seeing day was spent.

Liz

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS LITHUANIA?

Above is one of those special moments in time when you just want to click, click, click away with a camera. Last year in May, my boys plus our good friend, Jose Lopez, went to Lithuania to help build a log cabin with a team of other Americans. One of the missionaries they worked along side with was the MacIsaac's, Bob and Betty Sue. There are lots of young people there. A real potental to reach out to this generation. Bob oversees the camps there and many young people come to them and go away with a relationship with our Saviour~ Praise the Lord~

I managed to get them together for a picture. Then when Paul got there late, I took another one.

(sorry for the quality of this one, it was dark dark!

We had the best time with him and hopefully we wore him out with good ol'-- 'southern charm' plus he got a dose of our Memphis weather. He is from Michigan, and it's not this hot up north~~~ Memphis humidity~~

The boys loved bringing back the missionary and letting them know that Lighthouse Fellowship supports them and one day go back and see how the log cabins are doing!~!

Thank you for sharing and going Bob and Betty Sue~ Come back to Millington any time!~

The Gallina's

I know where Lithuania is now? Do you?