Stefan Gele:
My trip with the ROYA Mission 2017 group has been the most memorable and enjoyable experiences of my last ten years. I have lived things I thought I would never have the chance to my entire life. Everything from the people to the tasks to the food have been wonderful.
I am not soon to forget the mornings when I would wake up at 3 to pray in the profound peace and tranquility at the Oasa Monastery. Although some might consider the work we did at Oasa (i.e. picking out weeds and stacking hay) to be uninviting, I found it to be deeply humbling and relaxing as well as a beautiful way of recollecting with our ancestors’ lifestyle. The daily rhythm at the monastery brought about a state of serenity in which I felt I could reach closer to God. As such, I had a taste of the monastic life.
Playing with the kids at Valea Plopului demonstrated that there is a great joy in making kids feel valued and loved. Moreover, it was deeply moving to see how love between members of a community can materialize and provide a future for hundreds of children. On a different note, those planning to come to Valea Plopului should consider bringing sunscreen if they don’t want to get a next level farmer’s tan.
Something that strikes me after these weeks with ROYA is the ease with which I was able to make friends and the depth of these relationships. Some of which I know will last a lifetime. I also left the group with many valuable teachings and broader horizons from the conferences at Oasa and the guests from Valea Plopului; not to mention an even greater love of my country, my traditions and my religion. I only wish it could have last longer… and that there was hot water for the boys at Oasa.
Andrei Enache:
Oasa is the closest thing to heaven on Earth. Praying is no longer boring because it’s lived (especially Psalm 135).
Carl Jung says that haven’t found God because they haven’t looked low enough. I think he meant the four-foot level because God is hiding in the kids of Valea Plopului.
Y’know those doctor movies where they rush in the semi-conscious patient and burst though those doors with the bed? That’s how I feel every time I go to Putna. I arrive half-alive, get coached by the best Fathers around and leave wholesome again.
Each of these places offers a chance to actively live out the Orthodox faith. This is also the scope of St. Paraskeva Orthodox Charity – offering opportunities to live Orthodoxy.
Andrea Dumitrescu:
Another summer, another ROYA mission trip. This will have been my third mission trip that I’ve attended. This year, we participated in the international camp at Oasa, spent two weeks volunteering at Valea Plopului and finished up the trip at Putna Monastery. We had never attended the camps at Oasa, so I had no idea what to expect upon arrival. I arrived at Oasa five days into the camp, confused about the routine since everyone had seemed to have adjusted to it already. It was the same schedule every day, like clockwork. Liturgy, breakfast, ascultare, lunch, odihna, vespers, dinner, conference. With the occasional singing. This constant routine was a large factor in my attaining of peace. During the camp, I was given the task of washing dishes. After every meal, my ascultare would begin. Clearing the tables, washing/rinsing/drying over 200 dishes and resetting the tables for the next meal. I did this three times a day with seven other girls. The time of day that I personally would find most relaxing was when us girls would be washing dishes in silence, with the exception of ones of the girls reciting the Jesus prayer over and over again. The 3 am services were also something that I greatly looked forward to (which was something that I honestly wasn’t expecting of myself). On Sundays, Oasa has the tradition of loaning national costumes to the youth to wear to the liturgy. It brought me so much joy to see my brothers and sisters in Christ dressed in Romanian national costumes. The last Sunday of the camp, we hiked up a mountain where they served mamaliga with milk. We also all started to sing patriotic songs. When we reached the last song in the book, there was a line within in the song that touched my heart. “Vin romanii…vin la Oasa iar, vin la Oasa iar.” I started to cry like crazy, thinking about how lucky I was to be at the international camp at Oasa, singing patriotic songs from my home country with 100 other Romanian Orthodox youth. I continuously thank God that He gave me the opportunity to fall in love with Oasa Monastery.
The day that we were leaving, we were blessed to have a very last minute conference with Pr. Pantelimon on the rocks in front of the lake. This conference was probably one of the most casual yet spiritually charging conference that I had listened to my entire stay at Oasa. The fact that it was the most casual one still amuses me. Oasa was a wonderful way to start off the mission trip; I would gladly attend all their camps in a heartbeat.
The transition from Oasa to Valea Plopului was not a difficult one, surprisingly. The only thing that we really needed to adjust to was the increase in hours of sleep per night (going from an average of three hours to seven). Comparing my experience at Valea Plopului this year to the past two, we did a lot less manual labor. There was he occasional hay arranging, window measuring and lifting of wood; overall however, less labor. Instead, we had the blessing of playing with the children from the orphanage. I thoroughly enjoyed this change, because it allowed for us as a group to have a stronger bond with the children. There was one little girl that I bonded with particularly this year, Antonia. I had seen Antonia during my past two visits, but she was always very shy and was never available when we were. This year, she warmed up to us very quickly. We would play together almost every day: hide-and-seek, tag and basically any other game that you can think of. There was one day when we went to vesper for Sf. Ilie and all of the kids attended as well. Antonia saw me and motioned for me to go sit by her, so I did. The whole service she sat next to me patiently, holding my hand and crossing herself. I’ll be the first one to admit that I’m a rather emotional person. This little girl that I had only met a week and a half prior managed to touch my heart in a way that I can’t describe. That moment in the church is when I fully realized how these children live, big and small, and how difficult their lives are compared to ours. These aren’t things that can be realized watching a documentary or hearing about it through someone else. These things come to realization when one experiences it firsthand. We also got the chance to watch the children put on a talent show. There were so many wonderful performances such as singing, improv, drumming and the dance from High School Musical (which I also danced along to from the back of the audience). The talent show was an experience indeed, but one that I appreciated a lot.
The last day at the orphanage was a bittersweet one. We hiked our daily trail to the orphanage like always, not yet realizing the difficult goodbyes that were yet to come. Antonia prior to leaving, handed me a bouquet of handpicked flowers saying, “pentru tine, papusica mea! Te iubesc!”. The walk home was one filled with tears and group reminiscing of fun memories.
It being my third year, I’ve come to realize that leaving Valea Plopului has become increasingly more difficult. Even though we didn’t really do any manual work, playing and bonding with the kids was much more rewarding for me. It was also difficult to leave Pr. Tanase and his family. Pr. Tanase took the time out of his (very) busy schedule to have three conferences with us, one with the boys, one with the girls and one with us all. Leaving Pr. Tanase is also something that I’ve noticed has become increasingly difficult every time we leave.
Arriving at Putna, it felt like we had come home. A sense of familiarity and calm washed over me when I stepped out of the bus. While at Putna, we had conferences with several monks, some we knew and some that were new. Every time that we have conferences with these specific monks, always feel recharged, ready to go back to the occidental world. One specific thing that stuck with me during one of the conferences was a conference we had with Pr. Hristostom. He described his point of view when he saw us leaving Putna last year. “As I saw the bus driving away as well as everyone waving, I thought to myself ‘there goes a bus full of lambs into a world of wolves’”.
His quote was all that I could think about when it was time to leave. I believe that our stay at Putna this year was way too short. Four days is not enough to absorb all that Putna has to offer. The monks, services, conferences and atmosphere at Putna is something that cannot be found or replicated anywhere else. Putna is truly the Jerusalem of Romania.
Oasa reinsured my patience. Valea Plopului renewed my compassion. Putna recharged my spirituality. ROYA Mission Trip 2017 was indeed a great success.
Teodora Girlonta:
Camp for me this year was a recharge of my spiritual batteries. I really enjoyed spending time at Oașa Monastery, where I got a little taste of the monastic life. One of my favorite memories from Oașa was when we hiked up a mountain called “Fetița” and sang patriotic songs with Father Iustin and Father Avram.
The two weeks spent at Valea Plopului were also an enriching experience. We spent almost every single day with the children. They were all so open and playful that I felt right at home. I remember one day when a child I've never talked to before came to me, grabbed me by the hand and pulled me toward the swings. That made me so happy.
The last few days spent at Putna Monastery was the perfect conclusion to our trip. My favorite thing about Putna was attending the services, which were heavenly. I also really like the conversations we had with Father Hristostom, Father Ieremia and Father Dosoftei. I'm very thankful for all the advice I received, and the opportunity to attend the Mission Trip this year again.
Iustin Tapuc:
For someone that went to last year’s mission trip, I was exited to hear that there was going to be another one this year! Next thing I know I found myself in the airport with a guitar and a backpack. Our first stop was Oasa monastery. I was so inspired by the place that I wrote a short poem to better describe it:
Oasa, glimpse of heaven!
Today I went to the monastery
Prayed day and night
Life was like a mystery
Only doing what was right
Met people from abroad
Talked all the time
Felt love although flawed
Folk were sublime
I felt like a brother
Working among monks
Praying for one another
Never acting like punks
I overall loved my experience
I would return and stay forever
I loved Oasa no matter the endeavor.
As you can tell from the short poem I absolutely loved the international camp at Oasa. It was a truly unforgettable experience! Our second stop was father Tanase’s camp in Prahova county. Beside having interesting conferences and working there, we also got to do something that we didn’t do a lot of last year... We got to play with the kids! I remember that at some point we even had the opportunity to attend a talent show put up by the camp’s staff and the kids. It was so surreal to see all these kids so happy and joyful even if they weren't in the best financial and family situation. Finally, our last stop was Putna monastery. Putna has a special place in the hears of all of those who went to the last two summer camps. From the daily lithurgy to the incredible conferences with Fr Hrisostom, Ieremia and Dosoftei to the walk to Putna’s Hermitage the whole thing was outstanding! Putna overall takes you to another spiritual level. Higher that is, of course!
This year’s camp was out of this world! I urge everyone who didn’t come to one of these summer trips to sign up for next year’s camp. These camps allow you to develop yourself a lot on a spiritual level. Plus you get to meet a lot of like minded individuals and forge strong friendships! I can’t wait to see everyone next year!
Maria Gorog:
I had a wonderful experience on this mission trip. Not having been back to Romania for 12 years, I didn't know what to expect. This mission trip gave me a taste of every corner of Romania, and an introduction to only the best people in the country. Doamna Florina made sure we got to see a good variety of spirituality, food, nature, and people in Romania. The only thing I wish we could have done differently is to spend either less time at Valea Plopului, or spend the same amount of time, but doing more activities with the kids or working. I felt that there were many days when we were sitting around not being as productive as we could have been. Valea Plopului was a wonderful experience, as it gave everyone a reality check by showing us how people in our own country are living and the positive attitude they had. Another thing I wish were possible, but I understand if it is not up to us to decide, would be to have more conversation time with Father Tanase. He had a lot to tell us and we waited until the last couple of days to talk to him. Most people that wanted to talk to him privately were not able to do so due to time, and I think we could have benefited more from him if we had done our talks at the beginning of our stay and then have time to process what he taught us and ask questions if we still had any. Overall, I would recommend doing this trip again, and I will tell everyone about how wonderful it is and encourage them to come next year.
Claudiu Dima:
This past summer I had the amazing opportunity to be part of an unforgettable experience that I can truly say was life-changing. My soul was filled with holiness at every place went and I truly felt part of a group. As the bible tells us, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20).This verse was truly put in context during the mission trip. The true communion among one another made the trip truly special, from Oasa, all the way to Putna.
Hearing of the many great experiences of others about Oasa Monastery, I was impatient to arrive, even before the mission trip started. Upon arrival, I immediately felt a presence of holiness that could not be felt anywhere else on Earth. A feeling of disheartment filled me upon seeing the schedule of every morning going to liturgy at the break of dawn, as well as working for 4 hours, with the occasional watch service almost until midnight. The weeks ahead seemed daunting. The first day, each person from the camp would be sent in the obedience of a monk priest, whether it was cleaning the church, cutting wood, or gardening, as I and two friends were put in. The most surprising thing, as others have said, is that you simply cannot feel tired at Oasa. Singing during the liturgy with Father Sava felt as if I was in heaven, no lie about it. The devotion to God that everyone in the church had was unparalleled to what I had witnessed in any service I had attended in the past. During the work which we were assigned, we felt one step closer to god with every,” Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner” said. The simplicity of picking weeds and hoeing the land calmed all of us down from the stress-filled life in the “normal world”. The life which we took up for a week and a half was for me a return to my roots (no pun intended, Andrea you can take this out) and a true mission trip.
Leaving Oasa was truly sad, but, I was eager for the next part of our journey, Valea Plopului. Our first contact with the kids was truly joyful. Playing with them made me feel like a true kid, outside running around, playing soccer, and enjoying the games passed down generations. Their positive disposition surrounded us as quickly and we were accepted in their family. When we were not playing with the kids at the camp, our help was needed working at the hay or carrying wood. We all felt that working together was a much more enjoyable experience and that we were doing something truly good. While the labor was great, the majority of us felt that we needed more work and more things that helped out Father Tanase. A great part of Valea Plopului was the embracing of our Romanian traditions through traditional dancing and singing. We were blessed to have as guest Nicolae Voiculet who beautifully interpreted various songs on the Pan Flute. That night, I truly felt Romanian again. Throughout the entirety of our stay at Father Tanase’s, we felt Romanian hospitality at its finest.
Combined with a rich history and a holy presence, Putna remains one of Romania’s true hidden treasures. At this part of the trip, our will to resist to temptations was most tested. Tiredness was a factor that slowed down our eagerness and one day of fasting felt like a month. Nonetheless, the daily conferences with Fathers Hrisostom, Ieremia, and Dosoftei grew our curiosity for the Orthodox faith and all of its aspects that we didn’t realize had such a detrimental impact on our lives. In accordance with other boys in our group, we felt that the most powerful part of this trip as whole was at Putna. Even one night during the watch services when we were singing amongst the monks, we felt the ground beneath shake with the power of our prayer and this etched something in our hearts that we will never forget. What we felt inside of us at Putna was an individual experience, but in the end, it was clear we felt connected as one.
Danielle Radu:
Being that I now have 3 mission trips under my belt, it is safe to assume that I like going and plan on continuing this tradition. However, when people hear this, they’re often surprised and always respond along the lines of “aren’t you bored”, “you’re just seeing the same things”, and “what’s the point of going again” and there is nothing about these assumptions that could be more off base! I’ve had the blessing of participating in all 3 of the trips that our Metropolia has organized thus far and this year I finally realized why I can’t stay away- each year offers something else, and changes me in its own unique way. The first trip served as a culture shock, introducing me to our faith and culture in a way I had never imagined, and showed me who/what Romania is and what she has to offer. It gave me a sweet but brief, superficial understanding of the country. Last year, I had a more physical experience, with much more manual labor. This gave me a connection to the people, because things like agriculture, building, and manual labor are such an important in the history and culture of our people, even to this day. What then did this year change in me? From a stranger’s perspective, not a lot can be seen, and there certainly isn’t an overarching theme that would tie the three parts of our trip together. However, as a participant on the trip, I can without a doubt say that this year has had the most profound impact, specifically because it is one that cannot be seen from the outside- this year changed my spirituality.
While at Oasa monastery, it was impossible not to be in complete awe of the mountainous scenery, scenic lake, and overall atmosphere of peace and seclusion from the rest of the world. This being said, the real treasures there are the monks. At first, I was inclined to say that the impact of the experience there was due to the open, relatable talks with the monks, particularly Fr. Iustin and Fr. Pantelimon, but that really would not do it justice at all. The discussions with them were inspiring and offered advice applicable to any age or time period, related to keeping our faith and how to practice it. However, this is only one obvious reason for spiritual growth. The magic at Oasa flourishes in the daily liturgies, the constant routine, the humbling chores we each signed up for, the living in communion, and the awe-inspiring joy and brotherhood that radiated on the faces of every single monastic there. That is what makes it impossible to not want to change and better yourself while you are there. You become aware of God’s presence in every single moment of the day, and that makes you aware of your personal relationship with Him as well and how anemic it is.
After Oasa, we moved on to Valea Plopului and spent two weeks playing alongside the children at Father Nicolae Tanase’s orphanage. While that may not seem directly relevant to my newfound spiritual journey, you can’t help but be kinder, happier, and more childlike (not childish), as God calls us to be. What really got to me there was their openness and immediate ability to love and be loved- something that I struggle with and infinitely appreciated their help with. This spirit of simple love and carefree living (in the sense of forgetting our materialistic, old habits and way of life) cannot be appreciated without mentioning Father Tanase as well. He’s like a gigantic grizzly bear with a heart and humor twice as big- similar to Baloo in the Jungle Book, if you will (but don’t get him upset). His separate conversations, first with the girls and the boys, allowed for a very comfortable and open environment because we knew that we were all thinking and going through the same things- things that boys have no business knowing, as I am sure the boys can say about their discussion with him. I would go into more depth about his protective, fatherly, “tough but loving” nature and what it felt like to have someone understand and care, and that entire experience, but as I said, I don’t want to divulge all of our secrets. Moreover, Father Tanase really is the type of man that no one can fully describe. You must experience him because yes, it really is an experience.
The third and final leg of our trip was Putna Monastery. Putna differs from Oasa in age (Putna has 524 more years under its belt), in size (Oasa has 23 monks while Putna has well over 100), and in overall atmosphere (we would often refer to Oasa as wood- simple, rustic, and essential, while Putna would be marble- shiny, prestigious, and impressive). However, this doesn’t take into consideration how you feel and what happens to you there. I was a firm believer that they were polar opposites but I look back now and laugh at myself. There is something so much grander that connects them. They are monasteries where you can’t help but fall in love with God and the expression of His holy creation in all the things around you. What else matters, then? And one very important thing that made them both so iconic was the attention that they pay to youth. They take time to talk to us and show us that they understand us and that we MATTER and the Church needs us and God needs us, and above all, we need Him. I cannot stress enough how much of a difference this makes, because we can pick up instantly where we are not valued or welcomed. I think that that is also one of the reasons that the youth today is leaving the Church. They feel that they don’t matter and that their absence won’t be seen as a loss anyway since no one payed attention to them when they did participate. For this reason, I am so grateful to Fr. Hrisostom, Fr. Ieremia, and Fr. Dosoftei for taking the time to talk to us and give us confession and help us clean our heads and hearts as much as we could before returning to our busy, tempting, tumultuous lives back home, in a cold, secular society. An incredible appreciation is also to be had for Abbott Melchisedec who makes time to sit down and talk with us for hours every year (this is no easy feat for a man so busy), and is so open and loving.
Now that I have returned home, I realize that this no longer is home. I don’t really have one anymore. America isn’t home because I feel no connection to the culture or people here, but Romania isn’t truly home either (although it’s pretty close) because I didn’t grow up there or have an extensive history of summer vacations and family bonding there. I finally came to the realization- or rather the understanding- that this world really isn’t home and never will be. I’ll only truly find my home when our Heavenly Father decides it’s time for me to let go of this life and join Him in His awesome Paradise. But until that moment comes, I will prepare myself and carry His glory in my heart, through the little pieces of Oasa, Putna, and Valea Plopului that I have taken with me and will firmly keep there forever.
Thank you to all the priests, places, and laypeople that have allowed me into their hearts and given me a piece of their own to stow in mine.
