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WOW. Before you read my intended blog, I have to tell a bit about how I’m posting it right now. I was randomly walking around the Gypsy village where I’m staying, looking for a spot to spend alone time with God, and saw a castle in the distance. I walked through a torn part of a gate, past several people tending the gardens, and noticed the main door was open. Why not? I walked in the castle and realized there was a geoscience conference going on. NO ONE HAS SAID A WORD. I acted as if I perfectly belonged here and walked right around all the cameras and business people into an antechamber, took off my shoes, plopped myself on a couch, and pulled out my computer. A signal?! What?! WIRELESS?! Are you kidding me?! Hahahahahahaha — so I’m sitting by myself, crashing some big shot conference in a random castle in a Gypsy village in Transylvania, Romania. And I am so glad,  because we don’t have internet anywhere else available, and I wasn’t sure I’d be able to make it into town on Mother’s Day to post this! God provides. 😉
 

 

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                                                                                               (    ~)(~   )
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We love Him because He first loved us. –1 John 4:19

I simply can’t write enough about my love for my parents. I adore my father’s strength and integrity. His faith through hardship has inspired me since childhood (see I Believe: A Story of Faith). I admire my mother’s selflessness and humility. She had planned to enjoy retirement this year, but decided to work another year to help support my ministry instead. They fervently prayed for me long before I was born, they prayed for me at my bedside every night as I grew up, and they have continued to prayerfully support me throughout this year. I know they want, and have always wanted, the best for me. Honestly, they would give me the world. I believe they would even sacrifice for me.

If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him! –Matthew 7:11

Part of God’s perfect design for parent/child relationships is to demonstrate the beautiful relationship He desires with each of us. Mom and dad, I am so thankful for the ways in which you have illustrated echoes of God’s love. Truly, through Christ’s work in your lives, it has been so much easier for me to more fully grasp the concept of a loving heavenly Father.

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. –1 John 4:8

This very moment as I write (the rough draft), there is a little boy climbing on my lap, absolutely enthralled with my every action.
 

 

 
He plays with the hair on my arms, asks me endless questions in Romanian, and mimics everything I do. His name is Andreas. He is a gypsy child living in the gypsy village in which we are staying. His parents, like most people here, don’t believe in Jesus Christ. He is growing up in a home without parents who show him the love of our heavenly Father. I’ve heard that his parents don’t really take care of him. They don’t even care if he goes to school.

Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. –Mark 10:14

Sometimes, when the other children are at school, Andreas wanders the village. Yesterday he found me while I was drawing water from the well. His heart is so pure; with bright eyes and eager enthusiasm he offered to help me carry the water. After a few trips to the well and back, I thanked him and started washing the team’s dishes. I expected him to run off, but he faithfully thrust himself by my side and volunteered his affectionate services once more.
 

 

Behold, children are a gift of the LORD. –Psalm 127:3

Andreas is going through a difficult childhood. He is regularly dirty and hungry, and lacks the nourishing love from parents who fear God. My heart breaks for him, and I’ve made it part of my personal ministry to try to show him a glimpse of Christ just as my parents made it their personal ministry to do so in my life. Today I sent him on secret missions to help me with chores just like my father used to do with me. I took him jogging all the way to the village limit, and circled around to pick him up whenever he pooped out. I brought him back home and showed him a kid’s movie about Jesus on my laptop. I prayed for him throughout the movie, hoping God’s Word would transcend the language barrier. When Jesus calmed the storm, his eyes were glued to the screen, and when Jesus was crucified he covered them.

Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. –Matthew 18:3
 

 

 

By now he has left my lap. He has gone home for supper and rest. As night approaches and I settle down to conclude this blog, I am reminded that, if the LORD wills, tomorrow will bring fresh opportunities to serve Him. We are planning a children’s program full of songs, games, and Bible lessons. We will be doing prayer walks and house visits, and I have a follow-up meeting with a sweet 38-year-old man with whom I’ve really connected well. His story is beautiful, and I wish I had the time and expertise to share more!

Prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. –James 1:22

Happy Mother’s Day, mama! You had asked me to write more about the people I’ve met, so I wrote this blog specifically for you. I hope today you see a faint glimmer of how God has been honoring the fruits of your good works. Love you.