Romania…yet again, another country I never pictured myself in before the race. Now that I am here I love it. I love the simple, but hard working lifestyle. I love that family comes first. I love that the gypsies know how to live life.
I knew nothing about gypsies before coming here, except that I used to dress up as one as a child. I thought they were mysteriously beautiful, and now I know that is a truth about this culture. They have no homeland and feel like foreigners even after living here for years. Romanians do not accept them and look at them as a lesser class than a pure blood Romanian. Gypsies are one of the only people groups in the entire world without a homeland. They are scattered all throughout Europe trying to survive. Without a homeland and without being accepted by anybody they are forced to have a wandering spirit that is always seeking.
Family is the heart of every gypsy. After being here a little over two weeks I already feel like I am a part of the community here and have my own Romanian family; and trust me it is a large family. There is not one person who would not help me if I asked them. 
Take Adi for example (far left in photo). He is literally the hardest worker I have met this entire year. He will make two trips up the mountain to gather firewood for the wood-burning furnace that will keep his family warm. Then he will go and get dirt for his relative that is building a wood burning stove. During all of this he brings his four year old son with him, because little Adi is such a daddy’s boy he can’t leave his fathers side. Adi works day and night to provide for his family and he does this without uttering one complaint. Adi loves his family deeply and it is shown by the way he hugs his daughter, the way he pushes little Adi on rollerblades, and the way he kisses his wife Lilly on the cheek. Adi is an example of Chris
t to this gypsy community.
Take Adi for example (far left in photo). He is literally the hardest worker I have met this entire year. He will make two trips up the mountain to gather firewood for the wood-burning furnace that will keep his family warm. Then he will go and get dirt for his relative that is building a wood burning stove. During all of this he brings his four year old son with him, because little Adi is such a daddy’s boy he can’t leave his fathers side. Adi works day and night to provide for his family and he does this without uttering one complaint. Adi loves his family deeply and it is shown by the way he hugs his daughter, the way he pushes little Adi on rollerblades, and the way he kisses his wife Lilly on the cheek. Adi is an example of Christ to this gypsy community.Yesterday we celebrated Easter here in the village. Many different churches came together here at John Fracker’s house, our ministry contact, to have an Easter service. We worshipped outside so the entire gypsy community could see the freedom in Christ that many have found. People stood on the side of the road, or across the street watching with curiosity. We sang songs of praise, worshipped our Lord for bringing us new life in Him, and prayed that the Spirit would touch the curious souls.
Our prayers were answered! We had planned on 5 baptisms taking place at the service; two of my teammates included, Ali and Natalie. The Spirit fell and gave two local boys the strength to come forward and commit their lives to the Lord and be baptized. One boy had a serious accident a couple of years ago and was almost paralyzed. God healed him and now he was ready to leave his life of sin behind and start a new life with the Lord. The other boy was one who we have seen in the background a lot since we have been here. The first time I saw him was when I was painting lime on a neighbor’s trees. He was in the house across the street yelling, ‘Hey honey, hey baby, hello, hello’ and when I would look up he would dance very inappropriately towards me. I was disgusted in the moment. Now, my heart rejoices for God changing his heart. Easter is when we celebrate new life, and yesterday was no exception.
God is changing the community of Villa Tecii. I am changed because of Villa Tecii. I have always seen myself as a wandering spirit, and now I know that is just because I am part gypsy. I have no homeland because I will go wherever Christ leads me. The only home I claim is in Christ. I will wander as a gypsy loving others as Christ has loved me.
