This month we have ventured into a nation that for the most part we were clueless about and did not know what to expect. When I heard that we would be working with gypsies, the movie clips began playing and my imagination went wild. When I heard the word orphans I assumed just another group of chil
dren. I did not know what to think. I was unaware of the culture and what it was like. I was entering into a new adventure, into a culture that would change my life.
The past few weeks we have been living in the homes of gypsies. These are the animated Disney characters that we all tend to think of. These are people who have an abundant amount of love. A people group that has been rejected and labeled by those around them. These people live in small villages and tight communities. They are a people group with large hearts. The gypsy community has been looked down upon and thought to be a people group that is dirty, worthless, and thieves. In reality these are people who have just been forgotten. Their country rejects them. They have to fight for everything they have. The families we have gotten to know have taught us so much about serving and loving each other. We have been able to live in the homes of three different families and had our eyes opened to the love of the gypsy communities.
I have been living in a home with John and Tootsie Fracker. John is a missionary from Cookeville, TN and is married to Tootsie who grew up in the gypsy community. They have a 2-year-old son named Holden. John has been 
a part of ministry here in Romania for 10 years. He is involved in the village of Viile Tecii where his current home is. He also ministers to those in surrounding villages. Their ministry is called Gypsy Agape. Tootsie is fluent in English and helps with translating. She has a servant’s heart and has opened up her home to team after team, including us. John and Tootsie have welcomed me into their home and comforted me through a rough month of homesickness. They have taken care of me as if I was their own daughter. Living in their home this month has been a tremendous blessing. 
Other members of our teams have been staying at two other homes. The girls have been staying with Sandu and Rita. They are the parents of Tootsie. Sandu is one of the pastors for their church. The boys have been staying with Abi and Lilly. Abi is the other local church pastor. These families have taken us into their homes and given up their beds and rooms for us to live with them. They have welcomed us into their village and selflessly given their time to work along side of us.
All of the racers, as well as our house families have worked together in ministry this month to reach the people of the villages. We have attended church services and had opportunities to tell the church what is going on in our lives. We have helped plant a church in a new village called Arcalia. We have walked the streets and prayed over the villages. God has used us to reach the hearts of many here and He is continuing to send people into these villages behind us to continue His work. There will be 11 more World Race teams coming the day after we leave to step into what we were doing here. God is at work here. He is spreading his name all over the gypsy communities. He is bringing hope to those who have none. He is bringing light to the darkness. He is bringing people to love on the old and the weak, to love on the sick. Our God is sweeping over Romania! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!!!!!
