On July 31st I left home and traveled to Romania for the second time with a small group from my Church. My heart was so excited and filled with joy to see the faces of the people who changed my heart the year before. I was also thrilled to meet new faces that God had planned for me to meet. Leaving Romania last year was so hard for me to do. Months latter my heart still longed to be there and with the amazing people. After six months of God tugging on my heart I knew that He was calling me to return to Romania and to say yes to The World Race trip that I had placed in the back of my mind.
As I prepared to go back to Romania this year I wondered how it might be different knowing I was going on the World Race. Especially as I thought about leaving, I realized that the next time I saw a beautiful Romanian sunrise, or I saw sunflower fields go on for miles and miles, or the next time I would hug a gypsie toddler I would be on the World Race. The very last country on my 11 month journey. As excited I am for the Race to start I became sad that I would not return next summer and it would be over a year until I returned.
Last year at the end of the camp, the kids always asked "will I see you next year?" or "when will I see you again" Or "Next year at camp we will…." This year we had two different camps for the students in two different regions of the country. I knew students going to both and I was so excited to reconnect and see how those who made decisions for Christ the year before have grown. But I was also dreading the questions about "next year at camp".
By the second to last night of our first camps my tears were already flowing. My heart could not stand to think I would not be waking up to see the sunrise and read the Bible with my dear friend Giorgi. Or that I would not be singing worship songs two hours after service ends with the David, Sami, and Danuts. Or not walking through a small village with sister olvia picking plums and inviting families to come to night time service.
Believe it or not for a few days me heart hated the World Race. Yes… hated…
I blamed the race as the reason for not returning and I was quite bitter about it. CRAZY I know. But I felt it. And as I keep asking for all of you to donate I feel the need to be completely vulnerable with you all. So there it is.. I hated the idea of being on the Race.
I turned to God in tears one night and prayed for him to take these feelings away. I prayed that He would show me His purpose. I needed to know the bigger purpose behind me going on the World Race and not returning to Romania next August. I prayed for that He would heal my heart of its sadness and to give me the strength to begin the next camp the next day. Our God is so faithful!!
His peace that surpasses all understanding consumed my heart and saw me through the last week of the trip. Not to say there was not many tearful goodbyes, but it was a peace that I would see these people again, I would return in His time, and that there will be people who touch my heart in each of these countries the way my Romania friends have.
I think the part that was the hardest for me to overcome is that I felt like I would be abandoning the kids who I love so much. I would have to say no I would not be here for them next year. God soon reminded me that their relationship with Him has nothing to do with me. He will draw them closer to Him.
One girl who accepted Christ last year invited four of her closest friends to camp this year, all of those girls accepted Christ.
A boy last year at camp accepted Christ, this year he returned at a leader in charge of other kids.
Prayers that were prayed with these students have been answered and we rejoiced together this year.
And all of this was done because of Jesus. Not my presence in Romania but His presence in their hearts.
With only September- December left before I leave my excitement for the Race only grows. I know that the goodbyes on I will experience on the Race will be just as hard if not worse than the ones I said in Romania this summer. But God is always with me and with the people I will meet.
