Let’s just slow down. Let’s everyone slow down, just for a moment. Because last week I was in Greece, then I took a long, gorgeous bus ride and now I’m in Romania. I love telling you even that, but there is so much more hidden in the moments! So I’m going to slow it down for you, so we all remember how real it was.
“Last week I was in Greece.”
My penultimate morning in Thesaloniki, I left for a jog. The apartment, though full of women, was quiet. The streets were calm, still waking up, just as the sun was. I’m jogging on a wide, paved, walkway that borders the water in the Aegean Sea. The air has an obvious salty twinge, but is still fresh as it blows on my face. I hear Kings Kaleidoscope in my ear. . . “all Creatures of our God and King. . .” propelling me forward, and reminding me to whom the glory of this morning belongs. The sun is rising to my left, somewhere behind the buildings of Aristotle’s Square. I look out over the water on my right, wondering if Paul ever came to the seaside to be alone with God too. I veer out a little to avoid the fisherman sitting on buckets, lines out in the water. It feels great to stretch my legs out, and when I settle into a rhythm, my mind wanders back to Paul, and how much he loved the church here. I pray his prayer for Thesaloniki. . . “May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.” I have prayed so much for this city this week. I believe they will see revival. . . “That our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness, and your every deed prompted by faith.” Bless Thesaloniki, Lord.
“then I took a long, gorgeous bus ride”
Bus rides are simply a reality of World Race. They’ve already happened so many times that I confuse the events of some of them. The difference on this ride was that majority of it happened during daylight hours, and the Lord blessed me with a steady stomach. I sat next to a dear friend, but we spent a lot of time not speaking, just staring. Bulgarian countryside is truly a magnificent site. I let my eyes drink it all in, whizzing by (sometime careening by). The grass is perfect, the hills are the backdrop, blue sky frames the picture, and the whole scene is drenched in blazing sun. An occasional cottage dots the planes of grass. It looks like a lot of beautiful sceneries probably look, but I still marvel. Who knew I would spend a day worshipping at the site of Bulgaria’s calm countryside? I pray, journal, and realize even now how different I feel from June 26th, 2015. How much more in love I am with this God of ours. Keep working, Lord.
“and now I’m in Romania”
I fall asleep (and wake up) to dogs barking. If the dogs are quiet in the morning, maybe the horse trotting by pulling a cart of people will wake me. I might be sweating, but not as much as Albania, so I rejoice. The house is full of noise, especially in the kitchen, as the 55 of us cycle through to make breakfast. One girl thinks of cooking apples and butter in the skillet to add to her oatmeal, so now we all probably will. People’s clothes are hanging off of every banister and pole to dry, everywhere. I get at least 20 “good mornings” and even more smiles. We hug a lot too, generally. Community living. We leave the Mission House and walk to the church. Our neighbor’s dog looks like a hyena, but it’s at less emaciated than most of the street dogs. Another neighbor, a young gypsy woman, walks her baby down the street in a stroller. She reminds me of my Halloween costume of elementary school years, but she dons the head scarf, long skirt, and gold earrings with much more elegance. At the church, our pastor, Raul leads us in intercessory prayer. His words are chosen carefully, never speaking outside of Biblical truth and honesty. His accent and grammar may mislead you at first, but this man is wise, strategic, honorable, and a true visionary. I will serve alongside him faithfully until I have left this country. Let us be your hands and feet, Lord.
The race is quick. I miss a lot, I’m sure. But today I am grateful for the moments when I stop and let my life play out before me in slow motion; they always end in praise. I don’t want to miss a single day.
“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
