Every Tuesday my team visited the Roma camp on the outskirts of town. On the drive there we passed many people on bicycles and scooters. The road is congested from all the people tryig to get where they are going.
There was construction that sometimes blocked the road. There were families carrying groceries home. And there were farmers walking their cows home literally in the middle of the road.
There were Roma people driving half motorcycle/half cart contraptions that carried the items they and/or their children dig through the dumpster as an occupation.
Every time we made the turn onto the road that took us to the camp you knew to brace yourself. Not only because of the condition of the road, a simple dirt road with more than 50 potholes- some that covered the entire width of the road; but also because there were things you knew you would see that break your heart.
Things that open your eyes to the lack of value and worth the Roma people have. Things like houses made out of scrap materials from whatever they can find in the trash. Things like drunkenness to get rid of the pain of life. Things like children without clean clothes and no shoes on their feet. and children who come from other Roma villages begging for food to take back with them.
The first Tuesday we visited there was one little girl in particular who quickly caught my attention.
Before I go any further I need to give a little backstory……….
Before I left the states I visited my grandmother’s church. There the ladies prayed for me and my team. One lady spoke up and said that we would come across a little girl with dark hair who we could have an impact on. So throughout the race this has been in the back of my mind.
When we walked into that camp Katy* immediately caught my attention because when I looked at her God said, “That’s her!!!”
My human nature questioned Him of course asking, “Are you sure God?”
“That’s her!!!”
I spent some time in prayer about it because of course I still struggled believing what God just told me and finally came to the conclusion that….”THAT’S HER!!!”
She found a special place in my heart and I felt God telling me that she was different. That she was going to make a difference in not only that Roma but in many other Roma communities in Albania! She is a key that He is going to use to bring worth and value to the Roma people.
When God laid all that on me I knew Katy was a game changer!
I found myself asking God what I could do to help because this was BIG!!
It came down to one thing……….PRAY!!!
All month long my team had been speaking over me that I was a prayer warrior.
That when I pray things happen. God answers!
There have been multiple occasions since being on the race that I have experienced God’s little gifts/ daily reminders that He cares for me (which is a whole different blog so I will stay on topic!)
I made the decision that I would embrace what had been spoken over me by my team. What God had spoken to me about prayer, over me, and about me being a prayer warrior.
So when we visited the camp I made the decision to touch this little girl as much as I could. Hug her as much as I could. Smile at her. Hold her small hand with freshly painted pink nails that a team mate had so loving painted. Place my hands on her and pray over her life, her relationship with God, and her future.
Each time we visited I could see a difference in her eyes.
A new joy in her smile.
We left the Roma camp not knowing if we would ever see them again.
And I left a piece of my heart there.
With Katy.
A six year old girl who most likely will not even received an education.
A precious little child who is growing in a culture where it is acceptable for a man to marry a 10 year old girl.
God has called me to be a prayer warrior!
To spend time speaking for those who don’t have a voice.
To speak for the lost.
To speak for the broken.
To pray for the city.
To pray for the Roma.
To pray for Katy and her future!
To simply pray.
And I plan to do just that!
*Name changed
(The photo I’ve shared is the entrance to the Roma camp)
* * * P R A Y E R * * *
Just a few things you can join in prayer with me and my team about if you like:
*Pray for Katy*, her relationship with Jesus, and her future
*For the Roma people, their identity, worth, and value
*For the people of Albania and their hearts to be ready to hear about Jesus
*For IPA Tirana and the work they do in the city.
*For the teams on W Squad who will spend the month in Greece helping with the refugees.
*For the teams in Kosovo to be an encouragement and a blessing to the ministry we are serving
*Unity for our squad
FUNDRAISING!!!
DECEMBER 31st IS MY LAST GOAL AND I WILL BE FULLY FUNDED!!!!
Words cannot even begin to express how thankful I am. Only one last goal to meet and I will be fully funded! As I am writing I am only $1700 away!!! If you want to get involved there is still an opportunity! Just click the “support me” link on my blog.
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE DONATED SO FAR!!!!
GOD IS SO FAITHFUL!!!!
