It’s been a bit since I have updated you all. This month, we are in Draganesti-Olt, Romania. It’s really cold here, such a contrast to our previous months in South America. The first 10 days we are living with team Reckless Pursuit in a missions house. We are working with Pastor Raul and Hope Church. We have many ministry opportunities that we are getting involved in this month, such as: teaching English to a missionary and her daughter, various children’s programs in several villages, logistics and administration work (including Facebook updates for the church, never thought I would be doing that as ministry), gardening, construction, preaching, leading worship, and many others. There are several missionary families working with the church, and our teams have partnered with them helping them in any area that would be of assistance to them including baby-sitting and beekeeping.
This past weekend, we had the opportunity to visit Pastor Raul’s hometown, Alba Iulia, in the northern part of Romania, a 6 hour road-trip away. The 14 of us took 2 vans to get there and I was riding in the van with Marion driving; he is a hilarious man of God and John, another missionary with the church. While in Alba, we hiked to a canyon but had to stop before we got to the end because the river was flooded from the rain. After the hike, we went to Pastor Raul’s parents house to eat delicious homemade cabbage rolls and fresh desserts, oh sooooo good. The next day we spent at a fort in town.
(I’m having a really hard time explaining this next part, because I want to make sure it is noted that this was not forced in any way.)
On the way back the next day, Marion asked us to pray for John who was having vehicle problems and needed a financial miracle. Later, Marion and John asked if we could stop at a mall so they could buy a present for their daughters, on only one condition: that we be back in 30 mins. All was fine with that plan until a certain teammate (*cough* Cherissa *cough*) saw an H&M, her favorite store at home. 40 minutes later we were back in the van and on our way. When we got back in the van, Marion said that he could give us 2 options for being late: punishment or grace. Of course, I pulled the grace card. Marion then said that if the 3 of us that were late gave 10Lei’s he would pitch in and give 70Lei and that would give the first 10% that John needed. He took off his beret, and passed it around the van (once again we were not obligated to give, Marion is a hilarious jokester, and there was a funny undertone the whole time.) At first, I have to admit that I was thinking “are you serious?, you cannot make me give” but by the time the hat reached me in the back of the van I wanted to give because I knew that it would be a blessing to John. I put my little amount in, praying that it would be multiplied. By the time it reached the front of the van there was 300Lei! I know how much I gave and it was nowhere near that amount. I wish that I could describe the feeling that was in the van at that time, a lot of laughter and praising God. John almost started crying.
But
my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ
Jesus. Phil 4:19
