So it was a gorgeous day in Corabia, Romania. My team that day woke up early and went to spend the day with the Dimitru family. They are building a church there. We had the opportunity to be apart of their first house church service on sunday and I had the opportunity to head back Thursday and be apart of doing ministry there. So that day was spent doing street witnessing and praying for people that needed to feel Jesus love. Later that day, we went to a gypsy apartment complex and played with kids that do not go to school and their parents leave them there while they go beg or steal. I know one of the hardest things for me that day was to see a little girl playing in a sand pile. I am going to try to be vivid and use my non-creative mind to capture this moment. So the little girl was about one and half years old (So I was told), dirty from head to toe, and sitting there with her head down moving sand around and in a bucket. Did not respond when any person talked to her or played with her. She was bare-footed, her brown hair with little curls was sticky and dirty, her face was covered with sand and it smelt like her diaper had not been changed that day. She sat there lifeless and looked like she had never received love. Her sisters and brothers, which I heard she was one of around ten, living in an apartment with one room. Their dad is a drunk and leaves to "Work" but does not come back. Their mom leaves all day leaving the children to take care of themselves and they are free to do whatever. The community is so poor that neighbors can not even help the kids. It was extremely sad to see that little girl. I just wanted to hold her, but she did not want to be touched. Also, I wanted to take her home, give her bath, and love her like a toddler should be love. That day I realized that life is not always beautiful. Seeing that little girl and knowing I could do nothing except love her that day and play with her was not easy...also the missionaries come and pay with them often and bring them food. Days like this are hard! knowing you are not there all the time and these people do not want help, so you can only love them and be Jesus to them in that moment. On top of all the emotion....Raul met up with us and had me, Kylie, and michael make a video for the ministries website about the city and the missionaries. So we shoot the video, which was fun and begin heading back. On the way back Pastor Raul pulled the car over and picked up a young man that was hitchhiking to the next town. So he gets in the car, ask him where he is heading, then said to Michael...you have five minutes to make a difference in this guys life, share the gospel with him. Michael was excited but knew he was on the spot so he started with casual conversation to get to know him, but Raul was like get to the point. So translating, he jumped in and started to ask Michael, which was the boys name as well and Michael Whitson, what he believed...He said he believed in God but not a believer or had a relationship with God. So Raul told Michael to begin again and Michael asked, "If you were to die today, would you go to heaven". Good question...I could see that God was speaking in Michael in that moment. So the boy was like I do not know. Michael shared the gospel with him about how he knew the answer. That Jesus came to have a relationship with him and wanted him to spend eternity with him. The boy and Michael were going back and forth and Michael asked him if he wanted to ask Jesus in his heart after they discussed it. The boy said yes and he right there in that ten minute car ride accepted the Lord Jesus in his heart. I firmly believe he did get save that day. He was so thankful and his whole composure changed. He saw the face of Jesus and used Michaels boldness to change his life forever. We dropped him off, handed him a Bible, and I believe with all my heart that boy came to know Jesus. Those ten minutes changed his life forever but also each person in that car. In that moment, I realized how much time we waste. How can I make the most of my time? I see an opportunity to share Jesus with someone, I need to take it. "Be ready to give an answer to any man" (I Peter 3:15)...I believe that very moment in life we need to take it and plant seeds but also be bold and not waste an opportunity to share the gospel. Talking about it is great, but taking that moment and changing a person's life could make an impact for eternity. It challenged me to rise up and be better and bolder "in Jesus name". It was so awesome to see Michael grow and see how God uses people that may not think that something as amazing as this guy getting saved can happen in ten minutes! Truly blessed and love the way God uses a hitchhiker to stretch us but also allows a witnessing opportunity to happen, God simply asks "What are you going to do in this moment when I give you the opportunity to further my kingdom"!!! Incredible and mind-blowing, God is good! :) So I always include my funding info. I am $4,000 away from being fully funded. July 1 is the deadline and here is the link if you want to participate in supporting me! https://www.adventures.org/give/donate.asp?giveto=worldrace&desc=For%20Lauren%20Leabhart
