Tavi

 

"I get the sense that love is your default," is something that my former squad leader, Hailey, said to me in Thailand.

A true statement indeed.

It's generally very easy for me to love and to love hard. Serbia was a month where that was much more difficult for me. After the train incident, I walked in fear and closed off my heart from everyone. Thankfully, I was able to release that fear a few weeks ago and as a result, I instantly felt my heart open again. I instantly felt reconnected with the Lord and with my team. And it happened just in time for our first week of ministry here in Romania.

Our team has three contacts this month, which is something that is new for us. But we get to do a variety of cool things and get to know more awesome people here which has been great. Our contacts are Tavi (short for Octavian), Danut (nickname for Daniel), and a Canadian couple named Kevin and Michelle. They are all amazing missionaries working to further God's kingdom here in Draganesti.

Tavi was the first contact we met, and I instantly loved him. One day he asked me if I would type up a newsletter for him and make his English sound a little better. In doing so, I found out that he and his family, although full-time missionaries, do not have any people supporting them financially.

After seeing God provide all the money I needed for the race, I instantly felt the need to encourage him to be bold and ask for support. I explained that I could help him and by the end of the month we would have supporters for him.

The next day during intercession, I asked everyone to pray for Tavi and his family to have boldness in asking for support. Our head contact, Raul, quickly informed me that it goes against their ministry policies to ask for money. I was so confused and heart broken. I had been so sure I was doing a good thing and was going to help Tavi and his family.

After privately discussing the matter with Raul, I learned more about their culture and their reasons for this policy, and I asked if I could seek financial support for Tavi on his behalf. He said absolutely.

So here I am. I know I have asked you for a lot. I have asked for $15,500 to be exact, and you have generously given it! And I'm so grateful!! So now I am asking you to prayerfully consider partnering with Tavi, a faithful and humble man of God. He and his wife have two beautiful daughters, and they currently need $500 per month. That could be five people paying $100 a month, or any variety of options.

They are part of a program called "A Fishing Rod, Not a Fish." This program is a way to help locals become self sufficient. Currently Tavi has 30 beehives, and they just received a greenhouse so they can grow their own vegetables. Once their income from these projects increases, their monthly financial need will decrease significantly.

Tavi is a hard worker. He loves The Lord, and I have fallen so in love with his family. I feel very strongly that together we can help him find support before the end of the month.

God clearly showed me why I felt so much love for this family after I found out my dad will be staying at his home during parent week. My family and his family are so intertwined, and I am so glad. I do love hard, and I want to fight hard for this family.

Please visit http://bisericasperanta.ro/donate if you are interested in supporting Tavi and his beautiful family with either a one-time or a monthly donation, big OR small!!! Make sure that along with this you also email [email protected] with your name, Tavi's name, and whether your donation is a one-time or monthly gift. Without this email, the donation will not be allotted to Tavi's family.

Parents, you can also buy his AMAZING honey when you're here!!! (If you can get it back to America)

Thank you for letting me share my heart with you. I hope some of you will feel love for them as well. God bless you all!