This post is a continuation of my ministry snapshot/portrait series. For Albania’s story, click here. For Greece’s story, click here.
Tinka
We traveled to a small village in what seemed to be middle-of-nowhere, Romania. This day, we had the privilege of handing out New Testaments to the people. As soon as we stepped off of the bus, one little old lady was waiting for us. Her face bore the deep wrinkles of having lived a long, difficult life. She walked with and supported her small frame with a cane. Her eyes sparkled with life; her smile was full of joy.
Right away, our group started to talk with her, telling her of her beauty. Tinka shook her head. She told us that her eyesight is failing and looked down. She removed her sandal to show us her foot. Her toes writhed over each other, “deformed” for many years. She looked down at her foot in shame and doubt. We did not need to know Romanian to know the words in her heart. “How could I be beautiful with this foot?” Through our translator, we re-assured her of her beauty. Imperfect toes and fading vision could never detract from her beauty. We shared with her about the extravagant love of Christ, with joy and confidence overflowing from our hearts. We gave her a New Testament and asked if we could pray for her.
As we prayed, tears streamed down her face. I don’t know how long it has been since someone has truly noticed and seen her.
After our conversation was over, we visited with a few other people on the street. In another crazy story in and of itself, we ended up receiving flowers from the garden of a man down the street. As we walked back to our bus, we saw Tinka again. She was sitting outside her home in a plastic chair. She smiled and waved at us. Our group walked over to to talk again with our friend. I knew right away that my small bouquet of flowers was not meant for me to keep. I pulled out the most beautiful flower in my hand and extended it to her. “It’s for you!” At first, she didn’t want to take it, even after our translator told her what I had said. She couldn’t believe that I would want to give her such a beautiful flower, just like she couldn’t believe us when we reminded her of the beauty that she shines to the world. I told her again that it was for her as I gave her a huge smile. She then smiled in return, full of gratitude, as she grabbed the flower.
I had seen the flower as breathtaking in the garden, but I did not think it could become even more beautiful. Once Tinka had taken the flower, I saw the full beauty of both her and the flower. The beauty that she radiated was made fuller by the flower in her hand. Sometimes, sharing the love of Jesus is as simple as giving an old lady–forgotten and unseen by many–the most beautiful flower in your hand.
