This month in Draganesti-Olt, Romania is a month of service. We have been serving alongside "Hope Church," & we made ourselves available to help out in any way they needed. We have been doing the following: shoveling snow, cleaning the church, cleaning the mission house, teaching english, logistical work, kids clubs, kids after school programs, prayer daily at the church- praying for the missionaries & the needs of the church, handing out invitations to a social event coming up- (an American speaker & a band are coming on Saturday March 3rd & they want us to invite many as an outreach), & singing in church & giving a testimony.
Coming on the race I never pictured ministry to look this way. I thought we`d be doing lots of evangelism, outreaches, orphanages, teaching/preaching, visiting hospitals & praying for the sick & reaching out to people in relational ways. This month God is teaching me what it looks like to really give yourself to serving others. Even little tasks that seem like they may not be leaving a lasting impact have importance. Our contact keeps reminding us how much he appreciates all we do, how much we are making a difference even if we don't feel we are. This is something I needed to be reminded of, because often times it seemed easy to feel like I wasn't doing enough, or what I came here to do. I often felt discouraged & desired to go deeper & give more but God has constantly reminded me how serving doesn't always go how we expect. I feel God telling me to humbly let go of my expectations & remember what it means to have a servant's heart & what it means to truly serve others regardless of the task, to serve in love.
So as I continue my final week in Romania I pray for continual strength to serve with all I have regardless of what area that's in. I pray that I can find joy in doing simple things & let go of feeling like I need to do more. God is working even when we don't notice & serving others in love is a testimony in & of itself of showing the love of God.
"My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue , but in deed & in truth." -1 John 3:18
"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." -Galatians 6:9
