plugging back in

Greetings from Romania! Just a brief intro blog to MONTH 10 (ridiculous, I know) of this wild ride called the World Race, as we wrap up this adventure with a couple months in Eastern Europe (Ukraine next month, FYI). We are spending this month in and around the small town of Dragonesti, staying in their missions house with the ladies of Team Exodus. Ministry-wise, we’re partnering with a local church and really just joining them in their evangelistic areas in town and all the surrounding villages, including a couple day outreach in Bulgaria. Some door-to-door, church visits, children’s camp…pretty standard fare, but I’m looking forward to the month. As far as living conditions, it sure feels like World Race luxury – WI-FI, hot showers, a kitchen, individual beds, a grocery store within walking distance…you’d be tempted to think we’re home already. Eastern Europe is definitely a culture shock in itself compared to our stops in Asia and Africa, both in general conditions as well as more familiar cultural tendencies.

That said, I think it might serve as almost a nice transition back to the life in the states, with all the good and bad that may entail. Internet access in particular has proved to be the same blessing and vice that it was back home, allowing me to simultaneously connect and disconnect from the world around me. A house full of people can be world’s apart, as we’re all plugged into our facebooks and Skype calls back home, trying to find that balance of where our attention ought to be resting. I want to appreciate the very real ministry God has given me back home, and enjoy this season that I can speak and get spoken into friends and family back in the states, but hopefully not at the cost of what God has to reveal to me here in Romania. There have certainly been months out here where there really were no better options than to sit around and read your Bible, but the reality that’s awaiting me here in a couple months has plenty more options vying for my attention, as I’m seeing this month. The truth is really in the fruit I think, as I consider the feeling of walking away from an hour in the Word or an hour bumming around the internet. No huge revelation, I know, but it’s simply a struggle of self-control that I didn’t have to fight for the last 9 months. Maybe I should always start charging myself internet usage by the hour on a finicky dial-up network…or just every day, a step by His Spirit, and all the wonderful fruit that He enables.