Once upon a time we went to a Roma village, just Drew and I with a missionary family. It was interesting. We got off the bus and were waiting on someone to pick us up from the bus station, and some Roma people tried to read us tara cards. The lady said my daughter sees visions and interprets them. I believe this is probably true. In my experience, people that do evil things really can do pretty incredible things- but it is coming from a Satanic power.
We told her we believe her gift is demonic and that we serve Jesus. We told her the gospel and testimonies of the power of God and the weirdest thing happened. All of a sudden we found ourselves
praying not just for them, but a line of Roma people started coming to us and asking for prayers.
After that we continued on our journey. It was the first time on this trip I have seen prostitutes. They were just sitting on the side of the road in their underwear and would service men right there on the side of the road under a tree. I remembered that feeling of overwhelming sadness and compassion that was the exact same as every other time I had seen that. We got there and that day turned out to be quite eventful.
Let’s start with a little history. There is a “gypsy king” in that village. He is part of the mafia working in Eastern Europe and in Germany. Which in Eastern Europe-who isn’t? He lives in this huge house-one of three huge houses he owns- in the middle of a village of poverty and shacks. He has a Roma wife and a Bulgarian 17
yr old wife…(did you catch that? that is sex trafficking right there). He is a pretty sketchy dude. When German men come through he sets them up to be serviced by the Roma girls in the village. If you know me- you know this INFURIATES me! A righteous anger wells up in me something fierce.
Somehow the missionaries we were working with have found favor with him and have been invited in for dinner, etc. They have shared the love of Christ with him. The people in the village look up to him. He owns all the fancy cars, houses, and plasma screen tvs.
All the boys want to be like him, so imagine if he gets saved how it could impact the lives there.
Back to the story- the day we got there a ton of nice Mercedes and BMWs were parked at his house. This boy in the village who happens to be his cousin was beaten up the night before. All the cars all leave at once and the man walks outside with an upset look on his face. My missionary friend asked him- “are you ok?” He responded, “No I’m not ok. So and so got beat up last night.!” He then asked, “Do you know who did it?” To that he said,
“Oh yea…I know”, with a look that said, and I’ll take care of it! He said it was the mafia. … Well, wait a minute. He’s mafia too! …
(I know I’m naive and random- but that sent me back to memories of the Sopranos and thought-wow-there really are mafia wars going on today.)
My beautiful friends have given up their lives in America and brought their children over to share Christ with people like these. They love people with the hope of giving them a gift that will radically change them, give them a hope and peace, and will for once in their lives give them complete peace and satisfaction!
In what weird world are we living in right now? Mafia wars, prostitutes and beggars that are children, different languages, and colorful eccentric clothing! We are in a different world for sure. But one of the coolest things about this people group is how God is moving in them! My favorite church experiences so far are in Roma villages! They have a heart of worship and as I would put it- their worship is “krunk!” lol.
They are so hungry and thirsty for the gospel that missionaries we know say that they only build temporary walls that are easy to remove for those churches because they grow so fast!
Once they come to Christ truly and are discipled they are the most passionate, loving, and thankful people. In fact, we can add generous to that because we had a church give us, Americans, all their tithe for that day to bless us!
God is moving and it is a joy to have seen Him work! This trip has been a tough one, it’s an adventurous one, and it’s a rewarding one. I find Jesus more and more in the low places. And I think that is because that is exactly where He would be. He said He didn’t come for the healthy, He came for the sick. He didn’t come for the “saints”, but for the sinners. He says perfect religion is to love the orphan and take care of the widow. He’s a father to the fatherless, He gives hope to the hopeless. Man! Do we serve an AMAZING GOD!
Continue to lift us up as we serve! We get homesick often and it is a struggle here in many ways, but I believe God is molding us more and more into the people He created us to be!
