Walking around the Roma community with our host, Clement I keep hear him say “she’s growing up too fast”, “she isn’t allowed to come to church anymore because she is too old”. The whole time I’m wondering what he is talking about. What do you mean she is too old to come to church she is just a child. Then those statements begin to make sense when we went on a home visit.
Sitting in a ladies small house in the Roma community with a cup of coffee she so graciously gave us, she began telling us a little about Roma “marriages”. As she began telling us the youngest child she has seen “married” in the community was 9 years old. My stomach began to churn and tears started to flood my eyes. 9 years old?!
She continues telling us more about “marriage” in the community. As soon as a girl hits puberty she is sought after by men. She has no say in the matter her parents make all the decisions for her. She told us she has had several men call for her daughter who is 16, but she has been in the church and knows the importance in holding off for as long as she can. So her daughter has literally been trapped inside her house for 2 years. If she is to walk out she gets lusted after by men and young boys.
Listening to this woman tell us even more gruesome details about “marriage” in the community, I realized how blessed I am as an American woman. I had the choice on who I married, and when I got married. I had the option of going to college and getting a good degree. I also get the choice of working. I have taken this for granted for so long. I’m so grateful now of the options and freedom I have as an American woman.
We get ready to leave and the lady walks us outside. Her daughter stops at the doorsteps and waves goodbye to us. She has a smile on her face but I can see the sadness in her eyes. She doesn’t know the outside world anymore and she probably longs to get “married” so she can venture past the doorstep. She doesn’t know this isn’t normal past the Roma community. She has no rights as a woman. She will go back in the house and continue her daily routine of cooking and cleaning the house. She is a slave and doesn’t even realize it.
Living in the Roma community has been the most humbling experience. I’m so blessed to have the opportunity to not be an outsider, to live in the community with these people and see their daily lives. This is a community trapped in generational sin and desperately need Jesus. I admire the YWAM team that we are working with for their constant dedication to this community. There is a huge part of my heart that will stay in Elbasan, Albania and with this Roma community.
