Some basics for those of you just now dropping in: My sister and I are on an 11-month Christian mission trip to 11 different countries across 4 continents. We’re headed to: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Uganda, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Cambodia, and Thailand. The work will range from country to country in partnership with established ministries in each area.
It’s month 7. My team is in Craiova, Romania.
We’re working with a mission center.
Romania has been a bit of a whirlwind. Our squad was received by a man named Raul, our Romanian host. He is, in a word, intense. Though intimidating, that intensity is definitely necessary.
Raul manages Hope Church, a spiderweb of communities, programs, missions, and people. His job requires a special brand of diligence. In the few short days we spent shadowing him I only caught a glimpse of his responsibilities. And I have no idea how he keeps it all together. He does though. We’ve yet to see a ball get dropped.
Here’s a great example: because something else ran over Raul was 15 minutes late to a meeting with me. “How can Raul make it up to you?” He asked when I came into his office. I jokingly told him I’d always accept a cup of coffee. Hours later a woman I didn’t know from the church found me in the workroom. “You!” She yelled. “You need coffee from Raul?”
Man of his word, that one.
After a few days with Raul my team was moved to a city called Craiova. It’s a college town with Starbucks, a movie theatre, and approximately six christians. We’re staying in a mission house with three of them. They’re all young men, all students of Raul’s Equipping to Equip program.
Lucian (pronounced loosh-ee-ahn and kind of pictured below with Edna) is the person we think is in charge. We’ve been calling him Loosh or Looshy, and he hates it. There’s another named Emmanual, a well dressed blonde that I think I’ve seen twice. And Denis from Moldova who plays the guitar. Our days consist of administrative work, fellowship events, and the occasional Romani outreach.
One afternoon after church Denis asked if we wanted to rest or “go on a trip.” We agreed to go with him on a gamble, not really understanding what “go on a trip” meant. But hey, it’s the World Race.
At his instruction we grabbed the guitars and headed out to town. A few minutes from the city center he stopped to explain. “We will go downtown and we ask people ‘why do you live in Craiova?’ It’s for fun.” It actually was fun.
Denis stopped everyone we encountered. He’d ask them why they lived in Craiova. He told them who we were and they’d practice their English. He’d ask if we could play them a song and we would. Mostly it was Hillsong’s Amazing Grace. Sometimes he’d make things up, and we’d just sing along.
We prayed for a few people and added some on Facebook. We sang for Roma people and students and a few little kids on scooters. We sang for street vendors who gave us free chimney cake. It was a good trip.
And that’s Romania so far. I don’t really know how to wrap this one up, so I’m going to end with this photo of Taylor and Vivi taking selfies with a sleeping Edna. Enjoy.
