I kept checking the “Find my friends” app on my phone to see where the bus was. My parents were 10 miles away from Drgonesti, Romania and quickly approaching to finally see me! My squamates and I made signs and got our parents gifts of chocolate and carnations and were waiting outside with 229 days of built up anticipation.
Some parents started arriving and the reunions were basically straight from a Hallmark film. There was laughter, tears, and excited screaming from both generations.
Then I saw them.
I took off in a sprint ready for our picture-perfect reunion.
In a split second, my mom tripped over the entrance gate and almost fell on the pavement and I broke her flower with the force of my abrupt running. It wasn’t graceful but my dad got it all on video and that will be in a vlog later (stay tuned as I get my life organized again). But this entire moment describes my family to our entirety. We are clumsy and goofy but also full of love and find so much joy and fun in life.
I got to spend 5 days with my parents in Romania and it was one of the funniest, weirdest, most challenging and exciting weeks of the race so far. I got to take my parents on their first mission trip and invite them into what my life has looked like for the last 8 months. We prayer-walked around buildings for future provision for the ministry we partnered with, witnessed and prayed for locals, built relationships with our translators, prayed over the long-term missionaries there and gave testimonies at church.
It was an extremely packed 5 days. But even in our busy schedule, we were able to take time to sit together and catch up on what has happened since seeing each other last.
And we drank coffee. Lots and lots of coffee. If you know my mom, this is not surprising.
One of my favorite parts of this week with my parents was being able to see how much I have become like them and how they have completely influenced who I am and my relationships with people.
My dad is one of my greatest inspirations and spiritual mentors. Watching him interact with the locals and going out of his way to make them laugh and smile felt like I was looking in a mirror. I knew I got my humor from him but it was so cool to see how he lets the Joy of the Lord transform the atmosphere wherever he goes.
My mom is the most loving and enthusiastic person I know. She gets so excited for the small beautiful parts of creation like flowers and local grown produce. During this trip, I got to watch her step out in boldness and encourage believers in ways I have never seen before. She is a true evangelist and lets the Lord lead her in conversations and direct people to Him through her hospitable personality.
As Racers, we planned our last night with our parents to be special and bless our them in some unique way. We chose to have our amazing PVT (Parent Vision Trip) facilitator from AIM, Drew, read questions for us to answer to our parents. Some of them were :
What is a lesson your parents taught you that has come into play while being on the Race?
What have you missed about your parents?
What is your first memory of your parents? Etc…
This night was so special because I was able to be completely myself and give my parents genuine gratitude for all that they are and what they have done for me throughout my life. They have taught me to live in the ways of the Lord and to be generous with a joyful spirit and the list goes on forever…
The Lord used this week on the mission field together to ignite change in our family and draw us closer in unity, faith, and hope. We talked about hopes for our future as a family and what the Lord might be calling us into next.
I can’t wait to go home and begin something new together.
What I’ve been reading lately :
A Love Letter Life by Jeremy and Audrey Roloff
