On the race, people ask each other lots of questions. But one question that I hear a ton is “what’s your calling?” I usually just say I don’t know yet or say something about working with kids. But recently I’ve been asked a similar question that I know the exact answer to.
“What is your burden?”
I don’t know exactly what my calling looks like or how God is going to use me in the next 5-25 years. But I do know what my burden is. My burden is the Roma (commonly known as Gypsy) people.
I love all people. But the Roma people have the most special place in my heart. I look in their eyes and I see pain from past abuse, fear of the unknown, hope for the future, and a vibrance for life and getting everything they can out of it.
The Roma people have been used, abused, and pushed aside for most of history. They don’t have a country, they look and act very different than anybody around them, they are wild and so full of life that sometimes it’s scary for others , but they refuse to allow others to make them feel insignificant.
All these things scare most people. But when i see all these things in the gypsy people, I don’t feel fear.
I relate.
I came to Romania the first time when I was 15. I was seeking after God and desired to know more of who He is. Serving in Romania for a couple weeks was mind blowing and one of the best experiences ever.
When I returned to the country of Romania 4 years later I was a complete mess. I was in the middle of the hardest year ever and I was running from God with everything in me. Not even sure why I signed up for the trip, but something in me knew that I needed an escape and Romania was the only place I wanted to take that escape.
I was a mess, but I was loved and accepted and treated as so worthy and wanted. Romania was a safe place for me…yet again. Without that trip I wouldn’t be on the race writing this blog, I wouldn’t have graduated college, pretty likely I would still be in rebellion, and I wouldn’t be running after God with all I have.
It took me a long time to understand why I adored the Roma people so much. But then as an adult I realized that my teenage brain related so much to the attitude, story, and personality of the Roma’s.
They don’t have a country, I’ve never felt like I belonged anywhere.
They are different, I’ve always stuck out like a sore thumb.
They are loud and vibrant, same same.
They have hidden sorrow that they cover with joy, I would prefer to never speak of my inner pain.
They are strong and independent, biggest fight of my life is to let people help me.
The Roma people understood me in a way that most people don’t. I related to them on a deeper level than I ever have with any other people group. At 15 when I first came to Romania I couldn’t figure out why the Roma people felt like home. But now I know.
Because the Roma people are my hearts burden. God has allowed me to walk through certain things in life so that I can love and be loved by the Roma people.
This week in Romania working with the Roma people again has given me life and so much joy. Being exactly where I know I’m supposed to be is the most fulfilling thing I’ve ever experienced. All the pain and frustration of last month (another blog for another time. I’ll probably publicly post it eventually. Maybe) not only makes sense, but makes this month even sweeter.
I often apologize to my squad mates because I’m pretty confident God had our route changed to add in Romania specifically for me. But know this, I’m beyond thankful to serve a Father that changes the route for 24 people so that one child of His can take another step in the direction of fulfilling the call He has on their life.
We serve a pretty freaking cool God.
