Well it is officially month nine on the World Race and I am in Draganesti, Romania! It’s one of the quietest towns I have lived in over the past months, and certainly a change from the cobblestone streets filled with coffee shops in Ireland. The first thing I noticed while being here besides the horse and buggies lining the streets, was the difference in interaction we had with people we met. It’s rare that I make a blanket statement about a people group, but I have found that most people here have a certain sadness written on their face as we pass them on the streets. So needless to say, when thirty Jesus loving, rambunctious young people arrived in town, we shook up the atmosphere a little bit.
We are all living together in a mission house (yes that is right, thirty people in one house.) This month we do the real community living that they warned us about before joining the race. There is a line to get cereal in the morning, use the bathroom, do laundry, wash dishes, and even get dressed. Despite the crowed space, we live comfortably here this month. I am thankful for the mattress that I sleep on (a world race luxury), warm showers, and even a microwave and stove to cook food. I am also so grateful for the time to be with the whole squad again and get to know people in a deeper way.
For ministry this month, we are divided up into projects and do our separate activities each day. My team is responsible for the administration of the church and working with a social worker who teaches English to underprivileged children, and visits home-bound and elderly people. We have had many great experiences here already in the first week, including visiting a woman who has been trapped inside her apartment for the last two years after a severe stroke. I have really enjoyed being able to use my degree in Social Work this month.
This week our ministry has looked a little different, because we are preparing for the Parent Vision Trip that begins tomorrow. Its a week that parents of world racers have the opportunity to come and experience the World Race with their child (or grandchild). My parents and I discussed waiting for our reunion another two months and I feel good about that decision, but excited to meet some of the parents that are coming. I was appointed the leadership position for the Support Team for this event. It was my job to plan some of the weeks activities and get ready for the ministry that is happening when the parents arrive. It has been exciting helping to clean, cook, and plan for a fun week with the family members coming in.
I think the number one thing that I am learning this month so far is being content in every situation. Leaving Ireland was so hard and my attitude about Romania was one of comparison and disappointment when I first arrived. I was able to tell my team about the struggles I was facing and they really helped me refocus my heart on the mission placed before me. They also supported me last weekend when I was sick with kidney stones. I feel so blessed to have teammates who encourage and help me like they do.
We are continuing to do our best to shake up the community and turn the frowns upside down on the streets. Please continue to pray for our endurance and hearts for Jesus’s people who live here. Also please be praying for the parents who are coming here for the week, some of them are not saved, and will have the opportunity to participate in evangelism with us this week. How cool. 🙂
Well these are the basic updates from the first week in Romania.
Abby- enjoying blogging at midnight because of coffee at dinner
