I didn’t want to come here, not last night. It had been an emotionally exhausting week and my roommate Dasha, would be leaving in the morning, going back to Russia—I was not up for a sleepover at my translator’s house. It was all I could do to stop the tears and pull myself together, and there was still so much work left to do in order to prepare for Monday’s Bible Day Camp. But Ashley, our team leader, said this sleepover was not optional and she felt in her spirit we all needed to go; we all needed the rest. A sleepover of 8 people did not sound like rest to me, but I pulled myself together and went anyway.
Our translator’s name is Dima and he has become a very dear friend to us. He has been with us every single day and has gone above and beyond the expectations of a translator. He invited our group to his house to visit his family and have dinner last week, but I was too sick to join, but heard about how wonderful it was (and even received a bouquet of flowers from his mom as well as a big plate of delicious food). Dima’s mother had wanted to show me her garden and learn how to make borscht, so she invited us again, only this time for a sleepover and a time of rest.
This place is beautiful and full of peace. Last night I helped his mom and dad plant tomato plants and tie the vies to posts. I learned how to make borscht (traditional red beet stew) and it was delicious! And while the food was cooking, they drew me a bath!!! I hadn’t had a bath in 5 months! It was heaven! As I soaked in the tub until my fingers were wrinkled and the water turned cold, I asked the Lord what to call this place and He said: “Safe Haven.” I agreed. The beautiful little house looks like an old country cottage you’d see in an English fairy tale about a peasant girl who was really a princess. Their entire yard is a garden with all sorts of colorful flowers and vegetables. They even grow chamomile tea! They have a small barn with free range turkeys, chickens and ducks—not like our hormone induced poultry in North American, and they have the sweetest little dog who was so happy to have his belly rubbed bye everyone. His mother is a teacher and his father quite the skilled carpenter and painter (not sure if this is his actual job but their house is lovely because of his work). When everyone stops talking and a hush falls over the room, all you hear are birds, the humming of the water heater and peace. No city life; just country…just peace.
As per the norm here in Ukraine, dinner was massive! We ate and ate and ate. We passed fresh salads loaded with dill, roasted home-grown turkey, bulgar wheat that was stuffed in the bird, and the most amazing, melt-in-your-mouth garlic bread rolls (any weight I lost in Central America has come back…and possibly a couple more pounds haha! But when in Rome, right? Africa is coming so I’m not too worried). His parents told us how they met, and then when we finished eating, his dad got out the wedding albums. They were so beautiful and in color! His dad said back then colored photos had just come out and they paid a lot of extra money to get them in color—a great choice! I imagined what it would be like someday when my children have grown into young adults and they bring home friends for dinner. I imagined telling the story of how I met my other half and showing pictures of that day frozen in time. And then I imagined being a safe haven for people everywhere and since dreaming about it wasn’t enough I turned it into a prayer.
When my friend Christy got back from her race, she gave me a bracelet made out of a coconut shell from Thailand. She prayed about what to write on it and the Lord gave her, “Haven” because she felt like I would be a safe haven to people that I met. It washed of the bracelet a couple months ago and I was sad, but perhaps God was repositioning it to my heart. I want to be a safe haven. I love taking care of people. I love feeding them, making them feel welcome and at home; listening to what they say and what they do not; and protecting that information and keeping it safe. I love being an advocate and a voice for people when they feel unable to speak or fight for themselves. And I like doing what I can to cultivate an atmosphere of peace and security.
I can’t wait to be the mom and wife whose door are always open for anyone to come in, take a load off and make themselves at home. A place where teens, who are being abused at home, can find refuge at our house. A place where the neighborhood children feel free to play in our yard. A place where women come to have tea with me and share their fears, hurts, frustrations and dreams; a place where I can speak life into them! A place where a homeless person can join our family for Christmas dinner or just any old Tuesday afternoon. A place where college students who live far away, can stay for Thanksgiving and not feel alone. A place where my husband is a good father and teaches our sons how to be free men, and my daughters how to recognize their life-bringing beauty. A place filled with laughter and prayer and life-long worship. A place that people will want to come because it is a place filled with love and life; a place that is safe.
My prayer is that someday I’ll get that place, that house, but also that right now, I will be that person.
