Before this month, the only images that the word “Romania” ever brought to mind were of Dracula & of gypsies with crystal balls. **Please forgive my ignorance, awesome Romanian people — I know so much better now. But. Below is pictured the coffin shop across the street…just sayin’**
Now when I think of Romania all I can see are the people. Wonderful, wonderful people who make me want to stay.
This month we had the privilege of working with the Golas family in the city of Pitesti (pronounced Pih-tesht) & it has been one of my favorite months of the Race. We all slept on the floor in sleeping bags upstairs in the church but we were happy to do it just to be with these wonderful people. We knew we liked them immediately, but we had no idea that we would also love everything they’re about.
Cristi is the pastor & just the chillest, kindest guy — we grew to love him very quickly & I especially appreciated his sense of humor from the get-go. His wife Cami plays the guitar beautifully & is just such a lovely & loving person…talking to her was like talking to an older sister & felt so safe.
Their 16 year old is Bianca, an amazing drummer & a tiny but mighty leader who loves all the kids we worked with so well. Her best friend is one of us, too — Alexandra is a beautiful, very intelligent friend who speaks excellent English & was kind enough to translate for us when we needed a little extra help. They’re great as individuals but even more fun together 🙂
Florina is their 15 year old & she’s full of a fire that just makes me smile. She says she doesn’t like kids that much but I rarely saw her without a baby in her arms. She is fiercely competitive & yet very sweet. She gets her own blog coming soon.
The boys — Dennis & Marcus — 13 & 8 — both are loads of fun. They have their father’s sense of humor & never run out of energy. Marcus especially impressed us with his adorable but excellent mafia skills! They’re very sweet & I think our guys are having a blast being their big brothers.
These are the people we got to walk beside in ministry this month & I feel like I learned so much from them all.
The most important thing we got to be a part of this month was meeting & spending time with kids from the ghettos nearby. Most of these kids have difficult family situations & many of them are at risk of some sort. One kid they used to spend time with there had recently been taken by her own mother to go into prostitution to help make money for the family. Many of them are neglected, abused, abandoned, or likely to join or be forced into the sex industry & the Golas family wants so much more for them. We want so much for them.
I really had fun with the first group of kids we met & didn’t want to leave them even though I hadn’t gotten super close to any particular kid. They were all fun & made me laugh. We took them to the mountains for the weekend & hosted “camp” there, which is mostly a crap ton of games, singing/testimony time, & just time away from their every day life. That time was sweet & though our part was a lot more supportive than actually running the camp, I loved the vision & how they were giving these kids a refuge for the weekend. They were also speaking about Jesus, so they were offering hope as well, & that’s something all of these kids really needed. I loved camp.
Here is a picture of all the girls from our combined team this month.
But then was the 2nd group of kids we met & the love only grew. These kids were different but I can’t explain why. The camp we hosted with them was a little more interactive for us because we actually got to be team leaders along with the other staffers. My team was with Florina — the yellow team — & I knew we were gonna kill 😉 & maybe that’s why I felt closer to these kids…because I was one of their people this time around. But whatever it was, I cherished all the moments with them & still look back with an aching heart that camp is over.
The yellow team won, by the way 😀
We had a lot of bonding moments making our team flag, getting stuck in the rain when we were trying to win the scavenger hunt, & singing around the camp fire.
I also somehow gained a shadow during camp. Her name is Andreea — she’s nearly 16 & her English is better than most of the kids. She followed me everywhere but I didn’t mind — she was so sweet & easy to have around. I loved all our talks & she helped me communicate with some of the kids whose English was very poor. She was one of my favorite parts of camp. Well…being with her & winning 😉 & maybe also seeing Florina in action…she was a great team leader 🙂
I also had a moment at camp where I realized how bad I am at holding in my emotions. It was the last time we were meeting to worship so there was singing & then Cristi spoke to the kids. It was really good. Honest. Relatable. Compelling. At the end he asked all of us World Racers to stand in a circle & he had Cami play & sing. He then invited the kids — if they were interested in getting closer to God — he invited them to step into our circle & we would pray for them.
As the music began playing, I wondered for a moment if any would come. I began to pray for Andreea that she would see how much she needed Jesus & then this little girl came to the circle. I’m not sure how old she was but no older than 10 or 12. I couldn’t help but smile that she was so brave. Then other kids slowly began to come in the circle & I kept praying. & then it happened — Andreea came into the circle & stood in front of me, back to me.
I imagine the smile on my face could have been seen by the kitchen staff in the next room, it was so big. & then it happened — big tears welled up in my eyes. I willed them to stop but they stubbornly fled my eyes & streaked down my face. I couldn’t control them.
That’s when the kids began noticing & whispering. One of my other girls told Andreea who turned to look at me & my tears. I just shrugged my shoulders with a smile & she hugged me, not knowing that it was her I was crying tears of joy for. & these are just those moments…moments where your heart is so full of love that you just don’t care what anyone thinks of you.
Later Alexandra was sweet enough to spend time with me & Andreea as I told Andreea some of my story & why it was so important to me that she know Jesus. I don’t know exactly what her heart is about God but I do know that she says she wants to be closer, & for that I am hopeful that she’ll one day really see how amazing it is really knowing God.
I could tell you a little about the rest of the ministry here but this really is my heart beat. These kids from the ghetto, but also the Golas family themselves. They are so full of love for Jesus & others & I wish I could just spend more time with them learning & loving on them as they pour out for other people.
Saying goodbye to Cami was really hard…she really did feel like my Romanian big sister this month & I so wish that we’d had more time. There’s still so much I’d like to learn from her & I just want to hear more of her heart. I guess Cristi has felt like a big brother as well with both the goofing off but also with how encouraging he is, but that’s for another blog. Regardless, it was hard to walk away.
What was surprisingly even harder was leaving the girls behind. I got to watch them serve just as much as we did & watch their natural gifts & talents be used to help the kids at camp grow. I also got to talk with them about their hopes for the future & I am just so excited for them & the paths they’re each on. I have only known them such a short time but I am so proud of what I’ve seen them do & what I am confident that they’re capable of. I can’t wait to see God work more through them, I just wish that I could do it from close up instead of far away.
So that’s why the thought of leaving here makes my stomach tighten up in knots. I love these precious people — their heart, their ministries, & the kids we got to take to camp. I never imagined this to be a land I’d be eager to return to but that is exactly one of my prayers. Specifically, I’m praying that I’ll be able to return during camp one week & be with those same kids again. But also I just wanna spend time with my Romanian family. They have been my gift while I’ve been here & I can’t wait to get back & see them again.
Not what I had expected, God — but I’ll take it. Now please take care of my dear friends, the kids we met, & all their futures as they intersect. Keep using the Golas family to make a difference for your kingdom & I’ll keep celebrating all you do through them. I don’t wanna leave, God — & I wish You wouldn’t make me go when my heart is so engaged here. But. I know You’ve got bigger things than I can imagine, so if I have to go, I’m glad that I know they have You & that You will keep being faithful. You’re really good, God. Love You.
