I’m living a very unique life right now. All my experiences are so authentic. I’m living in Albania in a small Roma gypsy community and I’m neighbors to some of the most welcoming people. I have been living this life for 2 months now and have one more to go. These people are treated like outcasts in their own country and get a bad wrap for being thief’s… while yes its true some of the people do steal for a living but it’s not because they don’t want an honest job… its that the job market is awful in Albania and the few job that are available are not looking to hire a Roma. So people result to stealing, selling used clothes, and digging through the trash bins for plastic to sell.
When Hannah and I were walking home the other night we saw some of our Roma neighbors digging through the big trash bins for plastic. We went over to them and gave them handshakes… they tried to refuse our out stretched hands because they were embarrassed of there unclean hands… but Jesus doesn’t care about dirty hands and either do I so we exchanged handshakes with the parents and gave hugs and kisses to their two precious children. Then I heard God speaking the word “equal” to me. That I needed to show them that we are all equal in Gods eyes that I am not better then them despite our different circumstances. So I too began digging though the trash bins for plastic. We hit a good amount of trash bins and had a blast doing so. I’ll never forget when one of the ladies tapped me on the shoulder and though a mini series of charades explained that she was about to do something cool and I better be watching. She takes off in a sprint does a beautiful cartwell and proceeds to dive head first into the trash bin and comes out with a handful of plastic. Naturally my response was shock at her fantastic performance and I couldn’t help but release a roar of clapping and praise.
I learned something else that night besides new dumpster diving techniques when an Albania man came up to Hannah and I with a panicked look on his face and said “ill walk you home”….. I wanted to respond by saying “excuse me sir these are not people to be afraid of… actually they are my friends and I’m here by choice so NO I’m fine.THANKS.” But that would be rude and I’m here to show the love of Christ so I had to deny my essential anger and respond with a polite “ no thank you.” That situation just didn’t sit well in my stomach and made me think about my life back home and all the little times I was nervous around homeless men on the streets or a beggar… when they were not doing anything particular to harm me. It just gave me some amazing insight on true equality. WE ARE ALL THE SAME. So there is no need for premeditated judgement.
Im so thankful that God chose me to love on His people and gave me a chance to see beyond myself and beyond my little American bubble.
Thank you so much for all the prayers and support. love you guys!!!!!!!
