Scripture is pretty clear that God’s plans are bigger than our own, so when he throws us a curveball we must accept it and trust that He knows best. Changes can be shocking at first but God will lead us in ways we never expected. With that said, I’ve come to my first lesson on surprises in flexibility on the World Race!
Instead of spending my time in Europe in Estonia and Latvia, my team and I will be doing ministry in Romania and Moldova.
Why a route change? To be honest, I’m not sure. I guess that’s just part of the surprise. Now that I’ll be serving in two new countries here’s some info about them and a glimpse at what type of ministry I may be doing in each.
– As the newest member of the European Union, Romania’s economy is growing like crazy. Romanian culture and history is unique – it’s the meeting point of Central Europe, Eastern Europe, and the Balkans. It’s home to the famed churches of Transylvania (yep, Count Dracula), and it gave the world athletes like Nadia Comaneci — the first Olympic gymnast to score a perfect 10. But in the northern regions lie a forgotten people. Often referred to as gypsies, the Romani reject the Romanian culture and way of life. They live in constant poverty, left behind by the economic upturn without access to government services, aid, and employment opportunities.
– Moldova declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Since then, it’s been struggling to stand on its own. Moldovans are known for their wine and agriculture, but it’s still one of the poorest countries in Eastern Europe. Real problems persist with underground crime and one of the highest human trafficking concentrations in the world. The Moldovan people are strong, but even with over 90% of the population claiming Christ, they are a country desperate for the gospel.
Although I was looking forward to spending time in Estonia and Latvia, I’m super excited about this change. God is going to lead me in ways I never expected and I’m thrilled about it because He knows best. I can’t wait to see what other surprises God has in store for me on the World Race!
