KidnappingKidnapping
No, its not a joke or a catchy title… .it really happened.
I got kidnapped.
For a day and a half.
April 19-20, 2012.
18 hours.
18 hours.
However… it was by Mama G.
Let me explain.
Mama G… her own introduction to us our first week in Romania… She is a member of the church we are serving at…Mama G is exactly that. She is a mother to us all here in Piteshti, Romania. She is a nurse and utilizes that for us.
April 12… I was feeling really nauseated and she came to my dorm with a sufficient amount of natural remedies for me. The nausea left my body and instead of getting better, I got the Romanian Flu.
Yikes.
Now, the Romanian flu isn’t just an ole’ ordinary flu. It is vicious and merciless.
Body aches, sore throat, migraines, on and off chills and hot flashes, fevers, congestion, lost of appetite. The whole shebang… but, 10x worse than any flu in the States.
Not to mention that I still had 3 parasites and a worm from central America…
and.. I just got off an antibiotic that I had been taking for 3 months.
and…severe jet lag….
and…our dorm is covered in mold…just keeps getting better, right?
So, I rested and tried to recover one afternoon.
Then, the next morning…
Then, all day….
Then… for five days.
I finally went to the Doctor and got some prescriptions.
I missed so much ministry. My team mate Chase even got me a flower to make me feel better!
So, anyway! I came to the church on Thursday to get some internet and to just get out of my prison cell back at our dorm. There is a couch in the nursery where I was resting… Mama G came in and checked on me and said for me to get up…
I got up… stumbling around trying to wake up. At that very moment, my teammate, Katie, came in the doctor and Mama G then explained to both of us that we were to go to her house right then!
Still dazed and confused… I put my bag on and aimlessly headed out the door.
I had no idea what was before me.
We stopped at the store so she could pick up groceries to make us dinner. At this point, I am just thinking that she is being courteous and wants me, the days old sick one and Katie, the freshly sick one, to go to her house for a change of scenery.
Then, I quickly realized… nope. I’m being kidnapped…for an extended stay!
Overnight!!
[Eh, ok.. So, I threw that in for dramatic effect. I willingly went. I mean.. afterall, seeing someone 4 times disqualifies them as a stranger anyway…right?]
Well, needless to say… the next series of events were unusual and odd…
When we first got to her apartment… I was so giggly. I just absolutely loved it! I was soooo stinking cute. I was thinking that I would not mind if Justin and I had this as our started home! It was so cute and tiny and I loved every precious inch of it!
I looked around and took a seat. Mama G said,
“Welcome…now take your clothes off.”
Yep.
I was kinda looking around like she would be talking to someone else, but, nope.
Just talking to me.
Just talking to me.
“Ummmm….?” I blankly thought.
In the English glittered with Romanian accent, Mama G says again, “Come on with it! Take those clothes off and wash up!”
At this point.. I was not sure what was happening… I was thinking… “ummm… is she going to try to give me a bath?…what in the world is happening here.”
As I continued to look at her blankly, she walked off and shuffled through a closet. She handed me a purple velvet jumpsuit and said, “Alright! Now, on with it!”
She walked me over to the bathroom, started to run the water and showing me her assortment of shampoos, conditioners and body wash.. I still looked at her with a blank look. I guess I was trying to prepare myself mentally what was about to happen!
As she explained to me that I couldn’t turn off the water for some odd… Romanian reason… I began to loosen the expression on my face. “Whew! Ok… I think this means.. She isn’t going to try to bathe me!”
Well, I took a warm shower and then proceeded to put on the …….jumpsuit.
When I exited the bathroom, I could tell that Katie was so relieved that I went first so she could better judge what was going to happen to her next.
Mama G folded out her couch for me and made a cozy little bed.
At this point, I was hitting the brick wall of exhaustion again… I laid down.
Mama G, in the most excellent hospitality I’ve ever witnessed, tried to keep me entertained. “Want to see the TV?” She asked? I was not really interested.
“Want to read a book…wait… I mean…oh dear… they are all in Romanian. Oh! Wait! I have one in French!”
I just gave her this clueless look.
She briskly walked away….
I assumed she was going to get the French book… afterall, I did take it in high school. Who knows.
Perhaps I could muster up a few vocabulary words…
Perhaps I could muster up a few vocabulary words…
But instead, she came back with an armful of books! I was completely cut off guard!
“What is happening…?” I thought..
“What is happening…?” I thought..
She dumped the books down next to me and said, “There! I got it! Picture books! Universal!”
I gave her a half smile… some what overwhelmed.
But then, as I flipped over the jumbled books to see the cover, I’m sure she saw the delight in my face! It was a collection of all the great 19th Century Artists! Awww, I felt so loved in that moment. She had no idea that I am a fine artist. I could not tell if I was more relieved that I did not have to exhaust what brain cells I had left trying to decipher French or that this great feeling of normalcy and love for my art history professor back at JSU came over me.
I flipped through the Romanian pages and quizzed myself on what I remembered from 5 years of art school.
At some point, I fell asleep on top of a book… habitual osmosis attempt, I suppose.
Then I woke up, Mama G was there ready with a cup of herbal tea and a piece of cake…or biscuit they call it.
I told her a million times how much I loved her tea pot!
After tea, Mama G brought me the most delicious soup-ever. I felt so loved and cared for. This was the best kidnapping of my life… ((ok, ok, ok.. The only kidnapping…)) but, either way, I was soaking it up!
And speaking of soaking up.. Our next task to wellness was just that.. Soaking up fumes and vapors from a concoction she created. With a towel over my head, creating a vaccum pocket and my face hovering over this bowl of what-not… I breathed in the natural remedy steam.
My night was progressively getting stranger, but, I was loving every second of it. She asked me how I felt and I told her better, just lots of body aches. Then, she insisted that I remove my clothes again! As you can imagine, I was startled and confused.. However instead of taking another bath, she wanted to give me a relaxing massage.
“Well… if you insist!” (Secretly, I was overjoyed! Yes!! This is awesome!!! I have hit the jackpot!)
“Well… if you insist!” (Secretly, I was overjoyed! Yes!! This is awesome!!! I have hit the jackpot!)
So, she proceeded to give the best back massage (not full body like someone else I know… wink!) with this awesome heated aloe vera mixture. I was in heaven. She took very good care of me! Afterwards, Mama G turned on the TV and we then proceeded to watch some movie about the Civil War… in English with Romanian subtitles.
It was…interesting.
It was…interesting.
I eventually fell back asleep and I woke to Mama G asking, “Which one of you am I going to have for dinner?” I instantly went to the Hansel and Gretel tale. I gave Mama G a crazy look… which then provoked her to repeat herself… Somehow, we got clarified that she meant, who was going to JOIN her for dinner. ….again, whew.
She had prepared us the most delicious meal. Chicken and potatoes! It was so nice to actually eat something other than a cracker and an orange that I had been eating all week!
What happened next changed my life.
Just in our conversation over dinner, Mama G’s testimony came up.
I felt completely honored and humbled to be sitting at that tiny table.
I felt like I was in the presence of Royalty.
There are only a small handful of times in my life where I’ve seen this happen… but…tonight, I was able to add one more to the count: I saw the face and heart of God….real…. live… and tangible… right there before me.
Even writing this… I can feel my heart and spirit changing… something about my “hijacker” changes things… who she is in Christ can quickly change the atmosphere. She brings glory and honor to her Creator so naturally. I just want to resonate in that memory of her. It was so powerful… so beautiful her reliance on Christ. Its like no other. It was completely humbling and I will remember that dinner for the rest of my life.
I could feel a smile forming on my face. I said I quick prayer that I wanted to become at least half the outstanding woman that Mama G is… every part of her character and who she is as a daughter, wife, mother, sister and friend. I especially want to grow to be like her in who she is as a heir to the King of Kings.
Just remarkable.
Just remarkable.
On a more light hearted note…We had yummy Romanian cake and tea afterwards. We had a few more conversations and then prepared for bed.
I snuggled up with my purple jumpsuit…now with a red sweater that was given to me after the massage…and a fuzzy orange blanket. I matched her colorful carpet and was so proud!
Before drifting back to rest… I thanked God for such an interesting and delightful kidnapping experience.
The next morning… I woke up with a smile on my face.. The first time in a really long time. I had broken my fever and was feeling significantly better. Mama G was still resting so I started to clean and wash dishes. This really was an honor to serve my host in this manner… especially after the treatment we had so richly received.
Mama G got breakfast going and we had more tea and biscuits after.
I savored the conversations we had and prepared to head back to my dorm.
I savored the conversations we had and prepared to head back to my dorm.
It was such a great experience and one that I will not easily forget. My first kidnapping experience challenged my heart and inspired me to become better, greater.
And, that is exactly what the Lord was revealing to me as I spent so many days cooped up with the Romanian Flu.
Check back soon to read all the details of what that really means.
As for now, I am finally feeling better after 10 solid days of being sick. However… I will never regret having this sickness. I am forever grateful for this experience, not just of Mama G… but, every intricate detail in between…the love of my team and contacts, the time spent with the Lord and the fundamentals I learned about myself.
For me, the Romanian Flu has meant FLU: Fully Loved Upon.
Just for fun: below is a video tour of the apartment!
Enjoy and thanks for reading my adventures here on the Worldrace!
Enjoy and thanks for reading my adventures here on the Worldrace!
No, its not a joke or a catchy title… .it really happened.
I got kidnapped.
For a day and a half.
April 19-20, 2012.
However… it was by Mama G.
Let me explain.
Mama G… her own introduction to us our first week in Romania… is exactly that. She is a mother to us all here in Piteshti, Romania. She is a nurse and utilizes that for us.
April 12… I was feeling really nauseated and she came to my dorm with a sufficient amount of natural remedies for me. The nausea left my body and instead of getting better, I got the Romanian Flu.
Yikes.
Now, the Romanian flu isn’t just an ole’ ordinary flu. It is vicious and merciless.
Body aches, sore throat, migraines, on and off chills and hot flashes, fevers, congestion, lost of appetite. The whole shebang… but, 10x worse than any flu in the States.
So, I rested and tried to recover one afternoon.
Then, the next morning…
Then, all day….
Then… for five days.
I finally went to the Doctor and got some prescriptions.
I missed so much ministry. My team mate Chase even got me a flower to make me feel better!
So, anyway! I came to the church on Thursday to get some internet and to just get out of my prison cell back at our dorm. There is a couch in the nursery where I was resting… Mama G came in and checked on me and said for me to get up…
I get up… stumbling around trying to wake up. At that very moment, my teammate, Katie, came in the doctor and Mama G then explained to both of us that we were to go to her house right then!
Still dazed and confused… I put my bag on and aimlessly headed out the door.
I had no idea what was before me.
We stopped at the store so she could pick up groceries to make us dinner. At this point, I am just thinking that she is being courteous and wants me, the days old sick one and Katie, the freshly sick one, to go to her house for a change of scenery.
Then, I quickly realized… nope. I’m being kidnapped…for an extended stay!
Overnight!!
Eh, ok.. So, I threw that in for dramatic effect. I willingly went. I mean.. afterall, seeing someone 4 times disqualifies them as a stranger anyway…right?
Well, needless to say… the next series of events were unusual and odd…
When we first got to her apartment… I was so giggly. I just absolutely loved it! I was soooo stinking cute. I was thinking that I would not mind if Justin and I had this as our started home! It was so cute and tiny and I loved every precious inch of it!
I looked around and took a seat. Mama G said, “Welcome…now take your clothes off.”
Yep.
I was kinda looking around like she would be talking to someone else, but, nope. Just talking to me.
“Ummmm….?” I blankly thought.
In the English glittered with Romanian accent, Mama G says again, “Come on with it! Take those clothes off and wash up!”
At this point.. I was not sure what was happening… I was thinking… “ummm… is she going to try to give me a bath?…what in the world is happening here.”
As I continued to look at her blankly, she walked off and shuffled through a closet. She handed me a purple velvet jumpsuit and said, “Alright! Now, on with it!”
She walked me over to the bathroom, started to run the water and showing me her assortment of shampoos, conditioners and body wash.. I still looked at her with a blank look. I guess I was trying to prepare myself mentally what was about to happen!
As she explained to me that I couldn’t turn off the water for some odd… Romanian reason… I began to loosen the expression on my face. “Whew! Ok… I think this means.. She isn’t going to try to bathe me!”
Well, I took a warm shower and then proceeded to put on the …….jumpsuit.
When I exited the bathroom, I could tell that Katie was so relieved that I went first so she could better judge what was going to happen to her next.
Mama G folded out her couch for me and made a cozy little bed.
At this point, I was hitting the brick wall of exhaustion again… I laid down.
Mama G, in the most excellent hospitality I’ve ever witnessed, tried to keep me entertained. “Want to see the TV?” She asked? I was not really interested.
“Want to read a book…wait… I mean…oh dear… they are all in Romanian. Oh! Wait! I have one in French!”
I just gave her this clueless look.
She briskly walked away….
I assumed she was going to get the French book… afterall, I did take it in high school. Who knows. Perhaps I could muster up a few vocabulary words…
But instead, she came back with an armful of books! I was completely cut off guard! “What is happening…?” I thought..
She dumped the books down next to me and said, “There! I got it! Picture books! Universal!”
I gave her a half smile… some what overwhelmed.
But then, as I flipped over the jumbled books to see the cover, I’m sure she saw the delight in my face! It was a collection of all the great 19th Century Artists! Awww, I felt so loved in that moment. She had no idea that I am a fine artist. I could not tell if I was more relieved that I did not have to exhaust what brain cells I had left trying to decipher French or that this great feeling of normalcy and love for my art history professor back at JSU came over me.
I flipped through the Romanian pages and quizzed myself on what I remembered from 5 years of art school.
At some point, I fell asleep on top of a book… habitual osmosis attempt, I suppose. Then I woke up, Mama G was there ready with a cup of herbal tea and a piece of cake…or biscuit they call it.
After tea, Mama G brought me the most delicious soup-ever. I felt so loved and cared for. This was the best kidnapping of my life… ok, ok, ok.. The only kidnapping… but, either way, I was soaking it up!
And speaking of soaking up.. Our next task to wellness was just that.. Soaking up fumes and vapors from a concoction she created. With a towel over my head, creating a pocket, and my face hovering over this bowl of what-not… I breathed in the natural remedy steam.
My night was progressively getting stranger, but, I was loving every second of it. She asked me how I felt and I told her better, just lots of body aches. Then, she insisted that I remove my clothes again! As you can imagine, I was startled and confused.. However instead of another bath, she wanted to give me a relaxing massage. “Well… if you insist!” (Secretly, I was overjoyed! Yes!! This is awesome!!! I have hit the jackpot!)
So, she proceeded to give the best back massage (not full body like someone else! Cough!) with this awesome heated aloe vera mixure. I was in heaven. She took very good care of me! Afterwards, Mama G turned on the TV and we then proceeded to watch some movie about the Civil War… in English with Romanian subtitles. It was…interesting.
I eventually fell back asleep and I woke to Mama G asking, “Which one of you am I going to have for dinner?” I instantly went to Hansel and Gretel tale. I gave Mama G a crazy look… which then provoked her to repeat herself… Somehow, we got clarified that she meant, who was going to JOIN her for dinner. ….again, whew.
She had prepared us the most delicious meal. Chicken and potatoes! It was so nice to actually eat something other than a cracker and an orange that I had been eating all week!
What happened next changed my life.
Just in our conversation over dinner, Mama G’s testimony came up.
I felt completely honored and humbled to be sitting at that tiny table.
I felt like I was in the presence of Royalty.
There are only a small handful of times in my life where I’ve seen this happen… but…tonight, I was able to add one more to the count: I saw the face and heart of God….real…. live… and tangible… right there before me.
Even writing this… I can feel my heart and spirit changing… something about my “hijacker” changes things… who she is in Christ can quickly change the atmosphere. She brings glory and honor to her Creator so naturally. I just want to resonate in that memory of her. It was so powerful… so beautiful her reliance on Christ. Its like no other. It was completely humbling and I will remember that dinner for the rest of my life.
I could feel a smile forming on my face. I said I quick prayer that I wanted to become at least half the outstanding woman Mama G… every part of her character and who she is as a daughter, wife, mother, sister and friend. I especially want to grow to be like her in who she is as a heir to the King of Kings. Just remarkable.
On a more light hearted note…We had yummy Romanian cake and tea afterwards. I told her a million times how much I loved her tea pot! We had a few more conversations and then prepared for bed.
I snuggled up with my purple jumpsuit…now with a red sweater that was given to me after the massage…and a fuzzy orange blanket. I matched her colorful carpet and was so proud!
Before drifting back to rest… I thanked God for such an interesting and delightful kidnapping experience.
The next morning… I woke up with a smile on my face.. The first time in a really long time. I had broken my fever and was feeling significantly better. Mama G was still resting so I started to clean and wash dishes. This really was an honor to serve my host in this manner… especially after the treatment we had so richly received.
Mama G got breakfast going and we had more tea and biscuits after. I savored the conversations we had and prepared to head back to my dorm.
It was such a great experience and one that I will not easily forget. My first kidnapping experience challenged my heart and inspired me to become better, greater.
And, that is exactly what the Lord was revealing to me as I spent so many days cooped up with the Romanian Flu.
Check back soon to read all the details of what that really means.
As for now, I am finally feeling better after 10 solid days of being sick. However… I will never regret having this sickness. I am forever grateful for this experience, not just of Mama G… but, every intrikit detail in between…the love of my team and contacts, the time spent with the Lord and the fundamentals I learned about myself.
For me, the Romanian Flu has meant FLU: Fully Loved Upon.
