Laughter ripples from the corner of the park where five boisterous old women and I lounge on wooden benches exchanging stories. The evening sun casts warm light patterns across their wrinkled smiles and silver wisps peeking out of scarf-wrapped heads.
It’s my favorite time in Romania – when the heat of the day has worn off and the people emerge from their apartments and gather in the park squares, old men playing chess and smoking cigars, greying women gossiping on benches, youth strutting their finest fashion, young mothers pushing strollers and toddlers playing on blankets.
From about six pm until dark, the parks are brimming with those who have no agenda but to enjoy old friends and the gentle closing of the day.
Every night after dinner I head out of the community house with Anna, our Romanian host, and arm in arm we stroll towards the town center. Like the Romanian people, we have no agenda except to make new friends and douse them with love.
From the lonely widow to the jobless school teacher, each night is uniquely shaped by the souls we share it with. Yet each encounter never fails to include both sweet laughter and intimate conversation.
Yesterday as I was sitting with a kind, weathered woman named Maria, I realized THIS is what I love.
THIS is what I came across the world for.
It’s these heart connections that make it all worth it.
As I look into her eyes I can feel the Father’s heartbeat for her, hear His thoughts about her, taste His love, and all I want is for her to feel it too.
We’ve been told that Draganesti is one of hardest places for Christians, and indeed spiritual oppression weighs heavy in the air. The regional population boasts only 0.2% Christians and the other 99.8% is primarily hostile toward believers.
Recent memories of Soviet rule has left scars on Romania’s heart, forming a coldness in its demeanor and making it fearful and resistant to foreigners. It’s a hard task to win a smile from a passerby on the street and an intimidating venture to approach a circle of Romanians in the park.
Nonetheless, I have found that it is WORTH it. Once the bridge is crossed, Romanians are actually quite open and warm people. While they might not smile back at a blonde foreigner on the street, once she initiates friendship and steps inside their circle, they don’t stop asking questions or leave anything out in giving away their hearts.
And man, do they have beautiful hearts.
Romanians are hardworking, loyal, witty, passionate, and bold.
They just require a little initiative to get to know.
It’s so different from Africa where everyone was racing to get a glimpse of the ‘mzungus,’ stretching out their hands to touch our white skin. But I actually like it here better. I feel more myself, not some idolized celebrity, but a flawed, quirky person like everyone else.
Plus, I like having to work a little to get to someone’s heart. Behind all the walls, the hardness, pride, and insecurity is another heart that is longing to be loved. The finest treasures are often the ones buried beneath years of neglect and wounds, and while they require a little extra effort to find, in the end are the most worthwhile.
Many of my favorite moments this year have been these divine encounters with strangers – the type of delightful conversations that you walk away from sensing the eternal significance of what just occurred.
My encouragement to those who sometimes feel that gentle pull toward a stranger two seats over, is first to realize that it is the Spirit’s urging, and second, how WORTH it it is to move over a seat and extend your hand.
Eternity for that person may rest on the conversation that follows,
and if not, at least you’ll walk away with a new friend.
