The Lord provided Friday mornings for Marian, Dada and me to go and meet with Adelaide. Our first meeting, we were quite late to. In our heads it was the “African way” because lateness is a part of their culture. However, upon arriving, we realized that she had been waiting for us for quite some time. We spent the morning chatting about life. Dada painted Adelaide’s fingernails, left hand only (we think that was a cultural thing since they use their hands when working so much). She gave us mangoes again and asked if she could pray for us before we left. We invited her to church the following Sunday, but she said she couldn’t leave her cow watching duty to attend. During our second meeting with Adelaide, we milked a cow. Marian’s bucket list held this dream for a while, and that Friday morning, she was able to check it off! Adelaide’s neighbor, Laylo, an 18-year-old boy, came over with his cow as well. His teachers allowed him to take the day off from school since he knew we’d be coming over. (How CRAZY is that?!) We also had the pleasure of meeting Adelaide’s brother. He spoke very little English, but what he did speak was really good! We took lots of pictures and videos of this experience. I wish I could share more with you, but out Internet isn’t working as well right now to post more! Again, she sent us home with mangoes. We asked Adelaide again if she would come to church and she finally said yes.
Adelaide and her cow, Bucshley
Dada, me, Mare holding the milk we "milked"
Seeing her at church on Sunday was amazing! She sat with us, sang all the songs, and a permanent smile rested across her face. She leaned over numerous times and expressed her joy. The Lord was touching her heart. It was during this service that I was sure He had made Himself known to her. Mare and I sang “None But Jesus” by Hillsong. I played guitar and we both sang. Really, this was our way of convincing Adelaide to come – to hear us sing. But, God had bigger plans – the desire of His heart was to touch Adelaide’s heart with the gathering of a community to worship the Lord. Perhaps, for the first time in a long time or even ever.
“In the chaos, in confusion, I know, you’re sovereign still. In the moment of my weakness you give me grace to do your will. Oh when you call, I won’t delay, this my song for all days. There is no one else for me, none but Jesus.”
It was my prayer, that day that these words would resonate deeply in Adelaide’s heart. Through singing these words, the Lord brought a peace over my heart – it is finished.
The final Friday visit with Adelaide, only Marian was able to go, since it was our last day in the country. Dada and I wrote Adelaide cards and told Mare to give her lots of hugs and kisses from us. Again, she sent mangoes home with her!
My time with Adelaide was sweet. It touched the very depths of my heart. It was a beautiful thing to see the Lord manifest himself in her life. Worshipping the Lord with her on that beautiful Sunday morning, I will never forget. Watching the joy of the Lord fill her soul, will forever be ingrained in my mind. And simply sharing life with such a beautiful soul will forever fill my heart.
Praise Jesus for Adelaide. Praise Jesus for the ways that the Lord revealed Himself through her to me.
There’s a new precious “Adelaide-like” soul in Romania – Marishka, a precious, 90 year old woman. She’s widowed and lives in a tiny, one roomed house by herself. Upon meeting her, you wouldn’t think she’s 90. With her spunk, you’d think she was a hot 65.
The night that we first met her, she sang us songs in Romanian and shared her story. As she sang a song about suffering, she wept. Our contact, Mihai, translated that “she cries because she’s remembering her previous life”. She was a slave for many years. She had no shoes and barely any clothes. She was the oldest of all her siblings. She fell in love when she was 16 to a 29-year-old man. Finally, when she was about 35, she came to know the Lord. She heard him speak to her in the forest while she was gathering wood. That she needed to “turn around and face Him”. And in her words, “her whole life changed”. Mihai said that people in the village would say the same thing.
Marishka is amazing. She reminds me a lot of my Grandma Edwards, who passed away 2 years ago. She gentle and tender and simply has that “grandmother” feel to her. She bakes us delicious treats and sends them with Mihai to bring to our house.
When we visit her it often turns into a big caroling fest, but I love it. I love the simplicity of her life and the beautiful relationship she has with the Lord. We asked her what she likes to do all day and she said, “I pet my cats during the day and at night I sing, I cry, and I read my bible”. Amazing.
Her family lives far away and has asked her numerous times to move in with them but she refuses. She said it would make her “die quicker” because of the stress. Her only hope in life is to not die because of a sickness. She hopes to pass peacefully and well. Pray for Marishka. Pray that we can continue to bring light and joy to her life!
Me and Marishka
