During ministry yesterday, walking the streets of Romania, our translator brought myself and two of my squad mates to the center of town, the back alleys, and even back to the poorer gypsies area of town. As we walked we prayed, and as we met children and adults we stopped to talk to them and share God's love for them. However, there was one special woman that just touched my heart so deeply.
We were in the back gypsies area in the corner of town and I saw a woman sitting on a bench backed away from the road. Instantly my heart was drawn to her. We walked over, introduced ourselves, and as she said her name my heart grew even more for this woman. Her name was Anestasia, which is my cousin's name, that I've never heard other than that. I told her about my cousin, and I could see a connect from her as well.
We of course welcomed her to Hope Church, which is where we are ministering at this month. She pointed to her feet and explained they were injured so she had no way to get there. I asked if it would be ok if we prayed over her feet, and you could see a glow in her eyes as soon as I asked.
We prayed for healing, health, and God's love to surround her. I have no doubt that He won't do that and more for this precious daughter of His.
After we prayed we began asking more questions, and sharing our faith and God's love for her. It was then that she began to weep. I walked over, put my arm around her, and she looked up to me with the most sincere look. She shared with us that her husband had died just five weeks ago. She shared her doubts of where he was now, where she would go when she passed, and asked how we knew where any of us would go after this life.
I grabbed her hand, and poured God's love into her, and the grace He gives each and everyone of us. We shared God's gift of His son, Jesus Christ. As I told her God loved her, and she could spend forever with Him in heaven, tears filled her eyes again. She grabbed my face with both hands, and told me, "Your soul is as beautiful as your face." Tears started to fill my eyes as well, and I had nothing else to say except, "Because I have God's love, and so do you."
As we said our good-byes and started to walk away, I looked back. That woman, covered in wrinkles and dirt, looked so beautiful. I will never know if God healed her feet, or if she joins Hope Church, but I have no doubt that I will see her again when we are in the presence of God.
With that said I am pulling out a boldness in each and everyone of you. As you walk around in your everyday life do you ever feel draw to someone? When you do, do you follow that feeling and go over to them? I am asking that you have boldness in Christ, and that you share with everyone the gift He has given us. I can't say for sure that I know Anestasia's heart, but there is something to say about a beauty someone has when there is Christ in their heart. So be bold. Go out in the world, and share the love and sacrifice of Christ our Savior.
