Again.. here is another blog that I am late getting up. It's pretty much a recap from last month in Romania and huge lessons God taught me.
Month one has come and gone. It's bittersweet moving on to the next country. As excited as I am to be moving on to a new country, a new culture, and new adventure in general I am so sad to be leaving the whole squad and the amazing people we have met in Romania.
My experience was more then I ever expected it would be. Besides the fact we were totally spoiled – hot showers (most the time), internet in the house, beds, washing machines and so on – we were also blessed by the people we worked with and met through ministry.
My team's main ministry was kid's club, which is their outreach to the local children – both Romanians and gypsies. We would go to different areas in town and out of town to tell Bible stories, sing songs, play games and build relationships with the children. Our team worked very close to our pastor's daughter, Veronica.
It was such a joy to work with her. She had become very close with a girl who lived next door to the church, Mary. Everyday as we met at the church to go out she would be sitting there waiting for us. She would walk as far as we had to go just so she could be with us. She tried her hardest to learn English and communicate with us. She was a total joy to have around.
After a few days of ministry I was so inspired by what the church was doing to reach the children, I felt a strong pull at my heart to do something to get the children to the church. I thought a movie night would be perfect! I approached Raul, the pastor, and he said we were open to use the church for anything. And so we did! There was about 20 children that came, and it was a great way for us to love on and build relationships with them.
After that, I was approached a few days later by Dan, our squad leader. He asked if I would be interested in being an "event coordinator" for a puppet show and youth event the church was doing. Of course I jumped at the chance. Any opportunity to reach, love on, and connect with children is where my heart is most filled. I knew accepting this task God would use me to do great things for His kingdom, but I knew He would also teach me big lessons in leadership.
I worked side by side with one of the church staff, Tavi. He was young and full of love and energy for everything going on at the church. His funny, carefree personality was a great compliment to my work mood, which is so focused – and can sometimes takes the joy out of the whole experience.
Our responsibility was to advertise and get word out for both events, but in addition we had to plan the youth event. The puppet show was put on by another group from Northern Romania and Norway. However, for the youth event we had to come up with music, a skit, a testimony, a message and games to play with the youth in the area. Youth, as in ages 13 to early twenties – the "too cool for school" age.
In a way.. it made it that much more exciting! I've spent the last couple years of my life as a nanny and preschool teacher for kids under 4, and now I had the chance to work with kids much older. Not only work with them, but build real relationships.
As the day got closer I grew more and more excited. Although I was crazy busy, for some reason I had a peace that could only come from God. However, I don't think it came across to others that way. Everyone stopped to ask to help, or to simply see how I was doing. It was so sweet, but made me start to think others were doubting my abilities. I know that was not the case, or at least not their intentions by asking, but I just couldn't help but think that anyway.
As much as I saw God working in my life, the lives of the people on my squad, and the kids we were working with I also saw Satan's hand in the midst. He began to push a wedge between myself and my team, placing doubt in my mind, and so much more. I felt like the more I tried to run from what he was placing in the way, the more and more he threw at me. It wasn't until 2 hours before the youth event that my team leader pulled me aside to "talk".
She shared with me feelings herself and others from my team were feeling towards me and my leadership. At first, I'm not going to lie, I was mad and hurt and felt betrayed that no one would talk to me themselves about these things. But then, I saw God's hand at work. All the feelings I was feeling about them and certain situations were lies Satan planted in my mind. Then the things they were saying about me were things I knew about myself, but realized how NOW is the time to change those things and really live up to the person God designed me to be.
With that said, the events both went great. We had about 100 kids show up all three days for the puppet show. They all seemed to have such a great time. The youth event, however, was a much smaller turn out. I can't lie.. I was very disappointed. The whole squad rallied together and went out in the streets to get more people, played music on the sidewalk to draw attention, but finally 20 minutes after the event was suppose to start Raul had us pack up and go inside to get started.
As much as I wanted to run and hide so others didn't look at me as a failure, with only about 15 youth there, instead I sat in the sanctuary with everyone else. And boy oh boy.. can I just say God is good!! As busy as I was organizing, I didn't have anytime to sit in on the practices for the skits, music, and those who were speaking. I was blown out of the water. I had lived in community with these people for a month now, and in 2 short hours got to see their true identities, God's love just pouring out of them.
The event went great! Better then I could have ever dreamt. I quickly realized it was not about how many people came, but how many people God touched. He touched me over and over that night and I am grateful for that!!
At the end of the event Raul asked me what I thought. I told him how thrilled I was, but I just wished more people could have been there to experience it. He then told me that that day was a big day in their community, much like 4th of July in America. He explained how there was a huge festival and the whole town was there, and asked if he could take me. He wanted me to see it so I would understand and not feel badly for only a few people showing up. I agreed.
As we cleaned up and was getting ready to leave I walked up to his office to grab my bag, and as I looked in the window before opening it I saw one of the guys talking to Raul. I don't know for sure if he was being lead to Christ, or just asking questions, but what I do know was that same guy was sitting in church the next Sunday. Thank you Jesus!!! If for nothing else that event was to reach him and bring him to the Lord, all the sleepless nights, busy hours, missed lunch breaks and so on was so worth it!!
After that Raul took a group of us to the festival, and he was not kidding.. THE WHOLE TOWN WAS THERE! There were stands of food, toys and clothes, games, rides, music and so on. There was so many people you could barely walk through without bumping into someone. It was nice to see the town together, and whether or not all those people were there and I would have rather them have come to the event, the people who needed it were there. I needed it, others from the squad, and the man who sat in Raul's office needed it.
So I end saying thank you to all the love, support, and prayer I received that week. But most of all, thank you to Jesus who worked through each of us to make the event possible, and for working in the hearts of those who attended. It would not have been anything without His presence.
