So, I am in Bistrota, Romania or I guess a village nearby… but I can’t recall the name of it. I slept the whole busride here from the airport (which consited of about 7 hours) and many remarked on how beautiful the scenery was. Being here in this village, though, is like walkng in Hobbiton or something out of a JRR Tolkein book. Besides the absurd highway not ten feet from our house, everyone rides in carriges carted by horses carrying large loads of hay and children kicking their little feet of the back. It’s a far green country with tall, wide-ranging hills. I am immediately brought back to all the WW II movies and epics and how the houses looked then in that particular time-frame, and while at the same time, am completely blown away because the houses and all look the same!
Two days ago, Team Koinonia and I hiked up a path (or rather made our own) and spent the late morning at the top of a large hill that overlooked our village and revealed the marveling lakes veiled on the otherside. Miles, Nick and me after awhile, each approached one of the three Koinonia girls and Miles started “We have some bad news…” and the girls all sat up and pulled out their headphones, wide-eyed with deep concern upon their faces. “…You’re turning us into gentlemen.” and with that, we all pulled out our own little medly of wildflowers for the Koinonia Ladies. So, it’s true… we are changing. But then again, so is this village!
Yesterday we left for church and only after one song had been played, John, (our ministry contact for Romania) infromed us that God wanted us to go outside, march around town (musicians in-front), and parade two by two singing praise to God and invite everyone to the late night service… It was amazing. Tiring too, I still fee like I ran a marathon yesterday. Amanda and Teri kept me hyrdrated while I was playing the guitar, marching from one end of the village to the other end and back. Then, the service that night… 15-20 men arrived along with about 20 children and many women… and One man gave his life to Christ!
That’s all for now, until my next update, God bless and Chow!
