Romania
almost can’t handle the number of World Racers right now. In Viile
Tecii alone, there are fourteen K-Squaders, seven J-Squaders, and the
entire fifty-odd H-Squad. This doesn’t include the other five
J-Squad and two K-Squad teams in Romania right now, plus whatever the
I-Squad is doing right now.
almost can’t handle the number of World Racers right now. In Viile
Tecii alone, there are fourteen K-Squaders, seven J-Squaders, and the
entire fifty-odd H-Squad. This doesn’t include the other five
J-Squad and two K-Squad teams in Romania right now, plus whatever the
I-Squad is doing right now.
Petra
had a full day on Sunday, going to three church services in two gypsy
villages. We went to the church in Viile Tecii in the morning with
JOHOLO, Seven Camels, and H-Squad, and we ended up walking up and
down the main street of the village singing and fellowshipping and
telling gypsies we passed to come to the impromptu service that John,
our contact, decided to hold at the last minute. At two o’clock, we
headed to Arcalia, a nearby gypsy village where two other J-Squad
teams are planting a church for the month. Two of the J men
preached, two J ladies gave testimonies, and two contacts gave words
of encouragement to the Americans. In keeping with the tradition of
true gypsy hospitality, snacks were provided after the service.
Yesssssss.
had a full day on Sunday, going to three church services in two gypsy
villages. We went to the church in Viile Tecii in the morning with
JOHOLO, Seven Camels, and H-Squad, and we ended up walking up and
down the main street of the village singing and fellowshipping and
telling gypsies we passed to come to the impromptu service that John,
our contact, decided to hold at the last minute. At two o’clock, we
headed to Arcalia, a nearby gypsy village where two other J-Squad
teams are planting a church for the month. Two of the J men
preached, two J ladies gave testimonies, and two contacts gave words
of encouragement to the Americans. In keeping with the tradition of
true gypsy hospitality, snacks were provided after the service.
Yesssssss.
Service
number three was something of a surprise. We had originally arranged
for JOHOLO to go to the 6 pm service in another village while we
would be in Arcalia for their 2 pm service. When the second Viile
Tecii service was announced, that threw a wrench into our hopes for a
night off. We trekked back to the church and joined several dozen
gypsies, half of Seven Camels, and most of H-Squad for some more
teaching and worship. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t cranky about
it. I had a flat-out crappy attitude about it. In the middle of the
third or fourth worship cycle (I lost count), I grabbed my journal
and just started whining in written form. I knew I was being a
negative nancy, but I didn’t really want to let it go on my own.
number three was something of a surprise. We had originally arranged
for JOHOLO to go to the 6 pm service in another village while we
would be in Arcalia for their 2 pm service. When the second Viile
Tecii service was announced, that threw a wrench into our hopes for a
night off. We trekked back to the church and joined several dozen
gypsies, half of Seven Camels, and most of H-Squad for some more
teaching and worship. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t cranky about
it. I had a flat-out crappy attitude about it. In the middle of the
third or fourth worship cycle (I lost count), I grabbed my journal
and just started whining in written form. I knew I was being a
negative nancy, but I didn’t really want to let it go on my own.
And
then God showed up. He has a funny way of doing that.
then God showed up. He has a funny way of doing that.
A
five-year-old gypsy girl was sitting in the pew next to Danielle and
me. We were smiling with her and trying to communicate as best we
could with our limited Romanian (“thank you” and “how are you?”
don’t get you terribly far) when an H-Squad member called Danielle to
the other side of the church to pray with a woman. I actually tried
communicating for real with the girl for a while before I finally
accepted that there was no way I’d understand her, or make her
understand me. At that point, we were diving into worship cycle
number eight, or something, and I was wanting to keep the girl
engaged and not ignore her while still being present in the service.
five-year-old gypsy girl was sitting in the pew next to Danielle and
me. We were smiling with her and trying to communicate as best we
could with our limited Romanian (“thank you” and “how are you?”
don’t get you terribly far) when an H-Squad member called Danielle to
the other side of the church to pray with a woman. I actually tried
communicating for real with the girl for a while before I finally
accepted that there was no way I’d understand her, or make her
understand me. At that point, we were diving into worship cycle
number eight, or something, and I was wanting to keep the girl
engaged and not ignore her while still being present in the service.
The
girl’s mother had gone to the front of the church to pray with
people, so I crouched down to her level, and she crouched with me. I
folded my hands, and she folded hers. I started singing along to the
tune of the music, but I replaced the words with la-las and other
syllables. The girl started to sing along with me. It was really
adorable, but it was also just pure and simple. It was the first
time I’d really felt at peace about not being able to cross the
language barrier. We spent the rest of the service drawing and
scribbling in my journal.
girl’s mother had gone to the front of the church to pray with
people, so I crouched down to her level, and she crouched with me. I
folded my hands, and she folded hers. I started singing along to the
tune of the music, but I replaced the words with la-las and other
syllables. The girl started to sing along with me. It was really
adorable, but it was also just pure and simple. It was the first
time I’d really felt at peace about not being able to cross the
language barrier. We spent the rest of the service drawing and
scribbling in my journal.
Apparently
services in Africa can be upwards of six hours long. I hope African
children like to sing and draw too.
services in Africa can be upwards of six hours long. I hope African
children like to sing and draw too.
