"Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation."
I knew there would be days on the race that would wreck me. I didn't wake up this morning expecting that today would be one of those days. I figured my hardest days would involve kids in the slums or in the orphanages. I was wrong at least for now. I have no words to adequately describe the brokenness and poverty I witnessed in Romania today.
Jenny, Staci, and I teamed up with Dorothy who runs a ministry to widows in the communities surrounding Dragonesti. We met her at the local Penny Market (a small grocery store) and picked up food for 6 widows and headed out to a small village about 45 minutes away. Each bag contained flour, sugar, corn flour, a stick of salami, tub of margarine, box of instant cappuccino mix, 2 mandarins, 2 bananas, 2 nectarines, a bottle of sunflower oil, and a tube of cookies.
The village we visited was in the boondocks as it is so off the beaten path that our directions consisted of things like take a right at the big fountain, a left by the well with a word written on it, and a right just past the big triangle of grass. The first house we arrived at had a widow who was blind living there. Her daughters takes care of her, but it was obviously and abusive situation and they live with so little. There is not bathroom, not even an outhouse. As we arrived, the woman was led out of the house and followed the fence to the front gate where she squatted and went to the bathroom. This is her option at present as she is blind and can't find her way out behind the house to the field she used to use without falling. I thought I was roughing it last week because I had cold showers and here is a woman who has no running water and lives in a one-room shack depending on the food the church provides once a month to help her survive. But, oh the joy she exhibited at our visit.
The second home just as impoverished, but the woman had more support and so it was an easier situation emotionally and she was tending to her chickens and turkeys and so we moved along quickly.
The third house the widow was not at home, but the story broke my heart. She is the mother of 3 children in her late 30's. Her oldest daughter is 16 and she has a son who should be in 2nd grade along with a son who no longer lives at home. She can't afford school uniforms and so she can't send her children to school. The cycle of poverty will continue as what will those children do when they grow up without an education and no hope to escape the life they live. Water and electricity have been cut off to the house as she cannot pay the bill. The situation grows more dire with each passing day.
The fourth home had a widow who has a 43-year-old son with disabilities. She cannot leave the house as he needs attention 24 hours each day and yet the state has stopped providing aid for she and her son. It was obvious her love for her son as she cried at the challenges she is facing. But, she had such a strong attitude about facing the troubles the world has given her and persevering.
The fifth house was a widow who has lost her upper lips and top gum to mouth cancer. Her joy was so humbling. She talked about how grateful she is for her 5 children and grandchildren and how all of the suffering in life has been worth it because of her children and grandchildren. She smiled the entire time we were there in spite of the physical deformity she had due to her surgery she radiated joy.
The last house was challenging as well. The actual widow died a few months ago. She left behind 3 adult children with severe disabilities and so one of the adult children has left her husband and children in Bucharest to move back home to care for the children. Again, the state has stopped providing financial aid and so the husband is forced to remain in Bucharest to earn enough money to support both households, but it leaves the family split between two cities.
In all of the situations, we took opportunities to listen to the women and to pray for them as well as providing food. I walked away so humbled as in every situation the widows left us telling us they would pray for us and they blessed us. I set off today to bless others and walked away with a richer appreciation for what it means to really be blessed.
Matthew 5:3-5 says, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."
Wow, nothing in those verses about having a nice car, a big house, hot water, or a full belly. I wish I could say that I would never complain about my circumstances again, but I know that is naive and not likely. I pray I can take something from what I saw today and have it help me appreciate the many ways God provides so richly for me each day.
