Romania: September
This month was not what I expected at all, but in a good way. We stayed in Bucharest, Romania for a month in a house that used to be an orphanage called Casa Shalom. We thought we were going to mentor young girls at an orphanage, but God had another plan.
We helped pass out clothes and school supplies to the gypsy community, organized a large yard sale, but our main ministry was at Jubilee. Jubilee is a home for women in their 20s and early 30’s that have mental disabilites from being abandoned as children. Many of the women lived on the streets to fend for themselves at young ages.
I became friends with many of the women, but God drew me to a few special ones…
Ramona
She is one of the sweetest women I have ever met. We played balloon volleyball, colored, drew on the cement with side walk chalk, went on a walk, played basketball, and made up a special handshakes. I got the chance to pray with her before I left and I will always remember young spirit, smiling face, and dear friendship.
She is one of the sweetest women I have ever met. We played balloon volleyball, colored, drew on the cement with side walk chalk, went on a walk, played basketball, and made up a special handshakes. I got the chance to pray with her before I left and I will always remember young spirit, smiling face, and dear friendship.
Vivi
She could speak English pretty well. We made up handshakes, played games, colored pictures, played with play dough, and sang Christian songs together.
She could speak English pretty well. We made up handshakes, played games, colored pictures, played with play dough, and sang Christian songs together.
Geta
I saw her sitting on a table starring out the window rocking back and forth. I felt like I should go talk to her. Geta bashfully smiled and I shook her hand. She only left the table to go get lunch and bring it back to the table. Over the course of the month, I grew to love her. She loves listening to the radio and gives really good hugs. I love to watch her and her sister, Marianna interact. Geta is one year younger. They giggle, hug, and love on each other. It is by far one of the sweetest things I have ever seen.
I tried to get Geta to color, but she said no. But one day Kathryn, another racer, put a crayon in her hand and Praise God Geta started coloring on a piece of paper. Then slowly she started to open up more as the weeks went by. She didn’t talk much, but she actually got off the table and played ballon volleyball, took a picture with us, and walked outside to see us leave the last day. You don’t know how huge this is. Praise God!
The picture she colored Marianna is in the blue tank top
Elena
Some of the women had part-time jobs and separate houses. Elena was one of them because her disabilites weren’t as bad as the others. She gave me a bracelet to remember her and painted me Romanian words so I could learn. We hung out in her little house and looked at pictures. We were buds. I loved getting to know the girls and won’t forget these experiences…
Some of the women had part-time jobs and separate houses. Elena was one of them because her disabilites weren’t as bad as the others. She gave me a bracelet to remember her and painted me Romanian words so I could learn. We hung out in her little house and looked at pictures. We were buds. I loved getting to know the girls and won’t forget these experiences…
Even though we didn’t have deep spiritual conversations I know God used this month. Our purpose there was to love like Jesus. We love the ones forgotten and abandoned. The full-time staff there that works with them holds Bible Studies and Church with the women. I know their long-term hard work is being used by God even after we leave…Praise God for long-term missionaries. I am forever grateful to them for loving the women.
