Life is Romania is coming to an end. Shortly after we arrived here, my team decided to call this place Romerica- a mix between Romania and America. Being here, we have so many luxuries from home that we have not had the past two months. For example, a couch. For the months of January and February I did not sit on a single couch. This month, we have eight to choose from!
Our living room and hallway to our room
Some of the other luxuries we have include:
Alpha) beds for each person
Beta) an amazing kitchen
Gamma) cold AND hot water
Delta) the ability to drink and brush our teeth from the tap
Epsilon) a washing machine
Zeta) wireless internet
Eta) people who speak English everywhere we go
Theta) a mall within driving distance
Iota) a microwave for popcorn
Kappa) a place to go see The Hunger Games (in English!)
Yum!
And my favorite thing about Romerica…
Lambda) a toaster!
Our toaster and Cedric of course
Needless to say, life here in Romania is a lot more comfortable than I ever expected to be on the World Race. While these things are blessings, they are also huge distractions. It’s so easy to stay up late skyping family and friends and to watch the latest episode of Castle instead of reading my bible or having meaningful conversations with my teammates.
Last month in Haiti, I read my bible every single morning. But this month in Romania, I’ve read my bible about twice a week and honestly, I didn’t grow that much. I’m not proud of this, but these are all things I’m going to have come December when I’m back in the states. No matter how much I learn or grow this year, all the things that distracted me before I left home are right there waiting for me.
This month helped me realize that if I don’t choose to grow, I’m not going to grow. If I don’t choose to talk to God, I’m not going to hear His voice. If I don’t choose to spend time in His word, I’m not going to see all the crazy things He has planned for me. If I sit on my bum and watch my favorite tv shows, all I’m going to gain is temporary happiness, temporary emotion.
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18
But when I choose God, I gain joy and once you’ve experienced pure joy, you know nothing is better.
“Those the LORD has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them,and sorrow and sighing will flee away.” Isaiah 51:11
