Anna and I entered the church early to pray for the women’s service that was to take place later that evening. A Romanian women, who had walked with us, kneeled in the first pew and watched and listened as our prayers were spoken. The echo in the sanctuary of the church carried our prayers throughout the building. And in between prayers, Anna and I began to sing. We sang of GOD’s Love. We sang of HIS faithfulness. We prayed for hearts to be softened, to hear HIS truth. We prayed that the messages shared that evening wouldn’t stay within the walls of the church, but would be written on the hearts of all the women who came, and shared with their families, with the village, spreading HIS truth and Love, which can’t be contained.
And then the women entered. The ladies from our squad, and from another squad that is actually in the same village, ushered in the women from Viile-Tecii and welcomed them. Conversations and fellowship took place, greetings with one another, and there was just the sound of thankfulness as we united together – sisters joining together to learn from and encourage one another.
I sat there, just listening. And my prayer became that the sound of us all gathering together would be a joyful noise for GOD. From that point on, the once silent church resounded with songs, with testimonies, with messages and declarations of the glory of GOD and HIS unfailing Love, and with prayer. Tears were shed, hearts were transparent, and we praised our GOD with one voice, as a body of women. We all have our own stories, but we have the same GOD. We have different languages, but we have the same GOD. And it is in HIM that we are sisters, we are family.
May our hearts, our words, our thoughts, and our actions all be a joyful noise for GOD. Let us not hold back our testimony and praise of HIS Love, of HIS character. But rather, let us join together, listen, learn, and above all, praise.
