He was simply sitting on a bench. I walked up to him and introduced myself. He didn’t speak any English, so the translator communicated as we exchanged pleasantries.
I asked him about the culture in Romania, since I was from America. “What’s the religion here in Romania?” I asked.
“Orthodox” the translator relayed.
“What’s that?”
He went on to explain the Orthodox religion. It seemed to me that Orthodox religion based most of its practices on traditions and rules. It based it on the worship of idols and works. Praying to saints, priests, and the Mother Mary.
After he had finished, I described to him what my relationship with Jesus Christ looked like. I explained that although I knew in my head ‘Christianese’ at a young age, I didn’t know what it meant to fully have Him as Lord over my life.
I went on to share my testimony with the man and he listened attentively. My desires to know Jesus now were rooted from my heart and a longing to know Him more, not because I had to, but because I truly wanted to have a deeper relationship with Him.
I shared some Bible verses with the man on the bench. Just as I had finished Romans 10:9-10, my translator was called over to someone else who needed her.
“Oh no! This is Satan trying to come in and stop us from sharing!” I thought in my head.
She left me there with the man on the bench and wanted me to pray for him while she went to help the other World Racer.
“But he doesn’t speak English” I said inquisitively as if she knew what I should do.
So there I was. A language barrier between us. Between me and the man on the bench.
I prayed for him and prayed using the few words of Romanian I knew. “Sanatate,” I said, meaning health. I prayed good health over him and prayed for the Holy Spirit to move. I finished the prayer and when I looked into his eyes, I saw more. I saw tears and a depth I can’t explain through words.
“Well now what?” I thought to myself.
I sat next to him on the bench and we shared nonverbal communication for about 15 minutes. I motioned to him that I loved to dance and listen to music. Shortly after, he began to sing. HE BEGAN TO SING! To me! In the park. A new form of charades takes place between us and the 15 minutes stroll by with a pleasant feeling and excitement.
My translator comes back with the other World Race member. I introduce them and we are all smiles.
I say to the man on the bench “I have shared with you about Jesus and how important it is to have a true relationship and friendship with Him. Would you like me to pray with you to ask Jesus to have a relationship with you?”
When the translator finishes, he nods his head yes! YASSSSSSSSSS!! We explain that he can repeat the prayer after me, but it has to come from his heart, it isn’t coming from me. After we finish the prayer, I feel joy and excitement and love and all the things in my heart. We ask him if he feels anything and he responds with a smile, a nod, and touches his heart.
I’m jumping for joy.
We take a picture with the man on the bench. We invited him to church on Sunday.
As we leave and say our goodbyes, he hugs me and picks me up! We are all smiles, grinning from ear to ear. I’m screaming with joy and pure happiness, and I can feel my spirit jumping inside.
We leave the man on the bench, but I feel confident I’ll see him again, perhaps in another eternity.
