Month 3 came and went in a flash, as my team, Go’El, worked in pursuit of new contacts for Adventures in Missions and World Race to partner with in the future. The program is called ‘Unsung Heroes’ and typically allows one team from a squad to travel freely during the month around the country in which they are serving, which for us was Romania.
The month started out in South-Central Romania in a beautiful mountainous town called Brasov. R Squad gathered together for our first official full debrief, with squad parents Bruce and Marcy Dawson joining us.
Debrief went by pretty quickly and per usual in the position of Logistics, was very tiring as well. Some of the things that Logistics takes care of during debrief include: squad travel from country to country including scheduling and booking busses and border crossing documentation and visa obtainment. Planning, booking and communicating with our hostel-lodging hosts. Purchasing phone sim-cards for all leadership including Squad Leaders, Team Leaders and Logistics Leaders. Accounting and disbursement of local currency for food squad-wide during debrief. Research and booking of hotels for squad parents and their transportation to and from America, as well as various other tasks that fill our time. Fortunately, Alex Warren, Brad Ferrell and I (Logistics Leaders) all truly love to serve the squad in any way we can and are blessed to have this ministry in addition to the day-to-day happenings of the race. No matter how truly exhausted we get because of it.
Debrief began for Leadership on August 25th, when we took an overnight train from Sofia, Bulgaria to Bucharest, Romania and then on to Brasov. We were blessed by a ‘Leadership Development Weekend’, where squad leaders Evan and Chelsea delivered inspiring messages to us and encouraged us as we moved forward. The remainder of the squad arrived by bus on the afternoon of the 28th and got settled in to our hostel (Centrum House), had dinner and relaxed. The next couple days were ours to relax and recuperate, have worship together (at Olimpia Tennis Club), have team debrief sessions with Bruce and Marcy and our squad leaders, and enjoy the city. Debrief came to a close on Monday September 2, and everyone except Team Go’El left for their ministries.
We stayed in Brasov at Centrum House through September 8, and served alongside a ministry working with orphan children and in a nursery. The first of many most memorable nights of the race to that point took place when we gathered at their volunteer house up on a hill in Brasov, made ‘stick bread’ and shared testimonies.
On the 8th, we boarded a train headed northwest to the city of Sighisoria, and then on to a tiny gypsy village called Soard. We served with the most genuine, loving and warm family I have ever met. During our week with them, we helped finish construction of a brand new house for a widow with many children. We gave testimonies and talked about following God’s voice to the teens in the village during nightly meetings in the church where we were living. The best part of this week though for me, was playing with and showing love to the youngsters that wandered the streets, many of whom were orphans and lacked proper parenting and attention. These kids would flock from 50 homes away when any of us would pop our heads out of the gate where we lived, so unbelievably excited to see and play with us. Before I could realize it, I would have 4 or 5 children grasping at my hands and arms, lunging on my back. Giggling, laughing and smiling the entire time, with pure love and joy on their hearts.
I recall one time in particular; I had my best pal Raul riding on my back, four kids holding on to my left hand fingers and three on my right. Every one of them were so happy that they could be with me, but I couldn’t help but feel equally excited and blessed in that moment. God was working in that village, and I hope that we were able to plant a few more seeds in the hearts of those living there.
On Monday the 16th, we trekked onward to Cluj-Napoca, where we met up with Youth With a Mission (YWAM), an international missions organization. Our goal here was to learn more about what partnerships they had in the area, which turned out to be a tremendous success. Our team visited a gypsy village that was literally in the middle of the areas trash landfill. The Hollander man, who founded the Christian mission there, walked us around and showed what they were doing for its residents and how they were improving the quality of life in this challenging location. What a perfect place for a World Race team or teams to serve at for a month.
The final stop on our nationwide Romanian tour was Bucharest, which we arrived in by train on Wednesday, September 18. We took a day to rest before venturing out to what was known as ‘the most dangerous location in Europe’ with a local pastor. We toured the campus and saw all the great things they were doing and heard stories from the students and volunteers on site. We helped to stain a brand new playground that was setup just outside the church.
Why was this the most dangerous area in Europe? Because the entire European mafia was living about 200 yards away. The guys that direct the sex trafficking throughout Europe, influence and corrupt government agencies and carry out murders of local citizens that get mixed up with them. For the sake of safety, I will leave it at that, but cannot wait to have World Racers serve alongside this ministry in the future.
And just that fast the month of ministry was finished with squad mini-debrief upon us in Bucharest. This also turned out to also be the final month of ministry with my original Team Go’El as well. My next blog will explain that in more detail, but I will forever love and cherish the relationships and experiences formed and had with Jeffrey, Anna, Jamie, Jessica and Kristen during my first three months of my World Race. They challenged me in ways I didn’t expect or love, but I grew so much through them with Christ working in their lives and my own.
Time to leave Eastern Europe, and to the third world nation of India for month number four of this 11-month journey around the planet. What a wild ride it has been already, and we’ve truly only just begun. I am so blessed to have this chance to serve in the nations and cannot thank all of you for your prayers and support thus far in my journey. Bring on India.
Love,
– Kev
