The Village of Lisa

Continuing the previous post about our time in Draganesti Olt, Romania:

Thursday-Sunday we would go and live in the village of Lisa. We had no running water, used an outhouse and had to purchase propane for the heater, but we had great WIFI and excellent contacts!

In Lisa some days were similar to other days, in which we would do prayer walks around the village or go do house visits of the sick, elderly and congregation members. One of the Main things we did each weekend was Kids Club. During Kids Club we would play games with the kids; sometimes their games, sometimes ours. We would teach them interactive Christian songs and we would all be standing in the yard doing goofy dances and movements. We always had a Bible lesson for the kids to relate to and take home to teach their families. We got to know and love these children so much. Even with the great language barrier, a celebrated goal and a side hug are translated well every time.

Our contact and host in Lisa were John and Christina Vlad. They have three girls and a baby on the way. They were a huge blessing to our team; always making sure we had food and heat and blankets, and anything else we needed. They gave us eggs the weekend we accidentally left them at the other house, they fed us meals out of their own pocket just because they wanted to, the first day we met John he bought each of us a chocolate bar. They loved us so well! 

Titi and Loradonna were another couple we came to know and love. They have two boys, Tibi (10) and Robbie (6) who are just delightful, handsome boys. Titi speaks English well (learning from television) and, many times, would translate for us so he could improve his English. Titi has only been a Christian for a few months, his wife Loradonna was raised in a Christian home. Titi and Loradonna had everything; a nice home, great job, all of the material things the family could want, then someone introduced Titi to gambling. They lost everything. Loradonna and the children's lives were threatened by people he owed money to; their lives were completely changed. 

Loradonna took the children and left Titi many times, but as she said "he's my husband, so I always went back." Loradonna's family told her many times to leave him, that he wasn't worth the heartache. Even Titi's family told her the same, "just leave him, start a better life," but she knew that God did not want that for either of them, and especially not for her boys.  They now have nothing; the house is not theirs, work is hard to find, life is not easy. "God took me from here" Titi signaled above his head, "to here" pulling back the rug and pointing to the bear floor. It is heart wrenching to see their pain and know it is still so fresh. As much as they hurt, though, they encourage and love with such a beautiful joy and hope in their Creator. 

Loradonna has taken a job in Spain to support her family. Please join me in praying for this sweet family of young believers as they are going through trials and change.