We were walking down the gravel road to do home visits, pray for people and share the Gospel to whoever would listen.
My head was down and I was discouraged by my own heart.
Where was my compassion?
Where was the fruit of our labor?
What are we even doing here?
Will people listen to us today?
These were my thoughts until God sent us a friendly woman to touch our hearts.
She was rolling her wheel barrel the opposite direction when she turned around and looked at us. Her face looked as if she was confused as she asked Marcel, our translator, if we were the girls who had visited her two years ago. We all smiled and shook our heads, answering no, but were encouraged by the missionaries who impacted her life two years ago.
(Photo Credit: Bogdan Comanescu)
I was tired and had lost my compassion for Romania.
Weren’t we supposed to be the people who encouraged and persevered?
Flora was her name. She had dirty hands and smelt like onions from working in the fields all day. Her clothes were worn out and her face showed exhaustion.
Flora was beautiful. Although, her clothes were torn and her hands were dirty her face shined. Her face shined even through her broken heart. We exchanged smiles and informed her that we were not the people she met two years ago. She then began to share about her husband who was in a lot of pain. Flora’s husband was having eye problems and unable to work in the fields. We told her that we would be praying for her husband and she said thank you. As she walked away I saw the tears fall from her eyes.
At that moment my heart changed. And the compassion that was lost somewhere in Romania was restored when we met Flora. Even though she was in a tough place, her strength to persevere inspired me to do the same. I asked if we could pray for her and she humbly said yes. She pulled away when we tried to hold her. She said she was dirty from working in the field.
My friends and I told Flora we didn’t care and held her tight. All 6 of us surrounded her and held her as she cried in pain. She was tired too. We only knew her for 5 minutes but we loved her.
I still love her and think of her from time to time. God loves her so much and I know he is taking care of her.
God used Flora to restore my joy this cold day in Romania.
If you are tired today, I hope you know that you’re not alone. I hope the Lord restores your strength.
I hope you will rest in His presence today.
Pick a flower and be overwhelmed by its beauty.
Find joy. It’s there somewhere; you just have to find it.
Find it in the little things,the big things and even the tough times.
Love,
Lauren
