I have two love languages: 1.) Spend time with me. 2.) Make me laugh.
Lucky for me, I have been drenched in those during the past month of ministry in Romania. I get to spend quality time with families in the gypsie villages and bring joy into their lives. Each morning I pray for overflowing joy and my team is always laughing throughout the day. I’d even go as far to say that some people just don’t understand that amount of joy. Even back at school in the states, I was stopped on multiple occasions and asked why I am always smiling and so kind. I love this because it gives me the chance to say, “It’s because of Jesus.”
When Jesus lived on the earth, His days were also filled with story after story of Him just being with people. All kinds of people. The rich and poor. The Jews and Gentiles. The sick and the healthy. The samaritans. The lepers. Literally all kinds. I read of these stories in the Bible and wish I could be like Him. Life on the World Race is pushing me to do just that. Basically, my job is to love people. How perfectl is that? Despite language and cultural differences real connections can be made through the living Holy Spirit. I’ve witnessed a silenced village turn in to a place of laughter and smiles. I’ve seen a healing miracle take place in the life of a 52 year old lady named Katalina, suffering with a heart condition and who now declares healing over her life, since the moment we anointed her with oil. I’ve even witnessed healing and freedom in my own life…(Who knew that missionaries could walk out of this with changed lives too!?) 
Life in Romania consists of going out and simply being with the people. Speaking healing into their lives. Lifting up praises to God. Sharing the gospel. Encouraging. Blessing homes. Anointing with oil. Clothing and feeding. Holding hands. Reminding them that they are beautiful. Baking them cookies. Dancing. Making the children laugh. Inviting to church. And just loving on them….Yes, even the little kittens, turtles, and babies named Arnie.
(15 garbage bags full of clothes to give away.)
This month has really taught me to be thankful. It’s harder than one might think to spend every single day with dirt poor people, freezing children, and hopeless cancer patients. It always gets my heart when I see men and women with tears streaming down their faces as we pray and hand them food, clothes, blankets, and occasionaly money if the Lord leads us to do so. You learn to not be self conscious about crying in front of other people. No shame in tears for the broken.
The gypsie villages are where we have spent the majority of our time. It’s crazy how many people can be shoved into a one room house, usually with dirt floors and no electricity. Usually the most food I see in any given house is a piece of bread. And do you remember how cold I said it was? There is always someone sick in the household. There are always financial burdens. Sometimes there is a young fifteen year old girl who had her husband leave her and take her baby from her too. People start having babies around thirteen and a baby comes into this world with parents who can’t afford to take care of him. Oh, and there is always searching and longing for something real, someone that can bring them hope, save them.
(PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE HAND POSITION…..I love awkward…)
So that I don’t have a two mile long blog, I’ll just share a small glimpse of my daily life on the World Race in Targu Mures (Transilvania), Romania. Everyday, I wake up in the beautiful home that God has blessed my team of seven girls with and we walk about one mile (or three) to meet Pastor Jonbour and Albert. We gather out in the freezing cold (like Antarctica) and pray for big things to happen on that day.
We pray against spiritual attacks. We pray that satan and his forces are bound. We pray for open doors and for healing in the homes. We pray against jealousy among neighbors and all the theiving that takes place amongst the poor. We pray against divorce. We pray against the increasing number of churches that are preaching falsly. We also pray for the Holy Spirit to anoint us and to use us to glorify Jesus Christ on this day. Then, we prayer walk or take the bus to local gypsie villages to share the gospel. Usually, within a few minutes of walking, people are coming out of their small homes and waving at us to come in and have a seat and some espresso….Jesus literally answers our prayers for doors to be opened. Sometimes, we go to the city and pray over cancer patients. Sometimes, we go to the mall, pull out the guitar and sing praises, and invite people to church. And sometimes, we are just living life…randomly exploring a Catholic church, and minutes later find ourselves in the small home of a 56 yr old priest named Florence living alone with his 82yr old mother, Elizabeth, who wants to feed us a meal and show us his garden and fill our pockets with walnuts and show us the chickens and show us the church and sing Christmas carols together…and well, you get the point….Simply be with him.
Although my time spent in Romania was just for one month, the faces I’ve seen will stay in my heart forever. I know this because I still think on and pray for the ones I met the last time I was in Romania (4yrs ago). I like to believe that I’ll see those faces in heaven someday, too. Faces that don’t go unrecognized by Jesus. Faces that I have simply been with so that they could forever be with Jesus.
