This month, 38 World Racers are all stationed together assisting Hope Church in various ministry projects in Dragonesti, Romania. Here are a few numbers to show you what living in community looks like:
1 “Mission House”
40 bunk beds—some of them triple deckers
2 showers
2 toilets
1 toilet with a shower head over it
0 hand towels
1 tiny kitchen—three stovetop burners that actually work and a little oven with one shelf
3 meals/day for 38 mouths that I cook in that tiny kitchen
0 hours/day that I am not at ministry or helping in the kitchen
10 five liter water jugs consumed per day
2 guitars that everyone and their mom are “learning” how to play
76 STANKY shoes sitting right inside the front door
76 slippers worn indoors because you will be judged if you walk into that bathroom barefooted
1 washing machine
0 dryers
150 wet articles of clothing hanging from rafters, handrails, etc. at any point in time
1 wifi router
100 flies in our house
1 rescued puppy named Charles living in the backyard
200 stray dogs wandering the streets
5 children who will beg you for food or money on your walk down the street each day
5 days of ministry per week
5 days of the week begun in worship with my squad
9,000 Souls in the Dragonesti community that we are here to reach (www.hoperomania.org/9000-souls.html)
I know these numbers may seem overwhelming, but I love it.
I love ministering to my squad everyday by cooking for them. I love the children on the street to whom I can offer a high five and a hug. I love leading songs and games in the neighboring village of Catanea at “Kid’s Club” every Saturday. I love doing home visits to pray with people in the community. I love sharing scripture at the Friday home bible study. I love teaching my daily English lessons to George who works for the church. I love hearing off-tune voices and the slightly skewed guitar chords singing worship songs. I love coming home to 37 friends everyday to hear their stories of how God used them.
And I LOVE that God tells us in Romans 10:15 “Beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news” because it makes those 76 smelly, smelly shoes something to smile about.
