I love when ministry happens when I’m not expecting it to. And I LOVE when I get to have native friends younger in the faith minister alongside me.
I was walking down the road in the center of the gypsy village we live in a few days ago when I found my favorite babushka, Annika, crying. Every day she sits outside her house observing life in the village. Most days she gives me a big smile and a wave, soaking up any kind of human
interaction. On this day, her wave was accompanied by grief instead of joy.
With Annika outside her home
I walked over to her and her friend and gave them both big hugs. Sobbing, they tried to explain something to me in Romanian, but I could not understand. After just a moment, joy overflowed my heart as my gypsy friend Lora walked by and was able to translate. We found out Annika’s daughter, who has cancerous tumors in her stomach that make her look like she is at least nine months pregnant, had just been taken to the hospital. Her daughter is her main caretaker, and once she dies Annika’s very young grandson will be given the responsibility of taking care of her.
After I was done praying for her, Annika’s friend began telling me about all of her losses. Her friend had lost her husband and son and lives all by herself. I prayed with her and then just sat with them awhile. I wasn’t able to completely dry their tears, but I was able to grieve with them and to show them that they are not forgotten.
With Lora and Tutsi
One of my favorite things about this interaction was the supernatural appearing of my friend Lora. Lora is nineteen and her husband of six months just abandoned her two days after I met her. I have been spending time with Lora and just trying to be her friend and love her, and she has been with me several times to translate as I have gone to visit people in the village. She is hungry to know more of God, and as she goes with me I try to step back occasionally and encourage her to step out and do things she wouldn’t do on her own. She is beautiful but struggling to believe that she is loved by God or anyone else.
Please be praying for my friends. Pray for health for my Annika’s daughter, for her friend who has lost everyone dear to her, and for Lora’s heart as she struggles to grieve the loss of the life she thought she would lead.
