When you don’t know what else to do….SING!

The snow was falling heavy, one of those days you wished you had goggles to see. Not wanting to stay inside, we decided to venture out into the village to see whom we could meet. Most people were hibernating, except for those who ventured out to clean their stoop, not wanting to face the accumulation once the snow stopped. An old woman came out in her long gypsy skirt and leathered skin, sweeping the snow from the small portion of asphalt she owned. She looked to be close to 90, hunched over and barely able to walk. I asked her if I could shovel using my charades-talent, something I’ve become quite good at in the past 6 months, but she quickly shooed me away, too proud to let a young woman who didn’t speak her language shovel for her. She was completely capable, her wise eyes told me.
 

We continued walking. We came to a large field and decided to venture into its immense white expanse, covered in multiple feet of snow. Seven of us women trudged through the field, singing worship music and questioning ourselves, “is this really what God has called us to do with our lives?”
 

We finally made it out of the field, wet and questioning, much like a wet dog after they get a bath, unsure what just happened in their lives; we continued to venture on. We shortly came across another woman sweeping her sidewalk. Again I asked her if I could help but she quickly declined. She then put her broom away and came back out to us. Not knowing what else to do, since she spoke zero English, we decided to sing. This finally got her excited, a broad smile crossing her face. After a couple songs she began ushering us inside. We followed after her into her tiny one room apartment and sat down on a couch. Unsure what we could really do since none of spoke the same language we just sat their smiling at one another, she quickly stood and went to her kitchen for home baked chocolate croissants. She shoved them at us, not content that we only ate one. She then grabbed 7 glass cups and poured us all some grape Fanta, when she was satisfied that our stomachs were pleased she sat down and smiled at us. Again, not knowing what to do, we began singing. She smiled and I could tell it was enough.

On our way out we asked if we could pray for her, putting our hands together and bowing our heads, she understood quickly. As we were praying, I could see tears in her eyes, and her smile grew even bigger, she was so touched by our prayers despite the fact that she understood nothing of what we were saying.