Yesterday Amy, MariClaire and I wandered through the streets of a small Romanian village called Coteana with our ministry contact Danut (Daniel) and his friend, a local missionary from England named Mark. Our mission was to make connections and build relationships with people in the community in order to invite them to the local church plant.
Basically we were sent to evangelize and share the Gospel with people who know of God thanks to the religious foundations of the Orthodox Church, but have probably never actually heard about his Son, Jesus Christ before.
I’m not going to lie, my first thoughts were something along the lines of: Seriously God, we have to do street evangelism again!? Didn’t we already do this enough in Serbia? I strongly dislike talking to strangers… Can’t I just play with some cute kids already?!
Despite my immediate negative reaction to this task, one thing you should know about my experiences so far in Romania is that people, in general, are much more open to hearing what I have to say to them. Even when all I have to lead off with is a simple “Buna” accompanied by a warm smile, the locals are typically very well-receptive and friendly. Even when this doesn’t do the trick there is usually a Romanian translator not far behind me to help initiate the conversation.
Okay so, back to Coteana.
We parked the car near the park and a structure that we were informed was home to some natural spring water that the locals could access freely. As we walked by there were two women who happened to be using the spring to wash clothing. After some contemplative hesitation, God said “go” and we boldly approached. Danut and Mark began the conversation by introducing themselves and providing a little bit of our background. After doing this they asked if we could occupy a few minutes of their time with an important conversation. They agreed and then the men turned to us girls and asked us what we would like to say to these women. God didn’t use this moment to flood my speech with the Good News. He didn’t use this moment to flood my speech with anything. It’s safe to say I had an out-of-body experience and we all looked like deer in headlights. Talk about being put on the spot under pressure. The three of us stared blankly at each other for a few seconds, that felt more like an eternity, until finally Amy asked a question about their relationship with God. As the conversation continued, Mark encouraged her to share a part of her testimony with the women. Then we prayed with them for their health and for their families and then we went on our way.
Our next few encounters were a lot more casual as we engaged in some small talk and passed out a few pamphlets, but all the while my mind was racing. I couldn’t shake this feeling of disappointment that I had in myself. I kept replaying the scene over and over in my head wondering why I hadn’t said anything. I was overwhelmed. I was afraid that I would make a mistake. I doubted the power of my words. In those few seconds I let the lies of the enemy consume me.
Now I was overthinking, something I do far too often. I was absent from the conversations at hand because I was dwelling on the past.
So God distracted me to get me out of my head.
He sent a little old man out from his yard who happened to know Danut and invited us in to behold his grape press. We were very interested in taking a look because the day before our team had helped a neighbor harvest, clean, smash and drain grapes to make some juice. We were intrigued because we didn’t know the luxury of using a press since in our experience we had used only our hands. This invitation prompted a discussion of our own grape harvesting experiences to which Danut and his elderly friend responded with some words in Romanian. Mark informed us that they were saying “it is the time of grapes” which Amy misheard as “it is the time of grace”.
WOAH
Did God really just calm my nerves, quiet my soul, and empower me all through the simple misunderstanding of a word communicated by a thick English accent?
Does the fact that immediately after leaving that man’s yard I shared my testimony with, prayed for, and encouraged two women in a nearby field answer that question?
All I knew about them was that they had been going to church for a while but stopped and Danut and Mark were unsure as to why. Then Mark asked once again if any of us World Racers had anything to share with them. I hesitated briefly then remember that “this is the time of GRACE”, so I stepped up to the plate, unsure if I would hit a home run or strikeout, but it didn’t matter.
I told them about a part of my life where I began to fall away from my relationship with God and stopped going to church regularly.
I had become too distracted by the things of this world and my social life to make time for Him.
I told them that even with all the fun that I was having and all the friends that I was making there were times when I felt very alone.
I felt like a part of me was missing, but despite all of this I always felt God’s presence in my life.
I told them that God loved me so much that He intentionally placed people into my life who encouraged me to rebuild my relationship with Him.
I told them that I now go to Church by choice and I that I find enjoyment in setting aside that time to spend with the Lord.
I prayed with and for them. Then I left them with a pamphlet and a promise that God loves and cares for them just as much as he loves and cares for me.
I’ll probably never see these two women again and I may never know if they returned to the church service in Coteana or not, but I have faith that God used me in that moment in that field to speak into their hearts. He used me and my story. I am confident that God sent me that little reminder that there is always grace and that His grace is sufficient for me (2 Corinthians 12:9) so that I would have the courage to share with them.
I am amazed by and reminded of God’s love everyday. I am in awe of his delicate design and His attention to every detail. I am thankful for misheard words and crystal clear messages from the Father.
