Month one is done! My team and I finished up our work in Albania with a trip to the beach with the young adult group. We spent about 8 hours at a beautiful beach near Durres, Albania. During the day we were able to hang out one on one with the young adults. A couple of the girls did not know how to swim and they said, “Meg, learn me how to swim!” The only swimming I have mastered is the doggy paddle, but it was so cool that they wanted me to “learn” them how to swim. I spent much of the afternoon in the water with one girl, holding her hand and encouraging her to kick her arms and legs. She was frightened and with the language barrier, I was limited as to what I could say to her to help show her how to swim. Even though I don’t know how to swim well, this young girl was convinced that I was Michael Phelps or something. She approached me with joy and gratitude, knowing that I could show her something. What a cool feeling! As a Social Worker, I am used to offering a specific skill set. Showing someone how to swim? I’ve never done that before and I feel blessed that God is showing me that I have more than I think I have to offer.
I spent most of the day with this 14 year old little girl and grew more and more attached as the day progressed. On the bus ride home together, we sat next to each other. I looked into my bag and saw that I had a bracelet that was given to me after a jewelry fundraiser. I really loved the bracelet. I loved the color of the bracelet and the weight of it on my wrist. As I pulled it out of my bag, I noticed her face and I could tell she thought it was a pretty bracelet as well. Then something shifted in my heart. In that moment, I thought, “Take anything I own.” I looked at her sweet face and was filled with love for her and said, “Here, this is for you.” I wish you could have seen her face. Her eyes widened with delight and she said, “For me?” I said, “Yes, for you.” So that is what I left behind in Albania. A bracelet that I loved. In that moment I became aware that I probably would never see her again, but tha did not dimish the depth of my care. I hope to invest into her life with prayer and friendship, even if it is from a distance.
On Saturday my whole squad and I traveled from Albania to Romania. We were on a bus for over 20 hours and you can imagine the smells and the leg cramps. We are here in Bucharest, Romania for 4 days of debrief before we begin our ministry in Romania. Debrief is just an intentional time for us to rest and catch up with people on our squad. At the end of the week we travel to another part of Romania for our ministry. I don’t know how to spell the name of the town where we will be, and I am not sure about what ministry we will be doing, but I’ll update you all soon. Until then, what can you give away today? Sometimes the things that we love, that have value to us, are the things we need to give away the most. God certainly doesn’t love me any more because I gave away a piece of jewelry. I’m not any “better” because of it, but the deep love I felt from giving away something precious… wow, that is valuable. That is sacred. I am excited and nervous to see what else the Lord would have me give away on this journey. Thank you for making this possible for me to be here on this trip. I am beyond grateful for your support. I’ve reached the $12,000 mark. I still have several thousand dollars to raise and I need your help. Please consider a donation by clicking on the “support me” tab on my blog. Thank you, and let me know how I can pray for you. With love and gratitude from Romania, Meg.
