I rode a mechanical bull on my way out of Ukraine. Not something I was expecting to do but this is the world race and I’ve been told since the beginning expectations are something to be released. So that was cool.
I was lying in bed trying to read and not sleep, which is never a good idea for me. So, in the few moments before sleep took over I remembered my Mechanical Bull riding experience. I remembered going around and around and after 1.45 minutes the operator finally got me bucked off (be impressed). I was pleased I lasted so long. I had a good time. I showed off my skills sufficiently. It was worth the $3.
I was sore from muscles I haven’t used in a long time. I was tired.
The operator said to get back on if I wanted to.
I said can someone else take my place.
He said No.
I decided to get back on.
What did I Just Agree To?!?
(I lasted about 5 seconds)
I’m back in that predicament. That shock feeling of asking myself what I just agreed too. That feeling of scared excitement mixed with jaw clenching trust that my Father has this.
If you would have asked me if I was looking forward to the Eastern Europe portion of the race at any moment from Kenya to China, I would have said not particularly.
If you would have asked me in Ukraine if I was ready to go home, I would have said yes.
If you would ask me today which month has been my favorite, I would have said Thailand, Philippines, or Uganda. But each month has a favorite aspect to it.
I knew nothing of Eastern Europe and it didn’t have the flair of it being Africa or Asia.
I’m living in a small town off of the one main road.
I’ve seen anything between horse drawn covered wagons and a yellow Lamborghini driving down it.
It’s common to see herds of sheep and cows cause a traffic jam.
I see rich Gypsy homes and small shacks.
I’m told in the region of Oltainia, Romania that there are ½ million people, spread about in 300 villages, with only 700 known believers throughout the region.
I feel a darkness that I can’t explain, other than my knowledge that Jesus’ name is not known here.
I’ve seen an old woman rejoice at receiving a bible for the first time and another throw it in the ditch.
I’ve unexplainably loved this place within the first days of arrival. The church here is turning my focus again from being a busy Martha to a worshipping Mary. I’m relearning to sit at the feet of Jesus with most mornings spent in prayer at the church.
I’ll be honest and say my thoughts have been on home and what that means. I’m excited to get back into nursing, the process of finding a place actually makes me sick but nursing is something I love, so that horrid process of finding a place to accept me would be worth it.
But God….he’s a funny one.
I’ve decided to get back on the bull, if you will. These past 10 (soon to be 11 months) on The World Race (the beginning of the bull ride) the long up/down, good/hard experiences; leaving me tired, sore, pleased with what I’ve done has been GOOD. Just a Good, Needed, Freedom bringing, learning time. The operator of my life (like the bull ride) gave me a choice to get back on, through my own prayers of asking what’s next, so when my squad flies home out of Bucharest, I’ll be travelling back to Draganesti–Oltand working with our contact here. With the children, widows, and meeting the need for a community nurse. This southern part of Romania has .2% Christian. There is a need in Eastern Europe for the love and freedom of Christ to run through this place, a need I was unaware of. If I don’t feel tired now, I know I will when I come back from Moldova, alone, and settle down in Romania until my visa and finances run out. Romania is not in need of me, they are in need of Him. When I am weak: He is strong. They will be getting me back weak, but apparently that’s a good thing.
I don’t know what’s next. I don’t know what these next 4 months until home will look like. Shoot, I don’t know what home looks like.
Please keep me in your prayers.
Pray for His provision. Specifically, that my monthly student loan payments will not increase (which they were supposed to do about 2 months ago and haven’t, woot woot!!) That a job would miraculous be available to step into when I get back to the US. Pray That I would have a community and a church to go back to wherever that ends up being. Pray that my current finances get me through to late September and home again.
Pray for his purposes to be revealed while I am here; whether these next 3 months are a starting point for future missions here or elsewhere or just meeting a need while I am in the area. I know God has big plans and I’m excited to be able to take part in them
Pray many come to know the saving love of Jesus Christ
It’s goin’ be a wild ride!
Recap: I'm staying in Romania. be home sometime in September.
