România.
Expectations: Transylvania, vampires, and witches.
Reality: Transylvania, witches, and darkness.
Romania is a beautiful country. There is farmland for miles around, decorated with bright orange and yellow trees, begging for the fall season to stick around a little bit longer. Sadly, the air hurts my lungs and I’m pretty sure I can smell snow. There are herds of cattle and sheep scattered over the fields, and at the end of the day, pushed through the town to get back home. The people are beautiful, friendly, and very open to conversation and learning why 22 Americans are visiting their small town.
Most mornings we are greeted with rooster crows as early as 4am, before the sun even comes up. I reckon they have to crow at some point, and maybe they choose 4 in the morning because they know it’s going to be dark all day and the sun probably won’t shine. As beautiful as Southern Romania is, the sun has shown its face maybe once in the past 2 weeks we have been here. Without sun, there is a heaviness of darkness and a literal fog over the town. The weather in itself has dampened my spirit and I think I can say it has affected the whole squad. Not only is there a heaviness from the weather, but also in a spiritual aspect.
It’s harder to get out of bed in the morning. Energy needed to function is a chore in itself. Depression, anxiety, stress, and homesickness is a real thing. Second guessing and questioning why I decided to leave people and a country I love is always in the forefront of my mind.
We have crossed over the mountains from Transylvania, land of the vampires, to Draganesti, the graveyard. 2% of the people here are professing Christians. The region we are in is the location of a witches conference, where over 300 witches gather every year. (I am not very knowledgeable on this, so I’m not exactly sure what or where it takes place.)
Though spiritual warfare is big stuff, my God is bigger. I am determined to not let my light be put out by the fog. I will let the Son shine through me and I hope His light will be so bright, the people here will be given an abundance of hope and gladness. The darker a room is, the brighter a light will shine.
When I feel discouraged and in doubt, I will always go back to what I know is true. Yall, He is the reason I am here and He is SO worth it! Sometimes I need a little reminder but in the end, I always know this is the truth.
Again, I could not be doing this without all yalls support and prayers.
Much love..
