I walk through the door into the gypsy’s hut for the 4th time since I have been in Romania. The rest of the team is already inside the small 12 by 8 foot house. There is room for a bed, a bench, a table, and a stove. The space is barely enough for all of us to squeeze in, but Alby’s wife insists that everyone come inside. They welcome the crowd of us though because our body heat instantly makes the room warmer. The little stove by the door just cant keep it warm enough.
Today is different than the other times we have come because Alby’s brothers are here. There are two of them. Precious old men with calloused hands and hard face, but like Alby they have a certain twinkle in their eye. Today there is no smile as they sit on the foot of their dieing brothers bed.
They both look up as the door opens for us to come inside and move aside to make room for all of us. I’m blown away that they would try to accomadate us when I feel so intrusive on their sadness.
I end up getting to stand next to the youngest of the 3 brothers, who was still over the age of 50. He keeps gesturing at me, trying to communicate, but I can only nod and smile a lot. He is smiling too at times. The all seem happy that someone other than themselves cares what happens to their brother.
After we sing a worship song or two the younger brother, the one I was talking to, goes and sit down next to Alby. He turns looks his brother in the eyes and starts to sob. Heart wrenching sobs. I cant do anything but cry as well. Not only am I crushed by his pain, but I am taken aback by the intimate moment that we are being allowed to sit in on.
Saying goodbye to his older brother, such an intimate time, and he lets us, strangers, witness and be apart of their anguish and despair.
As I walk out the door later, wiping the tears from my face, I think to myself how odd this would be in America. That it would never happen. That I would never let strangers who had come to pray four other times, participate in the mourning of my family. These gypsy people welcomed us into their home and lives just like family.
It has left me in awe of what the Christian family is in some places.
