In the check-out
line, I was trying to explain to the cashier that the tag read 9.99 L, not
13.99 L as it rang up. A boy in line
behind me spoke up, “You can tell me.” I was thankful and a little embarrassed
for my pettiness. Packing up the goods
and putting away the money took a few minutes and we left the store/mall area
with the boy and his girlfriend. As we
walked out talking, they asked if we wanted to go with them. No real details or fluff, just straight
shooting. So….as expected, I said yes. As we turned the corner and found Oli and
Andrea’s friends, we ask how old they are.
They are in high school…High School!
These friendly, outgoing, worldly people were only 17 and 18 years old. They were excited about the fact that we were from the United States; but even more excited about our ministry travel year. It was a great God designed opportunity to experience the people of the city, pour into a younger generation and live into spontaneous faith. We walked a promenade over the city, the kids drank pepsi and ate chips. We talked about our trip, their school, our mission, their futures. We talked about Romania and the United States. We talked about unemployment, college, culture and dreams.
Beyond our great conversation that first night, the kids met up with Kristin and myself the following day. We went to a mall for Kristin’s shopping needs, to a small boutique earring store for me, and a cafe for us all. We went to the main pedestrian street and into a very unique coffee shop-Cafe de Paris. It was down a small alley…and I was looking for table and chairs, umbrellas, and anything Parisian. Yet, I found a dark-lit room with royal purple velvet chairs and couches. The air was smokey and the music loud. We all sat down and checked out the menu eager for some delicious coffee. Just like a bunch of high school students we were silent at the expensive prices, then looked at each other and silently concluded, “we can’t afford it. is it wrong to get up and leave?!” That’s just what we did.
Blinded by the light of day as we exited, we were commenting on our budgets. Missionary pay is like being back in high school. We, on the World Race are dependent on others for our support; we have team budgets that pay for our meals and resources. Extras are on us, paid for with personal money. Dipping into my personal money is like breaking into my piggy bank. So, we went on about our search for affordable coffee. Finally, we settled at the “ice cream shop” as I called it. The cafe with amazing tiramisu ice cream also has cafe drinks. We got to sit outside in the pedestrian street and sip and dine while people watching. It was so European!
I ordered an espresso macchiato that was delicious! Over coffee I was aware that these kids are the next generation for Brasov. Their eagerness for the Lord is inspiring and heartbreaking. They have desires in a place that rarely recognizes the legitimacy of young aspirations. I will continue to pray for Ovi, Andrea, Sammi and Flavius. They will continue in high school and go on to college. They will strive to follow the Lord in a legalistic, rules oriented society. They will make challenging decisions and learn from mistakes. My prayer is that the Lord provides discernment, good judgement, honest hearts and living witnesses. These kids also made me aware of possible work for my future. The Christian organizations that flood American university and college campuses do not exist in Eastern Europe. It could be my mission to help ignite such organizations in student settings; I do after all want to work in cross cultural education-travel, student abroad, volunteer and church trips. I think the Lord used these amazing kids: Ovi, Andrea, Sammi and Flavius, to show me new, realistic options for my future.
