The ice began to melt this afternoon and I sat and watched the avalanche of snow rain down on the sidewalk from our roof. One day it’s snowing like powdered sugar sifted onto the ground from grey skies, and the next, the streets are covered in brown slush and the sidewalks are piled up with mounds of shoveled debris.
Unexpected – Always expect to be caught off guard on the Race. One minute, I had just gotten out of the shower and was in the jankiest sweats and baggy tee washing someone else’s dishes. The next, I’m being approached by a ministry contact who was pounding on the door to let me know that I’m supposed to be ready to go to dinner and practically pushed me out the door before I had a chance to put my coat on. I, along with another teammate Jamie, was invited into their humble home, treated to an amazing traditional Romanian meal, lovingly prepared by a charming grandmother straight out of an endearing Oscar winning film about how a grandmother’s cooking saves a crippled boy’s broken heart. I sat at the “table” situated in the center of the small kitchen – about the size of most of your closets, probably – the sink to my left, and the door unable to close because I was in the way. I sat there observing, as I am often apt to do, and loving every second of it. There was the most adorable little girl sitting at the table, so of course, I was distracted by her, but I was also tickled by the multitude of languages being spoken around me. Romanian, German, and English melodiously flew through the air. Rather than feeling isolated and confused, I felt completely at home. What was set on my plate was a layered concoction of polenta, feta, and crisped bacon bits topped with plain yogurt. To the side, Marion spooned an oven roasted sardine, tomato, and potato dish.
Despite all the delicious food on my plate, I felt as though I was already getting filled up with love. Then, unexpectedly again, I felt my eyes begin to water. It has been so long since I was sitting at the dinner table with a real family. I mean, sure, the dining situation wasn’t extravagant, we weren’t served with the best china, no one was on their best behavior, and I was sitting there in sweatpants. It felt like home. No words were needed to see just how much this family loved one another, and I felt so blessed that I was invited into this sacred haven – so humble, so real, and so natural.
After dinner, Marion and Andrea read a bedtime story to Naomi right at the dinner table and they all prayed together with grams. I almost lost all the composure I had left in me. I sat there pleading with Dad – please photograph this moment, God, and allow me to Photoshop myself into it one day. I want this. I want all of it. A family that loves each other and Jesus so much, that an absolute stranger would be able to feel it overflow into them simply through observing.
Life as a missionary can be so lonely sometimes, even if you're surrounded by people all the time.
The next morning, Grams Anna invited us over to her home for prayer time in the morning and a cooking lesson! It was such an amazing blessing to be in her presence. She is such a sweet and loving woman. Bless her heart. The food was amazing. We made stuffed cabbage rolls called "Sarmale" and Stuffed red bell peppers with tomato and sour cream sauce. Traditional Romanian food is deliciios! If you'd like the recipe for either of these dishes, send me an e-mail 🙂 I would warn you though, it would take a good amount of time. I guess that's what makes it so good…
