To all of you who are wondering what in the world is going on, well let me fill you in on the ministry we are doing this month. We arrived in Pitesti, Romania just under two weeks ago. Pitesti is a decent size town with around 167,000 people and is just south of the beautiful mountains of Romania.
This month we have been working the Pastor of the Living Hope church here in Pitesti. Our ministry this month involves going to some of the nearby ghettos to spent time with the residents. The majority of the people are considered Gypsies and tend to live a rough life. The issues that are a struggle for them consist of drugs, alcohol, huffing glue/other chemicals, sex trafficking, abuse, and poverty. From what we were told most of the people in the people group don’t usually live past the age of 50.
We spent one afternoon helping one family wash rugs by hand with bars of soap, a scrub brush, laundry detergent, and a hose. The joy they expressed from just simply helping was unreal. All they want is a little love without any strings attached.
We also spent our time with the kids playing games, holding them, taking their photos, and just giving them attention. The lack of attention and lack of healthy love these kids get is unreal.
Imagine walking into a room full of kids. Ages ranging from a couple years old to mid teens. You notice one of them signal you over to them because they want you to sit next to them. You think to your self, heck why not, and proceed to sit down next to the kid you don’t really know. You sit down on the floor and they wrap their little arms around you, holding on to you as if they have never been held in their life. Not wanting to let go because of the comfort you bring them just by showing them some love and compassion. All they want is someone to hold them and love them. It’s absolutely heart breaking.
Now, I can’t tell you what their home lives are like or if they have both parents or if they have any brothers and sisters. I can only tell you what I’ve gathered from spending time with them. They light up like the sun when they see us walking towards them, they don’t want to say goodbye or see us leave, but they absolutely love the time when we are all together.
Our host Christi and his family are doing amazing things here. Just showing love to the people of Pitesti who need it most. He doesn’t have any agenda, except to show these people how special they are and how much he wants to love them. It’s inspiring to see how much one man and his family can help out when his intentions are pure and loving.
Until next time…..
People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.
— Mark 10:13-16
