Mountainside Mornings in Turgu Muresh
I awoke
this morning at 6am with the chilled air and resonance of the barking dog next
door. As I climbed out of my hammock, slipping into my sandals and out from
underneath my big blue tarp, I looked up into the black sky above setting my
tired eyes to gaze on the ¾ moon to the west. After making my morning coffee
from a handkerchief and bowl I set out with my grandpas’ old coffee mug on the
last mornings visit to the hillside above.
The walk
is easy, as a dirt trail leads up through the corn fields and onto the
hillside. It is about a 20 minute walk to the clearing in the field. I pray as
I walk and watch the humid warmth of my breath escape my lungs creating a
gentle fog in the cool morning air.
As I
enter the clearing and look out east, the sun has begun to rise East/Southeast
over the valley, past distant hills, but the heavy cloud cover blocks the
brilliance of the painted dawn.
The
light is dim, the air is chilled, the birds are singing, and the deer are
grazing. The tractor is plowing, the wind is brushing through the trees, and
the fog is rising. This is my last morning here in Turgu Muresh. I never
thought I would like Romania, yet I found beauty. I had written this place on
the bottom of my list, yet have grown to love it. The people here are kind, and
real. The scenery of the rolling hills and open fields takes my breath away. This
place will remain in my heart.
The
ministry this month makes me smile. The ministry this month was just being
real. Yes we preached and taught, we invited people to the church that we were
partnered up with, but it became far more than that. We have found friends
here. Not just people that we met and left, but actual friends; Will, Tomash,
Bogey, Orpal, Nandi, Dani, Helga, Laszlo, Levi, Reni, Zsuzsi, Zoli and Zozo. I
will never forget these people. They have definitely taken a place in my heart,
and some are crazy, some are calm, some are funny and some are just fun. But
they are all amazing, and I will miss them dearly!
I can
only hope they saw in us the light of Christ. I can only hope that what they
saw was the difference between “religion”, “law”, “tradition”, and the true
relationship that Christ so longs for. I can only hope that they get it, and
get hungry for Christ.
Good by
Romania, and I hope to see you again!
~William Diefenbach
For some pictures, visit Brother Blakes Blog,
http://blakerushing.theworldrace.org/?filename=romania-update-1020
