I have been in Romania serving with my squad for one week now! We are currently in Craoiva, where we are partnering with Hope Church Romania in sharing the hope that we have in Christ throughout the city. The area we are in has been called a “graveyard for missionaries” and is considered unreached with about 0.5 percent of the population being born again Christians.
My squadmates and I have been able to participate in several ministry and outreach opportunities throughout the city. The Roma (gypsy) community has a strong presence where we are. They are a highly oppressed and marginalized community. I have had the privilege now of going into three different Roma communities to share the love of Christ. The Roma’s are often described negatively and do not usually get along with the Romanians, so I did not know what to expect going into their community. As we drove up to the first community, our car was greeted by several kids happy to see visitors. As we pulled out coloring sheets, the kids were so grateful for something to do and scattered to get their friends and brought them back to join in on the fun. We did not speak the same language, but the joy of the Lord was evident through laughs and smiles as we played games with our hands and danced together with no music.
The next day, I went into another Roma community which is one of the poorest in the area to bless them with some food. It was a much different experience. We were once again greeted by many children running up to our van. I was bundled up in many layers still freezing, yet many of the children who came for food were out in the freezing cold without shoes and jackets. Once we began passing out food it became very difficult because they were pushing, yelling, and fighting all trying to get the simple food items we had. There was happiness and joy seeing the smiles on the children and their mothers faces as they received food items, but there was also a heaviness seeing the extreme level of poverty and despair.
In the third Roma community, we were able to go into their church and put on a program for the kids. Before leaving, one of our partners told my two teammates and myself that we should plan a lesson to share. On the fly, we decided that we would talk about how we can trust Jesus no matter what using the story of when Jesus walks on water in Matthew 14. We began by singing Jesus Loves Me, and then through a translator I shared with the children the story in simple words. We finished by playing Simon Says and Charades. The room was full of smiles, laughter, and many selfies. It was such a beautiful time sharing the love of Jesus.
Over the years of serving in children ministry, I have grown to love the simplicity of the lessons I get to share with children about Jesus’ love. I have found that Jesus has met me and given me simple reminders and encouragements as I have put His Word into simple truths for children. The Lord met me in the same way as I told the kids that we can trust Jesus no matter what. He reminded me that I too can trust Him no matter what. I have only been on the field one week and there have already been struggles, spiritual warfare, doubts, and questions in my mind if I am being effective for the Kingdom of God. I can be just like Peter, quick to walk out on the water to join Jesus, and even quicker to sink at the first sign of wind and opposition. The Lord is beyond good and has continued to show me that His ways are higher, and I can trust Him no matter what!
