Romania Thus Far

Hey Friends and Family!

Thought I would give a little update as to how my first month in Romania is going, things I have been learning, and what’s to come!

 

My first month here has been a dream. There have definitely been some hard parts and some parts where I got disheartened, but the Lord continued to be my strength and rock.

 

As I spoke about in my last blogs, I am on the evangelism team. In the beginning, that looked like searching and talking to anyone and everyone, and now it looks likes pursuing those that I met and making deeper friendships and leading them closer and closer to Jesus. This looks like inviting them to worship, having thoughtful conversations, and continually pursuing their hearts and understanding them deeper, day by day.

 

Some days of ministry look like going to Roma (or more commonly known as Gyspy) communities and the market, but recently, it has looked like a lot of shoeboxes. We go from place to place and pass out shoeboxes and bring joy in that way. Each box contains a bible and goodies, it’s really special to see their faces light up when they open them up.

 

Being in the Roma communities leads to a new found sense of gratefulness in my own life and a new perspective on what God’s love looks like in cultures not my own. Something I pray every morning is for eyes like the Father’s and a heart like His as well. He answers this prayer every single day and I see how situation and heartache doesn’t affect Jesus’ love for His children, He really does love us all the same.

 

Friends here are starting to feel a lot more like family and it’s a community that I will never get the chance to experience again. The people surrounding me are filled with love and the Holy Spirit, and we all push and challenge each other in growth and intimacy with the Father. Our days are filled with laughter, which is much needed after some of the harder ministry days. This joy we all exude is not of our own, but from God, which is why we can find joy in these hardships.

 

The squad and I spent Thanksgiving here in Craiova which was really sweet and an experience I will never forget. We will also be spending Christmas and New Year’s here, and then we leave for the Dominican Republic! We will arrive in the DR on January 12th and spend around two months there. It will definitely be a temperature difference between cold and gray Craiova to sunny and warm Dominican, I will definitely be switching back over to shorts and t-shirts!

 

Life is busy but God gives me rest, days are hard but His burden is light, I am not enough but God fills in where I lack, He is everything I need and I see more and more of that everyday.

 

Thank you to everyone who has supported me thus far in my journey, your love and kindness means more than you know and the kingdom of God is truly nearer than any of us could any of us could imagine.