Romania: Drăgănești-Olt
Fields of sunflowers turn their faces on the
train ride into town
Outsiders turn heads and stop conversations
But when we stop to talk, everyone is so kind
Everyone is also surprised when we tell them everyone we’ve talked to so far have been kind
Many grocery store ice cream cones
Only one temporarily stolen shopping cart
Bible study in a coffee shop
Well not a coffee shop. A bar with a lotto in the back that happens to have coffee
So much space and time
Purple flower crowns
A beautiful river walled in with cement
Ripe cherry trees with the sweetest fruit I’ve ever tasted
So much space and time and conversations
Some harder than others
Honey straight from the comb
Being welcomed into families and at tables
Feeling like I’m receiving more than I’m giving.
Romania: Craiova
honeysuckle and roses line the streets
pigeons crowd fountains and outside restaurants
The heat burns stronger in the city
Where there was too much space now there is none
English club, Kids club, Games, Worship, Testimonies, Youth nights, One-on-one meets,
Search for purpose turns into search for rest
Botanical Gardens beauty turns bitter after tragedy
How to comfort those that are hurting?
The young adults shrug and say “isolated incident”
Faces of Roma kids running off with melting ice cream
Juice straight from the orange
I take a picture of a baby kitten with its parents
Romanian woman points to the kitten: “If you like, take!”
I tell her that’s kind but I’m not here for long
Not here for long
For six months I’m off to a new place every five weeks or less
Part of me thought this was long-term ministry
It’s not
It’s short-term trips back to back to back
It’s the beginning of month seven
I’m tired
Albania: Vlorë
Bitter sweet seeing and saying goodbye again to friends within a week
Vespa freedom rides under the stars
Hotel rooms with broken AC units and water stains
Humidity makes waterfalls drip from their sides and puddle the floor
The sandy shallows of the Adriatic beach seem to stretch on forever
I walk into light reflected and expanded in the water sunset soft
Tourism touches every part of this city
It’s beautiful
People relaxing on vacation with their families
But then I think
So few of these people will stay here
I start looking for the people that stay
Waitress at Big Scoop that gets every complex order perfect
Man from Italy that rents scooters
When I ask if he likes Vlore or Italy better, he laughs
He came here for the economy
Little girl that came into Mulleri coffee shop
She begged and ran a sandwich out to her family
She didn’t eat any of it.
When she comes to our table again
Sierra takes her on her lap and gives her markers
She colors all over journal pages and herself.
A beautiful moment
Before leaving again
I thank God
For the small moments.
Oh, Sweet Megan, how well I understand the hardness of the goodbyes and the moving. Praying for your heart, dear friend.
How your writing speaks to me! Thank you. I’ve been pondering life myself lately, and the limited time we have here on earth before meeting our Lord God and Maker.
I just returned last week from Germany. God opened many doors for me to bring my mom home on hospice care – home to the house she and my father built in the 50s, from where God graciously called her to His Heavenly home peacefully in her sleep. I had never known where my mother stood in her relationship with the Lord, other than having been angry with God about both of her children’s divorces and disabilities following terrible Accidents. The day before she died she called out to our “Herrgott” (~Lord God) to please bring her salvation and call her home. Her anger and anxiety disappeared completely and she passed the next day in her sleep, surrounded by her children, 2 granddaughters and 2 greatgrandsons. I believe she is at peace and with the Lord now.
What you do is so very important! Please don’t ever think people don’t respond. The seeds of God’s love and redemption you are sowing now may be watered and weeded by another servant. BUT one thing we know for certain: God’s Word does not return void. While not everyone will choose God and His ways in their heart, there will be fruit. You are serving our mighty God. I love you. God bless you.