On Thursday, during craft time, Keith - being his normal goofy self - drew Charlie's name inside a heart, with permanent marker, on a little girl's arm. Before long, all of us had kids swarming around us asking for our autographs on their arms. By the end of the day, the kids looked like they had tattoo sleeves.
So, Friday, we came armed to get their autographs. Some of us had the kids sign our t-shirts - others signed bandanas. And still we had kids wanting our autographs on their arms - even though our names were still there from the day before.
The morning followed it's usual routine. But we asked the youth leaders to meet us back at the church at 3pm. Originally the idea was just to have a time with them that they could ask any questions they wanted about us or the US. Though a couple of them could speak English - language was still a barrier. So we wanted a time to spend just with them without other distractions around. But God led our time in a different direction. It became a time of us affirming the work they are doing with Iosif. We all took the opportunity to point out the remarkable things we were seeing in these kids.
I told them (and I truly feel this) that they have become like my little brothers and sisters. I told them that even though I would soon be going back to America, part of my heart would remain in Romania with them. We also had the privilege of praying over them and commissioning them to go out and do God's work in Gataia. I'll set it up for you the same way we set it up for them. In our church, anytime a person or group of people are getting ready to go on a mission trip, the spiritually mature believers will gather around them, lay hands on them, and pray over them before they go. This is what we wanted to do for these kids. It was a powerful moment. Over and over again, I heard others say what had been in my heart all week - that God was doing a mighty work in Gataia and he was using these kids to help do it.
I heard throughout the week that a lot of the kids (not just youth leaders, but VBS kids as well) want to visit the US. I think our country has this image of being some magical place where dreams come true. Times are tough in Romania - as they are all over the world. However, people often leave Romania for other surrounding countries where there are more opportunities. Some kids are living with grandparents because both parents have had to leave the country to find work. In some cases throughout Romania - that is the same reason kids are in foster care. During our time with the youth leaders I told them that God has them in Romania for a reason. He could have placed them in the U.S. or England or Germany, but he chose to place them in Romania. On Thursday, when Keith gave the message, he talked about following God's path and how even when we stray from His path, He will guide us back to it. He also told them that you are never too young to start seeking what God wants you to do. My hope for Denisa, Dennisa, Marius, Mada, Christi, Larissa, & Lige is that they see the path God has placed before them in Romania. I believe that they can make a difference in Gataia and beyond to the rest of the country.
After our time with the leaders we got ready for the evening program. We didn't play games because we wanted to set the mood for what we planned to do next. As the kids arrived for the program Iosif had them line up in front of the church steps. On the top landing, we had four chairs set up with four bowls of water. As and act of service, we followed the example Christ gave us and we washed their feet as they entered the church. All week long we had been treated like stars and we wanted them to see that we had come to serve them, not to be worshiped by them. We started with the youth leaders. I had the privilege of washing my dear little sister, Denisa's, feet. As we washed their feet, we prayed over them. I'm not sharing this to show how godly we were - for we are all far from Godly - but to show how a simple act can have an impact. As we washed feet, Iosif explained to them that this was not some magical ritual but that it was an act of service. He read the story from John where Jesus washed his disciples feet so that they would understand we are just trying to live out what Christ taught us to do. For many of the kids, they had never seen a foot-washing before, let alone taken part of one. The last one to have his feet washed was Iosif. There were tears in his eyes as well as ours.
We surprised the girl youth leaders in the closing program by presenting them each with a rose. We had acknowledged them in our private time during the afternoon, but we also wanted to acknowledge them in front the of the kids. We wanted the kids to see the respect that the American team has for the youth leaders they have year round.
As the kids left VBS, Iosif gave them each 2 books - one on Moses and one on David. We also were able to hand out left over Biker Sunday shirts to all the kids & helpers. After a group photo on the front steps (with all the kids in their new shirts), the majority of the kids started to leave. However, there were many that now wanted our autographs in their new books or on their t-shirts. One of the most moving moments was to see one of Charlie's groupies take him over to the water pump so he could wash Charlie's feet. When it was time to go, there were many tears. It's amazing how such tight bonds can be built in such a short amount of time. I held it together until our van drove away and then the tears flowed. When I got out of the van at Ramona's Iosif saw my red eyes and asked what was wrong. I just said I was happy-sad. In usual Iosif style he said, "There is no crying on Fridays. Serios!"
At dinner that night we were joined by the pastor, Marcel, and his wife, Elvira. Just as we had encouraged the youth leaders that afternoon, they encouraged us by saying we had done a good thing in Gataia. It's times like this where I can look on New Testament scriptures with new eyes and see what the disciples were talking about when they returned from their journeys. That is why I take the time to write long updates when I return. Just as the disciples told their home congregations of all the good in the villages they visited, I believe it is my responsibility when I return to report all the good I see in the places I visit.
God is doing amazing things in Gataia. It may be a small village, but I find it no coincidence that God has brought several people from Timisoara to Gataia to minister. I believe a spiritual fire is being ignited and that those involved are going to spread the flame of Christ's love throughout Gataia and the countryside beyond. Many of these kids will end up going to college in Timisoara. My prayer is that the fire will then ignite there as well.
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...Well, that is the end of Week 1 of our trip. On Saturday, we left Iosif's house (but were told by him, "No crying on Saturdays! Serios!") and headed to Scott & Carolyn's place in Arad which is about an hour away. Thus begins week 2 of our trip with a whole new set of adventures and a brand new cast of people. Tomorrow you'll get to "meet" them. But for now, if you are willing, please take time to pray over the kids of Gataia (Denisa, Dennisa, Mada, Larissa, Lige, Marius & Christi) and also for Iosif and the work God has him in charge of there.
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