We had talked about going to Japan for some missions work (did you know that many people displaced by the earthquake and tsunami in 2011 are still living in temporary housing?). At the same time, we were in talks with Scott & Carolyn Pouncey of Rock of Hope Ministries in Romania about some help they needed. The Japan trip was up in the air while the Romania trip had more solid needs and specific dates that we could plan around. After praying as a family (the kids were totally involved in the decision as well) Romania is where we decided to go.
I'm grateful to Keith, because without him we probably wouldn't have gone anywhere. He got the idea in his head (planted by God???) that it was time to go somewhere, so he took the initiative to ask around about opportunities in Japan and to ask Scott if he needed help. If it had been left up to me, I would have waited to hear about a trip already planned and then decided to join it. But that is not how Keith works. He doesn't wait for things to fall into his lap. If he feels called or nudged or whatever you want to label it, he acts. I love that about him.
But he wanted to stay a month! That's a long time to be in a foreign country. That's a long time to be out of your comfort zone. That's a long time to be in an apartment 24/7 with two kids in tow... no matter how much I adore and love them! This girl likes her personal space... and quiet. Did I mention I like quiet?
But, was there any reason not to go for that length of time? Keith works from home. So as long as he has internet he can work from pretty much any where in the world. He also had a lot of overtime this past year which provided financially for the trip. The kids would be out of school and I would be too. We had a friend that agreed to house-sit for us. There was no reason not to go for a month.
So, in early January we started planning our trip. I took care of getting the kids passports. Keith took care of booking plane tickets. Before I knew it, the months flew by and we were on a plane to Romania. Best... decision... ever.
Our first few days were spent acclimating to the time change. And remember that quiet that I like so much? Well, while we were staying in the city where Scott & Carolyn live there was not much of it. And breaks from my kids? Well, I think I had maybe one afternoon without them around. But no personal space didn't seem to be such a big deal to me there.
The reasons I had for staying home, in my comfort zone, were stupid and selfish and based on fear. The reasons for going (and for why we'll go back) are based on love, friendship and hope. Part of my heart is still in Romania. It's been there since our frist trip in 2012. I feel like it is becoming my second home. I don't know what that means for our future, whether we'll spend a month there every couple of years, or if we'll spend every summer there. I don't feel that God is calling us to move there permanently. But, I've learned a long time ago to never assume that the place I'm at now is where God is calling me to stay. So, who knows? Maybe in a few years we'll be planning our trip to come back to the States for a month before returning home to Romania. I have no idea. The future is not mapped out for us. And, by the grace of God, I am OK with that (just don't tell my mom... it might freak her out!) :)
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| July 1, 2014 - At the airport ready to go to Romania. |
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