As I travel home I am pondering the journey God took me on with tears of joy. I am so blessed that this was offered to me and that so many of my family, friends and even friends of friends who were a part of this journey of obedience and faith. This, a journey of love. God often sends us places to challenge us to grow and he also sends us to just love on people.
Our trip was primarily centered around a medical mission - a clinic held in church. A clinic that ran for 6 days touching at least 708 people. A clinic that ran for 2 of those six days with only nurses and translators....how could this be? It’s because we weren’t just taking a blood pressure or blood sugar reading, we were listening to each persons story with open ears. People started lining up before 7am for a clinic that did not open until 10am. Not everyone needed medicine, some just wanted to be checked out. All who came left with vitamins and some toiletries. It’s taking the time to pray for with and for each person.
It’s Women’s night. Women worshiping together, sharing their life stories, encouraging each other and praying for each other. It’s unbelievable that so many people have been praying for Sophie and others who have started praying. All prayers are heard by our God - who was present with us while at the same time present with Sophie. I remember one of the villages I visited on my first journey here, to the village of Sofia. To hear that one man’s life, Ian’s, had been changed when missionaries from America had traveled to his village and told him how much God loved him - traveling all that is way to share that love. They left him with a small token gift, which he can’t remember exactly what it was, but he did remember there was a gift - saying it changed his life forever. The love, knowing he wasn’t forgotten. God is always with us, never forgetting us - it’s just that some people need to be told or reminded - in dark times as well as during happy times.
It’s the orphan children. Those who run up to the van with expectant smiles that people would come to visit time, spend time with them, play with them, laugh with them, and hug them. To sing ‘and hand motion to ‘Yes Jesus loves me’ - a song we pray they remember all of their days - drawing them into a relationship with God. To see the joy when a child (every child) receives a brand new pair of flop flops - replacing those held together with string or literally not even a whole shoe. Because of others generosity - and willingness to be a part of our team - WE all were able to make a difference!
It’s believing God will always send us with the exact people he wants to go, to be greeted by the exact people he wants us to share life with. It’s believing that we will have the right amount of supplies to take, right on time, because our God provides for our daily needs and desires. It’s about not stressing. It’s being willing to be stretched, to be flexible, to live with strangers, to eat different food, to not always be able to understand what is being said to you in Russian / Romanian, and be ok with that until a translator can be located. It’s recognizing someone’s face from a previous journey - and letting them know it is good to see them again (and them beaming when remembered by me - which really lets them know they are remembered and loved by God - that brings pure joy). It’s meeting new people for the very first time. I am thankful for all the blessings I have - and I have been blessed to be a blessing to others.
