People ask me “how was your vacation?” Oh, I respond, thanks, it was great. It really wasn’t quite a vacation, it was a mission trip. To those who know God, I would also add: it was even better than a vacation. I was ready to stretch myself. For those who like to exercise or lift weights, you know that great feeling when you push yourself up a few notches? Whether it be more weight, or a longer distance, you push yourself and you enjoy the feeling of the push and the ‘burn’ as they say. The extra sweat. Seeing what you can do. I needed both a spiritual and emotional push. To have time to focus on something other than my to-do list.
Yes, of course going on a mission trip we do good things. And hopefully inspire others. But it is also often about renewing our spiritual batteries. And I think that is OK. ….. I do feel that this trip was divinely inspired. I don’t recall ever getting an email from AIM, let alone about a mission trip. But here in my inbox there appeared an email about upcoming mission trips for individuals (like me!). And there was Romania. My grandmother was Romanian, my daughter was born in Ukraine, and I have also been to Lithuania. So I am very interested in Eastern Europe and its history and people. And I needed a stretch. And then this possible trip dropped right into my lap.
Fast forward to being there just a few months after that email. I was the oldest in the group and at first was worried about that. I sort of felt like Mrs. Brady there in the airport.But the other team members, while much younger than me, inspired me so much with their faith and joy. And they encouraged me to play my flute not only in the airport, but on the train as well! They taught me a lot about Christian podcasts, Christian music and prayer. Maybe I taught them a little about Romanian history.
I don’t have any pictures of the people of our Romanian town, or their horses or roosters, because I feel their personal lives are private and deserve respect. But the memories are engrained in my mind. I feel so blessed to have spent time with the Costea family. They were such an inspiration to me, their selflessness and commitment to Christ and His word. I kept thinking, wow, I want to be like that. How do I do it?
Final thoughts for those reading about Romania on the AIM site — All people are Gods children, no matter what country they live in, what their circumstances are; any trip you choose, if you choose so you can become closer to God and spread His word, is worthy. Maybe you will choose Romania. If you do, you will find people whose parents or grandparents have been through wars, their farms taken, their lives dictated by communism, their churches destroyed; but hopefully with your smile and joy in your heart you will share God’s hope, while God also works in you the changes that only He knows you need.
