Let me begin by asking you to consider this commentary not as a blog post or article, but as a personal letter from me to you. To my friends and family that read this message, I hope that you will love hearing about my experiences and challenges in Romania. To those of you who don’t know me, I hope that this message will inspire a passion for Romania in your hearts, and lead you to serve Romania in the manner that God desires for you.
So now lets talk about Romania. Romania is an uncomfortable place to be when you are used to South Carolina. During my trip to Romania, the climate was hot. If you asked me while I was there, I would have told you that “hot” were an understatement. The heat builds all day and settles in your bedroom to cook you while you sleep. Your drinking water is prime at about lukewarm temperature, but by midday it too will be hot. It can also be difficult to become accustomed to Romanian diet, and sleeping through the sounds of fighting dogs and screaming roosters is also a struggle that must be overcome.
But how important is comfort? It was important to me before my trip. I like to take warm showers, drink cold water, and sleep in peace. At the beginning of my trip I felt like I was fighting back the real me, the me that wanted to complain and go back to sleep. By the end of my trip I didn’t notice the bugs and sounds and heat. I had somehow become comfortable in Romania. I wondered how this happened, and this was my revelation.
I hadn’t evolved into some kind of Crocodile Dundee alter ego who could handle any insect, animal, and climate. I hadn’t become some poetic leather tramp who loved the grit and grime of rough living. Something else had changed.
I was in love, and we all know how easy it is to ignore faults when you fall in love.
This was the part of Romania that caught me unaware. I could have never known that I would care so much about the Costea family and their mission to transform Romania for Jesus. I didn’t expect to miss Valentina and her big brother Alex after the last day of leading children’s ministry. But Romania truly did capture my heart. I miss Doug the dog, I miss the bees and cherry trees and beautiful, endless fields. I miss hearing the men’s voices as they prayed over their ministries and churches. I miss the women who work so selflessly for their families. Romania is a truly beautiful place, and after overcoming my issues with comfort, I began to see the Romania that God was trying to show me.
So much of Romania has come home with me, and everyday I want to be back.
How can I explain what it’s like to listen to Raul talk about his life with God, I can’t express the joy of sharing my life with children who long to know that they are loved.
When you deliver your last bible and see that there are more houses that haven’t been reached, families that still don’t have access to the word of God, you don’t think about how hot and heavy your backpack was when it was full, you think about how useless it is now that it is empty.
What I am trying to say is simple. The challenges and trials that Romania has to offer are laughably outweighed by the blessings. If you are reading this message because you are considering a trip to Romania, I have some advice for you:
1. GO to Romania. It’s that simple, regardless of your own shortcomings, God will use you for a greater purpose in Romania.
2. Establishing a firm and flexible mindset is essential.
By this I mean that your mind must be firmly set on going to serve God and not yourself. This can mean that you will overcome your fears or accomplish tasks that are beyond your power, by having a willing heart to follow God.
When I say flexible, I mean that you MUST be capable of switching plans and shaking up the schedule. It is difficult to spread God’s love or work hard when you are focused on organizing everything by your own understanding, so be willing to TRUST God.
3. Pray. I’ll admit that I struggle with believing in the power of prayer. But prayer truly is powerful, and you will be doing a lot of it in beautiful Romania.
Okay so I really wanted to try to convince people to go to Romania so I didn’t talk too much about my actual adventures and experiences haha. So if you want to see for yourself what it is like to be in Romania, please watch my video below!
-Love from Kevin!
