Once Upon a time- Romania (Raul and Ana)

Adventures in Missions (AIM) has contacts located around the world.  It is to these various contacts (local Nationals/missionaries of those countries) that the World Race sends ‘World Racers’.  *For clarification; ‘World racers’ are those who have/had signed up (like myself) for the World Race (11 countries in 11 months).   As a world racer, you hear of these contacts through alumni racers, squad leaders, coaches (an older couple who ‘parent’ the squad), and through AIM’s social media blogs and hash tags.Truth be told; some contacts get 'higher reviews' than others.  Nestled in the small southern Romanian town of Drăgănești-Olt, lives one of these phenomenal contacts that AIM has developed over the years.  It is also in this town of Drăgănești-Olt, that I found myself during September 2013 for my third month.

Shopping for 30+ people becomes
a little easier with lots of extra hands

I had just come off of a personally hard month, the month before in Serbia.  Although living conditions that we had in Serbia, where great…I was mentally and emotionally exhausted and every fiber of my being craved to be at home, ALONE and in my OWN apartment.

Grilled cheese and soup

I was most definitely NOT in the mood to live in a 2 story high ‘mission house’ with over ¾ of the entire squad.  We had all but 2 teams living under the same roof.  For 30+ people (guys and girls alike), there was a total of 4 showers and, if you woke up early enough, there was a slight chance you would potentially get a warmish shower. Oh and lets not forget the mass amount of cooking and food prep that took place that month.For each supper, it was up to one specific team to figure out the supper menu, then shop for the food and prepare it. Never had I ever cooked for that amount of people before!

As much as I loved my team of ladies that I was with, it took every ounce of strength within me to not ‘run scared’ at the sight of the tiny room that the 7 of us would be sharing/sleeping in.  To give you a mental image…even with a large bunk bed, 3 beds high (so think of a normal bunk bed…now add another layer to that), I still found myself sleeping on a foam mat on the floor.  In reality, I realized quickly that the 3X6 foam mat would be the only ‘me’ space I’d be getting that month.  Truth be told, even a space that small, quickly got ‘taken over’ by teammates and their things as the month went on.  I recall one night lying awake in bed, listening to teammates snore, gazing up at the moon and wondering how I was going to make it through and wishing to be anywhere but there. 

Little did I know the lessons God has in stored for me that month; many of which would be taught through local Romanian Pastor Raul Costea, his wife Ana Costea, their family and their church.  

Raul and Ana and their kids

Truthfully, I am having a hard time even in knowing HOW to explain Raul and Ana Costea’s heart, passion, vision and LOVE for their people and ultimately, for God. They are a couple who are so ‘Holy Spirit’ led, that simply by being in their presence…you know you are in the presence of God.  The church that they pastor, maybe small but it is one of the most powerful churches I know.  In a country caught in the traditions of old orthodox rituals and beliefs, there is a younger generation who remain ‘unchurched/unreached’.  Among that generation, is a high number of children growing up as orphans in a part of the world that is widely known for sex trafficking.  Raul and Ana (along with their church family) are well aware of this all and are doing all they humanly can to be God’s hands and feet right where they are. 

Sunday Morning Worship at HOPE church.  Raul is in blue on
the right of the photo

From kid’s clubs, to street ministry, to venturing into nearby villages to hand out Tracks (despite the fact that you can literally get arrested for it-which some on my squad almost did; another story for another day), to hosting world race teams…the people of Drăgănești-Olt are hearing the Word of God through Raul, Ana and the local church.  BIG things are happening.  God is very much alive and moving in Romania, through HOPE church and the people who pass in and out of its doors.

One of the things I LOVED about being with Raul and Ana is that, every morning before the official ‘ministry’ would start for the day, we would all make our way up to the church for the entire MORNING of praise, focused prayer, meditation, and scripture.  The ENTIRE MORNING, EVERY MORNING was devoted to this.  It was also during this time that Raul, being led by the Holy Spirit, would ‘speak Truth’ into the life of a squad mate.  I recall one morning when this was happening.  I was sitting in the back, hoping to avoid eye contact with him in fear that God had something to say through him, to me.  God chose that morning, to use him to speak to a squad mate.

Morning Focused Prayer and Worship

Raul spoke to things in my squad mates life that none of us knew about, despite having now lived with her in tight quarters for 2+ months already.  As I was watching her react to what he was saying, I knew she was just as shocked/amazed/speechless as I was about what was happening before our eyes.  It was later confirmed to me that what Raul had said, was EXACTLY what was going on.  It was so precise that he even described what she was feeling inwardly towards it.  Remember, we had only met Raul a few days prior to this and there was NO way he could have known how accurate he was, without the Holy Spirit working.  Spiritually, my eyes were opened through this experience and it began a journey of learning to become aware of the Holy Spirit in a brand new, exciting and empowering, way.  Each month that followed; whether through biblical study, conversations with trusted friends and other ‘Spirit Led contacts- my knowledge of The Holy Spirit and who He is, grew.

Despite crazy living conditions and ministry that stretched me to the core; my time in the presence of the Costea’s and the local church, will not be forgotten. 

To Raul and Ana.  To Hope Church.  Thank YOU for restoring my personal hope in Jesus.  Thank you for opening up my eyes to the supernatural world around me.  I know the journey isn’t over as I continue to face battles and grow within this area, but I thank you for allowing God to use you, to provide me the spiritual milk that I needed to begin to grow. Thank you for your care and encouragement during a rough time for me, my team and my squad.  Please know that there are prayers going up for you, from a Mennonite girl, in a small Mennonite town nestled in the heart of Canada.

Sunrise View from my bedroom window

Me with one of the gypsy kids I met
during a day of street ministry

 

Common everyday sights in Romania

So very cool seeing Biblical parables 'come to life'

Lessons from Africa; One year HOME!

1 year. 1 year breaks down to 12 months, 365 days, 8,760 hours, 525,600 minutes, and 31, 536, 00 seconds…

But who’s counting?

1 year, 12 months, 365 days, 8,760 hours, 525,600 minutes, and 31, 536, 00 seconds…that’s how long my heart has been incomplete.  A very special piece of it missing. A piece that only one small spot on this entire globe, will ever fill. 

Today marks one year since my feet left African soil. 

Where has this year gone?

Today is July 27, 2016 but I remember July 27, 2015 ‘like it was yesterday’.  One year since the last rounds of hugs and smiles that are now only a memory captured on photos and instilled in my heart.  Throughout the hugs and tears of saying, “Goodbye” the main thought going through my head was, “Don’t cry Nikki”.  It was followed by, “Once you start, you won’t be able to stop.  Hold on just a little longer.  Cry them out on the plane and then ‘pretend’ everything is okay upon landing back in Canada”.

Truth is, I don’t honestly know if I ever truly cried the way I needed to…either on the plane or in the months/year that followed.  Yes, I had my moments.  My moments of, ‘what the *insert choice word here*’ followed by anger, hurt, pain and confusion.  Moments where culture shock really was too much (or so it seemed) for me.  Such as the time where I literally almost walked into the automatic doors at the local mall entrance.  Moments where I have gone, “Remember that time in Zambia when…” only to stop what I was saying because it dawned on me that no one at home will ever truly ‘get’ what I experienced.  Those were the moments of frustration and ‘forget about it, you wouldn’t understand anyways’ conversation ending comments.  There have also been moments where I’ve felt like giving the person before me a good ‘shake’ as I starred at them in utter disbelief at the idiotic, un-educated comment that just left their mouth.  Stunned and confused, I walked away silently praying, “Dear God, close my mouth before I say something I will regret…” 

However, I want to re-share something I wrote August 9, 2015 on a blog upon returning from Zambia. 

“I recall a conversation that I had during one of my last nights in Zambia.  I was really struggling with coming home.  How was I supposed to ‘let go’ of the people who had grown so very dear to my heart?  How was I supposed to ‘let them go’ knowing that I may never see them again?  How was I supposed to be ‘okay’ knowing the disease running rampaged through their bodies and that I couldn’t do anything about it?  How was any of this ok?

I was told something along these lines, “Nikki, it is not a matter of if you’re ‘ok’ with any of this.  It is a matter of knowing who God is and continuing to daily surrender your (my) life and the lives of the kids here (and those at home) to Him regardless of what is going on inside your heart.  God has ordained each and every moment and step along the way.  He brought you back to Zambia now for a reason and now your (my) job is ask yourself, ‘what is it that God is wanting you to learn from the people/kids here (in Zambia) in your life?  How is He using what you are feeling now, to stir you on through the gifts, passions, desires and heart in which He has given you?”

How is He using what I am feeling now, on July 27, 2016, to stir me on through the gifts, passions, desires and heart that He has given me?

There are some days in which I think I know the answer. Days in which I think I have it ‘all together” but then reality kicks me in the butt.

Truth is, I don’t know.

Most days, I am a complete mess that is struggling to stay above.  Most days consist of me still trying to figure out the answer to that question.

Yes, I have taken strides over this past year and yes, God continues to walk alongside me in the process as well.  If I’ve learned anything since I became a Jesus follower, it is that following Jesus is a lifelong process.  He is constantly refining us, shaping us into who He is calling us to be.  We are human.   

The reality is we will mess up and we will make mistakes…but there is ALWAYS ALWAYS Grace.

Words cannot express how incredible thankful I remain, for the opportunity God gave me to go back.  It truly was God ordained and driven…each and every step along the way.  Another example of He truly is the GOOD Father who knows us better than we ever will know ourselves.  He provides for us even when we are unaware of what our hearts truly need.  Returning to Zambia when I did, is just one example of this within my own life. 

So what was it that God specifically wanted me to learn from the people/kids in Zambia?  

I’ve realized that it is not so much what He wanted me to learn…rather it is what He wanted to DO within me.  Through my ‘kids’ at Grace, God began a powerful healing process within me.  A healing process that I never knew I needed, nor could I have imagined.  Through my ‘youth’ here at home, He continues that healing process in a way that is just as powerful as when He began.  There is no ‘secret formula’ nor is it ‘rocket science’.  It’s quite a simple process really.  Every day begins with a realization that every breath I take in that day, is a precious precious gift.  It is a gift I don’t deserve but it is a gift God has chosen to give me.  From there, I must do all I can to serve Him by serving others.  To LOVE Him by loving others; regardless of the situation.  Though the process is simple, the application is a lot hard and I know that I am not the same person today, as I was a year ago when I stepped off that plane back in Winnipeg.  I’ve changed and I have grown but I also know that the healing process He began over a year ago, is far from finished.  It’s a journey.  A life-long journey with Jesus that I know will continue to take me on crazy adventures here and now, and around this globe.

 

Thank Goodness I got the Creator of the Universe in the ‘drivers seat’ guiding me each and every step of the way!  Above all else, I am thankful to know my Creator.  He, who created me in HIS image, knows every single hair on my head and whose thoughts about me, outweigh the grains of sand, and whose ways are higher than mine and greater than mine ever will be.  

Thank you Jesus; for loving me the way only You can.