Today we went to Salucea to have church with the gypsy families. Oh, how I just love this village!
I don't trust any of them. I know that I probably rarely hear the truth from them when they tell me stories about their life. But, I just love them! They need Jesus so much and it's the only meaningful, long-lasting thing I can give them. It's all my family has to offer....the truth of who Jesus is.
Let me back up and tell you that a few weeks ago we found a translator that I wish we found in January! His name is Emanuel and he is awesome! He speaks Romanian, English and Hungarian. Hungarian is what the people of Salucea speak. He also plays guitar and sings and preaches and whatever else you want him to do. He probably can juggle and pull coins out of his ear too...I'll have to check.
Back to church....
Our family arrives to Salucea with Emanuel and we visit the family that we sponsor for a while. Sweet sweet family.
We just sat and listened to them share things about their work and their life. The grandmother then says this to us,
You can come any day that you want to. It doesn't matter if you don't have anything
to bring... just come to hang out. The children love you and they are so
happy when you come. When they see your car they all start running after you
and yell, "The Christians are coming. The Christians are coming!!"
WHOA! They call us Christians! They know!!
Being referred to as a Christian today just sounded
so much sweeter than ever before and meant so much more to me
today.
What a privilege to be a little bit of Jesus to the world!
Well, after everyone knew we were having church they all gathered on the grass and Emanuel led worship music. The kids were all clapping along...ZERO rhythm! It was all I could do to not laugh, but it was just so cute! The music was wonderful and what a gift to bring them meaningful songs about our Savior in their native tongue!
Steve preached a little about Jonah. About 63 people were there and none of them had ever heard the story of Jonah!!! I think my jaw dropped, along with my heart, that I realized that most of what they know or will learn about the Bible is what we tell them. That's a serious responsibility! One I delight in and am humbled that we get to help with.
All summer long there has been a man that comes over to the summer program for the kids. He has four young boys of his own and they are well-mannered. They do not live in that side of the village, but walk over. Well, Steve loves this man. He doesn't know him too well, but his heart aches for him and longs for him to know Jesus. His name is Andre.
Well, today Steve washed Andre's feet as he shared how Jesus was a servant to his disciples and if we want to be like Jesus we need to serve one another. Later this morning, Andre became a follower of Jesus!!! We just told him to talk to God and share with him what he wanted and needed. He prayed and told the Lord that he wanted HIM to be his Shepherd and he wanted to be HIS sheep. It was a super sweet morning! The adults were SO attentive. They just seemed so intrigued and as if they would have listened all afternoon. Wish we had been doing church here all year long, but thankful we did it today.
Please pray for Andre and his family. He has four boys to raise and I can't help getting exciting when I think about their future with Christ! Their life is hard and to you and me it looks so bleak, but with Christ it is full of HOPE!
Thanking Jesus for new life that can only be found in HIM!
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