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| Stephanie |
I'm about to go on an adventure. It's not a spontaneous quest to satisfy the wanderlust of my curious and daring notions.
In fact, it's not spontaneous at all. It's an adventure with a purpose. I began planning to go to Romania again long before typing out this blog post. God has been, and willing continue to, provide and to prepare my heart. rather than springing from the desire to travel, the motivation behind this new journey is to share the most beautiful news I have ever heard with those that I will meet. It is to encourage those who have already heard and believed in the only One able to take them from death to life. It is to dare them to live wide open in obedience to their Savior and King while rebelling against apathy and conformity. It's to embolden them to "throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles" and "run with perseverance the race marked out" for them (Hebrews 12:1).
As someone who needs to preach the good news of the Gospel to myself on a regular basis, because I am so quick to forget what Christ has done on my behalf, and as someone who knows all too well the struggle of "throwing off everything that hinders," I am humbled that God has called me and all those who claim the name of Christ to share His message with those who will hear it. It is a message that applies regardless of age, nationality, or gender (Galatians 3:28). In Christ, there is hope that crosses borders, and I am willing to cross borders to share it (Mark 16:15).
Some might ask, "Can't you do that without leaving your own country?" The simple answer is, yes. Yes, we could stay in our hometowns and share the truth of Christ as we have opportunity. I'm burdened for my own country. I love Americans. I pray that each person I interact with in my "neck of the woods" would be drawn to Christ by my life. But I also know that God's plan and His Body is world-wide, and we currently have the freedom and opportunity to share the truth with people in Romania and encourage them by our presence. To those who ask, "Why are you going to Romania again?" I simply say in response, (and I believe my team would echo this), "Why not?"
Unlike most trips American take to other countries, my team and I will not be building houses, working in orphanages, or digging wells. Our "work" cannot be measured. We will be traveling throughout the country, sharing our testimonies, singing, and worshipping God with natives. We'll share the gospel in a high school and at a children's camp, get to know the young people there, and spend time encouraging those we've built relationships with in previous years. I pray God uses us, but I know He will use the Romanians to encourage and challenge us as well.
Three years ago as I traveled Romania, the stories I heard of persecution and God's goodness strengthened my faith. The older Christians there who had lived through communism did not have the dispositions of those who had been beaten down and discouraged. Granted, it had been quite a while since communism had been overthrown in Romania (1989), but many of them had joy they couldn't contain. It was a deep joy that has known God's presence in desperate times. Being in another country also showed me in a greater way how HUGE God is.
You see, I'm not one to seek adventure. I have learned that as I seek God, He provides the adventure. His adventures are ones I certainly don't want to miss. Please pray for our team as we go and while we are there. We would greatly appreciate your prayers. Please don't spend this vapor-life (James 4:14) without knowing the One who created you and loves you enough to provide the Way of escape from sin and death (John 14:6).
