Ronnie in Romania

As I arose Monday morning after being woken several times by the perspiration of my skin and restlessness that it brings, I thought of the day that had just passed and wondered if today would be the same. I remembered the countless hours of driving crammed into 2 rundown Fords, with the blistering sun heating us like an oven and the cold breeze from the open window fluctuating with the holes in the road. I recalled the countless number of horse and buggies we drove past and the numerous people we met.

That Sunday was 14 hours long including, 6 meetings in Romanian with translators, and 5 church services in Romanian. Village after village we visited, some leaving quite a hopeful impression on me.

Overall, that day was like none I have ever experienced before. And as I later found out, probably like none I will ever repeat. Although at the time I recalled thinking “is how every trip will be?”

As I lay there thinking, thoughts from the previous day crossed my mind. I recalled how we had had a number of similar experiences in those 2 days and I significantly recalled encountering some truly amazing men of God who had a desire and love for the people of their country. I thought of their desire and the sacrifice it cost them to come to an understanding of who Jesus really is.

One man was particularly stuck in my mind; he was a man of high position during the time of communism in Romania. After being radically saved at 34 years of age he was then challenged 10 years later to reach the people who were perishing in the villages of Romania, with the Good News of Jesus. He has been doing this now for 16 years! He met this challenge with great sacrifice and God richly blessed him. He has since started 6 churches in villages that previously had none. One of those villages began with only 2 young girls and has since grown into 2 churches with over 400 Christians in the village.

It was not until later in the day that I realized that every day on this exploratory journey would not be like the first two, where we meet the leaders of the church in Southern Romania, saw the places where they have vision to plant churches and met some of the potential church planters.

Although the first two days were long and full the trip was very fruitful and rewarding. It was amazing to meet the local leaders, hear the vision they have to reach the un-reached, visit the villages and meet the potential church planters.

It was also great for me to gain a better understanding into the fullness of what NLI does, why we do it and to hear the local churches’ gratitude for our partnership with them.

So for me going to Romania was a journey that I will not soon forget not only because of the long, hard and hot days we spent travelling throughout Southern Romania, but because of the great impact it had on my understanding of a number of things. Things such as the dynamics of the church in Eastern Europe, the need there is to plant churches and develop leaders who have a desire to see the good news spread throughout their country, as well as helping me to understand the role I play and how I can contribute to the big picture of what NLI is doing to help.

Ronnie +

If your faith is not affecting something, what is it worth?