Finding the Small Town in the Big City

 Well folks, I have been in Romania for over four months now and I think it is safe to say that I have settled into life here in the city of 3 million people. Sometimes when I am roaming around the city, I find it hard to believe that I have gone from the small town of Gordonsville and relatively small town of Bluefield to Bucharest. Yet, God is revealing to me that cities have a small town feel to them when you know your neighbors or maybe this is just unique to Ferentari. Each and every time I feel slightly alone walking down the street or waiting for the bus and start to feel a little twinge of homesickness for good ole’ Gordonsville where I can always find someone I know in Food Lion, I see a familiar face. This afternoon I had an experience that felt like I was in a small town in the South. Last Thursday, Anna and I were craving raw veggies and ranch dip, so we went to the vegetable stand at the end of my street. While I was in the process of collecting my change from the veggie man, a man began to speak to Anna in Romanian and didn’t seem to back off when she said she didn’t speak Romanian. I figured he was begging for money but turns out he was trying to convert us to Christianity. We then proceeded to walk away because my Romanian isn’t strong enough to discuss theology in the middle of the street. Upon arriving home, we realized that in the confusion I had forgotten the red peppers. This afternoon, I decided to make some soup because it has gotten chilly here fast. Again, I made the pilgrimage to the veggie stand for some onions, turnips and whatever else is  in season. The veggie man quickly recognized me and insisted that I take a pound of peppers for free because he remembered that I had forgotten mine last week. I am so thankful for simple blessing like knowing the veggie man in the midst of this big city, I am a small town girl at heart.  

Please be in prayer for this church leader as
he goes back to minister to his community.

In other news, this past week was a Gypsy Smith School which is a leadership training program for Roma church leaders from churches all over Romania. There were 21 men in attendance. One of the men graduated from the program during this session because he had completed eight sessions. These men stayed in the Ruth Centre and ate all three meals at the Ruth School which meant that Anna and I were on major dish duty to help the kitchen staff with the increase in demand for their delicious food.