Bucharest, Romania
Sunday, July 29, 2007
We are all so excited! This afternoon, all 52 New Wine missionaries arrived into Bucharest airport. Quickly we collected our luggage, loaded our bus and headed straight for the Gypsies that captured our hearts several years ago. With maps in hand we navigated our way through the city. Once we found the street called '13 September' we knew that we were on the right track. Pressing through the busy rush hour traffic our hearts were rejoicing with the knowledge that soon we would be united with our precious little Gypsy tribe.
Our bus finally pulled up along side the bumpy dirt road that would take us to our final destination. Loaded down with flags and instruments and lots of love in our hearts, we started walking. Those of us who had been there before knew what to expect and we were leading the pack, sprinting along with eager anticipation. Before you knew it, sweet little Gypsy children were running towards us with arms flung wide open, embracing and kissing us. Right there in the dirt we got down on our knees and embraced each other in tight laughter-filled hugs.
Yesterday, Georgian and Winnie and our beloved Gypsy pastors Mitko from Kazanlak and Peter from Varna spent the day in Bucharest so that they could buy all of the materials for our celebratory feast: Corban (a Gypsy favorite, it is sort of a fat lamb soup) and it is always served with fresh bread. They also bought fresh watermelons for dessert.
Today, as Georgian and Winnie picked us all up from the airport, Pastor Mitko actually spent the afternoon with the Gypsies and helped them prepare the meal.
Because we have been visiting these Gypsies regularly, sharing the great and glorious Gospel with them, the Gypsies began firing off all sorts of childlike questions about Jesus and our new life in HIM. Mitko spent the day patiently answering them like a father. The meal was ready, and they began waiting for our arrival.
Finally our group turned the corner and we entered the Gypsy encampment singing and rejoicing. The Gypsies greeted us with timid but joyful cheers and embraces, still somewhat amazed that we would remember them and actually came back to visit. Right away, Niki Crosby, our anointed Holy Ghost photographer began handing out photographs from last year's visit. All of the Gypsies gathered around with excitement, clutching their photographs and showing them to us. They were pointing to the faces in the photos and telling us their stories with such pride and joy - it was as if we had just handed out gold!
As our group settled into the camp, there were sweet embraces all around and we formed a circle of joy and started dancing to the music. Our Gypsy pastors shouted out lots of Gypsy praises, and we were all clapping and rejoicing as one. With Mitko and Peter translating, Georgian began sharing a heart of love with the people. Then he announced that it was time to eat, and they came and sat down at the little ramshackle picnic table to enjoy this precious meal. The women began handing out watermelon and torn chunks of fresh bread to many of us, and it was an honor to be handed something by them. It is amazing that as poor as they are, and as hungry as they are, they wanted to share this treasure with all of us.
As we enjoyed the picnic, many of us fellowshipped with them 'one-on-one'. Those of us who had been there before, began catching up on events and could often be heard remarking how their children had grown taller and things like that. We discovered that one of the matriarchs was in the hospital facing some sort of a stomach operation, and several of her daughters were very concerned. We were able to pray for her and her daughters right there on the spot. Many of us also visited some of the people in their little shacks and had the opportunity to pray for them and their families.
In the meantime, some 'visitors' started showing up, which is highly unusual and unlikely. No Romanian in their 'right mind' would ever visit these 'dangerous' Gypsies, let alone bring their child along with them. Yet the Holy Ghost had other ideas... As our group marched down the dirt road on the way to the Gypsy camp, there was a husband and wife who saw us and curiously wondered who we were and what we were doing. As they stared at our group moving down the group and wondered out loud about who we were, the wife was able to read our name tags which say 'Party With The Gypsies.' Her husband decidedly declared, 'oh, just ignore them, I realize that these are just Pentecostals from America.' But his wife said, 'No, this is something different. Didn't you see their tags about partying with the Gypsies?' With that, she told him to go home and make his own dinner, and she grabbed her baby and went into the Gypsy camp.
At the same time, there was a well-to-do Gypsy couple who heard our music as we marched down the street. They too were beckoned by the Holy Spirit to come, and they did! They asked us, 'Who are you and what are you doing?' We shared with them and they continued to listen as the preaching began.
Georgian preached in Bulgarian with one bull-horn, and then Pastor Mitko translated what he was saying into the Gypsy language in the second bull-horn. As he ministered, the Lord began visiting the people and you could see some of the group gently respond.
Although this group was small, it became evident that this was a divine appointment. The Lord is not only visiting this little tribe of Gypsies, but because they have invited HIM into their lives, he is now also using them as a portal of blessing to their local community. HA HA, He loves to use the foolish things of this world...
Georgian began prophesying to the well-to-do Gypsy couple about their destiny, that the Lord had hand picked them to work with the Gypsies in Romania, and that he was a leader who would bring a move of God among them. It turns out that this couple had just returned to Romania after living in Norway for five years. They made as much money as they could there so that they could return home and have a better life in Romania.
Georgian had no way of knowing this, but this couple was just starting to regret their move back to Romania, as it seemed that no progress had been made here and things were still dismally the same. They felt little hope for the future here, no possibility for advancement. They were educated, very capable and had desires to do big things, but saw no way to make a decent life here in Romania. They had always had an open heart to God, but through the years might have lost their way. This divine encounter was blowing their minds, and it was so apparent that the Lord was moving on them in a mighty way.
At the end of Georgian's message, the team was able to pray for the Gypsies. A few responded to the altar call while others had asked for healing.
The sun was setting and soon we had to leave. Our time together was so short and they all began asking, "when will you return?" Our hearts ached as we embraced them for one last time. Winnie immediately made plans in her heart to return with a small group to have Bible study with them during her next visit to Europe. Lord, thank you for sharing these incredible treasures with us. Their eyes seem to call out for eternity, there is a deep calling to deep and an inexpressible yearning that words cannot describe. Father visit them, Jesus preserve them, Holy Ghost fill them daily. Amen.
- Reported by Karen Vangor of Global Celebration. Photos by Niki Crosby.
We are all so excited! This afternoon, all 52 New Wine missionaries arrived into Bucharest airport. Quickly we collected our luggage, loaded our bus and headed straight for the Gypsies that captured our hearts several years ago. With maps in hand we navigated our way through the city. Once we found the street called '13 September' we knew that we were on the right track. Pressing through the busy rush hour traffic our hearts were rejoicing with the knowledge that soon we would be united with our precious little Gypsy tribe.
Our bus finally pulled up along side the bumpy dirt road that would take us to our final destination. Loaded down with flags and instruments and lots of love in our hearts, we started walking. Those of us who had been there before knew what to expect and we were leading the pack, sprinting along with eager anticipation. Before you knew it, sweet little Gypsy children were running towards us with arms flung wide open, embracing and kissing us. Right there in the dirt we got down on our knees and embraced each other in tight laughter-filled hugs.
Yesterday, Georgian and Winnie and our beloved Gypsy pastors Mitko from Kazanlak and Peter from Varna spent the day in Bucharest so that they could buy all of the materials for our celebratory feast: Corban (a Gypsy favorite, it is sort of a fat lamb soup) and it is always served with fresh bread. They also bought fresh watermelons for dessert.
Today, as Georgian and Winnie picked us all up from the airport, Pastor Mitko actually spent the afternoon with the Gypsies and helped them prepare the meal.
Because we have been visiting these Gypsies regularly, sharing the great and glorious Gospel with them, the Gypsies began firing off all sorts of childlike questions about Jesus and our new life in HIM. Mitko spent the day patiently answering them like a father. The meal was ready, and they began waiting for our arrival.
Finally our group turned the corner and we entered the Gypsy encampment singing and rejoicing. The Gypsies greeted us with timid but joyful cheers and embraces, still somewhat amazed that we would remember them and actually came back to visit. Right away, Niki Crosby, our anointed Holy Ghost photographer began handing out photographs from last year's visit. All of the Gypsies gathered around with excitement, clutching their photographs and showing them to us. They were pointing to the faces in the photos and telling us their stories with such pride and joy - it was as if we had just handed out gold!
As our group settled into the camp, there were sweet embraces all around and we formed a circle of joy and started dancing to the music. Our Gypsy pastors shouted out lots of Gypsy praises, and we were all clapping and rejoicing as one. With Mitko and Peter translating, Georgian began sharing a heart of love with the people. Then he announced that it was time to eat, and they came and sat down at the little ramshackle picnic table to enjoy this precious meal. The women began handing out watermelon and torn chunks of fresh bread to many of us, and it was an honor to be handed something by them. It is amazing that as poor as they are, and as hungry as they are, they wanted to share this treasure with all of us.
As we enjoyed the picnic, many of us fellowshipped with them 'one-on-one'. Those of us who had been there before, began catching up on events and could often be heard remarking how their children had grown taller and things like that. We discovered that one of the matriarchs was in the hospital facing some sort of a stomach operation, and several of her daughters were very concerned. We were able to pray for her and her daughters right there on the spot. Many of us also visited some of the people in their little shacks and had the opportunity to pray for them and their families.
In the meantime, some 'visitors' started showing up, which is highly unusual and unlikely. No Romanian in their 'right mind' would ever visit these 'dangerous' Gypsies, let alone bring their child along with them. Yet the Holy Ghost had other ideas... As our group marched down the dirt road on the way to the Gypsy camp, there was a husband and wife who saw us and curiously wondered who we were and what we were doing. As they stared at our group moving down the group and wondered out loud about who we were, the wife was able to read our name tags which say 'Party With The Gypsies.' Her husband decidedly declared, 'oh, just ignore them, I realize that these are just Pentecostals from America.' But his wife said, 'No, this is something different. Didn't you see their tags about partying with the Gypsies?' With that, she told him to go home and make his own dinner, and she grabbed her baby and went into the Gypsy camp.
At the same time, there was a well-to-do Gypsy couple who heard our music as we marched down the street. They too were beckoned by the Holy Spirit to come, and they did! They asked us, 'Who are you and what are you doing?' We shared with them and they continued to listen as the preaching began.
Georgian preached in Bulgarian with one bull-horn, and then Pastor Mitko translated what he was saying into the Gypsy language in the second bull-horn. As he ministered, the Lord began visiting the people and you could see some of the group gently respond.
Although this group was small, it became evident that this was a divine appointment. The Lord is not only visiting this little tribe of Gypsies, but because they have invited HIM into their lives, he is now also using them as a portal of blessing to their local community. HA HA, He loves to use the foolish things of this world...
Georgian began prophesying to the well-to-do Gypsy couple about their destiny, that the Lord had hand picked them to work with the Gypsies in Romania, and that he was a leader who would bring a move of God among them. It turns out that this couple had just returned to Romania after living in Norway for five years. They made as much money as they could there so that they could return home and have a better life in Romania.
Georgian had no way of knowing this, but this couple was just starting to regret their move back to Romania, as it seemed that no progress had been made here and things were still dismally the same. They felt little hope for the future here, no possibility for advancement. They were educated, very capable and had desires to do big things, but saw no way to make a decent life here in Romania. They had always had an open heart to God, but through the years might have lost their way. This divine encounter was blowing their minds, and it was so apparent that the Lord was moving on them in a mighty way.
At the end of Georgian's message, the team was able to pray for the Gypsies. A few responded to the altar call while others had asked for healing.
The sun was setting and soon we had to leave. Our time together was so short and they all began asking, "when will you return?" Our hearts ached as we embraced them for one last time. Winnie immediately made plans in her heart to return with a small group to have Bible study with them during her next visit to Europe. Lord, thank you for sharing these incredible treasures with us. Their eyes seem to call out for eternity, there is a deep calling to deep and an inexpressible yearning that words cannot describe. Father visit them, Jesus preserve them, Holy Ghost fill them daily. Amen.
