Day in the Life: Craiova, Part 2

At 5, the whole squad returns to the church for worship. Our favorite thing to do is to bring Romanians to this time of communion with each other and the Father. It reminds us that missions is not our ultimate goal on this earth: worship is. Worship will exist long after we leave Romania and continue when we meet again in Heaven for all eternity. Missions is inviting others into this enjoyment of God, a white-hot flame in our hearts. We want all of Romania to enjoy Christ with the ferver we get to experience daily. We can’t neglect this ultimate purpose, because if we only focus on saving souls and not on the reason our souls were saved, our priorities become skewed. 

The sky is dark by the time we head back to the mission house, but Christmas lights twinkle brightly, infecting the atmosphere with cheer. Today, Avodah, my team, is cooking dinner. We stop by the corner supermarket to pick up spaghetti noodles and lettuce. Back in the kitchen, Christmas music blares loudly through the open windows as we dance around the massive spaghetti pot and peel carrots. Dinner is always chaotic, usually late at night, with the whole squad in various states of exhaustion cramming into the tiny kitchen to stand, eating out of orange plastic bowls with mix-matched silverware. It’s too cold to sit outside where the table is, so we keep our elbows in and try not to bump anyone. As another team washes dishes, I make my second tea of the day and head up to Avodah’s room where we begin team time.

Tonight, we have feedback. Feedback is a time when everyone writes an affirmative and constructive comment for each member of the team. Whether we receive something positive or negative, we are challenged to humbly accept correction from our teammates. This time is always punctured by distractions, laughter, and stories from the day. I don’t mind, this time with my team is precious to me, and these women are possibly the best thing about the World Race. 

Rey is strong and gentle, with the most servant-hearted attitude that I’ve ever known. Sometimes I’ll catch her in the act of cleaning or making us sandwiches without being told or expecting recognition. Via is honest and unique. Never is there a day when I don’t wonder what my life would be like without her. Olivia is tender and kind, with an infectious laugh that sounds like popping bubbles on the surface of a cheerful creek. Abbi is wise and completely and irrevocably in love with the Father. Her words are powerful and overflowing with the Spirit. Ellie, the woman who started off as our Team Leader and is now one of my best friends, has a heart that beats daily to the rhythm of His heart. She loves His children with tender, fierce, and unprejudiced affection. I see the Father’s face reflected in these women’s eyes, and hear His voice when they speak. 

It isn’t until the sky has sunken into a dull dark grey that I’ll change into pajamas and climb into my bunk. Lights are officially supposed to be off at 10:30, but it always seems later that someone presses the light switch and darkness envelops the room. My bunk is next to the window, and an eerie glow from the city below cascades through the glass and lands on my pillow. I allow the echoing whispers, giggles, car rumbles, and the noise mission house cats rummaging around in the dead leaves in the yard hum me to sleep.