Full Circle.

 

I type this from Craiova Romania. Yes Romania again for our last country on the race. It was a sweet gold nugget from the Lord to let us finish where we started. We have come full circle but we are more refined, more obedient, more sanctified, stronger and more dependent on the Holy Spirit. The Savanah I was 10 months ago would be so proud of who Savanah is now. 

 

So Why Romania Again? 

We had an incredible opportunity to come back and serve the Ukrainian refugees and be of service to Hope Church. As you know, we thought it was so random our squad went to Ukraine when that was never planned initially, but now we have seen the intentionally of God and the greater purposes of being there. For instance a lot of us were able to connect in a deeper way to the refugees because we knew the places they were talking about. We have been to their hometowns, restaurants, and coffee shops that are now are destroyed and gone. The Lord imparted us a compassion for Ukraine and it’s people. So in that, we gave it our all as we served one last country one last time as a squad.

We partnered with the church to help Ukrainians with food, medicine and support. We packed convoys with food and supplies to go to Ukraine and to the houses the church has for the refugees. We went grocery shopping for them and took them to parks to get away and to just enjoy. We were able to listen to them and their stories. We got to really see them and just hear who they are and what they felt. We also helped them as they transition and figure out their next steps. 

 

With my specific team, we helped our friend Yuri and his family fundraise for needs that the church could not fulfill. Our goal was to raise 300 USD for him and we raised 450 USD! He was so grateful and moved by the generosity. He said, “I’m not used to receiving money from people, and never really have, but I also never been in this situation before.” He was an incredible man who also was very real with his sadness and grief over the war. 

 

My team and I got to still be able to pour into the local church body with doing evangelism and putting on youth night for the Romanians. 

 

All in all, it was the most incredible way to close out this journey. Through the busyness and chaos the Lord provided moments of peace, rest and stillness to draw near to him. 

 

It was an honor to serve the Ukrainian people for the second time while also serving Romania for the second time all in one month. The Lord was painting a beautiful picture that I now see it in its fullness. 

 

Thank you Lord.