So the tax rate has increased this week in Romania from 19-24% and I was asking what the family will do to save money on food and stuff. They said Hungary was only 30 minutes from here and that they were going to make a trip. I was thinking of picking up supplies for tomorrow’s VBS so I thought I’d tag along. The prices are much, much lower in Hungary and you see people crossing the borders with cars packed to the brim with groceries. Some of them are taking them back to sell at the market and make profit. Going into Hungary today was no problem. But it was very hot and traffic very packed on the narrow country roads. We sat in the heat at times with the doors open letting a breeze come through the car as we were bumper to bumper. When we got to the store it was cool and cozy and we decided to kill time and let the sun go down a bit before heading back. We had a blast in the store. The Hungarians don’t speak English so it was fun to see my good friend and Romanian mentor Adina being a foreigner with me as we tried to figure out the conversion rate of our currency and stuff.
On the way back we got asked to pull over at the border of re-entry into Romania. They took my passport and the title to the car and we sat there for AN HOUR AND A HALF. It was a little frightening at times not knowing why were being held there. We thought at one point that they may be looking for a bribe as car after car seemed to be waved through. We were praying and then often silent sitting there and at one point I remembered that I have been memorizing Psalm 139. I asked if my friend wanted to hear it…..she said yes. So I spoke God’s word out loud and felt comfort and power from the words……”you know when I sit and when I rise, you perceive my thoughts from afar….you hem me in behind and before, you have laid your hand upon me”……We had no Bible there except the words in our heads. She began saying the Lord’s prayer in Romanian and then I started quoting a few more passages. At some point soon after that an officer came up and we found out that the computer had broken that they use to stamp the passports so they had driven my passport back to the Hungarian border for a stamp. WELCOME TO ROMANIA. As we eventually drove off I realized that our faith had grown from that experience. I also saw how important it is to know God’s word in moments of crisis or fear. When you have no other thoughts or comforts it is great to speak God’s words out loud.
On our way home we saw a woman who looked like she had been beaten up standing on the corner of the road. She may have been a prostitute but we offered her help and she tried to hide. We kept driving and saw a beggar on the ground near dumpsters looking for food. At the same time we almost got hit by another car pushing through a round about. We made a stop near by at a friends to pick something up and had to drive down a deserted, dirt road filled with old tires and huge ditch like potholes in the ground……..My senses were on overload as I took in so many disturbing sights and sounds one after another…….it’s such a different life. Romanians have so much pride in their culture, their foods and their families. But it’s hard to be here and hope that things will get better for them. The government is still so corrupt and the economy is nearly impossible to get by with. The only hope is found in Christ and the hope of a future from him and the simple blessings he gives in the everyday.
Domnu Cutina
God bless you……
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