We have now been on another amazing mission trip to Romania. I love to see Jesus touching people in different ways every time we choose to go. This time I was there with my old mission team Impact team. We visited Erik Almroth and Ruben Roth who are now missionaries in Romania. God has really opened doors for them and touched many people through their work and it is amazing to see this.
When we arrived, we first went to the town of Shigishoara. There we visited a children’s ministry. Their focus is on children and young people from vulnerable and poor areas. For me it was the second time I visited them. It was so nice to see how those who work there stay in the work year after year without giving up even though it is hard work. They lay down their lives for the children and young people.
One day, while walking around the city, my friend Hannah and I saw some young people smoking in a corner. I felt the Holy Spirit prompting me to say “Jesus loves you”. I was expecting a cold response, but one of the girls replied, “That was just what I needed to hear.” She was reminded to come back to God. She had a faith in him but explains that lately she has wandered away from him. One of the other girls was also touched so we told them a bit more about who Jesus is.
I think it’s so beautiful to see how so few words like “Jesus loves you” can be exactly what a person needs to hear. When the Holy Spirit is allowed to lead, something is always happening, whether we see it in the moment or not. Therefore, we just need to be bold and dare to go on what we feel the Holy Spirit is calling us to. It is always worth it!
After a few days in Shigishoara, we went on to Oradea where Ruben and Erik live. There was one evening that was extra special for me. We were going to help train young people in a church to go out on the streets and preach the gospel. I knew specifically which girl I would go with. When Erik was going to divide us into groups, he put me together with that particular girl. When we started evangelizing, it was a bit difficult to communicate as she did not know English very well. At the same time, there was a guy who hadn’t planned to come to the evangelization who felt that the Holy Spirit was asking him to come to us and be our interpreter. So suddenly the problem was solved!
After walking around for a while, we saw a woman standing outside a gate. We went up to her and started a normal conversation. Then we started telling her about Jesus’ love. She opened up to us and told us that she is going through many difficult things in her life. Then she started crying and crying. Both me and the girl I went with hugged her tightly. Then she described that when we hugged her she could feel Jesus’ peace and love. The encounter with this woman ended with her wanting to receive Jesus into her heart and start a relationship with him. This encounter really made me understand how something as small as a hug can make people feel the love of Jesus through our lives.
The last night in Oradea before I went home, there was a worship meeting where there were several young people who were touched by Jesus. A few weeks earlier there was a big conference in the same city where I and some Bible school students were present. Two people from our team met some young people on the street and invited them to the conference. These young people then had a radical encounter with Jesus. Now, a few weeks later, they also came to this evening of worship. Once again the Holy Spirit fell upon them and it was so moving to see.
After the conference, Ruben and Erik have taken care of them to help them further grow in faith. That’s why it’s so good that we have missionaries on the ground who can help people grow into the Christian life over a longer period of time.
God is really doing amazing things in Romania! Let’s join in prayer, and believe God for even more!
In closing, I want to send you reading this to never look down on the little things you can do in your everyday life to show people who Jesus is and how much he loves every single person around us and all over the world. I encourage you to let the Holy Spirit lead you in your everyday life, in your mission field. It can really transform people’s lives!
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Lovisa Lindroos
