It usually takes awhile to come to terms to the things that happened during our trips to Romania – in the moment, we see the small picture and it’s always wonderful.  As time passes, we get to see a bigger picture as God reveals new blessings as He continues to use the trip as a lesson to us all!  I’m seeing a much bigger picture now after a month and it’s amazing!

The trip to Romania itself has become a rather expensive endeavor.  Fundraising is very difficult and the amount to get there, and have fruitful ministry, has definitely increased.  So, I ask myself, is God telling us our time has come to an end and it’s ok – we’ve done what He set out for us to do and we can feel fine with the years spent?  Or, is God teaching us that money is not a deterrent to doing what He has in store for us?  So, I’m open to whatever God wants us to do in the future!

As for this trip, as planned, every day we got to spend very special, intimate time with most of the orphans and gypsies we go to see.  The atmosphere was relaxed and flexible; the activities were often last minute planned as we got calls as to who was free.  God brought those who we thought weren’t even in the country to be in Romania the same time we were!  So blessed by that!  Each day’s stories could fill a book so I’ll choose one situation that I did not see coming!

I’ll give a short background to Imola.  I met Imola on my very first visit to Romania in 2003.  She was in the horrible orphanage in Reghin, but seemed different than the other teens.  We found out that Imola’s dad died and then her mother got sick and put into a hospital.  So, as a teen, she was put into an orphanage, with others who spent their whole lives there – there was a noticeable difference.  She was quiet, gentle and shyly attached herself to me whenever a seat was open next to me.  I looked forward to being with Imola – everyone loved her!  As a side note – it didn’t matter to us that the other teens were not like her – some were boisterous, some were “odd,” some were angry, and others, well, others were orphans.  These are the same kids, now young adults, that we now are so proud of, serving the Lord, meeting with Provision Romania every week, living lives that glorify Him!

Well, after Imola was released from the orphanage, she got married.  On one of our trips, we met her husband – he was not the friendliest fellow, but she seemed fine – her greatest blessing we could tell was her son, Szabi.  As trips came and went, we found Imola to be more and more unhappy in her marriage.  The details were never specified…except after one trip when she got baptized, (to our delight), he forbade her to join the other orphans from Reghin for Bible studies or even meeting together.  I was sad that Imola seemed so easily to obey him.

As usual, when we get to Romania, we contacted Imola to meet up with her.  We picked her and Szabi up and went to a restaurant to meet with the other Reghin orphans – about 10 all together.  As we caught up on new things happening in our lives, Imola asked to speak to me alone, as she had some difficult news to share.  I took Cristina with me, the director of Romania, and we sat off to the side.  Imola confided in us that she was contemplating suicide a few months ago, but because of Szabi, she would not go through with it.  Her husband was physically, verbally and emotionally abusing her!  Her doctor put her on antidepressants because she was “depressed!”  She did not know what to do but she was scared to ask for a divorce because she might lose her son.  At this point, I was afraid that Cristina would say that, unfortunately, orphans do not have the same legal rights as others in Romania.  But, no, Cristina promised Imola she would help her in whatever way she needed – first to seek legal help in arranging a divorce, housing, a job – all the simple things in life that she deserved to have.  I was wearing a bracelet with the word “Hope” on it and gave it to Imola – we prayed that she would believe in the hope that God will provide a way out.  We hugged and kissed a hundred times, never enough, and she thanked me and Cristina.  We told her we would not forsake her and things were going to change.  We told her, more importantly, Jesus would not forsake her ever.  She calls me Mami Nanci – no sweeter name – and as we parted, I cherish Imola telling me, “I love you, Mami Nanci.”

I’ve kept in touch with her every day since getting back to America.  We shared Bible verses, worship songs, words of encouragement and love.  Each day she seemed stronger – all of a sudden, she told me she told her husband she wanted a divorce!  She told him she would no longer take his abuse.  He went to strike her but she threatened to call the police and he backed away!  Her mother in law also abuses her so she had to deal with her as well.  Cristina met with her to start a divorce plan, find an apt., and a job – she will move closer to Cristina and start a new life.  Cristina found out that Imola was supporting all of them – so unless he gets a job, she will get no support from him.  Of course, this is a situation that must be bathed in prayer as time gets closer to the reality of what’s happening – her husband may not continue to be cooperative.  But, Imola is willing to put up with the verbal abuse that continues every day, knowing that God is moving in her life!  She takes pictures of her wrist with the bracelet “Hope” on it and sends them to me – what a difference HOPE in the Lord makes – it rescues the brokenhearted, the weak, the downtrodden, those who see no sense in living – Hope gives strength and courage to those who feel they have no one who will stand up for them – but when they put their trust in Jesus and those who He sends to help,  the future looks brighter.

I think of how this went down – if we had not been with Imola this summer – perhaps, she would have believed Satan’s lies that there was no other way out of this situation and she would have taken her own life – a life that Jesus died for!  Through all this, I pray for her husband – that he would see his need for a Savior too.