As I prepared for 2 Christmas programs and a food distribution to families I stressed! Did I have enough gifts? Did I have enough food? Was it to much? Who would come? Who would be touched? Was I doing the right thing by giving gifts or would it be fights because one kid got a gift who came but the neighbor kid who did not come did not receive one? Should I wrap all the things individually or give 2 things in a package? Would the real reason for Christmas be lost in the giving of gifts? Oh boy, so many things!
Would the kids come? Would they all come and I not have enough or would none come and it would be all for nothing? Well, I decided to close my eyes real tight and just trust God! And here is what happened:
In the literacy morning program, seven kids came! It was a beautiful morning! All received a sandwich and tea with an awesome bible lesson, about the birth of Jesus, given in their own tongue. After we sang Happy Birthday to Jesus and handed out 2 gifts for each child. There was great joy when they opened their gifts of hats, gloves or a scarf. The other package was a flashlight, given by the German team! It wasn't quantity but it was quality!
The afternoon church program was all about quantity! Over 80 kids packed into the small village church! I was expecting and prepared for 50. They showed up one hour early and they steadily came in and out for the next hour. We sang songs and the Pastor of the Church shared the Christmas story! We sang Happy Birthday to Jesus and all received a sandwich, juice and small piece of cake. I brought 50 gifts with me but since I did not have enough for all I will hold them and give in January to the kids who come to the program every week. I was sad for this but felt it was the right thing to do!
After the program, we went with a team from the church and distributed 18 bags of food and some gifts. Each family received physical food but more important they received a song and a blessing for their family. It was cold and muddy but a beautiful evening sharing the love of Christ. The next day we traveled to a small village outside of Medgidia and prayed and distributed food and gifts for 2 families and 4 widows. It was a beautiful time to visit the families from the local church and celebrate the reason for the season, Jesus!
We also provided food and gifts for a family who stays in the trash all day, and a family of 17 children, ages baby to 20. The family is from the Pentecostal Church in North Romania!
When all was said and done and I reflected about all the things God enabled us to do, I was overwhelmed. I pondered about quality and quantity!? Was it more important to have more people with less quality or more quantity and less people? Well, I think God is perfect and since all the programs were given unto Him and for His glory the quality and quantity was equal! For 5 years I dreamed of being out in the field and giving to those He loves and who are in need and this year my dream to serve God and His people in a foreign land has begun!
Thank you to all those who helped make this Christmas full of love for so many! You opened your hearts, your love, your money, your time and the windows of heaven opened and poured out a blessing we could not contain! Thank you for all who served along side of me from all over the world! We thank the Jesus in you for your hearts to serve us here!
