Listening in on my discusion group at the camp we attended last week in Romania, you would have heard some interesting questions and reactions to the truths we were pondering...
Alex: after a disccusion on salvation which comes through faith, not works, he expressed what he was feeling by saying "I feel a relief".
Marius: after talking about another Biblical truth he blurted out, "man, I have to read this book!" (referring to the Bible)
Alex: after a discussion on how you know if God is near and how you can feel God, asked, "I feel goosebumps when we are talking, is that God?". After I assure him that it probably is God, others in the group express, "I feel God too!"
Alex: During the last night's discussion, through a translator, he expressed that he needed to get somethig off his chest, otherwise he wouldn't be able to sleep. He shared, "This group has meant a lot to me. I have felt a brotherhood here, we have played together, laughed together and talked about many important things. I will not forget this group."
This is my 4th trip to Romania working at evangelistic English camps. Each time I go I am more amazed at how open and eager the Romanian students are to us. We are able to establish an honest and intimate relationship with them in a matter of days. Something that would take months, if not years, with American teens.
The church we are working with is a new church, less than 2 years old. Because of that they are very evangelistic. They started a club at a high school which has been very effective in attracting students. It has mostly been a social club at this point - the leaders connecting relationally with the students. The students at our camp this year are mostly from this club. They are almost exclusively non-christian. They showed up at camp not knowing this was a christian camp, so we were a bit concerned with what their reaction would be to the christian themes, the talks and discussion groups at night. The Romanian students were a rough bunch. From the moment they arrived, it seemed the only english words they knew were obscene. One of my American students came up to me and said, "The first time I was ever offered a cigarette to smoke was on a mission trip!" I was a bit worried: how would my students respond? Are they ready for this environment? Would the Romanians be put off?
One of the students in my group this year is Marius, pictured above. Marius had been attending the club for a while, he informed our group that two months ago he was an evolutionist and didn't care much about God. Since that time one of the club leaders had given him some books that convinced him evolution was not true, and forced him to consider Christianity. He was very open with our group all week. It was refreshing and exciting to actually be able to witness and be a part of someone "working out their salvation". Romanians are shockingly open, but they are also apprehensive in committing to Christ. Unlike American teens, who seem to take decisions for Christ somewhat lightly, they seem to truly "consider the cost" of discipleship.
The discussion groups follow the evening program which includes singing and a message. The discussion questions follow the theme of the message. All week the messages build to the gospel presentation on the second to last night. Our discussion that night was good. It culminated with the group reading through a gospel tract. No one was ready to take the step that night. I was a bit frustrated. Marius expressed that he wanted to accept Christ, but he felt like he needed a "kick in the butt". I really wasn't sure what he meant. I told him this was a decision he had to make on his own. I was not going to push him, I didn't want him to do it for me. Earlier that night, Marius' brother, Dani, who was also in our group, had lost his cell phone. Dani was very upset about his cell phone. We concluded our discussion with a prayer that Dani would find his phone. With my mind spinning with a mixture of amazement at the depth of conversation and disappointment in the lack of "closure" that we experienced, I went to my room to go to bed. About a half an hour later Marius knocked on my door. As I opened the door he blurted out "God kicked me in the butt!" He went on to explain that during our prayer for Dani's cell phone he had bargained with God that if Dani found his cell phone, then he would take that as a sign that God was real, and he was really speaking to him. Marius informed me that Dani had just ran up to him and informed him he found his phone! Marius said he began to tremble and sweat - he had been kicked in the butt by God! I talked with Marius for a few minutes explaining how to pray to accept Christ (he wondered what he should do after he prayed, should he just go to bed?), I prayed for him, we hugged and he left. Later that night he accepted Christ.
We are now in Satu Mare, the hometown of the group we worked with. I ate dinner at Marius' house last night. We talked about what he thinks God wants him to change in his life. He told me he wakes up every morning and his heart is "lite". Marius is only one of many stories. What started out with questions of whether or not the Romanians were ready for the week ahead, ended up being one of the most amazing experiences I have been a part of. Not only is God's timing impecable, He can even use something as simple as a lost cell phone to bring someone to Himself.
-JTP
Bible inspired conflict resolution. It was insightful and instructive. So if any of you have some conflicts with us; bring it on.
