Well I am officially in the second country of my outreach and enjoying every minute. I have been in Bulgaria for the past week (over Christmas and now New Years.) We have been really busy. The church of Bulgaria is booming, small churches are rising up everywhere. The Harvest is great but the workers are few. Pastors here lead multiple churches and drive to many cities through the week and to hold meetings. We have been trying to make it to as many of the 42 churches as possible, we maybe not, but we are meeting with many of them. We performed many kids services which really made me excited to work with kids once again. Every church experience was different. we could not plan out a schedule of events until arriving at the building because we needed to see what space we had.
Its crazy here, every person knows and demonstrates the word HOSPITALITY. It is like running through their bones. It puts us to shame. They just want to bless us... yet they have nothing. Everywhere we go we are blessed with food, or lunch, or gifts. We have made house visits to sick old ladies... yet upon arriving at their house they have a table set with juice and cookies. One lady in particular really touched me. She could not walk and yet when we crammed into her small one room apartment she said to us "I am so sorry I have nothing to offer you, but I could not find anyone to go to the store for me." She was almost embarrassed to have nothing to offer us. We were just simply blessed by her smile and story.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
A day in a Romanian School
It was the smiles that lay across their faces, wide like a clear morning sunrises upon an ocean. It was the laughter that poured forth from their lips, like beautiful birds joining together in melodious song. It was the way they stood shy and yet still proud. They, like us, are Gods children. They, like us, just wanted a little attention, someone they could share time with. They, like us, wanted to love and be loved.
In a forth grade level classroom in Sigishora with some poorer children, we were able to bring the gospel. Now, Terry the clown might not appeal to North American 13 year olds, but he was very relevant today. Today he even captured the hearts of grown women, of professional teachers… and of us. Joy resided in that small classroom, it swept through quickly like a mighty wind, everyone felt it, everyone was touched by it.
Their voices were off key and they mis-pronounced words … yet that seemed to make it even more beautiful. The way they said “Happy New Yer.” They sang and spoke in boldness, they received gifts with humbleness, they gave cheerfulness. We sat in their seats, they stood in the front. They were ready when we came, straight in two lines wearing hats that read “Ho, Ho, Ho” and standing in front of a chalk board that read “Welcome.” We were received with open arms.
After our presentation of songs, balloons and chocolate, the teachers invited us to have tea with them in their lounge. It was a small rectangular shaped room just wide enough for a table surrounded with chairs. The table had a clothe that was probably not usually there and every few chairs had bowls of biscuits and pretzels. “I am embarrassed at how small this room is, I am sorry we did not have more to offer,” the principle of the school had translated to us. “Embarrassed” we replied? “We feel like royalty.”
In a forth grade level classroom in Sigishora with some poorer children, we were able to bring the gospel. Now, Terry the clown might not appeal to North American 13 year olds, but he was very relevant today. Today he even captured the hearts of grown women, of professional teachers… and of us. Joy resided in that small classroom, it swept through quickly like a mighty wind, everyone felt it, everyone was touched by it.
Their voices were off key and they mis-pronounced words … yet that seemed to make it even more beautiful. The way they said “Happy New Yer.” They sang and spoke in boldness, they received gifts with humbleness, they gave cheerfulness. We sat in their seats, they stood in the front. They were ready when we came, straight in two lines wearing hats that read “Ho, Ho, Ho” and standing in front of a chalk board that read “Welcome.” We were received with open arms.
After our presentation of songs, balloons and chocolate, the teachers invited us to have tea with them in their lounge. It was a small rectangular shaped room just wide enough for a table surrounded with chairs. The table had a clothe that was probably not usually there and every few chairs had bowls of biscuits and pretzels. “I am embarrassed at how small this room is, I am sorry we did not have more to offer,” the principle of the school had translated to us. “Embarrassed” we replied? “We feel like royalty.”
Friday, December 14, 2007
Treasure these things in my heart
I h a v e b e e n p o n d e r i n g o n s o m e t h i n g , a c e r t a i n p a s s a g e : [ T h e s h e p h e r d s ] r a n t o t h e v i l l a g e a n d f o u n d M a r y a n d J o s e p h . A n d t h e r e w a s t h e b a b y , l y i n g i n t h e m a n g e r . T h e n t h e s h e p h e r d s t o l d e v e r y o n e w h a t h a d h a p p e n e d a n d w h a t t h e a n g e l h a d s a i d t o t h e m a b o u t t h i s c h i l d . A l l w h o h e a r d t h e s h e p h e r d s s t o r y w e r e a s t o n i s h e d , b u t M a r y q u i e t l y t r e a s u r e d t h e s e t h i n g s i n h e r h e a r t a n d t h o u g h a b o u t t h e m o f t e n . L u k e 2 : 1 6 - 1 9
I l o v e t o t r u l y t h i n k a b o u t h o w i t m u s t h a v e b e e n f o r h e r , a g i r l y o u n g e r t h a n I , b e t r o t h e d b y l a w t o J o s e p h w h e n s h e d i s c o v e r s s h e i s p r e g n a n t . S h e w a s s c a r e d . W h o w o u l d b e l i e v e h e r ? H e r p a r e n t s w e r e m o s t l i k e l y s h a m e d b y t h e e n t i r e c o m m u n i t y , s h e m i g h t h a v e b e e n c o n s i d e r e d a n o u t c a s t , d e g r a d e d b y a n a c t i o n t h a t s h e d i d n t c o m m i t .
I w o n d e r h o w m a n y d a y s s h e w a s l o s t i n h e r t h o u g h t s d r e a m i n g o f s t o r i e s t o c o m e , h o w m a n y p e o p l e l o o k e d o n t h i n k i n g s h e w a s c r a z y ? W o u l d s h e g o t o t h e w e l l h u m m i n g t o h e r s e l f t h i n k i n g o f t h e k i n g i n s i d e a s o n l o o k e r s p a s s e d g l a n c e s a n d w h i s p e r e d u n d e r t h e i r t u n i c s ? W h a t c o m m e n t s w e r e m a d e ? W h a t h u r t d i d s h e f e e l ? H o w l o n g w a s i t u n t i l J o s e p h u n d e r s t o o d a n d c a m e a l o n g s i d e h e r ?
I w o n d e r a b o u t h e r b e s t f r i e n d s , w h a t o f t h e m ? D i d t h e y b e l i e v e h e r ? D i d t h e y t r y ? W h a t l o n e l i n e s s s h e m u s t h a v e f e l t , I i m a g i n e i t t o h a v e b e e n a b a t t l e o f h e r m i n d . S h e d i d n t h a v e a n y o n e t o t a l k w i t h , f o r n o o n e w o u l d u n d e r s t a n d , i t c o u l d h a v e b e e n t h e f i r s t t i m e i n h e r l i f e t h a t s h e h a d t o d e a l w i t h s o m e t h i n g u t t e r l y a l o n e . H o w d i d s h e d o i t I w o n d e r ? I t s a y s t h a t s h e t r e a s u r e d t h e s e t h i n g s i n h e r h e a r t a n d t h o u g h t o n t h e m o f t e n . T h a t i s h o w s h e d i d i t , s h e t o o k h e r v i s i o n , h e r f a i t h a n d d e v o t i o n a n d s h e g a t h e r e d t h e m c l o s e t o h e r h e a r t . S h e s t o r e d t h e m t h e r e a n d t h o u g h t a b o u t t h e m .
I t s a y s t h a t t h e s h e p h e r d s t o l d e v e r y o n e , b u t M a r y , s h e k e p t t h e t r e a s u r e s t o h e r s e l f . S h e w a s n o t t h e e v a n g e l i s t , s h e w a s t h e c a r e t a k e r , t h e l o v e r , t h e m o t h e r . H e r j o b w a s t o t a k e t h e t r u t h a n d t o p r o t e c t i t , s h e w a s n t h i d i n g i t b y n o t t e l l i n g t h e w o r l d , s h e w a s p r o t e c t i n g i t .
I t a l s o s a y s t h a t a l l w h o h e a r d t h e s h e p h e r d s s t o r y w e r e a s t o n i s h e d , o r s u r p r i s e d , n o t M a r y , s h e d i d n t h a v e t o b e a s t o n i s h e d . Y o u c a n t e l l b y t h e w a y t h e s c r i p t u r e i s w r i t t e n , t h e r e i s a b u t b e f o r e t h e p a r t t h a t s a y s M a r y t r e a s u r e d t h e s e t h i n g s , t h a t s e p a r a t e s h e r f r o m a l l o t h e r s .
I a d m i r e h e r a s w e l l . S h e c o u l d h a v e s e e n t h e v i s i o n a n d c h o s e t o i g n o r e i t , s h e c o u l d h a v e s a i d N o t m e L o r d , I a m n o t _ _ _ _ _ _ _ e n o u g h , j u s t a s s o m a n y o f u s d o . B u t s h e d i d n t , s h e c h o s e t o f o l l o w G o d m o r e t h a n a n y t h i n g e l s e , t h a t m u s t h a v e b e e n t h e h a r d e s t d e c i s i o n . T h e r e w a s n o w a y t h a t s h e c o u l d c o n v i n c e p e o p l e o f w h a t w a s i n s i d e , s h e c o u l d o n l y h o p e t h e H o l y S p i r i t w o u l d r e v e a l i t t o t h e m .
I a m l e a r n i n g a n i m p o r t a n t l e s s o n a n d t h i s s t o r y v i v i d l y e x p r e s s e s i t f o r m e . I h a v e b e e n l e a r n i n g t h a t I d o n t h a v e t o s h a r e e v e r y t h i n g a n d f o r c e m y t h o u g h t s u p o n o t h e r s . I a m a l l o w e d t o p o n d e r a n d t r e a s u r e t h i n g s , t o h o l d t h e m c l o s e t o m y h e a r t . I f G o d h a s s p o k e n t o m e , t h a t i s a l l I n e e d , i f o t h e r s m o c k m e o r t r y t o c o n v i n c e m e a w a y f r o m w h a t I k n o w t o b e t r u t h , I w i l l h u m c h e e r f u l l y t o m y s e l f .
I w o n d e r i f I a m m o r e o f t h e e v a n g e l i s t s o m e t i m e s , t r y i n g t o t e l l t h e w o r l d t h e c h u r n i n g s o f m y h e a r t , I w o n d e r i f s o m e t i m e s G o d w a n t s m e t o s i m p l y t r e a s u r e a n d p r o t e c t t h e m i n s t e a d . I a m n o t h i d i n g a n y t h i n g w h e n I d o n t t e l l o f m y d e e p e s t d e p t h s , I a m s i m p l y p r o t e c t i n g t h e m .
I w i l l n o t t h r o w a w a y t h e v i s i o n t h a t G o d h a s g i v e n m e b e c a u s e i t i s H i s v i s i o n a n d I d o n t h a v e t o t r y t o m a k e i t h a p p e n . I w i l l n o t m a k e a n e x c u s e a s a n a t t e m p t t o e s c a p e t h e t h i n g s I a m s c a r e d o f . I c a n n o t c o n v i n c e p e o p l e o f t h e w o r k i n g s o f G o d i n m y l i f e n o r c a n I e x p l a i n w h a t h a s b e e n g r o w i n g d e e p i n s i d e o f m e . I c a n o n l y h o p e t h a t t h e H o l y S p i r i t w i l l r e v e a l i t t o t h e m .
I l o v e t o t r u l y t h i n k a b o u t h o w i t m u s t h a v e b e e n f o r h e r , a g i r l y o u n g e r t h a n I , b e t r o t h e d b y l a w t o J o s e p h w h e n s h e d i s c o v e r s s h e i s p r e g n a n t . S h e w a s s c a r e d . W h o w o u l d b e l i e v e h e r ? H e r p a r e n t s w e r e m o s t l i k e l y s h a m e d b y t h e e n t i r e c o m m u n i t y , s h e m i g h t h a v e b e e n c o n s i d e r e d a n o u t c a s t , d e g r a d e d b y a n a c t i o n t h a t s h e d i d n t c o m m i t .
I w o n d e r h o w m a n y d a y s s h e w a s l o s t i n h e r t h o u g h t s d r e a m i n g o f s t o r i e s t o c o m e , h o w m a n y p e o p l e l o o k e d o n t h i n k i n g s h e w a s c r a z y ? W o u l d s h e g o t o t h e w e l l h u m m i n g t o h e r s e l f t h i n k i n g o f t h e k i n g i n s i d e a s o n l o o k e r s p a s s e d g l a n c e s a n d w h i s p e r e d u n d e r t h e i r t u n i c s ? W h a t c o m m e n t s w e r e m a d e ? W h a t h u r t d i d s h e f e e l ? H o w l o n g w a s i t u n t i l J o s e p h u n d e r s t o o d a n d c a m e a l o n g s i d e h e r ?
I w o n d e r a b o u t h e r b e s t f r i e n d s , w h a t o f t h e m ? D i d t h e y b e l i e v e h e r ? D i d t h e y t r y ? W h a t l o n e l i n e s s s h e m u s t h a v e f e l t , I i m a g i n e i t t o h a v e b e e n a b a t t l e o f h e r m i n d . S h e d i d n t h a v e a n y o n e t o t a l k w i t h , f o r n o o n e w o u l d u n d e r s t a n d , i t c o u l d h a v e b e e n t h e f i r s t t i m e i n h e r l i f e t h a t s h e h a d t o d e a l w i t h s o m e t h i n g u t t e r l y a l o n e . H o w d i d s h e d o i t I w o n d e r ? I t s a y s t h a t s h e t r e a s u r e d t h e s e t h i n g s i n h e r h e a r t a n d t h o u g h t o n t h e m o f t e n . T h a t i s h o w s h e d i d i t , s h e t o o k h e r v i s i o n , h e r f a i t h a n d d e v o t i o n a n d s h e g a t h e r e d t h e m c l o s e t o h e r h e a r t . S h e s t o r e d t h e m t h e r e a n d t h o u g h t a b o u t t h e m .
I t s a y s t h a t t h e s h e p h e r d s t o l d e v e r y o n e , b u t M a r y , s h e k e p t t h e t r e a s u r e s t o h e r s e l f . S h e w a s n o t t h e e v a n g e l i s t , s h e w a s t h e c a r e t a k e r , t h e l o v e r , t h e m o t h e r . H e r j o b w a s t o t a k e t h e t r u t h a n d t o p r o t e c t i t , s h e w a s n t h i d i n g i t b y n o t t e l l i n g t h e w o r l d , s h e w a s p r o t e c t i n g i t .
I t a l s o s a y s t h a t a l l w h o h e a r d t h e s h e p h e r d s s t o r y w e r e a s t o n i s h e d , o r s u r p r i s e d , n o t M a r y , s h e d i d n t h a v e t o b e a s t o n i s h e d . Y o u c a n t e l l b y t h e w a y t h e s c r i p t u r e i s w r i t t e n , t h e r e i s a b u t b e f o r e t h e p a r t t h a t s a y s M a r y t r e a s u r e d t h e s e t h i n g s , t h a t s e p a r a t e s h e r f r o m a l l o t h e r s .
I a d m i r e h e r a s w e l l . S h e c o u l d h a v e s e e n t h e v i s i o n a n d c h o s e t o i g n o r e i t , s h e c o u l d h a v e s a i d N o t m e L o r d , I a m n o t _ _ _ _ _ _ _ e n o u g h , j u s t a s s o m a n y o f u s d o . B u t s h e d i d n t , s h e c h o s e t o f o l l o w G o d m o r e t h a n a n y t h i n g e l s e , t h a t m u s t h a v e b e e n t h e h a r d e s t d e c i s i o n . T h e r e w a s n o w a y t h a t s h e c o u l d c o n v i n c e p e o p l e o f w h a t w a s i n s i d e , s h e c o u l d o n l y h o p e t h e H o l y S p i r i t w o u l d r e v e a l i t t o t h e m .
I a m l e a r n i n g a n i m p o r t a n t l e s s o n a n d t h i s s t o r y v i v i d l y e x p r e s s e s i t f o r m e . I h a v e b e e n l e a r n i n g t h a t I d o n t h a v e t o s h a r e e v e r y t h i n g a n d f o r c e m y t h o u g h t s u p o n o t h e r s . I a m a l l o w e d t o p o n d e r a n d t r e a s u r e t h i n g s , t o h o l d t h e m c l o s e t o m y h e a r t . I f G o d h a s s p o k e n t o m e , t h a t i s a l l I n e e d , i f o t h e r s m o c k m e o r t r y t o c o n v i n c e m e a w a y f r o m w h a t I k n o w t o b e t r u t h , I w i l l h u m c h e e r f u l l y t o m y s e l f .
I w o n d e r i f I a m m o r e o f t h e e v a n g e l i s t s o m e t i m e s , t r y i n g t o t e l l t h e w o r l d t h e c h u r n i n g s o f m y h e a r t , I w o n d e r i f s o m e t i m e s G o d w a n t s m e t o s i m p l y t r e a s u r e a n d p r o t e c t t h e m i n s t e a d . I a m n o t h i d i n g a n y t h i n g w h e n I d o n t t e l l o f m y d e e p e s t d e p t h s , I a m s i m p l y p r o t e c t i n g t h e m .
I w i l l n o t t h r o w a w a y t h e v i s i o n t h a t G o d h a s g i v e n m e b e c a u s e i t i s H i s v i s i o n a n d I d o n t h a v e t o t r y t o m a k e i t h a p p e n . I w i l l n o t m a k e a n e x c u s e a s a n a t t e m p t t o e s c a p e t h e t h i n g s I a m s c a r e d o f . I c a n n o t c o n v i n c e p e o p l e o f t h e w o r k i n g s o f G o d i n m y l i f e n o r c a n I e x p l a i n w h a t h a s b e e n g r o w i n g d e e p i n s i d e o f m e . I c a n o n l y h o p e t h a t t h e H o l y S p i r i t w i l l r e v e a l i t t o t h e m .
Intro to Romania
I a m c u r r e n t l y i n R o m a n i a . W e a r e d r i v i n g f o r t h e 1 1 t h h o u r t o d a y , i t s b e e n p r e t t y s m o o t h w a t e r s & i f y o u e x c l u d e a n e w s t i c k s h i f t d r i v e r l e a r n i n g w h i l e d r i v i n g t h r o u g h R o m a n i a n h i l l s i n t h e d a r k p o u r i n g r a i n , o r l o s i n g t h e o t h e r c a r , o r h a v i n g o u r w a l k i e t a l k i e d i e & b e s i d e s t h a t i t h a s b e e n t o t a l l y s m o o t h s a i l i n g . I h a d i n t e n d e d o n b l o g g i n g b e f o r e l e a v i n g o n o u t r e a c h , b u t w e h a v e b e e n s o b u s y .
I s p e n t t h e p a s t t w o d a y s t r y i n g t o p a c k u p a l l m y b e l o n g i n g s a n d n a r r o w t h e m d o w n t o o n e s u i t c a s e , I c a n l e a v e t h e r e s t o f t h e t h i n g s i n B u d a p e s t & b u t o n e s u i t c a s e ? I t w a s r e a l l y h a r d . W h a t i s p r i o r i t y ? W h a t d o I n e e d m o s t ? W h a t c a n I l i v e w i t h o u t ? I f e l t I w a s p a c k i n g t o o m u c h , t h a t m y b a g w a s t o o b i g , t h e n I d i s c o v e r e d a l l t h e o t h e r g i r l s w e r e f e e l i n g t h e s a m e . T h e g u y s p a c k e d l i g h t e r , b u t I d o n t c o u n t t h e m , t h e y d o n t h a v e t o b r i n g c h u r c h c l o t h e s o r b a t h r o o m s t u f f & a n d t h e y a r e g u y s s o Y a . I b o x e d u p m y b e g i n n i n g s t h a t d i d n t f i t i n t o e i t h e r o f t h e b a g s I b r o u g h t a n d d u c t t a p e d t h e b o x s h u t a n d l e f t i t t o s i f t t h r o u g h b e f o r e r e t u r n i n g h o m e I m a r c h .
R o m a n i a i s b e a u t i f u l , w e l l t h e c o u n t r y p a r t o f i t . T h e c i t y i s d i r t y , l i t t e r , c r a c k e d c e m e n t a n d g r a f f i t i . I t i s a n e q u a l i z i n g m i x o f o l d a n d n e w . T h e r e i s c o l d g r a y l e f t o v e r f r o m c o m m u n i s m a n d f r o m a l l c o r n e r s t h e r e i s m o d e r n i s m i n c h i n g i t s w a y i n . B i g s t o r e s w i t h l i g h t s a n d m o d e l s a n d e l e g a n t d i s p l a y s a r e c r a m m e d b e t w e e n d i r t y b u i l d i n g s t h a t l a c k c h a r a c t e r .
I l o v e t h a t I c a n s i t i n t h e d a r k o f a c a r , l o o k o u t t h e w i n d o w a n d l e t m y f i n g e r s f l y . M y e y e s a r e w a n d e r i n g a n d m y t h o u g h t s a r e m o v i n g p a r a l l e l w i t h t h e m . I t f a s c i n a t e s m e h o w m u c h o f t h e w o r l d i s r e a l l y t h e s a m e . T h e m o r e p l a c e s I s e e , t h e m o r e I r e a l i z e h o w m u c h t h e y a r e a l i k e . D r i v i n g o n t h e f r e e w a y a n d l o o k i n g b a c k o n t h e o u t s k i r t s o f t h e l a s t b i g R o m a n i a n c i t y , I f e l t a s i f I w e r e e x i t i n g P o r t l a n d T r e e s , c a r s , r o a d s i g n s , w e t p a v e m e n t a n d g r e y c l o u d s . I a m i n a c a r w i t h a l l m y t h i n g s : m y p u r s e , b o o k s , p i l l o w a n d f o o d . I c a n l a u g h w i t h p e o p l e o r c l o s e m y e y e s a n d s l e e p - I w o n d e r h o w m u c h f u r t h e r a w a y f r o m h o m e I m u s t g e t t o t r u l y f e e l t h a t I a m i n a d i f f e r e n t p l a c e ?
I t h i n k s o m a n y p e o p l e a r e f e a r f u l o f t r a v e l , e s p e c i a l l y t o c o u n t r i e s l i k e t h e o n e s t h a t I w i l l e n c o u n t e r , b u t w h a t I h a v e f o u n d i s t h a t t h e y a r e n o t s o s c a r y , I s u p p o s e I c a n n o t t a l k o n b e h a l f o f t h e w o r l d b e c a u s e t h e r e a r e p l a c e s m u c h d i f f e r e n t t h a n t h i s . T h e r e a r e c o u n t r i e s w i t h o u t a n h i n t o f E n g l i s h , v i l l a g e s f u l l o f s e v e r e p o v e r t y a n d c i t i e s w i t h c u l t u r e u n l i k e t h a t o f a n y o t h e r , b u t I w o n d e r i f m o r e p e o p l e w e r e t o t a k e a s t e p i n t o t h e w o r l d w h a t w o u l d h a p p e n ? I f p e o p l e w o u l d f i n d o u t t h a t I a m n o t a l l t h a t b r a v e , I a m n o t e x p l o r i n g u n i n h a b i t e d t e r r i t o r y , I a m j u s t i n a p l a c e t h a t f e w f r o m o u r s m a l l w o r l d g o .
I s p e n t t h e p a s t t w o d a y s t r y i n g t o p a c k u p a l l m y b e l o n g i n g s a n d n a r r o w t h e m d o w n t o o n e s u i t c a s e , I c a n l e a v e t h e r e s t o f t h e t h i n g s i n B u d a p e s t & b u t o n e s u i t c a s e ? I t w a s r e a l l y h a r d . W h a t i s p r i o r i t y ? W h a t d o I n e e d m o s t ? W h a t c a n I l i v e w i t h o u t ? I f e l t I w a s p a c k i n g t o o m u c h , t h a t m y b a g w a s t o o b i g , t h e n I d i s c o v e r e d a l l t h e o t h e r g i r l s w e r e f e e l i n g t h e s a m e . T h e g u y s p a c k e d l i g h t e r , b u t I d o n t c o u n t t h e m , t h e y d o n t h a v e t o b r i n g c h u r c h c l o t h e s o r b a t h r o o m s t u f f & a n d t h e y a r e g u y s s o Y a . I b o x e d u p m y b e g i n n i n g s t h a t d i d n t f i t i n t o e i t h e r o f t h e b a g s I b r o u g h t a n d d u c t t a p e d t h e b o x s h u t a n d l e f t i t t o s i f t t h r o u g h b e f o r e r e t u r n i n g h o m e I m a r c h .
R o m a n i a i s b e a u t i f u l , w e l l t h e c o u n t r y p a r t o f i t . T h e c i t y i s d i r t y , l i t t e r , c r a c k e d c e m e n t a n d g r a f f i t i . I t i s a n e q u a l i z i n g m i x o f o l d a n d n e w . T h e r e i s c o l d g r a y l e f t o v e r f r o m c o m m u n i s m a n d f r o m a l l c o r n e r s t h e r e i s m o d e r n i s m i n c h i n g i t s w a y i n . B i g s t o r e s w i t h l i g h t s a n d m o d e l s a n d e l e g a n t d i s p l a y s a r e c r a m m e d b e t w e e n d i r t y b u i l d i n g s t h a t l a c k c h a r a c t e r .
I l o v e t h a t I c a n s i t i n t h e d a r k o f a c a r , l o o k o u t t h e w i n d o w a n d l e t m y f i n g e r s f l y . M y e y e s a r e w a n d e r i n g a n d m y t h o u g h t s a r e m o v i n g p a r a l l e l w i t h t h e m . I t f a s c i n a t e s m e h o w m u c h o f t h e w o r l d i s r e a l l y t h e s a m e . T h e m o r e p l a c e s I s e e , t h e m o r e I r e a l i z e h o w m u c h t h e y a r e a l i k e . D r i v i n g o n t h e f r e e w a y a n d l o o k i n g b a c k o n t h e o u t s k i r t s o f t h e l a s t b i g R o m a n i a n c i t y , I f e l t a s i f I w e r e e x i t i n g P o r t l a n d T r e e s , c a r s , r o a d s i g n s , w e t p a v e m e n t a n d g r e y c l o u d s . I a m i n a c a r w i t h a l l m y t h i n g s : m y p u r s e , b o o k s , p i l l o w a n d f o o d . I c a n l a u g h w i t h p e o p l e o r c l o s e m y e y e s a n d s l e e p - I w o n d e r h o w m u c h f u r t h e r a w a y f r o m h o m e I m u s t g e t t o t r u l y f e e l t h a t I a m i n a d i f f e r e n t p l a c e ?
I t h i n k s o m a n y p e o p l e a r e f e a r f u l o f t r a v e l , e s p e c i a l l y t o c o u n t r i e s l i k e t h e o n e s t h a t I w i l l e n c o u n t e r , b u t w h a t I h a v e f o u n d i s t h a t t h e y a r e n o t s o s c a r y , I s u p p o s e I c a n n o t t a l k o n b e h a l f o f t h e w o r l d b e c a u s e t h e r e a r e p l a c e s m u c h d i f f e r e n t t h a n t h i s . T h e r e a r e c o u n t r i e s w i t h o u t a n h i n t o f E n g l i s h , v i l l a g e s f u l l o f s e v e r e p o v e r t y a n d c i t i e s w i t h c u l t u r e u n l i k e t h a t o f a n y o t h e r , b u t I w o n d e r i f m o r e p e o p l e w e r e t o t a k e a s t e p i n t o t h e w o r l d w h a t w o u l d h a p p e n ? I f p e o p l e w o u l d f i n d o u t t h a t I a m n o t a l l t h a t b r a v e , I a m n o t e x p l o r i n g u n i n h a b i t e d t e r r i t o r y , I a m j u s t i n a p l a c e t h a t f e w f r o m o u r s m a l l w o r l d g o .
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