How God can turn a simple “hi” into a sweet friendship:
One of the jobs I had taken on here in Craiova was the point person for Hope Church’s social media. My first week in Romania was full of new information, mostly coming in, very little going out. I was learning the vision and values of Hope Church and then posting on their many social media platforms along with testimonies from my squad and stories from ministry in Romania. They have a Facebook group, five Facebook pages, two Instagram profiles, a TikTok account and a LinkedIn account; some accounts are for focusing on reaching non-believers in Romania and some are for reaching back out to Hope Church’s supporters and other believers. It was an incredibly challenging and growing opportunity for me to learn how to use these tools for ministry, not only to the people in Romania but back in the United States, the UK, Canada, and wherever it reaches! But it was overwhelming at first, and I have felt left out of doing the evangelism ministry that most of my squad has been doing out on the streets and being able to meet new people and share the gospel.
One afternoon, I was sitting at a table in the church working on media for the ministry, and praying to God. I had to be doing this work for the church but I craved meeting new people and discipling. Then I thought, “if I was going to be serving the ministry from inside the church, I needed Him to bring to me someone that I could love, serve, disciple, encourage, learn from, etc.” So I asked Him to bring me someone while I was here. A few hours later, I was sitting there still trying to work and in came the sweetest girl I had ever seen since being in Romania, her eyes just sparkled with joy. She sat down right next to me, extended her hand and said, “Hi, my name is Moni.” From there, we started to get to know each other. She had been going to Hope Church for a few months and had met a few other World Race and Gap Year squads. Then, along with my squad lead, Allie, we went to get coffee at Smart Cup, a place she brings all the racers. She wrote on Allie’s coffee cup, Proverbs 3:5, which says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” As she told us all about the city, her school, her faith journey, and her family, Christ’s light and joy seeped out of her. She came back with us to the church for our evening worship session. From that night on, our friendship grew.
An idea grew in my head that I wanted to share this light that she had in her with the world, (well, with my blog.) Without even knowing this, just a few days later, my squadmate came up to me and asked about doing a photoshoot with Moni. Jacken, Brian, Paula and I went out with Moni to do this photoshoot around her city. She brought with her a jacket her friend had painted for her, symbolizing Psalm 149:6, “Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands.”
Photo by Brian Sanders (click here to read his side of the story)
After the photoshoot, she brought us to the market to buy Romanian snacks. Back at the church, we tasted a piece of Romania through their country’s snacks, including Pufule?i, ROM chocolate bars, Taffifes, Tedi, etc. Except for most of the chocolate tasting like rum… it was VERY GOOD. Then Moni shared with us that we were an answered prayer. Looking right back at her with tears in both our eyes, I told her she was an answered prayer to me. Just a few hours before she popped into my life, I prayed for a girl, a friend who would be like a sister. Moni has been that for me, when I have missed my own sisters.
“In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I called. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry came to his ears.” 2 Samuel 22:7
God hears you, and He answers prayers. He knew what I needed and he provided. I am eternally grateful for Moni. As she came in to the church or we would meet somewhere or text throughout the weeks, she not only asked deep questions about God and having a relationship with Him, but for prayer requests to grow deeper in relation to Him, to build His Kingdom, to be a better discipler, to be more intune with His Spirit, and also asks how she can pray for me. She inspires me. She encourages me. She loves me. And I love her.
Dumnul cu tine! (Lord with you!)
Love, Clara Grace
