May. 15, 2007

Nearer Than We Think

Dear friends and family,

We are finding our daily life among the poor to be filled with both hope and disappointment. We are constantly confronted with the sinfulness of humankind, and yet our courage is renewed to continue in hope for things made new, for the promised Kingdom of God to fully arrive.

We are still learning to cope with the daily discouragements. Some of our friends remain trapped in the addictions of street life. Each day we have discipline issues with the little kids at the center. The city billboards constantly shout to our teenage girls that their bodies are meant to be used by men. We see young children in the stores buying beer and cigarettes for their parents. Children are sent to beg on the streets when they should be in school. One of our teenage friends is pregnant and seems scared of accepting our attempts to love and care for her. Another girl who lives on the streets just gave birth last weekend all alone in the hospital. With attachment issues of her own, she is being set up for poor attachment with her newborn because the hospital denies her much time with her baby. She cannot afford the hospital bribes to receive the care she needs.

But we know that God is nearer than we think.

Even through the discouragements, God opens our eyes to the small signs of hope around us. One of the boys from the street shared recently that he wants something better for his life. Today I taught one little girl how to prune the rose bush and she was much more patient than usual. The older girls had a healthy discussion on abstinence this morning. Last week Doamna Carp shared with me her answered prayers for her health and her daughter's behavior. We are encouraged to see how some of the older kids from the center have grown so beautifully and are forming healthy relationships despite a childhood of abuse. They are small glimpses of hope and redemption, but they are glimpses nonetheless.

We recently spent a week in the mountains with the WMF Romania staff. The fresh air, fellowship and mornings of solitude were refreshing. Our theme for the week was "Day to Day Spirituality." We contemplated the spirituality of the Kingdom of God, spirituality among the poor, spirituality in community, spirituality and children, spirituality of men and women, personal spirituality and expressions of spirituality. The week was packed full of enlightening conversations and little ways in which we felt God speaking to us as a community. At the end of the week, Joshua and I felt that the main thing God was speaking to us was concerning prayer.

Through prayer, the Spirit helps me to focus on the Kingdom of God and it's values (people, love, sacrifice, long-suffering, forgiveness, etc.) before the world so quickly catches me up in it's own values of power and self. Through prayer, I confess my poverty of spirit. I am trusting God to provide for my needs, and trusting that he is a good Father who will not give me stones when I ask for bread. Through prayer to my Father, I am reminded of my identity as his child, and am not so tempted to find my identity in the ways my culture demands. Prayer for loved ones helps me to feel a part of their lives, despite the physical distance between us. Also, spending time in prayer prophetically communicates that my life is found in His presence.

Not only in the little signs around us, but also in the stillness of prayer, does God gently remind our spirits that He is nearer than we think.

Thank you for allowing us to share some of our thoughts, burdens, and joys with you. We continue to be blessed by your love and support for us and for the children in Galati.

With hope,

Robin and Joshua

Prayer Requests

• Continued language learning (we're making progress!)
• Robin – teaching health classes to the children throughout the summer
• We are moving into our own apartment at the end of May so that we will be able to host the servant team. Thank God for our current host family (the Costins) and pray that we will also have a good relationship with our new host family.
• Preparations for the Servant Team. We have accepted 2 girls and 2 guys for our first team, beginning this fall.
• Those living on the streets – that they would be filled with hope for a better life and be given the courage to take the difficult steps toward leaving drugs and the streets.
• We will be in the states for the month of July. Much of this time will be spent at a WMF international retreat in Omaha, NE but we will also be in Crawfordsville and Logansport for a few days. Please pray for the retreat and our travels.

joshandrobinfowler@yahoo.com

Lifeinromania.blogspot.com