Krissy Wilson:
This past August my family and I were given the opportunity to participate in a mission trip in Romania. I was a little apprehensive at first. It’s a 10 hour flight and neither of my small children had ever been on a plane. I talked it over with my husband and prayed over it and it was decided that the whole family would go. Despite a few delays on the way over it was a great flight. Both of my boys did fantastic! I knew God was with us and it was going to be a great week.
We arrived in Bucharest and were greeted by Wallis Soape and the Ziemers. The Ziemers are the missionaries that live there in Romania and pastor a small church in Fundulea. We were able to attend church there on Sunday morning. Despite the fact that I speak English and they speak Romanian, I was still able to worship God that Sunday. Even though I understood very little of what was said I was able to hear God speak to my heart. I was totally out of my comfort zone and yet I was totally comfortable. It was evident that the Lord was in control and getting ready to some work.
Monday my family and the rest of the mission team drove up to camp Eli where we spent the rest of the week ministering to young children. I was a little nervous at first. How was I going to communicate with these children? How was I going to be able to share God’s word if I didn’t they couldn’t understand what I was saying? With the help of a few Romanian translators and a lot a charades the children and I were able to communicate just fine. The children were so warm and welcoming, it was as if they had known you their entire life. A few of them took to my oldest son Zachary and became good friends. My youngest son Elijah was a big hit with a young girl named Alina. She instantly took to him and he to her and he spent most of the week in her arms. I was able to get to know many of the children as well.
I was so touched by the children of Romania. I hope to be able to return with my family next year. I hope to become a part of the missions group at FBC and continue to fulfill the great commission. I went to Romania hoping to touch the lives of the children there and instead they changed my life. I will remember them always and continue to pray for them and their families.
Chris Wilson:
For a long while I have felt led to follow God’s command in the great commission. I have been on a few local mission trips in the past but nothing like what I experienced in Romania. I had no idea what to expect from the preparation of international travel to how I was going to interact with the children with whom we were to share God’s word. It seemed that Satan was trying to distract us from the purpose of the trip from the moment we tried to leave San Antonio with travel and flight issues. This definitely showed me the need to rely on Him throughout the week for strength to overcome Satan’s spears. From the moment we landed, however, I can honestly say I felt at home and comfortable with the uncertainty I faced for the week. You could say I even welcomed the uncertainty.
On Sunday, the day after we landed, I walked over to the church and noticed that many of the adults could speak enough English well enough to hold a brief conversation, and others were well versed. It was not so with the children. At camp Eli, where we spent our week, none of the children spoke English. This is where God really showed that language barriers cannot stop God’s word from being heard. Even though it was tough at times to communicate, and we became experts at charades, these children had a love for God that speaks every language.
One week was not enough for me. Krissy and I feel as though God spoke more to us through the children of Romania than maybe we were able to share to the children. We plan on going back to Romania again, but this time for a few weeks. As long as the Zeimer’s will allow us to come back and we feel God is leading us, we will continue to return. Krissy and I pray with our children every night that they will love, honor, and obey God every day of their lives. This is one way we hope to be the Christian role models our boys need, and that Christ tells us to be. Wherever God leads we will go.
