Yesterday confirmed what I had long been suspecting. Romania is everything and nothing that I expected.

If I have learned one thing this past five days it is this: I have to unlearn everything I have ever thought, researched, assumed or been told about Romania.

Now don't get me wrong, the stereotypes are here, so much of what i expected is here and I also realise that there is much hidden that still exists, the poverty, orphanages, street children..the known list goes on. But as we drove around this incredible country yesterday and met more of its people and saw its natural wonders. As we laughed and allowed the wind to blow in our faces as we drove up mountains, past waterfalls and listened to glorious raucous worship by a lakeside. I realised once again that all the facts in the world do not define the nature or treasure of a place. Yesterday I saw a glimpse of the real Romania, the place where I live, the people that I now live alongside. And I realised that God was right, again :) It is easy to hold stats and figures and facts in your hand and go on a witch hunt. To see derelict buildings, poverty and a history that was challenging at best and build your expectations on that. But the people I am meeting, the place I am seeing is one of beauty, of joy, of great treasure, of adventure. It is a people with their own quirks and culture and ingenuity. It is a place that reminds me of Africa and Israel and England and America all rolled into one and yet like none on them!

I remember what Heidi and Lesley taught us over and over about being incarnational. And I finally get it. I came here foolishly believing I had something to give when, at the end of the day, I come a learner, empty handed, learning from scratch a culture that is uniquely different and beautiful not so that I can bring a solution or any form of answer or better way to do things. But so that I can serve the best I can, so that as we pray for them we pray WITH them, for the things on the hearts of those whose country this is, not for fixes and solutions we think necessary.

Would I never ever forget that I am here to learn from the great wealth that this country has to offer in tutorship.