On a recent visit to Romania I stayed with a Roma family. The Roma, also called Gypsies, are often poor, uneducated and definitely looked down upon. The village I visited wasn’t the worst of them, because this tribe is full of musicians. They play weddings and other celebrations for good money. The Christian culture in Romania (and much of Eastern Europe) is very traditional. Women wear skirts, head coverings and no makeup or jewelery to church. They clearly set apart the Christian life and the secular.
The Roma pastor I stayed with is an excellent musician, who used to earn thousands of euros for one gig. Since becoming a follower of Jesus he has decided not to play weddings and other festivities where drunkenness and other ungodly things occur. He decided he’d only play for God. Since then their family has not been financially secure. They have always had what they needed but not much more. He literally lives by faith.
Now this man had 15 people stay at his house, including me. He even gave up his bed and the only heated room in the house and slept with his wife in one of the cold back rooms. They served us food, cleaned the floors of our muddy steps and smiled and loved on us.
I am always amazed at how people who do not have much, give so generously. And many who have plenty don’t realize how much they have and act stingily. How crazy is it that we need to learn from the have-nots how to give?
Filed under: Christianity, Europe, Poverty | Tagged: roma, romania
