Stories from the Field

January 2004

Romania - Christ in the kitchen

Cristina came over to help me bake banana bread muffins all day. In the middle of our mashing bananas, creaming butter and sugar, and making fun messes, she said, “Amelita and I would like for you to do some Bible studies with us.”

Did I hear that right?!?!” Wow! I had mentioned on several occasions during our many conversations about faith issues that if they ever wanted me to help them learn to read the Bible for themselves, I’d be glad to do that. I had gotten no response, so I knew to be patient and not to push. My kitchen last Saturday became a sanctuary because I knew God’s Spirit was very present. I was in disbelief that they had asked—I had not done anything to prompt the request that day! It was another huge indicator that God really doesn’t need my help.

A few minutes later, she prefaced another question with “I don’t know how to ask you this . . . but when you go home to the US, could you get me a Bible in English?”

Could I?!?! What an honor. I asked later when they might want to start these studies and suggested Thursday since our class time had changed. She eagerly agreed. A few hours later, with several dozen muffins baked and in their little beribboned plastic coats, I hugged Cristina goodbye and once again marveled at what God had done that day!

From Laura Savage