Warmed by a Palpable Love

By Jordan K., on mission in Romania

Our last stop in Pe Deal was to a house where I saw another version of life with small means — Alexandra and her three children. When we arrived, the baby was sleeping on the bed of their one room besides the kitchen, so Alexandra and the bigger kids kept their greetings to enthusiastic whispers. Two tiny, muddy puppies, eyes hidden by their moppy fur, did not respect the baby’s sleep, though, and insistently yapped and softly nipped at our ankles. At first, I more strongly noticed the unhealthy elements — the treacherously muddy walkway, the mom smoking inside, the girl’s dark teeth. But by the end, I felt warmed by a palpable love. The children eagerly played the games we suggested; the mother feasted us with a stack of fresh, homemade chocolate crepes; and even the puppies’ yapping calmed. Though this family of five had so little, the tiny home was tidy and decorated; there was no consistent electricity in the house, but the battery-powered fairy lights gave us enough light to see happy faces.

After our visit, I learned from Gianna that Alexandra’s old house had burned this past Easter while the whole family had been at a vigil service. When Alexandra learned of this devastation though, rather than mourn, she thanked God that none of their family had been at home or hurt. Her faith amazed me, but I was not surprised; I had witnessed how her family lived with a clear dignity and gratitude. I was also not surprised to learn that Alexandra herself had visited our mission house almost every day as a child. She now plays the same games with her children that the missionaries of that generation had played with her.