The Roma

A couple nights ago the low here in Dallas was 27 degrees (!!!).  It's been like that since late last week.  To you mid-westerners and northerners I realize that's probably a heat wave, but to those of us wimps here in Texas--recently moved from Florida--that's COLD!  The high yesterday was 41...I know, I know, be impressed and feel sorry for us all at the same time.

Well, I braved the cold and went for a walk this weekend.  I wore: two pairs of socks, 3 layers of shirts, jeans, a winter coat, 2 pairs o' gloves, ear muffs, and a long white knit (thick) scarf generously draped over my shoulders and face.  I did have a hood on my hoodie layer but this fearless soul didn't need it.  I had to chuckle at myself (as did my husband and probably other people peering out their windows) but even in doing so had a far more important picture emblazoned on my mind's eye.

We had just skyped with our friends, Justin and Beth, who are serving in Sofia, Bulgaria.  They are currently learning the language and culture and like us, are in the process of becoming EthnoArts specialists (although they are quite a bit further along in the journey).  We had gotten an email prayer update from them a couple weeks ago asking us to pray for the Roma people as it has been bitterly cold in Sofia this winter...-10 degrees on a given night.  I had already been praying for them but now that I listened to Justin and Beth tell us about them in person I simply can't get them out of my mind.

If you don't know anything about the Roma, they are gypsies.  They are treated as outcasts and are generally viewed as less-than by society.  Their worth isn't much in the eyes of others and for years they have been made to believe that they are of far less value than any other non-Roma person.  Being gypsies and staying true to definition, they live in non-stationary homes...i.e. shanties constructed of old windows/boards/doors or anything else they can find that will make up their dwelling.  They have set up their "homes" in a big open field and whether it is cold outside or not, this is where they live. 

I have been imagining myself along with my husband living in one of these shanties day in and day out trying to care for our three young children, one of which can't walk or use words to tell us how she's feeling and my heart simply breaks for these people.  They are either freezing cold or scalding hot next to the fire that they set up inside their small home.  This does terrible things for their airways, causing severe sinus infections and all kinds of other sicknesses, not to mention the cold I would imagine they feel all the way down to their bones for long periods of time.  I think about the mothers who just want to keep their children warm and fed, but have no way of getting out to get food or proper clothing because of all the snow around.  What about those who have babies and are trying to nurse their infants, but their baby is so stuffed up that she has a hard time breathing while at the same time trying to eat?

The reason I felt burdened to tell you all this is simply because I'm asking you to pray for them.  Pray for their physical needs to be met.  Justin and Beth have been able to provide some blankets as well as transportation for some families to the hospital when they needed it.  They have worked alongside a respected Roma man who is training to become a pastor and wants to show them the Love of God.  Pray for this man and for Justin and Beth...for wisdom and opportunity.  Most of all, pray that the Roma will see the Father who has poured out His Love on them.  Whenever you feel cold inside your home with four walls, pray for them.  To learn more about the Roma people, click here.  To follow Justin and Beth's blog, click here.  Thanks for praying.