Internationalmatt's Blog

A Full Circle Moment for me

Last night I had a great opportunity to have dinner with my friends Andi and Alina from Romania and some friends from church. It was a moment where it seemed like life came full circle. At the dinner were people I had traveled to Romania with during my 7 trips there. Connie was there who was on three of the teams I went with. Brian was there who was on two of the teams I went with. Susan was there who was on two of the teams I went with. Several others were there who were on a team one time.

My work with internationals whether as an English Second Language teacher, helping refugees, my work at my church, helping international students etc, began with my trips to Romania. I met Andi and Alina during my first trip to Romania. I can still remember having coffee and sharing a devotional with Andi in 1997 and 1998 while I was in Constanta Romania. They were a young couple who I knew God would use, but I did not know the details. They are now pastors in Constanta Romania after having studied in a seminary in South Africa.

I have had the blessing of traveling to Romania seven times. Each trip I arrived blurry eyed after a long flight. I enjoyed each trip for different reasons. I count those trips as some of the most significant times in my life. Last night I saw Andi and Alina after they had a long trip and were blurry eyed. It is Andi’s first time in Lincoln. Andi and Alina have come a long way in their lives and I am proud of them. Life came full circle for me last night. In 1997 I was the blurry eyed one sharing with Andi about God. Last night Andi was the blurry eyed one sharing about what God has done in his life and ministry.

July 9, 2010 - Posted by internationalmatt | Experiences of international friends, International Friendships, Internationals, Romania