Clay in the Hands

I have several new friends from my time in Romania last week.  One in particular is on my mind this morning.  Raul is 14.  He is a happy guy – always smiling and laughing, and wow, can that kid eat!  The first afternoon, the group went sledding during their free time.  I am not sure exactly what happened but Raul and his sled parted ways at some point on the run and he stopped himself with his left cheek.  For the rest of the week, he looked like he had carpet burn just under his eye.  But that did not slow him down!  He continued to laugh and have a great time.

Someone had brought an old guitar that would not stay in tune.  Raul was always on that thing, picking out tunes.  The last night, he and Joe (one of our amazing team members) sat around for a couple of hours, passing that guitar back and forth.  Joe would show Raul a new chord or rift and Raul would pick it up right away.  Before long, several of us were gathered around singing praise songs while Raul played.  He may not have hit every chord just right, but for what he lacked in musical accomplishment, he more than made up for in passion and enthusiasm.  It was a picture of what heaven will look like I think.  People gathered around from different ages and different races, worshipping together.

Raul, during the course of the week, committed his life to follow Jesus in full-time professional ministry.  He decided that God is calling him to preach.  Even after knowing Raul for only a short few days, I believe he is right.  And he didn’t waste any time getting started.  The day after returning home, Ovidiu asked Raul to lead the Bible study at his church.  I haven’t heard how that turned out, but I am confident that Raul was himself – and if that is the case, then the love of God flowed from him like a flood.

Continue to pray for the students of the Winter Camp Romania 2011.  Today marks the first day back into school or work or whatever their daily routine entails.  It is easy to worship God with all you have when among family on a retreat.  Its much more difficult back in the daily grind.