It was such a blessing and honor to be in Alba Iulia! Before coming to Alba, my team heard that the church was praying for us for our arrival! Just like in Nicaragua at House of Hope, knowing that they prayed for us beforehand, I literally got chills and felt this wave of excitement because I knew God was going to do big things here. He did not disappoint!
We partnered with a ministry host where we were his first world race team! His heart for us was to connect with the locals by inviting students at high schools to join us at game nights and other cool events like a youth conference, volleyball match and bible study. And eventually, to connect the local high school students with the high school students that already attends the church we are partnering with. I enjoyed every moment making connections with the teens and having so much fun at the various events! I have seen the Lord moved so beautifully that filled my heart with joy every single day!
Game Night
The game night we hosted turned out absolutely amazing. Half the people there were youth from the church. My team invited so many locals from multiple highschools that came! Everywhere I looked, I was just in awe of the connections being made, laughter filling the atmosphere and a culture of freedom and safety. My heart was so happy! I had really great conversations, trying my best to get to know all the people I invited as well as with the youth from the church!! With one of the girls I invited, her name Mara, I had the opportunity to share my testimony. Mara was super impressed and shared that the world needs more people like me and she really encouraged me and how God made me. Later that evening on our walk home, God gave me an interpretation of a snake tattoo on the arm of a local high schooler name Denisa. I also encouraged her in her passions to be a mental health therapist, and helping people overcome their problems. I talked about my experiences in China teaching members of the underground church of how to live and love like Jesus. As I was explaining, she kept expressing how cool the ministry in China seemed, which opened the door to ask her if she believed in Jesus and what that looked like. She told me she follows the Orthodox faith and that they have to follow a lot of restrictions which she didn’t like, but loved my heart and passion. God, thank you so much for allowing me to meet Denisa and sharing my heart. I pray that she comes to know you more and see you in beautiful ways. I am also so grateful for the connections that were made at the game night and how so many people truly enjoyed themselves.
Youth conference
We had a youth conference the next evening after the game night. In the beginning, we played some icebreaker games. Afterwards was worship. My ministry host asked my team to lead worship. Rehearsals needed work, but we all came together to make it a great night! I think it was one of best whole-team effort we had here in Alba Iulia. Me, Gabi and Chanel sang with microphones. Lindsey helped scroll the lyrics while Aliseya played guitar and Jessie played the cohone. Bless Aliseya’s heart because she was so sick but she still came and gave 100% tonight in worship. It was such a powerful night of worship. After worship, the preacher spoke with boldness and so much authority. After the conference, Maria, one of the local high schoolers that Chanel invited told us that she almost teared up from the freedom in worship that we displayed! Amen!!! More Lord!!!! Also, 2 local guys that Jessie and Lindsey invited said that they never seen anything like this (worship) before and it was very powerful! Praise the Lord! Thank you God for moving so beautifully through the whole team to worship you with so much joy and freedom and be able to extend that to others!
Encouragement
There was one morning where I missed inviting students to future events at the schools because I started to lose my voice the night before. But, my heart still wanted to do ministry that morning so I decided to pray and prophesy. I prayed over all of my 14 local highschool students that I made connections with previously and then sent each of them prophetic encouragement notes to their what’sapp numbers. I received quite a few replies of how the encouragement meant so much to them or it was exactly what they needed to hear! They shared how they truly loved it and others told me that what I said almost made them cry and it was so kind of me to send it! Thank you Jesus for that and just being able to love on each of them. Thank you Holy Spirit for speaking to me so beautifully to encourage the youth.
One on one’s
I had so many amazing opportunities to meet up for one on one’s or small groups with local Highschool students that I had connections with. Each time I met with them at coffee shops, the Lord came in such beautiful ways…One day I met with a local high schooler name Nicola. As soon as we were alone, she started sharing her struggles with her parents. Her parents are Orthodox and have been on her lately with rules that she needed to follow or making her go to church where she feels judged because of how she does her nails. She doesn’t like how the church judges her and people in general with piercings and tattoos. She told me that she recently had a fight with her parents and that she prays for them often for their heart to be soften towards her. I offered to pray for Nicola and her family to be restored and that their hearts can be soften towards each other. I blessed Nicola afterwards. After praying, she told me that she felt like a weight was lifted! Wow God, such a beautiful depiction of your healing and wanting to see families restored.
I also had the privilege to meet up with a smaller group of the youth from the church to connect with them and share my heart…
Chanel (a teammate) and I met with a group of high school students from the church-Ernest, Vasilena, Naomi, Andrea, Ester, Dora. We shared our hearts about connecting with the local highschool students because we didn’t want those contacts to be forgotten when we left Alba Iulia and we would love for them to build relationships with the locals. They all said that this is definitely out of their comfort zone but they are willing to try to make these connections. They suggested that we invite the local students to the Bible study the following Friday (which turned out so well, and some of the local highschoolers I invited came and made connections with the church members!). I was super excited to be a part of this and encourage the youth. I asked them how they felt with meeting new people and making new connections and some said they have trouble in conversations and in what to say. They didn’t know how to approach. So I asked if they are able to hear God’s voice (because I know God would love to help them be able to love and encourage the local youth they meet and also grow in closer relationship). Some said yes, a couple didn’t. I asked if it would would be ok to practice hearing God’s voice. They said sure. I prayed and they repeated after me this question…
Jesus, can you show me how much you love me? The following are some responses…
Naomi: I see moments of God and his love for me. A couple of weeks ago had intrusive thoughts but I just thought of God and his love.
Ernest: Jesus loves me by loving my father…Father is currently in hospital in Germany. Haven’t seen him in over a year, he had a stroke August 2021. Paralyzed in the left side.
Andrea: Received encouragement to give to Vasilena…Ring sparkling and looking like rubies
Dora: Lyrics of a song of love
Lydia: Field of yellow flowers
Chanel: Ocean and beach
Vasilena: She didn’t feel anything from God and started crying. I prayed over her for any harassing spirits to leave and for her to experience God’s love. After prayer, she still didn’t feel anything. I told her it is totally ok if she didn’t feel anything. It takes time to practice hearing God’s voice.
Throughout the entire conversation, Chanel and I went back and forth with sharing God’s truth and love with them and encouraging them in the faith and how partnering with God looks like. It was a great, powerful time! I was just in awe how the Lord moved so beautifully and that they were willing to connect with the local students that we made connections with! Praise Jesus!
See part 2 for Vasilena’s redemption with hearing God’s voice, another one on one and my team being able to serve the Ukrainian refugees!!!
You are so welcome! This was one of my favorite months of ministry! I really enjoyed getting to know the youth and encouraging them! Thanks Keith!
Hi Brittany, WOW!!! You are certainly a “Servant” of Jesus Christ, and this is exemplified in your passion and love for humankind. Not all of God’s children are “called” to do the type of ministry that you and your team are doing; going out into the “Highways and By-ways” sharing and teaching the Word of God. What a blessing you are to be able and willing to fulfill the work/mission that God has sent you to do. May God continue to bless, keep and guide you on your journey. Love and God Bless, Anita (Jobe) Carroll, Laraway Parent
Just love all of this! How God is using you, teaching you, and moving powerfully through you! Thank you for continuing to grow in the Holy Spirit and share that with others. Many powerful stories on one page!
This is so encouraging, Brittany! You are so intentional with your time and energy (like reaching out with encouragement when you were too sick to go out). Thanks for so often choosing to see the people others often overlook. And thanks for respecting them enough to know and remember their names. See you soon!