Where to start? I’ve recently returned from Romania having led a group of seventeen (12 adults and 5 teenagers) from St John’s Church and St Peter’s Church in Caversham on a week-long mission trip from 9th to 16th August. Now that I’ve recovered from the relief of having taken seventeen individuals and returned with the same seventeen individuals, I have begun to process our week away…
Watch highlights of the trip on YouTube
I couldn’t be prouder of the team who went. Saying “yes” to God’s call to “go” took real courage – particularly given difficult circumstances and personal challenges. Most of the team had never been on an overseas mission trip before, one team member didn’t even own a passport or a suitcase (prior to the trip – obviously!), and another had never been on a plane before! I would say we got to witness the joy and terror of their very first flight, but he slept through the whole thing! Despite challenges, every single person in the team stepped out in faith. If there was a medal for courage, I’d give this team gold!
But we know that this ‘courage’ didn’t come entirely from ourselves. I remember one of our first team meetings back in September 2024 when the overwhelming emotion in the room was one of anxiety about what we were committing to. During that time, we read several Bible verses, including Joshua 1: 9 – “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” It was this assurance – God with us every step – that gave us the confidence to go and serve in the way that we did.
And so when 9th August came around… off we went! We spent the week volunteering with The Smiles Foundation (Smiles for short). Smiles is a Christian charity that aims “to put smiles on faces in the name of Christ”, aiming “to help people know that they are loved and not forgotten – whatever their circumstances”.
Over the week we were involved in a range of projects. Some days were spent preparing children’s outreach programmes, which we then ran in rural communities as well as for children from the neighbouring streets in Cihei – many of whom do not know Jesus (yet!). On other days, team members visited the charity’s residential centres for the elderly, spending time with the residents and sharing songs and encouragement. We also rolled up our sleeves for practical tasks: tidying and sorting the charity’s warehouse, clearing out the old nursery building ready for sale, and even painting a couple of rooms in one of the elderly centres.
Some of us also had the opportunity to accompany the charity’s social workers on visits to people supported through the charity’s family care programme. Many of these individuals and families live in extreme poverty, often without running water and facing incredibly difficult circumstances. Hearing their stories was heart-breaking, yet despite their hardships, on a number of occasions we were deeply moved by the strength of their faith in a God who provides, protects, and loves them.
One such lady was Luci, who welcomed us eagerly into her small, crumbling home and radiated a joy and faith that deeply challenged our own perspectives. We often quote Philippians 4:13 on its own, but the verse before it reveals the true context – something we witnessed in Luci’s life: “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4: 12–13). Her contentment didn’t come from her circumstances, but from an unhindered trust in God. What a powerful lesson for us all! Before we left, she insisted on praying for us – a moment that moved many of us to tears. We could only pray in return that she was blessed by our visit as richly as we were by meeting her.
This trip has undoubtedly left a mark on the seventeen of us who travelled and I’m sure that we will continue to see the fruits in the weeks, months and years to come. I, myself, am testimony to the impact of overseas missions having been led into full-time children’s ministry in the UK following engagement in overseas mission! Many of our team have already begun reflecting on what it means for them to continue to live missionally in our local context, writing: “the trip has encouraged me to think about how to continue serving the poor – in our community as well as abroad”; “the trip has made me grateful for how fortunate we are”, and “it’s encouraged me to think about whether there are things I can do, or we can do as a church, to serve those in need around us”. I’m excited to see where God leads us next…
Although seventeen of us from CTM Parish went on the trip, we were always aware that we were part of something much bigger – a wide support base behind us. Early on in our team meetings, we read Acts 13: 1–3 and reflected on how Barnabas and Saul were set apart to go and share the gospel, yet it was the whole church that laid hands on them and sent them out. In the same way, we have been upheld, prayed for, and sent by our whole church family, as well as friends, relatives, and supporters. We are deeply grateful to all who have stood with us through prayer, encouragement and giving. We particularly want to thank Greyfriars Missionary Trust for their generous grant! As Penny, one of the team and Associate Vicar at St John’s Caversham, puts it: “A big, big thank you – for making it possible and for carrying us in your hearts. Prayers were answered, and your generous giving enabled some to go who otherwise couldn’t have, and the overflow will bring relief and joy to people in great need.” Another team member summed it up similarly: “Thank you for being part of this – you’re truly part of the team too.” Thanks to your support and our fundraising efforts, we were able to make a team donation to Smiles of just over £2000. So from all of us in TEAM MISSION ROMANIA 2025 – a heartfelt THANK YOU!
Personally, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for God’s faithfulness and how present and at work He is, even when He feels far. Throughout the week, the team often sang: “Shine! (Woo!) From the inside out, that the world will see You live in me.” My prayer is that we keep shining – not because life is easy or circumstances are bright, but because Jesus Himself is the Light. And when His light shines through us, even the darkest places can’t stay dark!
