Working in Albania for nearly two years now, I have begun to learn many interesting things about the people and their culture. As with any culture, there are great things, there are questionable things and there are terrible things. To a western mindset, many terrible things seem to stand out, and I have to constantly check myself, to make sure I am reacting in a Godly way and not just with my western mentality.
For example, lately I have been working in the Roma gypsy community with a church plant established by Youth With A Mission. I go there three days a week to teach young girls basic schooling. In the year(ish) I have been doing this work, I have had many opportunities to shake my head in frustration at the culture.
Many of you have followed the story of Raxhi, the young Christian Roma boy who was forced to marry. Although this situation is looking much better and we know God is going to help Raxhi to be a Godly husband, there are many others like him out there who don't even have the hope of Christ to hang on to.
Today was a very frustrating day for me. I work hard to prepare schoolwork for my girls, individually, so that they are all learning at their own pace and focusing on weaker areas. I spend hours in the morning getting ready and thinking about what will be best for each girl. Today after only 45 minutes, one of the girls in my class was pulled away by her mother. For what? Because she needed to clean the house. You see, for a 13 year old Roma girl, cleaning the house is not helping mom out once in a while. It is you JOB, your responsibility, your whole life. If you are not good at cleaning your house, then you will not be a good wife one day and you will never get married, which in the Roma culture is utter failure for a woman.
I see girls in that area who have never been respected (even just as people) in their whole lives. They run around the streets as children, wild and doing what they please. When they get a little older, they are take into the house as slaves, and often times not let outside, for fear that they might talk to a boy and taint their reputation. Then, often, once they start their periods, they are married off to the guy who's family can pay the highest price.
When I see my girl get pulled out of class, where I strive to give them HOPE for life through Biblical and school teachings, it hurts because I see her being lassoed right back into her culture. To her, it is a sulky moment, cause she would have rather stayed at school for a little while longer. To me it is the demise of not only a people group, but the lives of people who are individuals and have value in Gods eyes.
It is hard to look at a culture like this and not judge them. Truthfully, I have to renew my mind every day in this area. However, I do hope and pray that God will continue to use me amongst the Romas and the Albanians to break cultural barriers that keep people from knowing His love and how much He values them. If that means I get only 45 minutes three times a week with these girls, then I am going to pray that He shows me how to use that time to the utmost, because I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that no matter what culture or racism says, these people have a tremendous value in God's eyes. These people have been bought with a price. A high price. In fact, the exact same price God paid for all mankind. Who are we to write them off?
Thanks for reading.
Julie
