After only half a day of ministry with the kids, we participated in the dedication and the first worship service with the Rroma community. The building symbolized more than a place to praise Jesus: it symbolized grace… value…& worthiness to the Rroma people.
- That the outcasts were worthy of a nice building to worship in.
- That they bear value to the most high God in a society that calls them valueless or “uncivilized.”
Enter…a horse
At one point, a gentleman arrived with his horse to show the group. Anyone who knows me knows that I will never pass up the chance to see a horse!
It is a well-built and well-trained horse. I could see why this man is proud of it. He told me that he did his own farrier work and I could see that the shoes on the horse were good, similar to what I’d expect to see from a professional farrier in the United States.
The Artisan, revealed
During the church dedication, I noticed a beautiful pulpit made of swirls of iron (pictured) with an intricate grapevine woven all the way through the design. It is a gorgeous twisting of raw iron and copper. It’s hollow in places, so it’s light yet sturdy. This piece of art is comparable to the work of professional metal crafters in the United States.
I later learned that the same man who brought his horse also crafted this iron sculpture pulpit for the church. It was obvious his worship is expressed through his hands. This man, who has been told his whole life that he has no value, is capable of crafting stunning artwork. His workmanship would be worth thousands of dollars in our country.
It broke my heart that this man did not know the value of his hands or his workmanship. I pray with all my heart that people for generations to come will enter this building and find their value and worth in Christ Jesus the Risen Messiah.
by Rebecca Buchholz-Szántó, Uzhhorod Ministry Team
