The joy of the Lord transcends all barriers of language and culture. Smiles are universal, and you don’t need words to understand the joyful cry of a heart desperately in love with its savior.

Today in a worship service at Salem church in Oradea, Romania I was given a clear reminder of this truth. I saw people dance and jump for joy as they praised their God. I saw people rally around the hurting souls in the room, praying over and laying hands on them in genuine love. I saw men shed tears of repentance, women cry out their convictions.

I didn’t know the songs, and though by the end I was picking up a few words, I am certainly no linguist. And yet, in that place, I felt such love for our Lord it brought me to tears. The Father’s hand is clear in this place, His power palpable, His presence so real as to be nearly overwhelming.

It’s hard to contain my excitement over how clearly God moves here and has moved in the lives of everyone on our team to get us here. And as we prepared to begin His work here tomorrow, practicing songs of praise in a hotel lobby, He was with us even then. God is working here. Working on us, working in this church, working in the village… And I just can’t wait to see what He is going to do!