It was a hot summer day, and I was walking by the Tisa River. For almost a century this 900-foot-wide river has served as the natural border between Romania and Ukraine. Normally people aren’t allowed to walk on that piece of land, but because my rental house was close to the river, the border patrol didn’t stop me. As I rested a few minutes in the shade of a small tree, I noticed a group of children swimming in the Ukrainian side of the river. They were not allowed to swim across the river, as the Romanian border patrol was constantly watching for any suspicious activities. Nobody from Ukraine is allowed to cross the border into my country without a passport and a special visa that is difficult and expensive to get.
This river has witnessed a lot of tears, violence and bloodshed. Before the First World War, the land on both sides was Romania. Friends and relatives crossed the river to visit each other. But after the war, Romania lost territory, and everything changed. Families were split apart. Parents and children could still see each other across the river, but they could not meet. Many siblings lost connection with each other. Some people were shot as they swam across the river to reunite with their family. It was a dark time in our history.
As I watch the kids swimming on the other side, I wonder if they have relatives on my side. Who knows? It is not impossible for them to get here, but it is difficult.
God has promised us that He will create a new earth where I am sure there will be no borders, and families will be reunited. There will be no tears or bloodshed. This is the God I am serving, and I want to let people know that He is coming soon. While people in many places still remain confined by borders, the gospel should not be confined. Please join us as we cross borders to make it available to unreached people!
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