Joy: Joining the family?

We all know the "diaspora" of Roma or "Gypsies" around the world.  They are a people rich and poor at the same time.  Usually, rich in ways we are poor and poor in ways we are rich.  As I've been working with this bright-eyed, passionate family (it's more of a large family than a neighborhood), I've grown to love them so much.  I hope the good parts we each contribute to this relationship rub off on each other...

I've been reading a book I wish I would have started a long time ago.  Bury Me Standing, so far, describes many of my students and what we observe in our church (located in the Roma neighborhood).  It's really fun and I hope to gain more insight and respect for them as I continue pouring over it.  And, I hope to share more along the way!  Here are a few nuggets that stood out this morning:

"The more and the noisier the better was their creed" (p. 24-25).

"Practically, the whole neighborhood was related" (p. 24).

"Marriage came so early, for many before adolescence" (p. 32).

And, these pictures are from the English class they requested from us.  We meet with them on Sundays before church.  My favorite part of this is learning, little by little, some of their languages (Turkish and Roma).

You're welcome to be a guest English-speaker in our class whenever you're in town!

Ciao for now,

Joy


P.S. They gave me permission to use these pictures, but please don't use them in any other way than sharing this blog post!  Thanks!