TO KNOW AND LOVE THE GYPSY: GOD S COMMAND

TO KNOW AND LOVE THE GYPSY: GOD’S COMMAND

by Melodee Battenschlag

Ihad been going on mission trips abroad for many years. It was usually clear where God wanted me to go in advance, so we could meet together as a team and become well prepared for the mission. Also, I am a planner and I much prefer for God to give me the mission assignments early on so I am able to plan other events for the rest of the year. This particular year, God made me wait. Doors kept shutting, but I knew God wanted me to go on a mission trip that year. Then in an unexpected discussion, the Missions Director suggested I go to France to work with the Gypsies. I had never considered this mission trip, not because I would be serving Gypsies, but because the location was France. I viewed France as more of a vacation destination, not a mission trip. Yet, I did know some of the team members who had been on this trip and they were mission-minded. I had recently spent time with this mission leader and found her to be genuine and inspiring. I checked out the dates for the France Gypsy Mission trip and they worked perfectly with my schedule. I completed the application online. When I hit send, I had such peace. I then knew it was this mission trip God had wanted all along. My peace escalated rapidly to excitement as I began attending team meetings, researching Gypsies and preparing for the tasks of the mission.

“So what is a Gypsy?” I asked our host Gypsy family before I even considered going to stay with them in their community. Michel responded, “It is a people without a land.”

Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU) mission trip in South Africa

Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU) mission trip in South Africa He said he had two passports, one stating that he was a Gypsy. Michel had come to salvation, was discipled and even learned to speak English by listening to my pastor’s sermons on his cell phone. He came to the U.S. to meet my pastor and thank him for his obedience in sharing the gospel message. This began the connection for mission teams to go to France to minister to Gypsies. As I began to share my plans to go to France to bring God’s love to the Gypsies, I was most surprised by the negative response of those who had supported me on past mission trips. They responded as though these “criminals” did not deserve our assistance. Many were Christians and advised me to secure my belongings if I was not going to reconsider my plans. This was my least funded of all mission trips. My family members also did not want me to go on this mission trip because France had recently and repeatedly been attacked by terrorists. I assured them that my research revealed that the terrorists wanted to oppress French citizens. Elimination of Gypsies would probably please many of the citizens and make them grateful. I would be safe in the company of Gypsies who were not the target of terrorism.

Hatred and oppression of the Roma Gypsies is not new. The Romani people, an ethnic group, were part of the lower caste of India during the 11th and 12th centuries. The Catholic Church denounced these dark skinned people with many gods and wouldn’t allow them to settle anywhere. They migrated to Europe in the 14th century where they were enslaved, persecuted, sterilized and systemically exterminated. Gypsy hunts were a common sport in Germany where huntsman would return displaying their trophies of severed heads. During the holocaust, the Romani people were considered racially inferior and were targeted by Nazis for total destruction. Over 220,000 were murdered or died of starvation or disease. After the war, Roma Gypsies were forced to continue moving in order to avoid violence and harassment. They are now scattered throughout the world, with most in Europe (8-10 million) and some in the U.S. Gypsies continue to be persecuted through employment, housing and education discrimination, police brutality, sex trafficking, and violence. In Europe, anti-Gypsy feelings are deep-seated, so government does very little to help. There are “No Gypsies” signs in storefront windows. Although hate crime laws exist in most European countries, they are rarely enforced if the victim is a Gypsy. Some people think criminality is in the blood of the Gypsy or that they are “descendants of Cain.” The public thinks it is good and right that there are still pubs and clubs that do not let Gypsies in. In some places, the laws applying to free movement within the European Union don’t quite apply to Gypsies in the same way

they apply to other people.

There remains the Gypsy stereotype of the thief, seductress, liar, fortuneteller, and mentally unstable. The word gyp, derived from Gypsy, means to cheat or to swindle someone. Michel confirmed that the criminal element of pickpocketing and theft continues to exist among Gypsies. He even told me how to avoid them in public places like the Eiffel Tower. For some Gypsies, they view criminal acts as justified due to their discrimination and need to survive. Gypsies are easily identifiable with their dark skin and light brown, slate blue or green eyes. Being with the Gypsies in a store while on my mission trip led to me being watched closely for shoplifting. After centuries of persecution, the Roma Gypsies still do not assimilate. In their tradition of survival, they have become a close community that travels together and helps each other. I learned that their name inside the camp is different than the name they give outside the camp. They will only marry other Gypsies, even blood relatives, due to their lack of trust for outsiders. They often marry as young as age 14. Families are very important in the Gypsy culture. The Roma Gypsies are often forced to continue moving to avoid harassment and violence. Some become settled side by side in segregated neighborhoods in ghetto ramshackle lodging. Still most continue as “carefree wanderers.” Traveling as families, previously by covered wagons and now often by RV caravan to roadside encampments. For the first time, I did not know the location where I would be lodging for my mission trip until I arrived. Michel took us to a campground where we would stay in tents with approximately 300 trailers/ RV’s in his Gypsy community. He had paid the fees for us to camp there. We would stay until we were forced to leave by police or aggressive people in the community. As with any mission trip, we knew we needed to be flexible. Similar to other mission trips, this was not a vacation even though we were in France. Each team member brought a tent, sleeping bag, air mattress, and supplies for 12 days in our suitcase that could not weigh more than 50 lbs. Since there was no electricity, we set up our tents in the dark with flashlights. The first night it rained and was unusually cold in my lightweight sleeping bag. Michel purchased blankets that were appreciated for the cold nights that remained. In addition to tent lodging, there were no bathrooms. We used a plastic bag in a bucket for a toilet with chemical toilet kits we emptied daily. We were told to bring a shampoo and conditioner combination since we would be washing our hair with a 2-liter bottle of water. During the later half of our mission trip, we found a community bathroom with a shower a few blocks away. Such a blessing!

Although most of the Gypsies had toilets and showers in their small RV homes, we would not impose on them as a team. Many even pulled a small trailer with a washer and dryer. The Gypsies were extremely clean in their homes and appearance. Michel’s wife cooked for us on the outdoor camping stove. Meals were typical French with cheese, bread and pastry. The best meal of the mission trip was the most amazing potluck of my lifetime where 100’s of Gypsies gathered in the grassy area of the campground with giant trays of wonderful food to share. Michel said this great potluck and time of fellowship occurred weekly among these Gypsies. Roma Gypsies have their own language, but also take on the language of their host country. In preparation for this

Photo source: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ab/8b/b3/ab8bb30d2a11cc062967b78af5fee533.jpg

mission trip, I tried to learn some basic conversation French. Since our ministry was mostly with children, I quickly realized that it was better not to speak than to try to explain to a child that I only knew a few words and phrases in their language. Hand motions and interpreters were much more effective. Most Gypsies have very limited education due to isolation, frequent travel, early marriage and discrimination. Due to bullying by teachers and students, many parents must choose between safety and education. Gypsies have the lowest level of education of all ethnic groups. Our ministry on this mission trip was focused on the children. We taught them English, math and all about Jesus. They made crowns to wear on their heads and explain to their parents that they became sons and daughters of the King when they accepted Jesus as their Savior. We went on nature walks to teach the children about God’s creation. They participated in a luau with Hawaiian worship music on the ukulele, complete with hula skirts and leis from the dollar store in America. It was a fun day. Crafts that further explained the gospel message were taken home for parents to understand and appreciate. Our message of love and hope sent through the children was so well received that some of the parents thought we were American Gypsies. Our connection to Michel helped the Gypsy parents trust us with their children. Michel explained that generally Gypsies of one country discriminate against Gypsies of another country, even though they all suffer rejection. He said that when he reached out to the Gypsies in Spain, the French Gypsy church would not allow him to take communion. Due to the evil of their persecution, even by Christians, he said ‘his church believes only Gypsies are going to heaven’. Perhaps their reaction to Michel’s love of the Spanish Gypsies would mean that they believe it is only the French Gypsies that will be admitted to heaven. Michel has asked prayer for unity among Gypsies and that they would love others as God commanded.

The Roma Gypsy often embraces the religion of their host country. During my mission trip, we were able to attend the tent meeting for the Light and Life Church, the only church in this Gypsy community. Women sat on one side of the church and had to cover their hair with a scarf. Men with great talent sang worship songs that were familiar, but the music and sermon were in French with no interpretation. Due to limited education, discrimination, and frequent

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Melodee Battenschlag