Fall update 2013

We have had a very busy fall this year. With the kids starting school, figuring their school schedules. Making sure that we have paid for all of the books and fees for school. Combined with the midweek studies ramping back up. Makes for the beginning of a busy season in life. We have also had the privilege of hosting a number of teams this fall. We currently have an intern staying with us for 3 months from Prineville Oregon. Tandy came over to serve with our ministry at the orphanage and to help at the after school program. She is doing great and seems to be adjusting to living with us nicely. 

We also had the opportunity to host a team from Oklahoma. Lonnie Bradbury and his wife Teresa and a young person from their church named Natalie came to serve in whatever way they could. Lonnie has been traveling to Romania since 2001. He had been carrying around a Romanian magazine that CCBoise used to produce since 2005. This year it worked out that they could come see the  work in Bistrita. They worked at the orphanage, the after school program and Lonnie taught on Sunday and the midweek studies. They also helped with some projects next door. We really appreciated all that they did and invited them back Lord willing next year. While they were here we drove them out to a village that Chris and Faith Anderson have been working in. During the week Faith teaching an English class and Chris is teaching a bible study and discipline one of the young men I the village. It's always a challenge to minister in these situations because of the great need. But also walking In wisdom in how much to help with and what to help with. We were able to visit with some of the families that are attending and pray for the needs of others. While there one of the neighbors brought his horse by and we were impressed with both the size and health of the animal. It's uncommon to see horses very healthy here because of the lack of money to take care of them properly. In our conversation he referred to it as his tractor which both Lonnie and I thought was a good description.

We also had a team from the CCBCE that came to serve on their 10 day. The team was such a blessing in coming alongside the ministry here and serving in he orphanages, the after school program. Along with helping with some practical work of the church property and even taking the time to visit with Lidia for a few hours. 

We finished up their stay with the annual women's tea, helping Cynthia with all the logistics and preparation before hand and helping with the clean up and setup for church the next morning. The team from Vajta was a real blessing and encouragement to us through their selfless serving and good attitudes.

The next team to come was from Calvary Chapel Bible college in York England. We had 9 students come and serve in the after school program. 2 of the student were from Israel and so they were able to talk about what it was like to grow up in Israel and also be a Christian. The next day one of the students, who is from Germany, shared about his country. Some of them went and talked at the conversational English class with Natalie and  others went to help in the English class that Faith Anderson teaches in a village school. 

The last team we had this fall was a team from Calvary Chapel Boise. The highlight of their visit was visiting Lidia. I was really blessed by a couple of the ladies who had lost their husbands being able to minister to Lidia. I really sensed the Holy Spirit anointing in everything that they were saying. Her brother in law, who an assistant pastor for the large Pentecostal church briefly came in and thanked everyone from the team and all of the Calvary Chapels for their prayer, words of encouragement and outpouring of love. He recently shared at the national Pentecostal pastor's conference that he has been personally amazed by the response of Calvary Chapel. He went on to say that anyone from Calvary Chapel is always welcome in their house. 

Praise reports:

We were able to update the heating in the house to a central wood burning system which is more efficient at heating the large building on the property.

The Lord really blessed us with all of the teams that and this fall to serve alongside us. 

We were able to make so much needed repairs on the church van.

Prayer requests:

Pray for open hearts as we our currently working our way through the book of Colossians

Pray for the marriages in our church to be stengthened and to grow in the grace of God.

Prayer for the upcoming Christmas outreaches that God would guide us.

Prayer for the the two families that our in adoption process for 3 children in our association that God would give them grace and favor with the authorities.

Pray also as we are in the process of applying for Romanian citizenship. God's will and favor.

Prayer also for our plans to come back for a visit this summer. Just for the logistics and finances.