Spring Update 2015

Crocus blooming in March

Bulbs coming up, days getting warmer and longer always signal spring. The promise of new life. I love the change of seasons. Winter has its place, but spring with all of its color is a great season. Spring for us also signals birthday season. The majority of our family and friends birthdays seem to land between the end of February and the end of April. It makes for very busy and fun weekends. Over the last couple weeks I have been reflecting on this a lot. We have four kids and with each of their birthdays we average around 20 friends and classmates. We have found that through our kids being involved in a local school and different activities they have really opened up a lot of opportunities for us to reach out to other kids and their parents in the most natural of ways; birthday parties, school activities, and school meetings. Our kids have opened different opportunities to serve within the community that would not be there if they were not involved the way they are.

Hokey Pokey fun

Chicken Dance

fork, knife, large snow gloves and a wrapped chocolate, challenge accepted

Piñata always a popular choice

Cynthia cake baking skills 

Happy Birthday Sedona

More dancing games

More fun

Celebrating her Birthday with classmates

Center of attention

Olaf cake

Friends helping

blind folded snowball game

extra challenging

Sister is doing well

Friends doing better

Melting Olaf cups

The Aftermath

Funny Smile

Tim's memorial service

The 1st part of the year has not been all easy though. We have been dealing with a lot of loss for our small church lately. Beginning in March one of our couples, who were from South Africa, the husband on Sunday morning died from a heart attack, without warning. It was a shock to all. His wife Uriana, and his place of employment Rombat, asked if I would be willing to organize a memorial service for Tim. In Romania, a memorial service is not something that they do, but his place of employment wanted to honor him and so asked us to help. Uriana was so blessed by the whole thing and was especially touched that I wore a suit for Tim's memorial, since Tim was a lot like me and did not like suits and ties. It was such a great honor to be a small part of this man's legacy and to see the lives that he had touched in the few short years that he had been in Romania. a couple of weeks later our social worker's mother passed away from health complications. Its been a difficult season for us over the last couple years. We have also seen God being faithful through it all. We have a couple of high school age girls that recently have started attending, in responds to the invitation of a friend. A lady who attended the Tim's memorial service, came to church with her daughter after hearing the service. So even the midst of tragedy, we see God's hand in it all.

April 12th for us is Easter, since in Romania most of the protestant churches follow the orthodox calendar. It's a great opportunity to invite people who normally would not attend services to come to church to hear the gospel. Please pray for God to open hearts and to bring those who are searching for him. Pray that the message would be timely and applicable to the hearts and lives of those who attend.

Praise Report:

God has provided all of the funds to fully pay off the braces for both of our oldest children. For those who helped we can't thank you enough.

Prayer Requests:

Pray for those in our church who are dealing with chronic health issues. We have a number of people in our church suffering. Pray for healing.

Pray also for those who are attending the church who have not given their lives to the Lord.

Pray for the upcoming English camp in the summer that God would bring the right kids and bring it all together.

If you are interested in following us on Social media please see below for more day to day photos and updates.

facebook: Brian Fouts
Twitter: @FoutsBrian
              @Fouts Cynthia

Instagram: bcfouts
                  cynthiafouts