January 2006

Are you ready for a new year with our Great Saviour? As I write this letter to you, I am remembering that exactly one year ago I arrived in Romania! What a year it has been learning Romanian, learning Romanian culture, and just making Romania my home.

In December, after returning from a very successful and enjoyable visit in the States, I began to set-up house in my new apartment in Salonta, 2 hours north of Timisoara (where I have been living and going to school). Salonta is a small town that is situated just south of Oradea and very close to most of our Rom (Gypsy) churches. The Lord graciously gave me a beautiful apartment there in the middle of everyone, making me able to minister to many.

My first Christmas in Romanian ended up to be pleasantly quiet. I spent Christmas Eve with a Romanian girlfriend and her family and Christmas day with her and the Heisey family at their two Rom churches. It was a beautiful weekend of celebrating the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ. New Year's, on the other hand, was wild and crazy. I was able to ring in the new year with the teen group from our Oradea Romanian church plant. We all sang at a village church service, prayed together as the New Year arrived and then played games, ate food, or shot off fireworks for the rest of the night.

We were all VERY tired when we went into church the next morning without any sleep, but thrilled to praise and worship God for another year to serve Him. It was a wonderful time to thank God for a Romanian 2005 and look forward to a Rom 2006 learning the Rom language and culture.

My first Rom “class” began when a Rom pastor’s wife and I visited the homes of church members before the midweek church service. It was sobering to see the poverty and general living conditions of these dear people, but thrilling to see the smiles on their faces when they talked about their Lord Jesus Christ. I could not help, but be moved to encourage and strengthen their faith through God’s Word. I anxiously await God’s specific leading as to where to start teaching His children more about Him.

Now after a few more weeks of visiting homes and churches, I have become fully aware of the difficult circumstances and rough road that lies ahead. Romany, the language of the Rom people, seems to be spoken 90% of the time. Only church services, praying, and Bible reading are done in Romanian because Bibles are in Romanian.

Praise the Lord, Bibles are prevalent, but only read by men and teens. Most Rom women are illiterate. Add to this situation, cold winter weather, a lack of work, and persistence sickness and it’s easy to understand how many become discouraged and weak in their faith. The physical needs are so great that they often overwhelm and quench any hope the Rom people may have.

Praise God for His hope, Jesus Christ, who He promises to all who will receive Him. Praise God for the strength He promises to all his children who call upon Him. Praise God for the peace He promises to all his children who rest in Him.

Let us pray for the Rom people to entrust their whole lives to the Sovereign, Provider God. Pray for Christians to be usable instruments of God to minister to the Rom. Pray that everything be done to the praise and glory of God alone!

A Traditional Romanian Baptist Church
Over the last year, I have had the privilege of visiting Romanian Baptist churches of all sizes and flavors, but ALL had a few common key characteristics.
Here are the main differences, I experienced:
1) Physical appearance – Many traditional churches still have women sitting on one side and men on the other. Children can sit anywhere, with the teens often in the balcony, if available. In these churches, the married women will also usually wear a sort of head scarf or wide band as a head-covering; symbolizing their submission to their husbands.
2) Romanians love music! – Music is an integral part to the church service. Traditional services are usually two hours long with one hour of music often including multiple choral pieces.
3) Romanians LOVE poetry! – I was surprised to find that at least one if not more poems are recited at each church service. Children learn poems in school, for church and for fun! I am often asked if I have a special song or poem to share. A big adjustment for me since I’m not fond of poetry. (but I love to sing! J )
4) Prayer is vital! – The church puts great emphasis on prayer. The church either has an hour of prayer before each regular service or a designated time during the service when individuals take turns praying out loud as they feel led. I LOVE the mid-service prayer time and wish we had it in the States. It really unites all in heart and spirit as we petition before the throne of our God together.
The Lord’s prayer is often spoken in unison to close the prayer time. It was very difficult for me to get used to this tradition since I associate this practice with other religions. Later, I found out, however, that the Lord’s prayer that unified thousands of Romanians in Timisoara’s center square the first day of the Romanian revolution. It was Jesus’ prayer that rang throughout the square and helped end 50 years of communistic oppression. May prayer continue to fill every corner of Romania as we seek forgiveness and help from our Lord Jesus Christ.

Praise!
*A successful Strategic planning time with the entire Romanian missionary team during my US visit.
*A durable truck, God provided in December to give me more mobilization to do His work.
*Constant love, prayers and help from American, Romanian and Rom Christians as I adjust , learn, and seek God’s will.
*Most of all, a Sovereign Personal God, who provides mercy, grace and hope each day for His children.
Prayer Requests
*Wisdom to know God’s will as to where and when to begin teaching Rom women and children.
*Strength for Rom Christians as they face the trying winter circumstances: lack of work and persistent sickness.
*Rom church leadership—Integrity and Faithfulness
*More souls to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

THE TOP TEN PREDICTIONS FOR 2006
1. The Bible will still have the answers.
2. Prayer will still work.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
5. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
6. There will still be room at the Cross.
7. Jesus will still love you.
8. Jesus will still save the lost.
9. The Bible will still remain.
10. God and His promises will still be unchanged.--Author Unknown