Krazy Kim's June Kapor
June 2006
This update should be written by my beloved truck which has traveled a good few thousand miles in the last two months doing the work of the Lord. Easter, Deacon ordination, wedding in the Ukraine, American visitors, Pastor’s seminar, cross-country trip for US shipment pick-up and then the normal church services and Bible classes have all added to the many miles. The driver’s seat is WELL broken in and my “clutch knee” and back can testify that way too many hours have been spent in this machine, but I pray that all was done for the glory of God.
My two door LandRover has become a big helper in the ministry as it takes families to the hospital, pastors to seminars and me anywhere the Lord wills. However, as much as I use the truck and depend on it to do the Lord’s work, it cannot take me everywhere. That’s where my rubber “farmer” boots come in.
There is no road out to the church in Ciumeghiu and when it rains the field turns to slippery, slimy muck that will suck the shoes right off your feet. It’s a good 15 minute walk from the main road to Bethlehem Baptist church in the Rom area of Ciumeghiu, but it’s worth every minute. The church people love God with all their hearts and are hungry to learn. Here the Lord laid it upon my heart to start a children’s class and a ladies class.
The Wednesday night ladies class is a constant joy as I see the women’s hunger for God’s word and power in their lives. They pray with an earnestness and sincerity I’ve rarely seen in the States and listen with an intensity that makes me wish I could just give them my ability to read. I praise the Lord for the faithful few that attend and pray He will multiply them.
The Saturday children’s class, unlike the ladies class, can be a mental battle! J Most of the children are used to roaming the streets and doing what they please whenever they please. They don’t attend school, rarely listen, let alone obey authorities, and may not even understand Romanian but . . . . they come to Bible class. One week they sing with enthusiasm and listen to the Bible story and the next they are talking, hitting and spitting at each other. Usually 20-25 children attend and I constantly pray that God’s will be done no matter what. Sometimes it seems God’s will was just to teach me more about unconditional love and self-control, but no matter what, may His name be praised. May He use me any way He pleases to draw these children to Himself.
I pray that the Lord will continue to use the truck and the rubber boots for the furtherance of His name. May He continue to work in the hearts of the women in Ciumeghiu and continue to bring children in Ciumeghiu to Bible class. May the Lord also do a mighty work in Gepiu where a children’s class was started last week with a ladies’ class soon to follow. Above all, may glory and praise be given to Him alone through it all.
The Birth of a Church
It was another March day for Pastor Gavri from Grace Baptist Rom church in Tinca, but God had other plans. On this March day, a man from the village of Gurbediu came to ask the pastor to come and preach the Gospel in Gurbediu. As the men talked, Pastor Gavri explained that he took the Gospel to Gurbediu just a few years ago and the Rom people rejected God’s call. The man continued to try and persuade Pastor Gavri explaining that the people were now ready to receive God’s word. Since Pastor Gavri was already pastoring two churches, he told the man that he would pray about it.
A few weeks later 15 people from Gurbediu attended Tinca’s Sunday morning service. They hitch hiked and used horse drawn wagons to all arrive at church that morning to once again ask Pastor Gavri to share the gospel with the Rom in Gurbediu. This time, Pastor Gavri could not resist.
The next week, Pastor Gavri, along with some other church men, went to Gurbediu and held an outdoor evangelistic meeting. To their excitement, God had prepared the hearts of these Rom brothers and sisters. People eagerly gave their lives to Jesus Christ. Each week the Tinca men went to Gurbediu to preach, sing, and share their testimonies. Each week God added souls to His church. Young and old came and listened intently rain or shine.
Three months later, over 60 have received Christ and are preparing for a July baptism. The whole village of Gurbediu is aware of what’s going on.
It’s not easy to leave the old habits of drinking, smoking and wife-beating behind, but each soul testifies of the freedom God has given from the slavery of these sins. They laugh at the fact that the local grocery store owner is angry that they only buy cheap soda instead of beer or that the local Café bar owner won’t allow them to enter if they are only buying coffee. God has forgiven their sins and given them a peace and joy beyond the understanding of others. God’s love and forgiveness is worth more than anything to them and by God’s grace they will continue to seek God’s face and let Him transform their lives. May the Lord continue to work in the lives of the Rom people in Gurbediu and grow them to be more like Him.
Kultural Korner
You don’t say?My small town of Salonta, Romania, put itself on the map Saturday, June 3rd when it made the world’s largest pot of goulash. People from miles around gathered to sample the mix and take part in the carnival-like festivities. Loud music, kiddie rides, beer tents, food vendors and market tables made it feel just like WI State Fair except for the fact that everyone was speaking HUNGARIAN! Salonta is 13 kilometers (8.5 miles) from the border between Romania and Hungary and Hungarians take a whopping 80% of the population. That means that I have to speak Romanian first or others will talk to me in Hungarian. A bit frustrating when you just spent a year studying the national language (Romanian) and find that Hungarian and Gypsy would be more useful! JThe mixed culture in Salonta, however, is far from unusual. As a matter of fact, it is the norm. Most of the time two or more languages are used in a group of people without even the blink of an eye. It doesn’t matter if everyone doesn’t understand; you just use whatever language is easiest for you and the person you are talking too. VERY seldom does the whole group decide on one language so all can understand! That truly only happens in America! JThough multiple languages can be frustrating, they can also be very helpful if speakers have more than one language in common. With multiple languages in common, a speaker can explain more clearly what he wants to express. I used to only have the words: “street, road, and highway” but now I can add “strada, drum, and autostazi” to make sure my friend understands my directions clearly. Ahhh. . there is nothing like clear communication between friends. Just another reason to get working on the Gypsy language of Romani.
Praises
* Money received to purchase 2 boomboxes for the Audio Bible project.
* All of my belongings have now arrived in Romania so I can officially make this home.
* Kids and Ladies classes are going well in Ciumeghiu and Gepiu.
* The new church plant in Gurbediu
Specific Prayer Requests
* Arrival of my coworkers, the Oanas, in June and their readjustment to the work
* Spiritual PERSONAL growth of church members (we have MANY very weak Christians because of illiteracy)
* Unity amongst the Rom churches
**Field Address***Kim Marks
Str. P.ta Democratici Nr. 2
BL. D2 Sc. B Ap.9
Salonta, Cod 415-500
Romania
krazymarks@hotpop.com
www.krazymarks.com
This update should be written by my beloved truck which has traveled a good few thousand miles in the last two months doing the work of the Lord. Easter, Deacon ordination, wedding in the Ukraine, American visitors, Pastor’s seminar, cross-country trip for US shipment pick-up and then the normal church services and Bible classes have all added to the many miles. The driver’s seat is WELL broken in and my “clutch knee” and back can testify that way too many hours have been spent in this machine, but I pray that all was done for the glory of God.
My two door LandRover has become a big helper in the ministry as it takes families to the hospital, pastors to seminars and me anywhere the Lord wills. However, as much as I use the truck and depend on it to do the Lord’s work, it cannot take me everywhere. That’s where my rubber “farmer” boots come in.
There is no road out to the church in Ciumeghiu and when it rains the field turns to slippery, slimy muck that will suck the shoes right off your feet. It’s a good 15 minute walk from the main road to Bethlehem Baptist church in the Rom area of Ciumeghiu, but it’s worth every minute. The church people love God with all their hearts and are hungry to learn. Here the Lord laid it upon my heart to start a children’s class and a ladies class.
The Wednesday night ladies class is a constant joy as I see the women’s hunger for God’s word and power in their lives. They pray with an earnestness and sincerity I’ve rarely seen in the States and listen with an intensity that makes me wish I could just give them my ability to read. I praise the Lord for the faithful few that attend and pray He will multiply them.
The Saturday children’s class, unlike the ladies class, can be a mental battle! J Most of the children are used to roaming the streets and doing what they please whenever they please. They don’t attend school, rarely listen, let alone obey authorities, and may not even understand Romanian but . . . . they come to Bible class. One week they sing with enthusiasm and listen to the Bible story and the next they are talking, hitting and spitting at each other. Usually 20-25 children attend and I constantly pray that God’s will be done no matter what. Sometimes it seems God’s will was just to teach me more about unconditional love and self-control, but no matter what, may His name be praised. May He use me any way He pleases to draw these children to Himself.
I pray that the Lord will continue to use the truck and the rubber boots for the furtherance of His name. May He continue to work in the hearts of the women in Ciumeghiu and continue to bring children in Ciumeghiu to Bible class. May the Lord also do a mighty work in Gepiu where a children’s class was started last week with a ladies’ class soon to follow. Above all, may glory and praise be given to Him alone through it all.
The Birth of a Church
It was another March day for Pastor Gavri from Grace Baptist Rom church in Tinca, but God had other plans. On this March day, a man from the village of Gurbediu came to ask the pastor to come and preach the Gospel in Gurbediu. As the men talked, Pastor Gavri explained that he took the Gospel to Gurbediu just a few years ago and the Rom people rejected God’s call. The man continued to try and persuade Pastor Gavri explaining that the people were now ready to receive God’s word. Since Pastor Gavri was already pastoring two churches, he told the man that he would pray about it.
A few weeks later 15 people from Gurbediu attended Tinca’s Sunday morning service. They hitch hiked and used horse drawn wagons to all arrive at church that morning to once again ask Pastor Gavri to share the gospel with the Rom in Gurbediu. This time, Pastor Gavri could not resist.
The next week, Pastor Gavri, along with some other church men, went to Gurbediu and held an outdoor evangelistic meeting. To their excitement, God had prepared the hearts of these Rom brothers and sisters. People eagerly gave their lives to Jesus Christ. Each week the Tinca men went to Gurbediu to preach, sing, and share their testimonies. Each week God added souls to His church. Young and old came and listened intently rain or shine.
Three months later, over 60 have received Christ and are preparing for a July baptism. The whole village of Gurbediu is aware of what’s going on.
It’s not easy to leave the old habits of drinking, smoking and wife-beating behind, but each soul testifies of the freedom God has given from the slavery of these sins. They laugh at the fact that the local grocery store owner is angry that they only buy cheap soda instead of beer or that the local Café bar owner won’t allow them to enter if they are only buying coffee. God has forgiven their sins and given them a peace and joy beyond the understanding of others. God’s love and forgiveness is worth more than anything to them and by God’s grace they will continue to seek God’s face and let Him transform their lives. May the Lord continue to work in the lives of the Rom people in Gurbediu and grow them to be more like Him.
Kultural Korner
You don’t say?My small town of Salonta, Romania, put itself on the map Saturday, June 3rd when it made the world’s largest pot of goulash. People from miles around gathered to sample the mix and take part in the carnival-like festivities. Loud music, kiddie rides, beer tents, food vendors and market tables made it feel just like WI State Fair except for the fact that everyone was speaking HUNGARIAN! Salonta is 13 kilometers (8.5 miles) from the border between Romania and Hungary and Hungarians take a whopping 80% of the population. That means that I have to speak Romanian first or others will talk to me in Hungarian. A bit frustrating when you just spent a year studying the national language (Romanian) and find that Hungarian and Gypsy would be more useful! JThe mixed culture in Salonta, however, is far from unusual. As a matter of fact, it is the norm. Most of the time two or more languages are used in a group of people without even the blink of an eye. It doesn’t matter if everyone doesn’t understand; you just use whatever language is easiest for you and the person you are talking too. VERY seldom does the whole group decide on one language so all can understand! That truly only happens in America! JThough multiple languages can be frustrating, they can also be very helpful if speakers have more than one language in common. With multiple languages in common, a speaker can explain more clearly what he wants to express. I used to only have the words: “street, road, and highway” but now I can add “strada, drum, and autostazi” to make sure my friend understands my directions clearly. Ahhh. . there is nothing like clear communication between friends. Just another reason to get working on the Gypsy language of Romani.
Praises
* Money received to purchase 2 boomboxes for the Audio Bible project.
* All of my belongings have now arrived in Romania so I can officially make this home.
* Kids and Ladies classes are going well in Ciumeghiu and Gepiu.
* The new church plant in Gurbediu
Specific Prayer Requests
* Arrival of my coworkers, the Oanas, in June and their readjustment to the work
* Spiritual PERSONAL growth of church members (we have MANY very weak Christians because of illiteracy)
* Unity amongst the Rom churches
**Field Address***Kim Marks
Str. P.ta Democratici Nr. 2
BL. D2 Sc. B Ap.9
Salonta, Cod 415-500
Romania
krazymarks@hotpop.com
www.krazymarks.com
posted by Marcel + Kim (Marks) Petrutiu at 6:31 PM
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