May 2015

Last week at the after-school program we began talking about words we say matter. We can use our words to build someone up, or tear them down.  The kids had a lot of fun playing air hockey with a ping pong, great entertainment.  

Saturday some of us from the church got together and gave the building a little facelift. After painting and cleaning we all enjoyed some pizza from Crazy Pizza. Great Times.

Ready to paint

Painting

clean up

waiting for pizza

Pizza

finished 

Sunday afternoon in the village sometimes bring surpise guests to the Bible study. During the study on the second commandment in walked two lambs. Not afraid and curious to who all was in the room. Always something new, and never a dull moment.

lamb

curious

look at me 

Blessed [is] the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.

He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

The ungodly [are] not so, But [are] like the chaff which the wind drives away.

Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

-Psalm 1

From a one-handed cripple

The Bible study in The village of Pintic has grown and during the winter months we have moved the study across the street to another house with a larger room to allow for more people to be able to attend. We have finished studying through the Gospel of John and will be studying through the ten commandments. Every sunday is different with different people showing up with different motives. But no mater what their motive is for coming, they are able to hear God's word.

The last couple weeks here in Romania have been extremely busy, even for a one handed cripple... Yes, i said it... I have been a lefty for just over three weeks. While at a training conference in Vajta, Hungary I dislocated my right shoulder (playing basketball of all things,and so the downhill mountain biking here in Romania has been put on hold for a few more weeks (months if Faith and her mom has any say in it)).  

So I have had to learn to do a lot of things left handed or have help. During a guys conference in Alba Iulia I had to allow someone else to cut my fried chicken and pork (snitel) (for a guy to have another guy cut his food can be little humbling..). The theme of the conference was "the new guy" Growing more like Christ, and because i had planned on using a white board, i again had to have help from one of the guys to help write on the white board as I taught. And to top it off, i was not able to race go karts, or play paint ball! But despite all this it was a great time of fellowship, friendship, and growing together. I will do it again!!--a conference that is!! I like being right handed!!

no, not at the beach.. power of technology at work!

As of yesterday I was able to remove the sling and I have started physical therapy... I will be back to biking.... I mean normal soon!! This typing one handed is terrible, and trying to type two handed at weird angles is tough!!

some pics from theVillage

bible study at the after school program 

At the after school program we have finished studying the ten commandments, and are looking at who we are.. God created man and woman in His image... what does that mean?

In the Tuesday night foundations class we have been looking at the attributes of God, and learning that All of God's attributes work together. God is a God of love, and at the same time a God of wrath. A God of patience and mercy, but at the same time a Just God. thank you God for being all you are.

Some prayer requests:

Please continue to pray for provision for now and during our trip to the States (housing and vehicle while in the states)

Pray for the village ministry

Pray for my shoulder to be healed totally

Pray for the after school program

Pray for the church to grow spiritually, as a church family, and have an impact on our city.

Pray for the vision the Lord has begun to reveal to us that it would continue to be made clear and precise as we begin to plan.

Thank you so much for your prayers.

(if you enjoy coffee, be sure to check out the coffee link on the right of this blog!!)

The Giver

Last Sunday after we finished the bible study in the village one of the men asked us to stop by his house as he had something. Thinking he wanted to offer us a cup of coffee and to chat, we told him we couldn't stay too long afterwards this time, but we agreed to stop at his house before leaving. (We have been meeting across the street at a larger house so that we have more room for more people to come.)

As we arrived at the young man's house, he gave us each; a bottle of oil, a bag of sugar, and some liver patte. I couldn't refuse it because of the joy written all over his face that he was able to share something with us this time. I knew he probably needed it more than I did, but his giving instead of taking and asking was a blessing. I could not refuse him this joy. These verses came to me as I was driving home from the village.

Luke 6:38 New King James Version (NKJV)

38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

Matthew 10:8

Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

Where did the summer go?
Was it not yesterday we celebrated the last day of school? Was it not just yesterday we said goodbye to part of our team as they left to visit the States?
Now it is September and most of the team members are back!!
Wow!!!  Not sure about the rest of you but ours flew by, and at times has felt like it never started, now it is September and in less than two weeks school will be starting for the kids. We had the priviledge of having a young lady, Allison stay with us a month in July, and help in the village and with our own kids. It was nice to have a date night out of the house once a week for 4 weeks. We also had the priviledge of visiting an orphanage about 2 hours away in Brosteni, Romania up in the mountains, and the director has invited us to come back in September. The girls Bible study retreat went wonderful and the whole family got to participate as we had it right here camping out in our own yard.

The church has been going well, and Chris will continue to preach a couple weeks after Brian returns to finish up the book of 1 John. Please continue to pray that the Holy Spirit will speak through him to the church. Please continue to pray for the Bible study as well in Pintic among the Roma there. Somedays it seems like we are really seeing progress while other times it seems like there is no fruit. The people really need Jesus so please please pray for them.

Please pray for our two boys as they will be transferring to the Christian, private school in town. Pray for it to be easy for them to meet new friends and for them to be diligent in school this year. Please pray for our family as a whole.

We took a family day to ride horses. The kids had a wonderful time riding and enjoying the outdoors.

We do hope to visit the states next summer so please pray for the Lord's provision in this area.

Thank you for your love, prayers, and support.

Summer!!

Wow, it just seemed like yesterday we were putting away the Christmas tree and decorations. Where has the time gone?
Summer is here and summer plans have begun to take place.
Some of the things that have already taken place this spring.

We were able to help replace a roof of a family in a very poor village. Thank you to all those that helped with this project. We attended bible study here at this house throughout the winter.
As the weather has turned warm and beautiful we once again have moved outdoors under a tree.

English classes at the village school ended with pictures for each child in the class. they were able to decorate thier frames any way they wanted while eating some snacks and drinks.


Easter monday a team from the bible college in hungary came with us to the village. after a short teaching we gathered around the tv and watched the jesus film. many of the villagers came to watch. Some drifted in and out, but a good number stayed throughout the film. There were others that were listening to music quite loudly when we arrived, but as we wanted to start, one of the villagers went and asked them if they could turn down the music as were were having a bible study and then were going to watch a movie. for over three and a half hours of bible study and the movie they left the music at a low volume as to not distrub the teaching and the movie. What an encouragement as for a year ago, the music would have stayed on or gotten louder.

Easter monday we brought with us to the village a team from the hungary bible college. We shared a short bible study and watched the jesus film. as we arrived many of the people were listening to music quite loudly on thier sterio systems outside thier houses. When it was time to start one of the older men that came to the bible study went down and talked with each asking them to turn down the music as we were about to start. every single one of them turned down the music so that it would not interupt our bible study and film. for over three hours not one of them turned the music up. A year ago this most likely would not have happened. What an encouragement this was. The village children loved the attention they recieved from the team.

We attended a concert of bells put on by a team from the USA that came and ministered to the churches here in romania. The large Lutheran church in the center of the city was fortunate to have them play inside. Listening to A mighty fortress is our God by Martin Luther was amazing. And knowing that about the time Martin Luther penned this song, this exact church was being built. Encredible!

Be in prayer for us as summer is in full swing, kids camps, continueing the bible study in the village in the Gospel of John, and preaching through the book of 1john at church. Exciting times!!

Everlasting Life

John 5:24

New King James Version (NKJV)

24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

This last Sunday in the village Bible study we looked at everlasting life. i have heard many people say, "well, i hope to get into heaven when i die". Salvation is not an object or something we only hope for in the future. It is a present reality for us as Christians, for us as followers of Jesus Christ. In John 6:47 Jesus says,"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life". When Jesus was talking to Nicodemus about being born again He told Nicodemus that... Whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Jesus, talking to the Samaritan woman at the well tells her that "the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life". 

John 5:39-40 

You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

I John 5:13

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life,[a] and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

When I accepted Jesus as my Savior, believing that He died for my sins, paid the price for my sins, and rose from the dead- I passed from death to life, being born again I received everlasting life. I no longer have to hope that i might make it into heaven. I am assured that I will be in heaven. I have a place prepared for me in Heaven. You to can have a place prepared for you. You to can have everlasting life. You too can know for sure.

John 6:40

New King James Version (NKJV)

And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

Praise:

Although our washing machine broke down, I was able to repair the motor and we once again have a washing machine. 

Adoption process is moving along smoothly.

Prayer Requests:

1. Pray for adoption process

2. Pray for Bible study in the village. Pray that the Lord would change hearts, continue to mold the hearts of those that attend, and bring life to the lost.

3. Pray for the Girls Bible study as they began studying the Life of David.

4. Pray for the teenagers in our church as they step up and help out with worship. Pray for spiritual growth within our church.

5. Pray for the women's tea to be a time for the women to share and worship together and for those that attend who are not saved to receive Christ. 

6. Pray for our finances as we pray about visiting the States next summer.

7. Pray for the children to be an Christian example at school.

Romania's Fall is upon us once again!!

Fall is in full swing. School has started and we are adjusting to the change of schedule. Levi is in 5th grade, Chloe in 3rd grade, Mihai in what they call class Zero, and Azaniah started the Romanian kindergarten (preschool). Most of the New Beginning family center children are now in High school. Please pray for them through out the school year. To be diligent in their studies, and to be a light for Jesus amongst their teachers and classmates.
 Faith will begin to teach English again in the village of Pintic. We are thankful for the Lord opening the door their once again. Please pray for speaking of the Romanian language, and to be able to boldly share the gospel with both the students and the staff at the school. Praise for a director of the school who has allowed us to share openly, and to keep doing so. 
 The Bible study in Pintic is going well. A young family has agreed to allow us to use their house for the studies now that the weather is cold. Please continue to pray for the salvation of the Roma people in this village, that the Lord would start to change their village and put them on fire for Him. 
Praying about and planning a trip to the states It has been some time since we have seen and spoken with many of you. Over two years now. We long to be able to visit with our friends and family again, and to meet some of you in person for the very first time. We would like to pray about coming to the states this next coming summer. It is only 8 months away so we must begin raising and saving money for this now. The tickets are much cheaper if bought in advance. Please pray for the Lord’s provision so that we may come and share with you all in person not only the work the Lord has been doing in Romania, but what the Lord has been doing in our lives as well. 
We thank each of you, and pray for you often. We are blessed beyond measure to have you as a part of the ministry here in Romania. We love you all, and thank you for all of your prayers and support. 

Click to see our video: a glimpse of Romania!!

Serving together in Christ,
Chris, Faith, and kids

Who are you?

At Bible study in the village we looked at John the Baptist and what he came to do. The Religious leaders wanted to know who he was and sent Levites and Priests to find out why he was preaching and Baptizing, and by whose authority.

As the cherries trees are heavy with cherries many of the men were selling cherries. The women and children listened intently as we shared and opened the Word of God. 

The children loved playing a few games before it was time to leave. As we left we were able to help take two men and their cherries to the next village so they could sell them. Many of the people from this village scrape by day by day selling cherries or other forest fruits they can find to sell. Some of the things that they pick to sell are cherries, rasberries, mushrooms, nuts, and snails as each comes in season or as they can find them. God's Word will give them hope for a future life with Christ in His kingdom.

Cherry Tree

 Before leaving for the village Azi practices riding his bicycle. Many more falls and crashes lay ahead of him.

Jatham riding his car in style

The kids at the space learned how to make volcanoes demonstrating the effects of what happens when we explode in anger and how it can effect everything or everyone around us. 

Thank you for your prayers and support. Continue to pray for our visas to arrive. They have been approved and processed. We are waiting for them to arrive. It is taking extra long. Pray for patience.

Pray for the village of Pintic and wisdom in sharing, teaching, and loving the people. How to best be a Christ like example. 

Happy Father's Day to all the dads, and especially happy Fathers Day to Russell Anderson and Robert Peele. You hold a special place in our hearts this day as we remember you. 

A Song of Ascents.

 Blessed [is] every one who fears the LORD, Who walks in His ways.

When you eat the labor of your hands, You [shall be] happy, and [it shall be] well with you.

Your wife [shall be] like a fruitful vine In the very heart of your house, Your children like olive plants All around your table.

Behold, thus shall the man be blessed Who fears the LORD.

The LORD bless you out of Zion, And may you see the good of Jerusalem All the days of your life.

Yes, may you see your children's children. Peace [be] upon Israel!

-Psalm 128:1-6

A witness to the Light

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

We enjoyed our time in the village this afternoon. After Bible study and teaching some of the kids a few songs, the kids enjoyed spending some time playing games. All too soon it was time to leave as we have a couple more weeks of school and the kids have to get up on time. Here a few pictures from our afternoon in Pintic.

Two days before Easter one of the houses burned to the ground. Everyone was able to get out safe, but they lost everything. Please pray for Victor and his family as they have nothing. They are currently staying with his wife's relative in one of the two rooms that make up her house. They have five children. Pray that others in his village would come together and help this family. Pray that God would use this to change the hearts of the people in this village. Pray that God uses the Bible study to change their hearts to follow Jesus.