Two years ago we arrived in Bucharest, Romania, starting a new chapter in our lives on the other side of the globe. God had called us to come here and minister to the abandoned children that we had met on two previous mission trips. For six months we studied the language and after that enjoyed being able to communicate directly with the kids. The rest of the first year we spent helping at the orphanages and baby hospital. It was a year of training and learning how to reach and show Christ's love to the kids we came here for.
This year we got to try our hand at being teachers with Mark teaching English and Rebecca teaching Science. We were also involved in story time, cooking classes and in several youth groups. We use these classes not only to enhance the kids' lives but also as a way to get into the orphanages by offering something valuable to them. Through these classes we have built relationships with many of the kids. Georgiana calls Rebecca “mommy” and told her recently as they were walking through the park that if someone saw them together they would think they're a family. Andrei calls Mark “daddy” and always runs and jumps in his arms and plasters on lots of kisses.
Some of our greatest joy has come from seeing many of the teens that we work with accept Christ and begin to grow in their faith. Last year at summer camp many of them made this decision and throughout the year we have worked with them and encouraged them. Four were baptized this summer and volunteered to help lead some of the lessons at this year's camps. Two of them now want to be pastors and are excited about sharing Christ with their peers. The camps this summer were also very fruitful with several more accepting Christ. God has truly been blessing this ministry and continues to show us his faithfulness.
These two years have been quite a challenge as well, adapting to the culture, working with emotionally challenged kids, and being far away from home, just to name a few. We have been stretched beyond what we ever thought we'd be doing with our lives, but we can feel God's sustaining hands holding us up. Through the fruitful relationships and changed lives we've experienced we can tell that our work here is not finished, but just getting started. That is why we've decided to continue working here for as long as God wants us to, and only he knows how long that will be. We know that we are in the right place and doing what God has called us to do with our lives.
Thank you so much for your prayers and support, our ministry is only possible because of your faithfulness! We have appreciated your encouragement through e-mails and Skype calls and we hope that we can continue to keep in touch. God sustains us through your prayers and has truly blessed us and our ministry through you. You are as much a part of this ministry as us because we couldn't do it without your help. We pray that we can continue to be partners in prayer and support as we go forward. We have many opportunities throughout the year for you to come and experience what we’re doing.
We will be coming home on November 14 and will be home for about a month. We will be speaking in all of our supporting churches and will post more details when we know them. We are looking to borrow a car for that month so if you or someone you know would be willing to lend one to us that would be a great help. Thanks again for everything and we look forward to continuing to share our experiences with you on our blog and in person. God be with you and bless you so you can continue to be a blessing to others.
Please continue to pray:
- For God to continue to lead us in his will and for us to know what that is.
- For God to be with us and our family and friends.
- For God to work in the lives of the kids we work with and for them to be open to accepting him.
- For God to watch over and protect the ones who are growing in relationship with him.
- For God to bar the evil one from hindering our work.
- For God to give us good health and safety especially while traveling.
- For God to guide us and our organization as the fall program is planned.
- For God to bless our supporters and churches so they can continue to bless us and others.
This year we got to try our hand at being teachers with Mark teaching English and Rebecca teaching Science. We were also involved in story time, cooking classes and in several youth groups. We use these classes not only to enhance the kids' lives but also as a way to get into the orphanages by offering something valuable to them. Through these classes we have built relationships with many of the kids. Georgiana calls Rebecca “mommy” and told her recently as they were walking through the park that if someone saw them together they would think they're a family. Andrei calls Mark “daddy” and always runs and jumps in his arms and plasters on lots of kisses.
Some of our greatest joy has come from seeing many of the teens that we work with accept Christ and begin to grow in their faith. Last year at summer camp many of them made this decision and throughout the year we have worked with them and encouraged them. Four were baptized this summer and volunteered to help lead some of the lessons at this year's camps. Two of them now want to be pastors and are excited about sharing Christ with their peers. The camps this summer were also very fruitful with several more accepting Christ. God has truly been blessing this ministry and continues to show us his faithfulness.
These two years have been quite a challenge as well, adapting to the culture, working with emotionally challenged kids, and being far away from home, just to name a few. We have been stretched beyond what we ever thought we'd be doing with our lives, but we can feel God's sustaining hands holding us up. Through the fruitful relationships and changed lives we've experienced we can tell that our work here is not finished, but just getting started. That is why we've decided to continue working here for as long as God wants us to, and only he knows how long that will be. We know that we are in the right place and doing what God has called us to do with our lives.
Thank you so much for your prayers and support, our ministry is only possible because of your faithfulness! We have appreciated your encouragement through e-mails and Skype calls and we hope that we can continue to keep in touch. God sustains us through your prayers and has truly blessed us and our ministry through you. You are as much a part of this ministry as us because we couldn't do it without your help. We pray that we can continue to be partners in prayer and support as we go forward. We have many opportunities throughout the year for you to come and experience what we’re doing.
We will be coming home on November 14 and will be home for about a month. We will be speaking in all of our supporting churches and will post more details when we know them. We are looking to borrow a car for that month so if you or someone you know would be willing to lend one to us that would be a great help. Thanks again for everything and we look forward to continuing to share our experiences with you on our blog and in person. God be with you and bless you so you can continue to be a blessing to others.
Please continue to pray:
- For God to continue to lead us in his will and for us to know what that is.
- For God to be with us and our family and friends.
- For God to work in the lives of the kids we work with and for them to be open to accepting him.
- For God to watch over and protect the ones who are growing in relationship with him.
- For God to bar the evil one from hindering our work.
- For God to give us good health and safety especially while traveling.
- For God to guide us and our organization as the fall program is planned.
- For God to bless our supporters and churches so they can continue to bless us and others.
For a printable version of the update click here: Mark & Rebecca - Two Year Update
1 comments:
Wow, has it really been two years? It is amazing to see how God is at work there in Romania and in your lives. Continuing to remember you in my prayers.
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