Summer 2013 in Romania

We have loved summer ministry in Romania ever since we participated in our first summer camp in 2008.  Summer ministry is a chance for us to give the kids a change of scenery and to pour into them in a very special way.  We started in June with a team of music students from Biola University in California.  They brought their instruments and played for the kids and we also put on a carnival for children’s day.  The kids had the most fun trying out the instruments, especially the French Horn.  After that we had a team from Reno who helped us finish out the school year with fun projects and crafts.

In July we officially started summer camp.  We were able to use a local high school for our camp location which worked out great.  For our young kids curriculum we used a medieval themed VBS program called “Kingdom Rock.”  Each day we started off with a skit and some songs.  Then we would split up into groups and each would go to a station: Bible Story, Imagination Station, Missions, and Games, to teach the kids how to stand strong in God and to have strong faith in him.  In addition to this, every other day we took a small group of kids to the pool at the H2H team house for a swim party.   This was of course their highlight, they just love swimming!

We also did a teen camp where we used personal stories and testimonies to show what real faith looks like.  At the start of each day we played hilarious ice breaker games, then had a great worship time and a message.  After that we played some group games and then had a soccer tournament and more game time.  Each evening we hung out with the kids at the local stadium.  This camp was a highlight for us because we felt like we really connected with these young adults and they also seemed really open to hearing about the Lord.

In August we had time to do less structured things like go to the orphanages to play and hang out.  We spent as much time as we could with Marius, including taking him to the mountains for a few days.  We enjoyed hiking in God’s splendor and the weather was so refreshing.  We also were honored to attend the wedding of two of the kids that were in the transition program this year and the baptism of Elena.  We also enjoyed seeing a teen that we work with, Dan, start reading the Bible, asking good questions, and attending bible study and Church, as well as helping us with camp.  He had previously taken a stand saying that he didn’t believe in God so seeing him change and accept Christ a wonderful answer to prayer!

Please Continue To Pray:

- Praise God for sustaining us this summer and giving us a fruitful ministry.  Pray that he will continue to work in the hearts that were touched by his truth and love.

- Even as things went so well we still experienced hardships and spiritual attacks.  Please pray that fall ministry will go well and that we will be protected from attacks.

- Pray for us as we plan for the fall that we will be able to follow God’s will and work out a schedule.  Also pray for us as we travel to France to celebrate our 10 year anniversary.  Please pray that God will make his long term plan clear to us.

- Pray for staff members Josh and Missy as they leave the field and start the next chapter of their lives back home.  Also for Kirsteen as she went back home at the beginning of the summer.

- Pray for Talitha as she arrives here soon to join our full time staff.  Pray for her transition to Romania and for her language learning.

- Pray for our family, friends and supporters that make it possible for us to be here.  We could not be the hands and feet of Christ were it not for their love, prayers and support.

Thank you for praying and helping us make this a successful summer.  Even after four years God is blessing our partnership and giving us fruit, praise Him!

You can download a printable copy of this newsletter by clicking on the picture below:

Elena's Baptism

If you've heard us talk about Romania and especially how we came to be called here full time, you've probably heard us talk about our special girl Elena.  We met her for the first time at summer camp in 2008 and she made a lasting impression on us.

It was on the long hike to the monastery in the background that we really got to know each other and when she said for the first time that she wished she had a father like me.  My heart melted and I knew we had a special bond.

Later that night we talked more about her life and her past and we shared about ourselves too.  She said that she wished that she had parents like us because her Mom took advantage of her and it was so bad there that she ran away to the orphanage.  She had never known unconditional love but we were happy to offer her our love.

After camp we kept in contact with Elena through H2H staff.  She was one of the main kids that God used to tell us that we should work here full time.  We had the thought in mind that if we could build such a strong relationship in one week then how much more could we do for a longer period of time?

When we got here we tried to see Elena whenever we had the chance and eventually were able to work with her full time when we started working in her town.

We enjoyed going to her Christmas programs and being there for her like the parents she never had.

Elena entered into the girls transition program this year and had a great time learning life and job skills.  We got to spend time together and do fun things like an Easter egg hunt.

We also got to see Elena at church every Sunday.  She has always liked going to church and loves to sing.  But this year she grew closer to God and decided to be baptized, praise God!

Here is Elena reading the Bible with Florin, who was baptized a few years ago.

At the baptism she shared one of her favorite Bible passages.

Even though we knew about her baptism and we had talked about it before she called us up to formally invite us.  She wanted us to be there for her like always and we were happy to oblige.  

We are so proud of Elena for making this decision and taking this stand in a world that is trying more and more to push God out.  We pray that she will be an example to others and that God will use her in big ways.  Thank you to all who prayed for her and the kids that we work with here.  God is working among them and we are privileged to see some of the fruit of all of our labor.