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!

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