Mission Romania: August 2012

UPDATE as of AUGUST 10th (more articles WITH LOTS OF PICTURES below)

We are packing up the car and heading out early tomorrow morning to drive to the Calvary Chapel Missions Conference at the CC Castle/Conference Center in Millstatt, Austria (August 12-18). We are beyond excited for this opportunity to spend as a family getting re-charged in the Lord and to get to meet other CC missionary families.

Please pray for traveling mercies as we cross a few borders and venture into new territories.

Also, please pray for an anointed time for us as a family and for each of us with the Lord.

"2012 SUMMER TEAM" SEASON

CCEA Mission Romania 2012 - the team of 21 arrived on June 20th.

Ryan Young, who lead the team gave us the verse the Lord spoke to his heart for this team: "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:10

That is exactly what the Lord did. The team fit nicely into the body here and helped where each was gifted. Helps, children, evangelism, teaching, exhorting, worship, dramas, sports, artistic abilities and yes - break dancing!!! Kyle met up with a break dance group in Cluj and got to share Jesus with them.

We estimate more than 40+ people prayed to receive Jesus as their Savior. More than 5,000 tracts were handed out.

The team was a tremendous blessing - it was GREAT having our "family" here. .

FAMILY !!!!

"Troopers"
first day was 98F and we "made" them walk
the city to stay awake
(it worked - their hours got on track and
most slept through the first night ;o))

Herding Sheep Down the Street :o)

About to take "the ride of your life ;o)"

Central Park Evengelism

Lorenzo Sharing the Gospel

Stephanie Sharing Her Testimony
(Lili translating)

Elli Translating

"Hook" Skits (they were a "hit")

Mrs. Deck "Evangelizing"
in Her Language
(she was awesome!)

"Buddies"

Drying Laundry for a Team of 21 ;o)

One of James' Favorite People (Kyle :o)

Buddies for Life....

Table for 29 Please !

Team Photo with Translators
(Our YWAM friends)

Last Day - A visit to the Salt Mine (Salina Turda).
Super Awesome Time. These Guys deserved a day of fun!

The Kona Sports DTS Team - They arrived in time to join us for a 4th of July BBQ and are from the YWAM Discipleship Training School in Kona, Hawaii - their group is with an emphasis on doing outreaches through sports. They, along with Coach Brian from Northwestern Christian College (Iowa) - put on the baseball camp we served in from July 16-20. It was an amazing week of God & Baseball (He is first). The children learned basic skills, had lunch together, had Bible studies/devotional times and then each age group enjoyed healthy competition at the days end.

Kona Team Teaching Bible Songs

AWESOME TIME !!!
The Lord brought more than 90 children
throughout the week !!!

Bible Time with Coach Jason

Team Spirit

Coach JeJe

BIBLE/DISCIPLESHIP TIME with Coach Brian

Elli is finally, truly excited
about baseball
(a picture had to be taken!)

Coach Brian Demonstrating 'How to Bat'

Elijah
(Coach Austin's adorable son)

Children of Cluj !!!

Our Favorite Batter
(okay, so we are a little biased)

Elli with Her New Friends From KONA Team
(April - Center, from Australia
Hannah - Right, from Virginia)

SUMMER 6 - from the group of 21 from CCEA. This team remained behind to serve and left for their journey back to the U.S. on August 3rd. They were an especially big help and blessing in serving at the YWAM baseball outreaches and Crossover basketball team and joined with the York Team on a visit to the Ocna Mures Christian Orphanage and Unirea 1 & 2 feeding centers.

Jessica Shares Her Testimony

Coach Ryan

Jessica and her Team Mates

Team Cheer

Calvary Chapel York (England) - Blessed us with 9 from their high school group (3 adults and 6 teens); who came alongside us from July 21-28. Our time with them included lots of evangelism outreaches, 2 baseball camps, and a gathering to fellowship with the young adults of Prison Fellowship. Their week with ended with a trip to a Christian orphanage and 2 village feeding programs for children in-need in Ocna Mures on Friday. They were "lovely" and "cheeky" - we love our new British friends.

CC York Did Lots of
Park Evangelisms

Ellie (York) blowing bubbles
for the children in the park.

Our British Friends
LOVED
Baseball (and were quite good at it!) !!!

Rosie Shares Her Testimony with
a Young Mother in the Park

They blessed the girls at
the orphanage with lots of craft items

Great Soccer Players those
Brits are - but no match for
these Romanian young men!

Skit on "the Hold of Sin"

The past 2 months have been truly a blessed time for our family; we made so many new friends and deepened the friendships we already had. Our children have many new friends and we are thankful for everyone coming to be a part of helping build the church here in Cluj.

We are a little tired and looking forward to a time of refreshment in the Lord, as a family, at the Missions Conference in Austria (Aug. 12-18).

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE AND PRAYERS - KEEP 'EM COMING !!!

Our deepest thanks to all who sent care packages and items over with the CCEA team - and to the several team members who sacrificed bringing more stuff for themselves in order to fit those gifts in - really a blessing to our family (great examples to our kids !!!).

We see how much it means to our children to be "remembered" and we thank you!!!

PRAYER REQUESTS (August 10)

*For the Gospel to go out with power and spiritual revival in Romania. That the Lord would break the chains of "religion" and "legalism" here and open eyes/hearts to receive Jesus as their Lord.

*The many seeds planted from evangelism to take deep root and bring forth fruit.

*God to bless the church here while we are gone - for His hand on Ovi and Alin who will be covering the two Sundays while we are away and for Him to bless them and speak through each of them.

*More Fruit to come forth from baseball camps. God's help/will in getting little league together and provision for a dedicated baseball field.

*More baseball players/coaches to come and help us train Romanians in the sport.

*Us to be salt and light in this city and amongst the Romanian people, as well as in the lives of one another.

*Blessings on our friends Alin & Gabi.

*Wisdom, grace and love as we follow the Lord in His building of His church here in Cluj.

*For our family to have a great time together in the Lord when we attend the CC Missionaries Conference in Austria.

*Good health !!!

We thank you, thank you, thank you for your love, prayers and support.

We count it a privilege to be here serving the Lord and thank you for partnering with us!

"A three-fold cord is not easily torn apart"

Ecclesiastes 4:12b

VISIT TO ORPHANAGE AND CHILDREN'S FEEDING PROGRAMS IN OCNA MURES (July 27)

What a blessing! The orphanage ministry in Ocna Mures was begun by our friend Ray (who currently attends CCPhilly and has been coming to Romania since 1990 - he has an apt. here in Cluj very close to us, that he stays at when visiting). He and a group of Christians helped build the orphanage and start bringing children from the hospitals into a home environment. It was our great pleasure to go and spend time with some of the 32 children housed there. We went with the CCEA Summer 6 and the CCYork teams and had a great time playing soccer, basketball, tennis and the girls spent time getting to know one another while doing crafts.

In addition to being able to visit the orphanage, we went on a tour of 2 local feeding programs. The local church has two sites in different villages where the community is made up of poorer families. Both facilities feed approx. 80 children on 3 different days of the week and include a Bible program into this. While at the feeding programs, both teams were able to share testimonies, skits and play with the children.

Our family was really blessed to make this connection and to see how the Lord is still working in this orphanage after 22 years. The staff was very welcoming and hospitable; they even fed us all lunch! We look forward to future visits and getting to know the children better.

Please pray for the children at the orphanage and the feeding centers to grow in the love & knowledge of Jesus Christ.