Mission Romania: 2013

Saturday, November 23, 2013

SAVE THE DATE !!!

Coleen, Elli & James will be in Southern California, January 2-30 and hope to see as many of you as possible.
There will be a Potluck Luncheon on Sunday, January 5th, right after 2nd church service o at the home of Nacho & Jackie Munoz (in Yorba Linda, just minutes from the church & 91 freeways). We will post an invite, with all the details, on this blog spot soon. All are welcome.

Beautiful Fall Day in Cluj

Enjoying a family outing, on a beautiful Fall Day in Cluj.

These were taken at the Central Park in downtown Cluj.

She is almost as tall has he is!

James is gaining on Elli in height...

Waiting on roasted chestnuts ("castane")

Praises & Prayer Requests Nov. 2013

PRAISES

*For the work the Lord is doing in the lives of the people we are in contact with; esp. JeJe's family (many are softening).

*The new people He is bringing to church/Friday night Bible study.

*For the baseball players who prayed to receive Jesus a few weeks ago.

*For the two ladies in our church who are helping with the children's church.

* His faithfulness towards the church/work here.

* The doors He is opening for Baseball Cluj and those who are being reached for Jesus through it.

* The spiritual growth we are seeing in our children's lives; especially as we have weekly family devotions/AGAPE time.

* Doors the Lord is opening for us to reach out in the city of Cluj and the throughout the country of Romania.

* Thankful for the Lord's provision for Coleen, Elli & James to visit the States in January.

PRAYER REQUESTS

* Salvation for JeJe's family members (many are softening)

* For the Holy Spirit to water and grow those who have prayed to receive Christ.

* The Lord to reveal His will to us daily; and us to know it and walk in it.

* The Lord to bless the upcoming activities; esp. December/Christmas. May His Name be exalted and glorified, and His Kingdom furthered.

* Details to come together for Coleen, Elli & James' trip; for the Lord to use them/protect them as they travel and visit.

* Good health. It is flu season here. Pray for Coleen to stay healthy; healing/grace for migraines.

* Spiritual hedge of protection to surround our family/home.

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Remembering Geta

So thankful for the Body of Christ, and the prayers & love lifted up on behalf of JeJe's Aunt Geta. She went to be with Jesus on September 23rd. She remained in our home up until her last 2 weeks, and it was a blessing to have the time with her. Her last Sunday here, she was unable to go up to the church building (50ft. from our house); so at the end of service, our worship leader lead everyone down to our home to sing worship songs to her....super blessed moment!
JeJe did his first funeral service with our CCCluj worship leader, Alin, at his side (at Geta's request; she had attended church with us here in Cluj for several months). The service "broke" Romanian tradition that most "organized religion" here would follow; most importantly, Lord was exalted and more than 300 people heard the Gospel message preached at both the Chapel and the grave-side. Many people prayed to receive Jesus at the altar call. May He be glorified in life and His victory over death. We look forward to the day when we will be reunited with Geta again in Heaven.

Graveside, where it is
tradition to pile the flowers

JeJe's immediate family on
his mother's side
(Geta was his mother's younger sister; she raised him)

JeJe with his brother and sister
(Jony and Bela)

BASEBALL CLUJ - October Update

So blessed at the hearts of the Baseball Cluj Players !!! One of the players researched the design of a pitcher's mound, and they came to practice with tools and muscles, to build a pitcher's mound. It is the first one we know of in Romania (no other teams currently play with a mound). It is an adjustment to pitch off the mound, but these guys have some good talent (and even better hearts).

FRIENDSHIP TOURNAMENT IN TURGU MURES.
Our team has been playing together for a little over a year. We were matched against a team who has played together for 5 years. We lost by one run, but WON BIG that day. You see, we had the lead going into the final innings; however, the coach of the other team (who was screaming at his players all day) decided to bring back in a pitcher he had already pulled (not allowed to do that, according to the rules). JeJe had a choice to make: 1) make a stink over the rules 2) let it go for the sake of the witness of Jesus Christ. It was tough for our players but they walked away WINNERS that day, with heads held high; they represented the Lord and Baseball Cluj is known for our character. The second match of the day, ended in a tie, but players from all the other teams gathered to watch and cheer us on. You could hear the chant "Hai de Cluj!" ("Let's Go Cluj!"). In following weeks, we have received phone calls for more invitations to play in other cities (taking this in prayer, travel requires funds for the players, and much more), and JeJe was called by the coach of the first team (the one we "lost" to) and asked how he could get involved with local churches in his area to get them involved in baseball.

"but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so than no man boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that just as it is written, "Let Him who boasts, boast in the Lord."
1 Corinthians 1:27-31

A GREAT TIME @ CC MISSIONS CONFERENCE (AUSTRIA)

We had a blessed time visiting with over 300 CC missionaries/families at the CC Missions Conference held at Schloss Heroldeck in Millstatt, Austria. Elli & James met up with friends from last year and really enjoyed the sessions for the "youth". We returned home refreshed and encouraged.

With Other Missionaries Serving in Romania

Girl Time

Monday, August 5, 2013

FAMILY CAMP @ Lunca Bradului

We had an amazing time. Not only did we return home blessed and tired, but we were privileged to help with ministering and teaching the people in the camp. There were 12 new professions of faith in Jesus Christ, a blessed time with small groups in devotions each morning, team competitions, JeJe taught the last Friday morning, and both JeJe & Coleen were blessed to speak with the teens about God's design for "relationships and purity" (praise God, the truth was taught and they still like us!). The site was amazing, lots of activities (let's just say we only saw James at bedtime and he sat with us for one meal ;o) and near the Mures River; an incredibly beautiful part of the country.

Group Photo

She did a great job finishing the obstacle
course in the trees, then ziplined across
the river.

Our "brave" Elli up on a wire...

James' turn on the
obstacle course in the trees.

Of course he was the fastest to
get through it and finish...

James ziplining across the river
after finishing the obstacle course

JeJe & Coleen were blessed
to be teamed up with the "teens"
Of Course our Team Had a "
"Game Plan" for every task.

We set the record by getting all
23 team members over the wall in
2 1/2 minutes
(only two were allowed to pull from the top)

Yes, he scaled this wall
as fast as Spiderman...

Dad's turn in the tree obstacle course

Love when the parents play too ;o)

Games for the younger children

Don't tell this big guy how old he is !

Team Work and balance vs. force

She was the first member of our team
to figure out how to get across the line,
using just the hanging rope
(the rest of the team had to complete the task).

Smart Girl !!!

Always Ready to "Play Ball"

An ëven bigger zipline running from the mountain
across to the camp ground;
James just happened to be wearing his
Superman T-shirt and "struck a pose" for everyone
(always the entertainer)