Sunday, June 26, 2005
We spent a wonderful two days in Targu Jiu and Balesti, visiting the various ministries of the Living Hope Center. The Center is a vibrant, active place and Adi and Lavinia Dreana share the love of Jesus with each person that passes through their doors.
Our Sunday was full from start to finish. We woke up to the sound of roosters and got ready to visit the Balesti church. Traveling on the bumpy Romanian roads to the village, we passed by several horse carts and lots of people walking on the streets. The new building, with its brick walls, and new windows, and cement floor, is already a fantastic, concrete reminder that God cares about this small village of 10,000. The opportunities to share the truth of God’s love with these neighbors are endless.
The service began with a warm welcome from Adi, and then the children from the Living Hope Center sang and recited from memory long passages of scripture, poems and other songs. They were lead by Georgiana, their tutor from the Living Hope Center, and were a clear testimony to the good work Adi and Lavi are doing to encourage the children in their faith in Christ.
The children sing in the unfinished church building.
The congregation enthusiastically sang God’s praises and then Jayme and Emily and I were called to share songs and testimonies, as well. How privileged we felt to bring encouragement and help to them in some small way.
Adi preached an encouraging sermon about not waiting to decide to follow Christ, but to copy Matthew’s example, who talked to Jesus and followed him that very day.
After more singing and praying, we had a time of fellowship. Several church families prepared a fabulous meal of sarmale (meat and rice wrapped in cabbage leaves) cooked over an open fire, and then visited with us and shared their concerns. We were kissed and hugged by all the older women, and greeted enthusiastically by the children we had met the day before. In the evening the youth returned to play games and sports. Volleyball and Capture the Flag were very popular, as well as a rip-roaring game of “football”, our soccer. Adi again encouraged us to get right in there and play, so imagine this old lady chasing the young Romanians to keep them away from the “jail” in Capture the Flag! They couldn’t believe how fast I could run! J
By all accounts the Balesti Church proclaims enthusiastically to the surrounding village, “God loves YOU!”
Monday, June 27, 2005
Today we visited a bit with the ladies in the Maternity Clothes Sewing ministry, which employs several women who are hard at work making stylish clothing for expectant mothers. They greeted us so warmly and were very proud of their work. These clothes are made available to the patients who come to the Medical Clinic, and sold to expectant mothers in the area.
Hard at work in the sewing business.
We also spent some time with Dr. Eugene at the Speranta Vie medical clinic, where patients were waiting in line to see the doctor and use the ultra sound machine. Emily will spend part of her time here doing intake and vital signs for the patients. With the addition of the new mammogram machine later this summer, they will be able to meet the needs of more women than ever before.
Emily, Jayme & Adi at the Living Hope medical clinic.
I am so grateful to have had this first hand chance to pepper Adi and Lavi with questions about their work. Their motivation in each part of their ministry is to develop relationships with the Christians, and the pre-Christians, as Adi likes to call them, so that they will experience the love of Christ first hand, and be built up to change Romania into a thriving, God-honoring community.
By 3pm we were headed to Oradea. We arrived in Oradea around 10pm Monday night after very kind chauffeuring by Mr. Balota, Lavinia Dreana’s father. We saw much of the beautiful Romanian countryside, the Carpathian mountains, and the hard working Romanian farmers, who continue to work with hand tools to keep their fields in order.
After more sarmale at the Balota home, we drove up the hill to Hope House. Seeing Hope House for the first time was thrilling. After years of keeping the books and marveling at the generosity of God’s people, it was a tremendous joy to see what God and His people were able to accomplish together. I can’t wait to meet the children in the morning.
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
We begin our day today with a pleasant breeze and the sound of children waking up in the orphanage. We’ll catch up with Corina today and photograph the children.