CHANGES, CHANGES AND MORE CHANGES:

Lots of changes have taken place since our last newsletter. After the departure of Barbara and the girls we started cleaning the apartment and moving furniture. Along with moving we have had tons of paperwork to finalize regarding the “Center for Chosen Children.” Plus, even before Barbara left for America we started receiving inquisitive phone calls as to whether or not we were going to sale the apartment. After much prayer and the lack of volunteers I knew that I could no longer run the center in Zalau. The foundation board members made a decision to relocate everything in Cluj and have one central office. Within a day we had an appointment with a family who was interested in purchasing the apartment and a contract was made. In the process of all that we were already doing, now we were preparing documents to sale the apartment. In my spirit I knew God had ordered everything and within three weeks the apartment was sold.

 Amazingly, when we moved to Zalau the people were suspicious, inconsiderate, and down right mean, but last week when we were leaving Zalau as Freddy was pulling off, the lady who purchased the apartment along with others from the building were waving and blowing kisses as we drove off. Suddenly my eyes focus on the front doors of the block building and the Holy Spirit spoke to me, “Rita, this chapter of your life is now closed.” After that a peace swept over me like I have never felt and I begin giving God all the glory and honor of being able to see him work over the years.

 Work, Work, Work:

In the meantime, despite our extreme work load, now our neighbor decides that it was time for a new fence to go up between our yard and his. Right away, we found ourselves juggling all types of major work projects, from moving furniture, preparing paperwork for both the Labor Department and Children’s Protection, from running to and fro to the notary office in Zalau, and now taking down the old fence and chicken pin. Not to mention, that the week prior all this we had already started construction on the building in Ferma Larga. WOW!! Doesn’t that just make you tired? Yes indeed, we all felt that our work load was excessively increasing as the days continued. Nevertheless, I continued to remind myself that God will not put more on us than we could bear or withstand. So needless to say, we all buckled on our working gear and off we went straight into tackling all of these different projects.

Freddy decided that since the neighbor wanted to put up the fence so quickly that he would dive right into taking the old chicken house down. He made contact with Andrei from Ferma Larga, who is indeed a strong, hard worker (to be so young) and he and Freddy immediately started work on our newest project. That morning Freddy told me that it would take about three days to get that job accomplished. Personally, I was thinking Freddy has not been around Andrei very much and seen how fast this boy works. That afternoon by 3:00 p.m. Andrei and Freddy had the old chicken house torn down, the yard cleaned up, and the trash load in the van ready to haul off to the dump. Andrei had never seen the dump in Cluj and was astonished as we drove up to all the shanty-houses. Families started running to the van as though we had brought a van load of gold. Of course, to them roofing shingles, metal pipes, electric wire, and household goods can be somewhat like gold. Andrei being from a poverty stricken village himself was taken back by the severe lack and poverty he was witnessing. Indeed, the lifestyles of the people in the dump can be an eye opening experience. Afterwards, we all felt a sense of accomplishment. Freddy was overwhelmed at the work that had been completed in only one day and commented on Andrei being a little go-getter.

 Accomplishments:

With all that behind us we were able to move back into resolving everything with the sale of the apartment. Trudy and I submitted the paperwork to all local offices concerning the center, acquired all documentations regarding proof of no-debts and all tax records needed for the notary’s office. Within two weeks, we moved and cleaned the apartment in Zalau, arranged all of the furniture in the Cluj house, sold an apartment, took down an old fence and chicken pin, handled childcare with Manny, ran the office as usual and were still able to get two rooms plastered in the Ferma Larga building. WHAT A LOT OF JOBS ACCOMPLISHED IN SUCH A SHORT TIME. IT HAD TO BE GOD’S MIGHTY HAND WORKING ALL THIS.

 Resuming Construction:

Currently, we are resuming construction on the building in Ferma Larga. We have electric outlets and light fixtures purchased for installation, along with 50 kilograms of paint. We are hopeful to have the other two rooms finished soon. After finishing this work we can begin our ladies Bible studies, children programs and have our first teaching session in computer skills.

 Decisions, Decisions:

Surprisingly, during all the above work projects, the local school board in Cojocna made contact with our office to ask if we would allow the building in Ferma Larga to function as a schoolhouse this coming September. Decisions, decisions! Please help us pray that more work can be done before then. Of course, God has to show us His prefect plan and how to bring it together.  

Help is on the way:

On April 10^th, Bro. Wendell Mims and Shirley Rigsby will be coming to Romania to lend a helping hand. Obviously, what they are not aware of is that I have plenty of things to do. First, we will paint the rooms that have been plastered in the building. Also, one bathroom at the Cluj house is broken, so Freddy and Wendell will make repairs on that. Then if God permits we will begin breaking more walls down inside the building. If we used it as a schoolhouse this coming September then we will need yet larger rooms to accommodate the children.  Amazing! Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine last year when money was sowed in a school project in Messeni de Jos that God would want the Ferma Larga building to service as a school too. Sure enough, it goes to show that indeed God’s thoughts and ways far out weighs ours.

 · Please pray for my sister Shirley and Brother Wendell’s flights to Romania.

· Pray that God will bless the work of their hands.

· Pray as we hold our first Sunday morning church service in the Ferma Larga building on April, 15^th, Brother Wendell will  be preaching.

· Pray that all the families in the village will be excited to have a church service.

 Genesis (Manny’s) School:

We learned that the school where Manny attends was having serious financial difficulties, so we all begin to ask God how we could help. Afterwards, God pressed on our hearts to give a donation. Tears of joy filled the eyes of the director as she shared with me how she and the teachers had been praying that God would provide a miracle on behalf of the school. What's moreincredible is that the same week they were praying and seeking God’s help for provision, the Holy Spirit was pressing my heart to help. Early one morning I woke and in my spirit I heard, “You need to give a donation to Manny’s school.” Then that same afternoon when I picked Manny up I heard again, “Don’t forget the school is in need, you must give a love gift.”  In my devotion that same morning I read, “You must trust Me wholly. This lesson has to be learned, there is not a need that I cannot supply. A flower or money---one is no more difficult than the other to me. All supply must be fashioned from LOVE.” The next day I made an appointment with the director to give as God had directed. Praise Jesus that I was able to be the hands as HE, the dispenser of blessings reached out in LOVE to care for the need of this school.

Thank you for your support and trust in us as we faithfully continue to serve Christ our Lord. Please pray God’s wisdom upon us daily!

 Yours in Christ,

Freddy and Rita