In order for the foundation to become licensed this year and not just approved as we have been in the past seven years, we are going through some major modifications. Last month if you remember I wrote about making repairs to the office in Zalau. But then this month we were faced with some problems in the office here in Cluj that have developed into a real challenge. We started out with a simple project of painting the office to give the office a fresh look before the Labor Department came to evaluate the foundation for its approval. We began the project by simply scraping off the old cracked plaster, but two of the walls had severe problems and the cement started breaking off onto the floor. It wasn’t long until there was a great big hole in the middle of wall. The wall look like it was mocking us by saying, “Huh, what will you do now?” So what do you do when you have no idea what to do? Well, there was only one thing to do – re-cement it. Now that was going to be a real challenge since I had never mixed cement in my life. I mixed it the best I could and then to work on the walls we went. I will not say that Lyn and I worked like professionals. Actually we couldn’t even get those spreading “thing-a-majiggers” to work right; but we were super determined to conquer the obstacle of getting the cement from the bucket onto the walls. Finally we found the tool that was just right for the both of us – rubber gloves!!! So armed with gloves on hands we dove into the cement with one aim in mind, fill up that great big hole! Believe it or not, the gloves worked pretty well and the hole (or rather holes) got filled. That boosted our confidence and we began to make plans for day 2 of the project. We decided to paint the ceiling while we waited for the walls to dry. Things looked good at the beginning of the second day. We showed Trudy, our newest employee who will be replacing Corina, how to apply paint to the ceiling. Even though it was her first time to paint ceilings, she did a really good job; and so with that done, we began to relax and make plans for the next day’s schedule. Suddenly Lyn yelled, “Rita,” just before portions of the ceiling plaster fell to the floor. Wow! Or should I say “Oh me!” The project was beginning to look a little hopeless, but we refused to let it get the best of us. And so, another late night in the office! A simple task of painting an office was turning into a major overhaul. Once again, I ran to mix plaster and Lyn went for the rubber gloves. Another major hole to fill, and this time it was the ceiling! Considering that we had no idea of what we were doing, the repaired holes look pretty good. Our Romanian neighbors are befuddled by Americans doing the work themselves. However, the simple truth is that there were no extra funds for this project. Romanians do not truly believe that Americans have to work on fixed budgets! If they only knew! The more we worked, the more expensive the project became. The work had to be done in order for us to get the approval for the humanitarian aid projects and ministry activities that we do through the foundation. The approvals are not our choice but a requirement of the government in order to continue any ministry work in the country and to comply with Labor Department standards for the salaried employees. We are now faced with another major opportunity with the office in Cluj. There will be additional expenditures for approvals from the Health Department, Fire Department, and the Environmental Protection Agency, all of which exceed our monthly budget. In fact millions of lei have already gone out and still more have to be paid in order to get all the approvals and make physical adjustments to comply with the government’s new standards. Without the repairs there will be no approvals. We have already over extended the monthly budget by $955.00 just for this month’s extra expenses. I would like to ask all of you if maybe you could help us with some of these extra expenses this month? If I had these funds available, I would not be asking you for help but we function month by month on a very tight budget and these costs have far exceeded what we have to work with this month. If we do not get the approvals, we will not be able to function as a foundation here any longer. If you can help it will be greatly appreciated.

Also, we have additional expenses on the foundation’s house. We need the eaves painted and the old broken gutters replaced. We do not have the money to do this but if we do not get the wood treated with paint this year I am afraid that the wood will be ruined because our gutters are leaking and water goes down into the wood. It will cost me another $850.00 to make these repairs and again no funds are available in our mission account to cover these expenses. Could you also help us with this situation? I really doubt that I will be able to paint the eaves and replace the gutters myself. Ha! With your help I will be able to hire someone to repair the gutters and paint the eaves in August. This is really critical before the winter sets in because I do not think the wood on the eaves of the house will make it through another winter.

I received some word about the building. We could possibly have the building in Ferma Larga in September. If so, that will mean lots and lots of construction. Perhaps all these other unexpected construction projects have been training grounds for what God has in store for us ahead. Repairing that building! The building will definitely need lots of cementing and plastering, putting in flooring, painting, and only He knows what else. I feel we have been in boot camp the last few months. We will need workers, materials and trucks to haul the materials. But first we need prayer! I ask that you be in prayer for us because we only want God’s perfect will and timing for this job. I do know that we must get as much repair work done to secure the building and to stall further weather damage as soon as the building negotiations are finished. I do not foresee any major renovation work being done on the building this year since the summer is now half-over, but we will definitely have to secure the structure of the building. We need as many people as possible to help us make this project happen. I am learning that construction projects are super expensive and even more so here in Romania because of all the approvals that must be secured before construction or renovation can even begin. Do you see why we need your help? If any of you would like to be apart of planting this church we ask that you help us by sending extra love gifts to our mission office labeled “church planting.” In doing so you can help us make a spiritual difference in the people’s lives. Maybe you have never been able to help in planting a church, well now is your chance. I remember years ago one of my first mission trips was with the Southern Baptist Builders from my hometown. God pressed my heart one Sunday morning to go on a summer mission trip with the SBB and to literally build a church. At first I procrastinated; but God won out and we went on the trip. My life totally changed. I started giving each week to missions so that lives could be changed through the gospel of Jesus Christ. I never knew then that one day I would be on a mission field in a foreign land asking others if maybe they could possibly help us in planting a church. God works in mysterious ways! Looking back over the events of the past 8 years on the mission field I see how God has used each task in my life to prepare me for where I am now. HE truly is an awesome God!

I know this month I have placed a lot before you that we are in need of and I pray that you will seriously lift these needs to the Lord in your prayers. I am reminded that the Word says, “You have not because you ask not.” Of course, I know that means we need to ask Jesus, the great Provider. But also, I am reminded that if we see a brother in need then we must go that extra mile to help him. Calea is in a similar situation. We have needs here that you would never know about unless we told you about them. So this month God pressed my heart to share with you our needs. Many times each month I get caught up in doing the work here helping others in their need that I forget that we have needs here at the foundation too. So I pray that you understand my heart this month. We never want to take you for granted. We definitely know that without your monthly support we could not be here in Romania. You have helped us for 8 years to carry the gospel to many who might never have heard if God had not sent us here. Now we are embarking upon a new path of greater responsibility, to minister the gospel of Christ, through the planting of a church. That is the great commission for all of us – “to carry the gospel into all the nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” We ask that you continue to pray with us that we will make this our primary work and that you will feel apart of this call to carry the gospel and spread the Word. May God bless you as you help us bless others! Thank you all for your monthly support and prayers.

Ps. 42:11; “But O my soul don’t be discouraged. Don’t be upset. Expect God to act! For I know that I shall again have plenty of reason to praise Him for all that He will do. He is my help! He is my God!” (Tay)

Yours in Christ,