HAPPY NEW YEAR! Our prayer this New Year is that the joy of God’s blessings rests upon you.

 We haven't mentioned it before in previous newsletters because we wanted to be sure everything would work out first before I shared with you all what God has been doing. God has been so faithful to show us HIS awesome glory this past year. When I was praying recently during my private devotion time, all of His mighty works of this past year started flashing before my eyes, one by one. I wrote down 15 miracles that Freddy and I have witnessed together just this year. However, that does not even include the blessings of His mighty strength and power going before us each day, His daily provision, His hand of protection, and His power to sustain us in all things whether in health, body and mind. One of those 15 miracles took place just after we arrived back in Romania. We were in the middle of building the walls (which in itself was a another miracle of God’s provision) when I received a phone call from America from a man who wanted to help us get a large sum of humanitarian aid into Romania. As I listened to him on the phone, my ears could not believe what I was hearing. Some years ago I had seen in my spirit large containers of humanitarian aid coming into our ministry and flowing out as rapidly as we could get it. This man told me that he wanted to either load a cargo plane of goods for Romania or send a large container and ship it directly to us. He told us if we could get a list of humanitarian needs faxed into his office he would begin working to help us. We started working feverously to get the list done. I had carried the vision of just that happening for such a long time in my heart. Once he received our humanitarian request list, he then called again and told us he had found an organization in Springfield, Missouri that was going to ship some of the items on our list to us. Yes, you could hear me shouting from Romania to America! However, the strange thing in all this is that Mr. Bill did not know me nor did I know anything of him. He never asked my church affiliation. Many of you know we are members of the Assemblies of God. After considerable discussion with him about this matter, I learned that the organization in Springfield was associated with the Assemblies of God, and had provided assistance and aid in all types of emergencies in the U.S. and abroad. PRAISE JESUS! Only God could do that! HIS thoughts are always higher than our thoughts. Then Mr. Bill threw the bomb at us! He said that we would have to get copies of all our foundation approvals faxed immediately along with the organization’s information forms and request letter stipulating where the goods would be donated, hospitals, schools, organizations, etc. I went right back out to the office, and Lyn, Corina, and I started to work, determined not to stop work until it was finished. Praise God for the 8 hours difference between Romanian and American time. Still there was a lot to do and little time to do it. We were told that when the window was open you had to get your request in just then or it would be sent elsewhere. Work and more work. Hour after hour went by. Time was running out; then 30 minutes before due time, could we do it? We all shouted, “Yes, we can do this.” Then 15 minutes until shutdown. We had done it. Everything had been typed and faxed! So in February this year, we will be receiving our very first large shipment of humanitarian aid. It consists of hospital beds and mattresses, oxygen masks, walkers, crutches, burn tents, and DIAPERS! Mr. Bill said they are packing everything as tight as can be and filling in all the spaces with something on our list. We praise Jesus for such a blessing and for His faithfulness to continue to allow us to be a channel of HIS blessings. He never forgets His promises! When He speaks, then rest assured you will see it. In this HE reminded me that HE had spoken this years ago to my spirit. Now it was His promise coming to fruition and we were witnessing His spoken Word taking form right before our eyes. He carried me back to a scripture that I quote so much, Genesis 14:19b (I say it like this) “Blessed be the God Most High, Possessor of Heaven and Earth,” the El-Elyon, the dispenser of God’s blessings on the earth. AMEN! We request that you all will pray for us while we are home, we have lots of contacts we must make while we are home about more humanitarian aid. God is doing big things!

Day 1: Fun-packed thrills filled the day when the team visited a handicapped center in Cluj called the “Miracle House.” As always the children ministered to many of the team’s hearts, perhaps more than the team ministered to them. Then Calea planned a surprise outreach for the evening. Our goal was to get shoes into Ferma Larga to every child and teenager we could possibly reach. Until recently Calea did not have the shoes to attempt such a ministry. However, in November, Dave and Wanda Martin’s church in Atlanta, GA through the leading of the Holy Spirit shipped 46 boxes of humanitarian aid consisting mostly of new shoes, brand-name shoes to boot! The team agreed to go with us and help distribute the shoes, even though we explained to them that some of them would have to draw the children’s feet on paper and that could prove to be a less than pleasant experience. However, the response was unanimous, “Yes, let’s go!” Team members showed their humble spirits as they took off dirty, worn-out shoes, and sometimes blackened, torn-up socks so that they could draw the foot pattern. The pattern was taken to another group so that a pair of shoes could be fitted to the foot. They stooped like Jesus when He knelt to wash His disciples feet as they tried the shoes on the soiled feet in hopes of finding a perfect fit for each child. However, the smiles of the children as they left out with their new shoes on their feet fully compensated for any unpleasant aromas in that little school/milk shop that day.

Day 2: The team went with us to Ileanda (the village where we have been repairing the roofs). I had my concerns going there, and I knew it was definitely going to be a challenge because of it being a gypsy village. However, a lot of work and preparation had been done in advance of the team’s arrival. As it turned out all that work paid off. The people were amazingly orderly as the team went door to door sharing God’s love and His forgiving grace and leaving behind bundles of good tidings of fruit, hygiene items, candy, Bibles and others things to help bring hope to these less fortunate.

Day 3: Sunday morning we all attended the church in Aghires. The moment we arrived the Holy Spirit’s presence was felt. It was indeed a glorious day as 2 cultures shared the love of Jesus Christ with one another.

Day 4: The day was a little harder I think for all of us. We went to the Children’s Ward at the Cluj Cancer hospital to bring a little joy and diversion to endless days of being inside. Children from infants to teenagers filled the room pulling their IV polls beside them. Their little faces were as white as cotton from the disease and the treatments. Many faces of the parents displayed their own fear of their children’s future as they carried the little ones into the room. However, it did not take long for this team to put some smiles and laughter into the place. Christmas carols echoed through the halls, clowns ran in all directions, and the Salvation message was given, following which 3 children gave their hearts to Jesus Christ. Praise Jesus!

Day 5: Last but not least we took the team to the “Agape” eldercare facility. I was deeply touched as I watched the old people’s faces light up as the team shared God’s joy through songs and through acts of love. Then team members went from-room-to-room playing games and helping the elderly put puzzles together that they had brought from America.

What a glorious time it was to behold the joy on each face. The Word was shared in so many different ways throughout the week, but all according to the needs of the people. Everyone was touched with the joy and peace of God’s redeeming love. Praise Jesus for these people who took time out of their busy holiday schedule to come and help minister the gospel of Jesus. Thanks team!

Notice: Mr. Bill who contacted me about the humanitarian aid also called while the team was there and donated $500.00 to purchase toys to give to children in Romania. His daughter was on the team and was surprised by his generous donation.

Our Thanks To You:

We want to thank you again for another year of your support to the work in Romania. God has faithfully used you this year so that we can continue to be channels of God’s blessings. However, we are just doing the hands-on work. You are truly the workers in the field as you give willingly each month so that others can have a better chance to hear of Jesus as Lord and Savior. We know your rewards are many for God rewards a faithful giver. Remember our prayer for you is as always - Deut. 1:11; "The Lord God of your fathers make you a thousand times so many more as ye are, and bless you, as he hath promised you."

Our special thanks to Ben and Barbara for their generous heart to forgive us $10,000.00 on their loan to the foundation to purchase the property here in 2001. Thank you is just not enough to say what our hearts are feeling at this time but God sees the heart and will reward you as you have given. God bless!

Yours in Christ,

Freddy and Rita

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