As we reflect back over this past year and look at the things we did, we will remember that there are many things we wish we had done differently. However, we realize that there is nothing that can now change the things we did or did not do. So we set our hearts toward doing better in the coming year. I praise God for fresh starts and new years. The coming of the New Year with its new beginnings reminds me of how God responds to us His children. Regardless of our faults and failures, He will always cover all those ugly sins and give us a fresh start when we call upon HIM with a heart of true repentance. Many times last year I had to admit to God that I had missed Him and ask Him what was the concern of His heart and His mind. I needed HIS heart’s purpose to be revealed to me so that I could move on to the next step with HIM. It is always amazing when we ask God what is on His heart and mind, or how we can better serve Him, that He will answer. He loves to point us in His direction and put us back upon that Solid Rock.

Last year I learned that there were a lot of things I needed to rethink and search out with God. Ministry sometimes can get to the point that we learn how to do things better, but is it truly what God has called for us to do? I battled with many of those areas last year and had to daily submit myself to God for direction. I made a heart’s decision that I did not want to just be doing things to be doing something. I wanted to know God’s heart and mind and allow Him to work in and through me. Lots of different things were rearranged in the ministry last year because He showed me that my place was to focus on seeking His heart and mind. Things that were not scheduled for 2004 were suddenly accomplished, while other things that had been our focus for this year were simply taken off. Isn’t that just like God? He has a plan. He has already settled in His heart what He desires for us to do for Him. All He is doing is waiting for us to become that faithful follower of HIS plan. I learned a lot last year in seeking hard after God’s heart. Each day I had to literally ask for His Divine Wisdom and then speak to my self-will to follow His plan. I was frequently humbled and had to admit my mistakes and my failures.

2004 was a workhorse of a year. Tons of equipment were delivered to hospitals and facilities in Salaj and Cluj counties; construction projects were completed; hundreds of elderly men and women were provided with second-hand eyeglasses; homeless families were ministered to through food and clothing packages; weekly children’s programs and ministering the Word kept us running; and last but certainly not least were the summer preaching teams that ministered the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Throughout the year we have seen much increase in the Kingdom of God as many received Jesus as Lord and Savior. We have witnessed many lives becoming enriched with the hope of Jesus Christ and move into a much fuller relationship with Him!

Yes, indeed this has been a glorious year seeing the mighty hand of Jesus move in so many tremendous ways. The best of all is that He took our plans and reworked them and invited us into His plan. Praise Jesus for HIS Ultimate Plan. It reminds me of 1 Sam. 2: 35: “And I will raise up a faithful priest to Myself, one who shall do according to what is in My heart and in My mind.” When God called Samuel His only heart was to have a faithful follower. This year we have learned much in what God desires of us. His only desire is that we follow what is dear to His heart and mind, working to accomplish His plans rather than our own plans. I praise God that he rerouted some of our goals so that we would seek only His goals. One such rerouting dealt with the children’s center in Ileanda. The newly elected mayor of Ileanda proved to have no desire to move ahead on that project. God then turned our focus toward preaching the Word in the village of Ferma Larga. God amazes me! He always tends to make His Main Purpose the Main Purpose.

WOW! What a time! We had one of the most amazing years for our “Christmas in Romania.” Diane Smoot led a team of 15 men and women to minister gifts from the King. This year Diane’s team battled with all kinds of attacks before coming to Romania and so did we at Calea. Sickness, accidents, and testing and trying of the spirit were rampant. Many continued to battle different kinds of sicknesses throughout the week. Lyn, our own staff member, was suddenly taken sick after Diane’s team concluded a children’s program in Ferma Cojocna where the love of Jesus was shared by the team to children, parents, and teenagers.

Lots of hindrances to ministering Jesus but lots of determination to continue on! We all came to an understanding that the enemy did not want the WORD to go out in such force as this group had prepared to do. Armed with the confidence that God had ordained their trip to Romania and with 2 pastors on the team who were ready to press forward for the lost at any cost, we buckled the belt of Truth and pressed forward. Sure enough that is what we all did. I saw many team members working with pale faces, sick with nausea, but never giving in to it. Praise Jesus for people who are willing to press towards the mark of their high calling. Praise Jesus for their faithfulness to witness Christ to those who are hurting. I believe that God allowed us to feel a small portion of the spiritual sickness that the sting of death has over us until we surrender our lives to Christ! It was totally amazing that the next day after pressing on in spite of sickness and pain that many of the team members were no longer sick. Through each team member’s faithfulness to press on many were brought to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. It was exciting day after day to hear from team members of the salvations they had witnessed taking place. This was indeed a miracle!

As we arrived at many of the sites you could feel the spiritual oppression that hovered over the place. However, we know the Lifter of such oppression and HIS name is Jesus and that Name was voiced over and over again, as the team members went one-on-one to each family proclaiming Christ as Lord. Our greatest delight was seeing souls won in every place we went. However, the most special day of all to me was at the elderly care center. Every time that I go there and I look at these elderly people, I think about their being at the last moments of their lives. My heart goes out to them and my desire is that they all become sure that if they died that night that they would be at peace with Jesus! Pastor Garry of Ocala preached the message that morning. Prior to his message he asked if it would be appropriate to have an altar call. To which I replied, “Of course by all means.” That morning there was an elderly guy who started weeping as Garry talked of the love of Jesus. At the end of the message as Garry gave the invitation for salvation, many raised their hands to receive Jesus. Hallelujah! There is no greater joy than to see a 70 or 80-year-old person surrender their heart to the love of Jesus Christ and weep like a baby before the Lord. There is no greater joy than to watch lives being changed at such a critical time. The world’s viewpoint is that they are almost gone, but really their lives have only just begun. Yes, God has such awesome and mighty plans far greater than what we can ever imagine! His heart is that none should perish and that we all come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. I thank God for team members who will come and serve with us. Thank you for your faithfulness to help us carry the Gospel of Jesus! During the holiday season you could have been home doing so many other things, getting ready for time with family and friends. Yet you stepped out and took time from work and spent your own money to come serve others. Thank you so much! I thank God for His calling you to serve the people of Romania.

I know that many times I say thank you for your faithfulness in helping us carry the gospel. Yet, I want you to know that if it were not for you and your prayers and financial support we could not be their working and proclaiming the message of God’s love to the people of Romania. I am sure that on earth you will never understand the gratefulness of our hearts. However, there is coming a day that I believe you will see into our hearts and know that without you it could not have been done. We pray for you daily that God will bless you with glorious increase not only financially but also spiritually. You will see I believe then the times when we had nothing- no money to pay a bill or buy groceries, not even money to pay the salaries- but then suddenly I would get a letter from home saying that a special donation had just come in. Shouts of praise to God with thanksgiving for you bursts from our lips! We truly thank you for your willingness to serve Jesus through your behind the scenes giving. It is people like you who are truly the messengers of the Gospel. Our prayer is that God will bless you this New Year with a rich increase of His love and that you continue to join with us in sharing Jesus to many who have never opened their hearts to seek and find HIM.

Our Prayer: Lord, use us in a greater way for Your service in the Kingdom of God in 2005!

Yours in Christ,

Freddy and Rita

Before leaving Romania we visited with the homeless families that I wrote about in my November newsletter. I wanted the team to see the conditions that these families live in. When we arrived at the area I was surprised to learn that the men had built themselves makeshift houses. At least they had more shelter than in November. While we were there we were able to give them a special love gift of blankets, clothing, food, and toys to the children. Pray with us this year that God will increase us financially so that we can continue assisting families like these.

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