June 2007

All this month we have been focusing upon preparing for the future. What do I mean by preparing for the future? Normally during the months of May and June we are hard at work preparing for teams. However, with the high cost of airline tickets along with other work loads we did not have any teams scheduled. Nevertheless, I am a sure believer that God directs our steps. I believe that God allowed these months so that we could get some needed repairs accomplished on the foundation house. Of course, Trudy and I find ourselves becoming really good construction personnel. We decided with the lack of teams we could not allow anytime to pass without working in construction. As a result, we zoomed head on into seeking out workers and materials to make all the necessary repairs on the house.

First Project: We leaped right into having thermo-pane windows installed in hopes that this winter it will help in saving on our heating bill. With the European Union taking control of most all of the major companies in Romania the gas prices tripled last winter. During the coldest winter months from January through March we paid $600.00 to $695.00 a month for heating. Why so much? Because prices under the European Union did not just double, they tripled. The previous year our monthly gas bills averaged around $225.00. Unreal isn’t it? It is totally amazing to me how prices have suddenly skyrocketed. The prices for groceries have increased far beyond American prices, so with the cost of living increases things are indeed much weightier around here. Therefore, I feel God has allowed this time to focus on the future and prepare for the coming winter. Also, we believe that He allowed the sale of the apartment in Zalau so that we would have the funds to finance these repairs. It never amazes me how God is always a step ahead making sure all is coming together for His children. Consequently, the only draw back to having new windows put in is that everything is done according to profession. A thermo-pane company may come and remove the old windows along with breaking the walls and framework to pieces and then install the new windows. Then another company repairs all the broken walls and will plaster them once again. In the meantime of waiting for the plastering crew to come and do their job we now have all these super new windows but you cannot enjoy them for the simple fact that if we go near the windows the walls crumb and cleaning up all the broken cement can become somewhat aggravating. For the time being, we are just super pleased that the workers showed up for work on time and was not drinking on the job and that the job was actually finished in one day. In some ways Romania is changing!

Project Two: We had a metal gate and fence placed in front of the foundation property. We needed more security around the property because lately we have had many guests during the late night hours own our property grounds. As a result we had to take some wiser measures for security in hopes to have our property more secure from the high rise of theft that has engulfed Romania. Many times I have come home and found people in our yard that jumped over our fence to accommodate other neighbor’s desires. Be assured that with the new gate we ordered hopefully it is high enough or more difficult for anyone to jump over. In reality with prices of food, utilities and everything else in Romania on the rise we will probably experience a greater percentage of theft. In fact, Trudy our own secretary was a victim of theft one weekend just after she had received her monthly salary. You can believe that she was devastated by her new experience.

Project Three: Our upstairs bathroom was broken and leaking water into the walls which was causing the cement to crumb. At first when we received the price estimate the task was not going to be a difficult one, we were told all we needed was to replace the shower. On the other hand, not long after the old shower was torn out we discovered that a simple task was now becoming a two week task. The entire wood frame underneath the shower was totally rotten and what a smell that was after unveiling the mess. Then we discovered that the flooring had to be torn up, which then developed into drilling up all the cement with this mega super-duper power drill. After this we learned that new tiles had to go on the walls and flooring, along with leveling the floor again which entailed of pouring new cement. Nevertheless, the young men came in like a storm and got the job done in a breeze. Yes indeed, Romania is moving along as more hard working young people learn the new procedures of doing things.

Project Four: We are now in the process of purchasing the needed materials for insulating the outside of the house. Romanian houses are totally made of cement so

there is no insulation. Therefore to hold cost down this coming winter we will be placing insulation on the outside of the foundation house. The procedure that the Romanians use is extraordinary! They take these square Styrofoam sheet about 2 inches thick and about a yard long and glue them onto the outside of the house. Actually, it looks like they are putting a puzzle together. Then it is plastered, then primed and then painted. It is very interesting to

watch this fine art of weather proofing a home. Although, when it is all finished the house looks great. On the other hand, I don’t think I will be giving any of the office staff stick pins; they may start using the outside of the house as a corkboard.

As you continue to pray I would like for you to pray with us for the following outreaches.

· The ladies Bible studies will be held on Tuesday mornings from June through September. We covet your prayers for God's perfect will for this years teaching. So many of these ladies are physically abused by their husbands that you have to be careful in reaching out to them and at the same time they do not know anything about the Truth in the Word of God or how to allow His love and power to work in their lives. In fact, it is like teaching children who are living in adult bodies. So pray for God’s wisdom to flow through us as we endeavor to teach the ladies.

· On Friday's each week from June through September we will start our regular children's programs. In addition, we will begin teaching computer for the first time to the older preteens. God pressed my heart that the older children needed to be taught some kind of basic life skills that will be beneficial to their future. Pray that God’s wisdom will flow in setting-up this new program.

· Continue to pray for the construction work on the building in Ferma Larga. We still need workers who will come and volunteer their time to this project. We are not half way finished with the building and were in hopes of having the upper level completed this year. We still need more walls broken down, windows and doors installed in order for us to get the rooms ready for plastering. Our good news is that we transported all the old windows and doors from the Cluj house to use in the building but now we need workers to help install them.

· Also, we will not be finished with the insulation work that we are starting the middle of June on the foundation house in Cluj. This means I will have workers on site in Cluj unattended while Trudy and I go to do the other ministry opportunities mentioned above. We truly need prayer warriors to be the lifter of our hands so to speak. We will need the supernatural power of Jesus to work through us for all the above work to go forward effectively.

· Pray God will send support helpers. We truly need God called workers on the field. We are praying for those who are Spirit filled, obedient servants of God, and willing to do whatever God would put their hands upon in order to get the job accomplished. Indeed many missionaries have this idea that missionary work is all about going and sitting around ministering the Word. Nevertheless, during my time on the mission field it has been allot of hard back breaking labor. Through experience I have found it’s first about breaking down old barriers of tradition, showing love in poverty stricken homes, mending broken hearts in hurting families, forming relationship of trust in a country where there has never been trust, and then teaching Jesus simply through our life actions each day, and then sitting down with the Word to begin disciplining.

· Corina our other office personnel will be having another baby. What does that mean for us? She will be receiving another two years of maturity leave. So that means lack of workers on board. Pray for Corina that she and the baby will be healthy.

You can see that we really need your prayers for strength during all the above programs and work schedules. Trudy (our secretary) and I are just two people so God will have to supernaturally intervene so that this can be accomplished for His Will and Glory.

Thank you all for your continued support to our ministry. We pray for you in our Morning Prayer time that God will bless you, keep you and fulfill all your hearts desires. Thank you for all you do to help Minister Jesus to the people of Romania.