Construction Begun:

On Sep. 25^th, we launched out into the construction work we have been anticipating all year. Our first crew of workmen was from the villages of Ferma Cojocna and Ferma Larga. Our vision this year has been to replace the roof, enlarge some of the rooms, and get a few windows in. We have already had the electric meter hooked up to the building but we still have to have electric plugs and outlets installed throughout the building. Each morning bright and early I had to leave Cluj to go pick up the workers and then stay with them all day until late night until the job was finished to ensure that the job was completed each day according to plan. Amazingly, God has gifted us with a good group of honest men. What a blessing! But then when the work is within God’s plan, He does it right.

 Every day Trudy and I ran here and there fetching materials and fixing food (lots of food). Our job changed hour by hour.  Sometimes we were chauffeurs, site overseers, kitchen staff, janitors, and keepers of the children. Wow, “What an occupation!” Then if there was any time left over we used it to catch up on some office work in the van that had been transformed into a mobile office.  In fact, this newsletter was first written on paper on site while we sat in the van. Also we used the opportunity of being in the villages each day to re-map all the families, getting to know them personally, developing real relationships, and cementing respect for each other. One day we were privileged to even share a bit of fellowship with some of them.  We tried freshly homemade pickles, fresh homemade bread (awesome) and pork cotlet. Then we sat around with several families and just “chewed the fat”, talking about our differences and our similarities of growing up in Romania and the American South. We have come to see these people much closer up and have gained a greater understanding of the lives they live. Nevertheless we were able to see the families in a much deeper fashion then ever before. Spiritually I now see the families in a different light. Being there from dusk to dark we were gifted with the opportunity of seeing them as real people going about their daily lives and struggles.

 Many times at night after I laid my head on my pillow I stayed awake and just cried as I prayed for each and every one that had crossed my path. I could not get the pictures out of my head from the day’s activities - like seeing some children sharing their evening meal as they passed one bowl of boiled noodles around from child to child. Just plain and simple noodles! Man, would not our children have questioned that meal? No cheese, no butter, just boiled noodles. One child that I have come to love dearly and who always runs up to me to get a hug now when he sees me at the building really touched my heart one night when he said, "Dna (Mrs.) Rita, are you hungry? You have been here all day and it is getting dark now and we have macaroni at home.  Do you want some?"  Moments like these are worth all the late hours you put in to get the job accomplished.  An opportunity to shine a ray of hope into the lives of others through sharing a bit of God’s love; wow, what a blessing!

 During this construction time the Holy Spirit has given us a new song - "Break Dividing Walls." We have faced such spiritual opposition in the area all year and have been praying that God would break the spiritual walls of jealousy and suspicion and to clear out personal and village rivalries. This week God seeded within me a deeper desire for this village. I have a much greater understanding of the spiritual battle zone we are in than ever before. As I watched in the natural some of the walls on the building being broken down I found myself declaring out loud, “Yes, God, Break These Dividing Walls.” Indeed His work has begun and I feel a new hope is about to spring forth into the lives of every one in the villages and surrounding areas. In fact, people from over hills and down in hollows are coming to the building now inquiring about the church that we are building. God is great and His ways never cease to amaze me!

Copiii Regelui:

Copiii Regelui children’s program finished for 2006 with its traditional picnic on September 8th.  Each child received a gift pack of school supplies or toys and hygiene products.  Awards were given to each child for his or her attendance.  It was an unusually hard summer this year. There were a lot of hindrances in getting started and an overwhelming amount of contention and jealousy among the children fostered and spurred on by a few parents, but by the end of the summer we began to see more interaction and greater freedom. It became certainly clear to us this summer as to why the Apostle Paul spent so much time in his letters to the churches about jealousy and contentious rivalry.  However, though hindered, the program continued, because in the apostle’s own words, “and when you have done all else, you must stand.”  That’s what we did and praise God we are now witnessing the pulling down of strongholds in the villages and in the families that reside there.

 Ladies Meetings:

On September 19 we finished the season with a joint fellowship gathering of both villages in the building in Ferma Larga.  The ladies had a great time.  We played games, ate together, and fellowshipped. The Word from John 4 concerning the woman at the well was ministered and a salvation message was given at the end of the service.   For the first time we saw smiles on faces that had never smiled, rejoiced as we heard women laugh and have a good time that always before had seemed so burdened down.  One lady commented that she felt such “peace” and asked when we would begin again.  Some elderly ladies from the surrounding area of Ferma Larga came for the first time.  It truly was a successful day seeing how God is breaking down the walls of suspicion and jealousy.  The walls are coming down!!  We ask that you pray for the families in Ferma Cojocna and Ferma Larga.  God is getting ready to do an amazing thing among the people there and we can hardly wait to see it take place.

 Adoption:

Thank you all for being such prayer warriors!  We wish we had better news to tell you. Barbara went to court again on Sep. 15th armed with documentation to clear up problems from the last time.  The judge never mentioned them.  He said that she had the right to adopt within Romania, but he needed certain documents from the American government!  So he postponed the hearing again until OCT. 20th.  Please be in prayer that she will not have any more hindrances or delays.

 Thank YOU:

We thank all of you who give into our ministry. Your support helps us stay on the mission field doing that which we feel God has called us to do.

Yours in Christ,

Freddy and Rita