Have you ever wondered why God was working things in your life as He was? Have you ever found yourself saying, “God, I don’t understand but I am willing to let you be God in this so that I can see your glory?” Recently I found myself at awe of God and the wonders of His ways. I found myself asking Him these questions and saying, “ I don’t fully understand God, but I am willing to follow you in all that you are doing.” I found myself right dab in the middle of a mission outreach in my own Alabama home. Yes, I asked God, “How can I be in mission work in my own home.” The answer is that anytime that God is at work doing something all around you we are on mission with God. When God is at work I have learned to just let Him use me and join Him in that work. This mission outreach all started last month when this dear lady from Gadsden, Alabama called and said that God had pressed her heart to redecorate our home. She said that if we did not mind she would love to do this service for God. My first thought was why would anyone want to do that? Then I thought it would be okay. A little new paint on the walls and maybe a new picture or two we could handle that. Needless to say, God had given her a greater vision than me. We are now in the middle of a major construction project - total repairs on the inside! I found myself asking God with each new task from this lady, “Why would someone be willing to be used of God not only financially, but also right in the middle of the hard work?” Then I heard, “Servant-hood! Being a servant of Christ!” I then read Phil. 2:1-5 which says, “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” There was my answer! A true disciple follows God in all things. Discipleship focuses on other people, their needs and hopes not on selfish purposes. Christian disciples imitate the humility of Christ by overcoming selfish ambition and giving priority to the interests of others. A true disciple acts in faith to follow God’s leading to accomplish His will. However, still in the middle of my mind it was hard for me to comprehend this act of kindness or yet was it just hard for me to receive it. For years I have seen this type of servant-hood on the mission fields as teams come and go and last year especially when people came thousands of miles to give of there time and service to help remodel the house in Romania. Yet what was different for it being here at my home? I realized that I have for years now been the one on the giving end. I have for years seen such need in so many families in Romania and have always received such joy, as we were able to help these families whether great or small. However, it was hard for me to keep from wondering in my mind why we were receiving such a large blessing from God. Then the Holy Spirit reminded me, “did not you and Freddy act in faith when I said, “Go to Romania.” Little did we know that God would return a blessing in such a way as this, to my heart it is for more than I could comprehend. It isn’t hard for me to understand God blessing when we are out there on the mission field giving to others and repairing roofs on homes. However, receiving a blessing for me to enjoy was overwhelming. Then God reminded me, Matt: 25:40b; “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” God never forgets! He blesses His children always in due time for obedience to Him. Anything we do, no matter how small or great, if it is “as unto the Lord,” God blesses it. Why would two ladies from Gadsden, AL want to do such a thing as this? Why would anyone want to give of their own time on a weekend to come an repair a house that was not their own? Why would anyone put his or her bodies through such work for someone else to enjoy? The answer lays in Phil. 2: 1-2; Being like-minded in Christ. Why would Jesus wash the feet of His disciples? He was showing us what we were to become. We are to serve as Jesus would serve. This is what teams have been doing for years now as they came to Romania and this is exactly what these ladies are doing, not serving us but serving Jesus. They are giving to God of their talents and resources and in return God is multiplying their efforts. This project started as something small but now has turned into major renovation. Why? Because God blesses when we place our hands to the plow.

Our home in Alabama is just a very simple home - small yet large enough! It has always been a gift from God and a safe haven when we were raising our children and now a place to feel at home when we are back in the States. With work in progress here I find myself asking God every day, “God, what are you doing?” For many who have been in my home you know that there was dark paneling all though it. The kitchen cabinet was just as dark as the walls and when we first bought the house it had avocado carpet all through it. Now, after two weeks it has no carpet, the walls have gone from dark paneling to light beige, light yellow in my study, and sage green in our master bedroom. WOW! What a change! In the 18 years of living here it has never looked so good, even without

the carpet. I find myself feeling the brightness of God raining in our newly lightened home. We cannot express the joy we feel as these ladies come and share their talents with us. But I know one thing it truly has to be ordained by God for these ladies to be so dedicated to this task. They come ready to meet the day just as I have seen many team members when they come to work with us in Romania - smiles on their faces and a willingness to serve. Who says there aren’t any good folks around any more? I find there are still many people out there just ready to be God’s servants and who are willing to forsake all for the cause of Christ. Thank you ladies for your obedience first to serve God and for your special gift to Freddy and me.

Roof Project: Our project on the roofs in Ileanda is still in full swing; however, it is going a little slower than we thought. Because of some unexpected work at Calea and hindrances arranging a time to meet with the mayor, our staff has not been able to make the trip to see the work first hand. However, they have been on the phone weekly with the mayor of Ileanda and will shortly be able to go and see what will actually be taking place there. I wrote in my last newsletter that Calea felt lead to put $300.00 towards this project – the cost of repairing around 8-10 homes. In the meantime, “Wings of Faith” a Church in Florida contacted me and they have felt led to help in this project. We can now restore 20 of the houses instead of just 10. It costs us approximately 1,500,000 lei ($49.00) per house depending on the condition of the house. Remember I also stated that each person eligible for roof repair must have a garden in progress, their yard cleaned, and must have considerable number of school age children living at home. I praise God for those who have caught this vision with us and have sent in donations to help these families.

Transition Girls: Anna’s update: Praise Jesus, Anna does not have Addisons disease after all. After all tests were done the doctor found that she just had a severe case of anemia. We praise God that she does not have Addisons! However, Anna chose to return to Sigasoara to hopefully start her life over again and to try to find her a new job there. Her daughter, Manny, will be staying with us at the foundation temporarily while Anna gets on her feet. She feels that she cannot provide for Manny while she is looking for a job and a place to live. Of course we felt this day was coming sometime ago. Pray for Manny that God would give us wisdom to care for this baby. We contacted the Department of Child Protection in Sigisoara and they gave us information on what we could do to temporarily house Manny.

Monica: Monica is still in school and is doing well. In fact we have funds for Monica to go visit a Bible school for a day to see if there is a possibility for her to continue her schooling there. We are not sure if she will have an opportunity to attend, but at least she will see the college and maybe, who knows, have the opportunity to attend in the future. Also, with Anna leaving and returning to her hometown we are in the process of redecorating one of the rooms at our house for Monica to move into. Both Anna and Monica shared their expenses and we made up the difference for costs beyond what they could afford. Monica cannot afford to continue living at her apartment alone now. So we decided the practical thing to do was move Monica onto the foundation property. She will still be on her own but will just be residing in a section outside the main house. In doing this we have to renovate a little to accommodate her. Be in prayer as Lyn and Monica work to get Monica settled into her new place.

Prayer needs: Ministry: With everything in Romania increasing in price, we are in need for you to pray with us for monthly financial increase. Two years ago we could pay all of our expenses with $800.00 a month. However, now we find that we are paying out a total monthly expense of $1,860.00 to run the foundation, care for the babies, and pay the bills. This amount does not include however any ministry outreach projects. Ministry projects must be financed over and above our regular monthly bills. We are still averaging around $800.00 from our regular supporters. We are asking that you pray and be in agreement with us that God would bring monthly financial increase to help with our expenses. We praise God for the $800.00 but with all the inflation increases we are in need of increase. We know that our God is able to do all things and this is not too difficult for our God. I believe in your prayers, and every time I have asked you all to pray, miraculous things have happened. So I am calling upon you all once again. Thank you for your faithfulness to join with us in prayer.

Thank you all for your faithfulness to stand with us in our ministry: I can see that Romania is not only dear to our hearts but that God has allowed it to become dear to yours. We always want you to know that you are the “TRUE MINISTERS” that are working to advance the kingdom of God. We are just the hands doing His service. We pray a mighty return upon you for your faithfulness to God. As you have given of your finances and your time in prayer, we ask that God will return unto you a Deut.1: 11, “May the Lord, the God of your fathers, increase you a thousand times and bless you as he has promised.”

Yours in Christ,

Freddy and Rita

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