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May 2004
Family Times - Few and Far Between: Missionary life is without a doubt an extraordinary life, filled with witnessing the miraculous first hand. It is most definitely challenging and a bit daunting at times. Everyday is filled to the uttermost. However, even though we can be right in the middle of God manifesting His awesome power (and believe me there’s nothing like it), still we can’t help to notice that God’s little treasures of our family are missing. But praise God, He has sent us wonderful volunteers and support personnel so now Freddy and I can come home more often and share with you all personally about the work God is doing in Romania and take advantage of the precious gift of family. After mother’s passing last year I realized that special days and even whole years had zipped by without my seeing her and sharing those certain special times – times and days that cannot be recovered. So I have made a point of taking advantage of every day that I am here in the States to connect with family – to load up on the hugs and kisses from the grand children and seek to connect with our children for the time God has given us here before being called back to Romania. The simple little things (day to day with family) are precious treasures from God and we should not ever get too busy to soak them in and savor each of those little treasures. Since our return o Our daughter Krys, her husband Micah, Alex and Noah (our
grand boys) are all doing really great. The boys seem to be growing by leaps and
bounds. They grow so fast; wish we could always keep them just as they are. They
are definitely “all boys” and they say the “darndest” things. While they
were visiting with us recently we caught them in the Summer Teams Gearing Up: Network Limited of Ocala, FL will be bringing a team of construction workers to help us at Calea with some needed repairs for the “Pharmaceutical Deposit” that I mentioned last month. Praise God, we have a full crew from Network Ltd. That will be coming to Cluj to do the work and we are partnering with another missionary couple here in Oradea to furnish workers to help with refurbishing of the children’s hospital there. Network Ltd. is trying to put together another team to assist Harvest Time Ministries there. We have personally met this missionary couple and know that the work they are doing is a powerful and extraordinary work for the Lord. We are opening an invitation to anyone who might be interested in participating in the construction work at the children’s hospital in Oradea. These teams are scheduled for September 4th through September 12th, 2004. The cost for the trip is $1,600.00, which includes airfares, housing, and food. For more information, call or email at the addresses below:
Children’s Program: Lyn is very excited about this summer’s children program. She feels very strongly that God is leading her back into Ferma Larga where she will be teaching on “ABUNDANT LIVING.” John 10:10; “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it more abundantly (to the full).” Lyn shares: One thing I am most certain of is that the people and
families of Ferma Larga is on God’s heart and He desires a message of hope to
be preached to the people of this village. He desires that a message of hope be
preached in every corner of that hilltop and inside every house, the message
that Christ came to give us all abundant life. In times past I was shocked to
hear the comments out of some of the people’s mouths to the effect that they
wished to die and get it over. We seldom are questioned, “What must I do to be
saved?” But rather, “What can I do to die and not go to hell?” Time has
come and now is to speak hope to the hopeless. The resurrection power of Jesus
Christ must be preached and taught to the fullest in this village. Recognition
of that cannot be more poignantly demonstrated than by the death of little
5-year old Iulian Gaspar on March 30th this year. Iulian had been out
playing with his friend who is deaf and mute. They wandered down the hill toward
the watering troughs. Like all small children and water, Iulian jumped/or fell
into the water trough and could not stay up. His friend ran to tell people but
couldn’t make them understand. By the time someone got to him, little Iulian
was dead. Little Iulian was a Copiii Regelui kid so we wanted to
connect with the family and let them know that we were praying and were most
concerned for them. Iulian’s family needs hope, hope that can permeate a
backdrop of poverty and despair, hope that is miraculous, because to really have
hope in that village, it would have to be imparted by the Hope of the world,
Jesus Christ, Himself. Ferma Larga in communist times was a grand place. Farmers
cam Returning to Romania: Very soon we will be leaving to go back to Romania. We have had a great time here with family and friends but we have a lot of work that has already been scheduled for this year. We ask that you be in prayer that God will work through us in a tremendous way so that many can be added to the kingdom of God. If any of you would like for us to come speak at your church before leaving, please call at: 205-755-4000. Thank You: We want to thank you all for your letters, your calls, and the pictures that you sent our mission office in Indiana. It is good to be able to put faces with some of the names that we have seen for so long. We want to also express our gratitude for your donations and we ask that you pray for us as we continue the work in Romania. Yours in Christ,
Freddy and Rita
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son, Andrew, has gotten married. To our amazement, Andrew up and surprised us
with his taking off and getting married. He said he had found the wife of his
dreams and pursued her. We want to congratulate him and wish him and his wife,
Allison, a rich and glorious life in Christ. Andrew became a new husband and
father in the same day and we became parents again and grandparents to Allison
and her lovely 2 ½ year old little girl named Lauren. Since we were in Romania
last year, Freddy and I had not had the opportunity to spend much time with
Allison before their wedding. While we were helping them move into their home,
little Lauren surprised me by taking my hand in hers and calling me “Nana”,
a name she had fashioned just for me. Isn’t it amazing how easily a child
adapts to new surroundings and people when he or she feels loved and protected.
God’s Word tells us that we must become “as a little child” – the same
trust, the same faith in God our Father, who never fails to love, protect, and
provide for each of us. Andrew, Alison and Lauren now live in Selma, Alabama and
are becoming a beautiful little family. Just another blessing that God has
bestowed on our family. We welcome Alison and our little Lauren into our family
with open arms and pray that we can all grow together in Christ’s love.
back “jumping on the bed” and singing the song, “two little monkeys
jumping on the bed”. They were laughing and giggling and waiting for me to
come and get them. What a picture, I will never forget it! Alex is now 4 years
old and Noah is 3 years and with them around there is never a dull moment. Alex
is playing tee-ball this summer but hasn’t quite mastered all the particulars.
While on first base, the batter hit the ball, it was recovered by the third
baseman and instead of running the bases, Alex headed straight toward third
baseman and tackled him to get the baseball. He held up the ball and was beaming
with pride that he had “got the ball”. Yep, kids do and say the darndest
things.” God wants us to enjoy these special blessings, to enjoy the life He
has given us. We need to see through the eyes of a child, to laugh and play, and
scream to the top of our lungs of the Glory of the Lord. Children take no
thought that their mothers and fathers aren’t going to care for them, provide
for them and love them. Jesus said, “I have come that you might have life and
have it more abundantly.” The time with our families, enjoying each other’s
company, and taking mental pictures that last a life-time, are important to the
children of God and I thank God that for a short time our days here in the
States are just “chocked full” of those little things.
e from all over
the country to exhibit their stock and wares. Today the village is a hodgepodge
of tumbledown houses that have no running water and few with electricity.
However, even in the midst of what Romanians call “miseria”, God wants to do
the seemingly impossible - transform the lives of the families of Ferma Larga
from the inside, resurrect the hearts and souls of these people. Why them? I
have no idea, but I know, that I know, that I know….Ferma Larga is God’s
territory and He wants to do some miraculous transformation in the lives of
these families.