November 2004

October was a very busy month for Calea this year, busy in the sense of putting everything into order before the winter months hit. Yes, autumn is definitely upon us but we have been graced with a few warm days so that work can continue. Weather is crucial to the types of ministry Calea engages in. That is why our late spring, summer and fall are pretty much times of bustling activity here. However, we are seeing how God is lengthening the seasons so we believe that He is preparing us to be armed and ready when the winter floodgates open.

This past month we were blessed to have our pastor from First Assembly in Clanton, Pastor Randy Reid, along with my sister, Shirley Rigsby, and Freddy here on what Pastor Randy called a scouting trip. Pastor Randy and a team of men and women are scheduled to come to Romania in April of 2005. His purpose in coming early was to gather information and assess the needs so that his team would be prepared and ready to go with whatever God has prepared for them. He truly desires to follow the leading of the Lord and is seeking to know how his church could best serve God on the mission field here in Romania. While Pastor Randy was here, he was invited to preach not one but two messages in two different churches in the Maciacas region of Cluj County. We were amazed at how God used him to speak to the spiritual needs of both of those churches. The presbyter was equally amazed at the insight that the Holy Spirit had imparted to Bro. Randy and he further invited him to speak that evening at a large Pentecostal church here in Someseni. Time, however, did not permit him to accept the invitation. But we are already receiving inquiries to make sure that when Pastor Randy returns in April that he knows that he has an open invitation to minister again. Needless to say Calea is very proud that our very own pastor from First Assembly received so much favor with these churches and are anxious for him to return as well.

During their stay the fact-finding trip took on some unexpected surprises. While we were meeting with the mayor of Ileanda to discuss a possible project in that area, we learned that there were 4 families nearby whose houses had been destroyed by the mayor’s office in their community. The team decided to investigate before returning to Cluj. The information proved to be correct. We found the people living in make shift houses consisting of a few sticks covered with plastic. As we walked around and talked with the people our hearts were cut to reach out and help in some way. 18 children were desperately hungry not to mention they were practically naked and Romania’s winter months are almost upon us. The team was touched. On the way back to Cluj, none of us could get the pictures of the families out of our mind. Our schedule was tight but something had to be done. These families could not wait until time permitted to respond to their needs. But what exactly should or could we do? No one got much sleep that night thinking about the families and their desperate need. The next day we all decided to make time on Saturday to purchase food and pull some clothes and shoes from the humanitarian building and return to the community to minister as we could to their needs. Pastor Randy and Shirley were amazed at shopping in the open market for the supplies. Trust me it is quite different from going to your local supermarket. Their mouths flew open when I began to stuff the loaves of unwrapped bread into the trunk of the car. Shirley suddenly said, “You’re not going to put that in the trunk like that to get all dirty are you?” Once we got back to the village, the fact that the bread had been transported unwrapped in the trunk of the car didn’t seem to matter much any more. The families were dirty, especially the children, and upon being handed a loaf of bread, they began frantically tearing off chunks and stuffing it in their mouths. I don’t think Bro. Randy or Shirley had ever witnessed anything like that before. Our hearts were blessed as we had responded to the urgency of the Holy Spirit and do what we could on such short notice for these families. The people responded with such gratitude and in all my 6 years of being here I have never handed out food and clothes to gypsy families in such need that remained so calm and orderly.

Once we finished dispersing what aid we had and visited and ministered spiritually to the families, we loaded up in our van, “Old Blue” to make that 2-½ hour trip back to Cluj. We all felt pretty good about not sticking to schedule and allowing God to work through us to help those in need. Unfortunately, the enemy isn’t keen about God’s children flowing in the Spirit, and doing the things that Jesus did while here on earth. He ministered to the poor and needy even at the sake of personal sacrifice. Satan gets alarmed when Christians step-out to minister to others and he comes in with reinforcements to try and steal the blessings of joy that we receive. About 15 minutes into our trip back home, I started noticing that “Old Blue” wasn’t running very good. And it wasn’t long until she stopped totally. Freddy, Corina, and I were used to such experiences. However, I don’t think Pastor Randy and Shirley knew quite what to expect. Corina and I decided to walk to a nearby village to see if we could find a mechanic. Finally after sometime of walking from place to place, we found a mechanic who agreed to come and look at “Old Blue.” He told us that there was no way he could get it running and that it probably was the motor. Miles from home and already getting dark, I began

to wonder what we could do. The mechanic told us that he would help us push the van to his shop/store and we could leave it over night. In my mind I was thinking, “God, we cannot leave the van.” Once back at the shop, he told us he would make some calls to see if he could get us to Cluj. Suddenly a young man that we knew came into the store. Imagine, so far from home and coming face to face with someone who knew the foundation and us. We greeted him and then he told us that he had seen our van and stopped to see if we were in trouble. This young man, who owed us nothing, actually arranged to pull our van all the way back to Cluj that night and did not charge us one dime, not even for his gas. That night he was an angel sent by God. I think Pastor Randy was the most relieved to see how God miraculously brought someone to our aid. Once again when the enemy roared, God came to our aid. When we didn’t know how, when, or if things would work out, God was there. And believe me, He still sends his angels to watch over us whether in human form or heavenly angels. For He has never failed to help us when we are in desperate need out on the field. I told Shirley that I often wondered if she and all of you truly believe the things I write in my newsletters of what we go through out here and the miracles that God sends us so that we remain safe and can continue in His work. So, I guess God allowed her and Pastor Randy to experience firsthand that these things really do happen. In spite of it all, God never fails. I can personally say we all had a glorious time seeing the hand of God stretch out before us. Shirley shared with me that before she left Alabama a person had stopped by their office in Selma, Alabama and told her that the Holy Spirit wanted her to know that the GLORY OF GOD WAS BEFORE THEM ON THEIR TRIP. Hallelujah! HE CERTAINLY WAS!

October has been a month of clearing up unfinished business. Finishing touches are being done even as we speak on the construction project begun by the team from Network Limited the first week of September. Still a lot of work to be done, but God is able and what He began, He will finish in His time. Requests for approval to continue our Center for Chosen Children foster care program were submitted to Child Protection in Salaj County. These approvals are so important now since international adoptions are no longer available for Romanian children. And in order to insure the wellbeing and care of the three children in the foundation’s care, these approvals must be received. Last but certainly not the least, we are busy getting all the paperwork and approvals prepared for the Christmas in Romania Team scheduled to arrive December 8^th.

Our ministry van “Old Blue” has been checked again and the diagnosis is, “It is the motor.” When I heard how much it would cost to fix her, I was floored; but then the news got worse when we were told that the van was so old that parts to fix her probably couldn’t be found. We were told that the best thing to do would be to junk her.  Our situation is that we depend upon “Old Blue” to take us into the villages with our humanitarian aid. Please pray with us that God will open the windows of Heaven so that we can get another dependable van. This is a very urgent need so we ask that you come into agreement with us regarding this request. God is Able!

Yours in Christ,

Back to NEWSLETTER Page

Back to Top of Page