September has been a very busy month! The first part of the month Barbara flew home to Prattville, Alabama to take care of some needed business. In her absence Lyn Dennis and I stayed with the babies. She has the little ones all by herself. She has to carry both of them, the double stroller, and supplies up a flight of stairs everyday. Also we discovered that just living and getting involved with the neighbors in Zalau was not a very pleasant task. People in Zalau aren’t as open to foreigners as they are in Cluj and there were a few days after we arrived there that you could feel spiritual darkness lurking all around. However, in being there God began to show me that we were there more than just to care for those babies. First of all, a year ago God lead us to open the new office there in Zalau and I always knew it was more than caring for the babies. God wants the office to be a light and power house to shine forth the gospel of Jesus Christ. However, many of you know by my other newsletters that it isn’t as easy in Zalau to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Many of the people there are so closed-minded to new things and even new people. They do not trust anyone at all. And after that one lady in our apartment building started all the rumors about our foundation and involved the police, it made it almost impossible to witness in that block building. However, God began to place on my heart we needed to make a difference while we were there. One thing that comes to mind is when we would take the babies out for a walk in the evening the lady who started the trouble would always try to make over the babies. One evening when Lyn and I were returning back with the babies I heard the Holy Spirit say to me “Rita, stand still and let the lady talk.” In my own spirit I argued with God that I really did not want to be around this lady very much. I told him that He of all people knew what she had done to His ministry and me. He said again, “STAND STILL!” When I did I found something miraculous happening to me on the inside. I being to feel the hurt locked up within me concerning this lady and began to experience God's compassion for her. I was reminded that she was the very reason God had sent His Son - for the hurting of this world. I found myself forgiving her and soon afterwards God gave me the liberty to walk away. When I returned to the apartment I felt as if I just wanted to pray for this lady and from that night on the whole time I was in Zalau I could not sleep well. I would see the faces of the people in that block building and especially the red-haired lady and I would just start crying and crying turned to praying for hours. One night God allowed me to see something similar to Ezekiel I saw through the Holy Spirit the head of an old dead animal. You could tell that is was very old because the bones looked so dry, as if they were about to break. I didn’t understand but the next morning the revelation was given as Lyn and I were having morning prayer. What I saw was how dead the people are spiritually. After that morning Lyn and I started working to bring life into that place. We repaired all the broken things around our apartment, fixed the broken mailbox in the foyer and painted it yellow. Lyn and Alexandra planted flowers in the flower boxes in front of the building. Then Lyn gave more flowers to the elderly people that spent their days talking on the bench in front of the block. We would make it a point to go outside with the babies and sit with the elderly people and just talk with them. Then when the bathroom pipes burst inside the cement wall, God led us to one of the men that lives in the building. That led to a door being opened to minister to that family in a more personal way. The wife of the plumber is a close friend of the red-haired lady. But God chose them despite or maybe even because of this relationship and so I had to go with His decision to use this family. It turned out to be for the glory of God! Of course, don’t God’s plans always bring Him glory! We had a chance to minister to them through giving them a gift of lotions, toothpaste and soap etc.

This gift pack opened a mighty door to share Jesus to the daughter, father and mother. In talking with them we learned that this family had been grieving for four years over the horrible murder of their son in Cluj. Then 2 weeks later after I returned to Cluj, Diana, a young girl who attends the church where we go in Cluj, had the awesome privilege of leading the daughter to Jesus Christ. Praise God! Kindness covers a multitude of sins doesn't it?

We are gearing up for our last team of the year! Diane Smoot of Ocala, Florida will be leading a team of ladies and one man to Romania on Dec. 10 - Dec. 17. Their mission is to take Christmas to many of the less fortunate children and shut-in elderly of Romania. Not to mention, that they will be ministering the gospel to all they come in contact with as they trek through the cold, snow and maybe ice and go door to door with a message of Hope to all. We at Calea are always honored to have Diane and the team with us. However we are more blessed as we accompany them as they share the awesome gift of God’s Love. It is a glorious way to close out the year, giving the gift of Jesus during the holiday season. We asked that you will pray for Diane and her team that God will use them along with our team members and translators that God’s Holy Spirit will flow profoundly in all we do.

On September 19th I flew home to the States and then on Sep. 27^th Freddy and I left for a 3-day mission conference in Ocala, Florida. It was a great time getting to share about the work of our Lord and meeting other missionaries who had similar ministries in other parts of the world. The Holy Spirit moved upon my heart through the services and I felt even more challenged to press harder this year in the ministry than ever before. With all that has happened in the ministry this past year I really needed this time of fellowship.

We want to tell you how much we appreciate you all for your faithfulness to our ministry in Romania. You have been our hope, joy and prayer warriors through some trying times this year. We pray that God daily returns to you all His miraculous blessings. Our prayer is that you will daily increase in spiritual, physical and material blessings. God bless you all!

Yours in Christ,

Freddy and Rita