A blessed day

As Pastor Stan was preaching tonight I was reminded how much I enjoyed it when an American pastor would preach at our church in Romania. As I looked around my good friend Gigel Olariu’s church in Resita I saw many familiar faces. Faces I’d seen change over the past 10 years. What a joy it was to return to this church to set it completed after being under construction for 10 plus years. The last time I was here we were having a medical mission trip in what is now the finished sanctuary. It just makes me realize that time moves on regardless of where we are. It makes me sad. Sometimes I wish I could pause time in Romania when I return to American until I can make it back to Romania. I always hate to miss things. I’m always humbled when I visit a Romanian church. They always treat me as though I’m the most important person in the world. It just reminds me how gracious and inviting my brothers and sisters of Romania can be.

We were so blessed today. The orphanage team continued to build solid relationships with the children. I love mid-week because that is always the turning point with relationships. The ice has been broken, was are being torn down, and friendships are being built. I’m glad to report that the concrete finally arrived at our construction sight. Slava Domlui! We were able to complete the House of Joy foundation. Our men worked their fingers to the bone. The rocks and dirt and hours of moving buckets of water are beating them down but the joy of building this beacon of hope is strengthening them beyond understanding. Today we were told a member of the community complained that the children were attending Vacation Bible School at the village. This was the last week of school and they could not understand why the students would choose to spend time with us rather than enjoy field trips and the pleasures of the last week of school. I’m not sure I completely understand their decision either. However, I do know 100 children can’t be wrong!

Last night we shared our dinner with the mayor and regional director for the Baptist Association. As I addressed the group I told them I had no doubt we were right where God wanted us to be, doing what we were supposed to do, with the people we were supposed to be doing it with. Why else would men of such influence stand before us and express such gratitude and extend open invitations to return. God is moving in a mighty way in Susani, Romania. He has blessed us to work with Ovidiu and Adina. He has blessed me to have the support of Pioneer Drive Baptist Church. I still have no idea what the future holds. Right now I’m not worried. As Stan read to us from the book of Philippians I scanned across the page to verse four of chapter two which read, “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Sounds like a good idea to me! Aspire to new heights.