Clive & Ann have just returned from a short trip to Romania. It was a time for catching up with friends but the trip also gave them the opportunity to put together a programme for the planned Mission to Romania this coming September (12th-19th September 2014).
This will be the second mission to Romania this year. The first took place in May and you can read more about it below.
Romania Mission 2-9 May 2014
A team of 7 travelled to Rosiori from 2nd – 9th May for the 2014 Mission to Romania organised by Barnabas Outreach Trust. The team included; Clive & Ann McIntyre (leaders), Linda Bernard, Alexandra Crawford, Simon Groves, Pamela Holloway and Graeme Turner. Although most of the team had visited Rosiori before on mission, it was Linda’s first visit to Romania and her first experience of mission in a different culture. Linda wrote:
“It felt a very long way from home when we got into the minibus that would take us to the town of Rosiori, which was a two hour drive away. But God was amazing as he lifted my fear and anxiety straight from me”.
Mission Outreach – May 2014
Many Barnabas friends have met and know Lenuta, who was able to liaise with Viorel and help put our programme together. On our return, Lenuta wrote to us saying:
“Following your mission the most evident effect is that people are more excited and more alive. This is the best way to describe it, believe me!”
A good number of Church Meetings were attended, including two in Rosiori and one in Vacaresti on Sunday, one in Cringeni on Tuesday, one more in Rosiori on Wednesday evening and one back in Vacaresti on Friday. This kept Clive, Graeme and Simon busy as they took it in turns to bring the main message. At the church meetings, the team was invited to sing a song or two and Alex, Linda and Pam shared testimonies which were very well received. We also visited the Old People’s home in Rosiori, taking a food parcel for each person and spending a little time with them for conversation and prayer. On our final evening, we joined the church family for the Agape meal where we ate and praised the Lord together.
Highlights of the trip include the wonderful news shared with us by a gentleman in the village of Cringeni. We prayed for the man who was in a lot of pain from a hernia last year. He explained that after our visit and the prayers, he had returned to the hospital to make arrangements for an operation, but there was no longer any sign of the hernia.
The week was spent working with Pastor Viorel Trasca and members of the Baptist church in Rosiori. Visits were organised to meet members of the church in their homes. Family, friends and neighbours were encouraged to attend at the time of the visit, a warm welcome was guaranteed and tasty offerings of food and drink were inevitable and impossible to refuse (even if it was just after breakfast, or just before lunch). People really opened up about their personal situations, many of which were distressing and difficult to deal with. By God’s grace, we were able to share about our own similar experiences, bring words of encouragement from the Bible and above all else, pray with them.
Work on the house begins – May 2014
Towards the end of our trip, a visit was made to an elderly widow who cares for her mentally ill adult son. She rents an apartment in Rosiori because her home on the outskirts of town is not habitable, especially in winter, and she cannot afford to have the necessary work done. We gave Viorel some funds to buy materials and after we left, members of the church started work on renovating her home. (Pictures came in soon after our visit showing the progress being made). Further funds will be sent to assist the project.
As a team, we were also extremely privileged to be “in the right place at the right time” for a dear couple that have been serving the church in Rosiori for many years and bless us when we visit by preparing the majority of our meals, driving us around and doing so very much more besides. Marian and his wife Mirela were distraught when they heard that their son was in trouble, having travelled to Greece to work on a farm to pick fruit. At one point, whilst praying with Marian, their son, Alexandru managed to call his mother to say he was safe and was travelling home to Rosiori the next day. God provided a way out for him in a miraculous way and we praise the Lord for Alexandru’s reunion with his family.
God moved in so many ways, in the short time that we were there. He spoke through dreams, pictures, words of knowledge and prayers. He put members of the team exactly where he wanted them to be and we felt His presence with us in all we did. What a great mission!
Progress on house – August 2014
Thank you, team, for stepping out for God and going on mission. Thank you, Lenuta, Florenta & Mark, for organising our trip and being with us to assist and translate. Thank you Viorel, Michaela and all our friends in Rosiori, for receiving us and making us so very welcome. And thank you to everyone at home who prayed for us while we were away. We couldn’t have achieved all we did without your support – and of course, without God’s Blessings. Thank you!
