TRIP DATES: July 13 - July 30
SUNDAY, JULY 30:
Team Moldova has arrived home safe and sound!
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9:
Roger writes:
Greetings from Los Angeles,
The last email I sent must not have made it across the ocean from Europe. Our second week in Moldova was more seed planting than decisions. I led five more people to Christ and preached and witnessed to many. I had a bit of stomach problems, but it was interesting to see the Lord work through my weaknesses.
Please pray for the country of Moldova. The only solution for this nation is a revival. Pray that the Word planted in the people there would blossom into faith and that the churches we worked with would follow up effectively!
Thank you for your prayers during the trip. We found ourselves praying quite a bit as well.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 26:
Debbie writes:
This is our second week. It's very hot and humid and I guess from what I've heard you are experiencing the same, only WITH air conditioning, and showers.
This week we are in two more villages giving medical care and sharing the gospel. What a humbling experience it is to be allowed into the lives of these people. There are no words to describe the loneliness and despair some are living with. They are very ripe to hear the good news and hope Christ has to offer. Please continue to pray that those who hear the message will truly search their hearts and find the hope they are looking for in our Lord.
I have a new little friend that may be coming home with me if I am not careful. I've named him "Mickey". Yes, it is a little mouse that has taken up residence in my suitcase. For two days I've worked to get him out. This morning I was finally successful, however, I am hoping he has not found his way "home" again!
TUESDAY,
JULY 25:
Roger
writes:
Greetings
to All -
It's Tuesday evening, July 25 and I just got
through preaching. Yesterday our team was
able to bring five more individuals to the Lord.
Today we were able to plant seeds among the people
we ministered to, but no decisions were made.
Tomorrow brings a new day and a new village. The
village is an hour away and has no facilities whatsoever.
It's going to be interesting to see how things progress.
We will remain in this new village for the next
three days.
The heat here has been extreme. I'm sure
our friends in southern California, especially the
ones without air conditioning, can relate to our
situation.
Thank you so much for your prayers and your emails
. We depend on your prayerful support and
truly appreciate your feedback.
SUNDAY,
JULY 23:
Roger
writes:
The ministry is going well so far. We arrived
at our destination after 37 hours of travel. We
have had days filled with opportunities to share
the gospel and preaching at evangelistic and worship
services.. Our nurses, Debbie and Becky have
been busy with patients at the clinic and visiting
patients in homes.
The messages and counseling have been well received.
We have led twenty people to the Lord in the last
week. One was a 91 year-old lady and another
was a 72 year-old lady who is dying of cancer and
has only days to live. The Lord in his mercy
brought us to her just in time.
Our ministry for the last 5 days has been
in the village of Budai . It was, in communist
times, a model for communism. It has no church
representation whatsoever. Many of the working-age
people have left the country for employment, but
there still remains about 1100 people in the village.
The people of the village were very appreciative
of the medical help and quite receptive to the gospel
message. More than 90% of the people who were
presented with the gospel repented and turned to
Christ.
On the counseling front, one of our interpreters
wisely chose to break off her engagement to a non-Christian.
Pray for her that she may continue in her resolve
to do things God's way.
SATURDAY,
JULY 22:
Ed
writes:
Its Saturday,
not a day of rest, just a break in the business
of ministry life. Friday we finished our time in
the village of BUDAI. At the church where
we ministered in the Medical Clinic, held a VBS,
evening outreach service and had our Devotionals,
there was a school across the street. At the school
they have a kitchen in the basement, where we had
lunch and dinner. The ministry team consisted of
25-30 people per day. The medical clinic had about
50 people visit and use its services - some of those
were from other villages in the area. There
were over 15 home bound patients that needed to
be visited. And praise God - a total of about
20 people accepted Christ as their savior. Tomorrow
night (Sunday), Roger will be assisting with a Baptism
at a home. This person is home bound and lives on
the outskirts of BUDAI. While I will be preaching
in a new village for their evening service.
This is the village that we will be ministering
next week.
WEDNESDAY,
JULY 19:
Ed
writes:
Well we
got the luggage on Sunday, with Roger making a six
hour road trip to go back to the airport to get
it. Monday Tuesday and Wednesday we have been
at a very small village. The church is set up as
the medical clinic and Becky is handling that area.
Debbie has taken on the ministry to visit the homebound
patients. Both Roger and I are sharing the gospel
with the people who come to the clinic. Debbie visited
a lady today, the lady was very sick (near death)
and as they shared with her, the lady accepted Christ
as her savour.
Roger and I have been preaching a lot already, at
the evening services at the small village. We get
up and go to the village, have devotionals, and
start to work. Lunch is at 1:00 in a school next
to the church. Then it's back to work, and we take
a break about 6:00 for dinner and set up to have
the evening service by 7:00. It's usually
about 10:30 before we get back to our host homes.
Just to sit down and have dinner again with the
host family and fellowship. We will wake up tomorrow
and do this all again. Friday I will give the final
sermon at the evening service for this village and
then next week we will go to two more villages.
Saturday night and Sunday morning and night I will
be preaching again. FOUR days straight. I do not
have that many words.
SUNDAY,
JULY 16:
Debbie
called saying:
The teams
were settled into their host homes and had attended
Sunday services where both Ed and Roger preached.
They had a tour of the town near where they are
staying. The team was preparing to begin their
ministry on Monday morning - they would be meeting
the doctor whom they will be assisting at the clinic.
Praise - the missing luggage arrived - Roger and
a driver drove back to airport to pick it up - a
seven hour round trip!
FRIDAY,
JULY 14:
Ed
called saying:
Team Moldova
has arrived safe and sound in Moldova - tired but
there (about 30 hours of traveling). Four
bags of luggage ended up in Istanbul, Turkey.
Pray that they are delivered to the team safely.
Three of the four bags are the medical supplies
for the clinic they will be assisting in.
WEDNESDAY,
JULY 12:
Debbie
writes:
The
time has finally arrived for our Mission to Moldova
. I am so excited to see what the Lord has
in mind for our team. To date, the plan is
to offer medical services as Becky and I team up
with two Doctors there in Moldova during which
time Ed and Roger will offer spiritual counseling
for the sick or those in need. Roger will
also be doing Pastoral Training with LDI students
(Leadership Development Institute), and he and Ed
will both be preaching and evangelizing as led.
Please
pray for our flight of course to Moldova -some of
our team will be taking a different flight and we
hope and pray we all end up in the same place at
the same time. Also, please pray for our families.
Some don't understand why we are going and I pray
that hearts will be opened. There are also health
issues, finances and supplies needed for the clinics,
the impact of our being away from our families,
the need for luggage to arrive and for there to
be no problems in customs as we are bringing some
things with us that they may believe we are there
to sell, such as tooth paste, deodorant, etc. as
well as any and all medical supplies we were able
to scrape together. In any case, just
pray God will intervene where ever needed and give
us the right words and attitude that will only bring
honor and glory to Him. We are there as a
representative of who He is in us and we don't want
to spoil that.
Please
pray for the Moldovan people; that their hearts
would be open to Gods Word, that the partnering
with the church in Vulcanesti would be all He desires
it to be; that the two Doctors we are teaming up
with will see a difference in us that can only be
a reflection of who Christ is. Help us love
them for Him and show that in our actions.
Please
pray for our families as well as things can and
do happen whether we are here or far away.
Thank you again for all of your support both financially
as well as through your prayers. This ministry
would not be possible without you. God bless
you greatly and we'll see you in August!
Grace
to you!
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