Pastor Jay //

Here is a tale of two very different reactions. In the picture you see me with two Romanian youth.

This picture was taken on our third of four days in Zone 9. On the left is a young man named Ion and I don’t have the name of the one on the right. The boy on the right was one of the first street contacts we made on Monday. He had been riding his bike and, I believe, had even listened to an entire gospel presentation on that first day. Ion [mentioned earlier, see Wednesday Evening post] however, was very interested and invited us to do a study in his home. We returned the next day.

The point is that Ion was receptive and interested. In fact, Mihai and he had a lot of things in common and will probably be able to continue studying the lessons together. However, the other younger one on the right said, “don’t waste your time with me.”

The incredible thing is that there was no time wasted on anyone. Even when we spent time talking to someone that did not respond positively, it was obvious that God used that time to make sure we were in the right place for the next encounter. It was all God’s time. He had the authority to use it however He wished.

It is a simple strategy.

1. Locate One Zone
2. Find One Person
3. Ask One Question
4. Do One Lesson
5. Start One Group

This was our strategy. There are many teams that go on mission trips, but often the most difficult part of a mission trip is the sad fact that there is a disconnect after the group leaves. The work that was begun - ends. This strategy has follow-up built right into the process. Let me explain:

On Monday morning after we arrived, we teamed up with Romanian church members who could share their faith and could translate.

We met them at the local grocery store in Zone 9 and teamed up in groups of 2-3. As we left this area and moved into the streets we began watching for people to talk with. That’s when we ran into Mihai.

Mihai had actually attending Holy Trinity Baptist Church for the first time the day before this picture was taken. By the next day, Mihai was going with us into the streets and sharing his testimony (he had accepted Christ in prison one month earlier).  He took us to his home:

We had a lesson with his family.

Mihai also attended a lesson in another home.

This home is the residence of the lady on the left. Her friend of 14 years is next, then Mihai and myself. The two ladies have been having a Bible study following the Church Starts International lessons called “People Who Knew Jesus.” This particular lesson is lesson 5 on Nicodemus. Tonight she is presented with the gospel for the first time and accepts God’s free gift of eternal life right there in her own living room. Mihai was in tears and shared his own story of salvation. The friend next to her will continue the studies and bring her to church at some point.

Back to Mihai’s family. My translator’s name is also Mihai. He will return to do the next lesson with the family and continue to build the relationship until they also reach lesson 5 and hear the invitation to invite Christ as their Savior and Lord.

The work of the mission team is simply to begin these home Bible studies or assist in continuing them. Having the Romanians there helps to insure that the work will continue after we leave.

Galati, Romania is a city of more than 330,000 people. It is situated on the Danube River. The Danube originates in Northern Europe and travels through several countries. It forms the Southern and Western border of Romania, crosses the SW corner and takes a sharp turn at Galati to the Black Sea Delta region.

 This is a view of the Danube from Zone 9 in the southern part of the city facing generally North. Our hotel is located along this river near the top of the s shaped road in the center of the picture.

 

As you consider how vast the city is you begin to realize the difficulty of deciding exactly where to begin in such a large place. Troy [IMB Missionary to Romania] has taught us, as we follow his lead, to divide the city in parts (zones) and then focus on one zone at a time. The plan is to

1. Spend time prayer-walking that zone (pick one area)
2. Then meeting individuals on the street in evangelism (find one person)
3. Ask one question (Share Jesus without Fear question)
4. Do one Bible lesson (People Who Knew Jesus - CSI)
5. Start one group (small group)

More about this plan next….

 

We made it home just fine. Our transportation to the airport arrived on Monday at 4:30 am. (That’s 8:30 pm, Sunday, Missouri time!) While we were at the airport, I ran into an old friend, Cristi Chivu, who is now a pastor in Brailla, Romania. I had not seen him in more than 10 years. He was bringing another group into the airport to send them home.

Travel home went along without a hitch, except for two things: Nancy was questioned on her passport at Bucharest, because the entry stamp had been smeared and I lost a peice of luggage between Bucharest and Atlanta (later recovered). Other than that it was an uneventful 24 hour trip home. We had a warm welcome waiting for us at KCI by our families. It is good to be home. I think I am just about to get past the jet-lag. I have been gaining about 2 hours a day. At this point, I only pass-out around 8pm.

I have many more pictures and stories to tell. So, stay tuned…

We arrived in Bucharest in time to get back in the van and see the city some. Then we ate dinner with Larry Carnes - the director of IMB work in Romania - and his wife Peggy. It was a nice evening. It is now about 12:30 am and the alarm clock is set to go off in 3.5 hours to leave for the airport. We are looking forward to heading home. More later. (After I get home probably)

I am not sure what the internet connections will be like as we travel over the next two days. We will be going into the Carpathian Mountains to see Brasov, Risnov, Bran (dracula’s castle), Peles Castle, Sinai, etc. This team has earned a well deserved recouperation and debriefing, before I take them home. Thank you for your prayers. See you soon.

You might enjoy these videos. They are in QuickTime format.

Team Report on Thursday to Vacation Bible School

Children Singing

 

 

Ski-es un spatale burche lui Isus. Translated: I’m skiing behind Jesus boat.

I doubt if I spelled all of that correctly, but I aimed phoenetically. Just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, it did. Today, we loaded up and went to a new town called Focsani (foak - shon). There we met a young pastor names Iulian. Many stories filtered down to me from the street visits as the teams of two or three (one translator and one or two Americans) walked through the neighborhoods. Iulian and I made enough contacts just on our route for 4 follow-up Bible studies and even had time to meet back up with one and have a lesson.

Landon shared a story about he and Carrie’s team meeting up with a group of boys and sharing the evang-a-cube with them. When he got to the time of decision, he asked them individually if they wanted to accept Christ. Each of them said, “Maybe.” So, he reminded them that “maybe” meant “no” and moved on. The rounded another corner and found another group. While talking with that group one of the other boys came on his bike and did a complete 180 sliding and stopped directly in front of Landon saying, “I’m interested. Tell me that prayer again.” He prayed to receive Christ right there in front of those other boys.

We were so tired by dinner time. In fact, the pastor and I left the dinner table before it was served because of that lesson appointment. When we returned and finished dinner, there was only 30 minutes left before we had to leave town. We went back out and immediately came upon a senior adult lady by herself on a park bench. There were probably 150 people out with their families at the time, but she was alone. We stopped and she seemed extremely interesed. She was evidently a woman of great faith in God, but she did not know where she would spend eternity. I was able to share with her many verses from the Bible and the meaning of salvation. I shared with her that salvation was a gift, not something that you have to earn. During the conversation, she confided in us that she had come to the park to pray. She had been sitting on that bench for an hour asking God to give her peace. She then said that she was confident that God had sent us to her. There was no doubt in her mind. She did not receive the gift of salvation, but I asked her to accept my invitation to study the Bible more with Iulian. They are meeting tomorrow night in the park at 6:00 pm. Please pray for Maria that she will understand that her sins are already paid for on the cross. She does not have to seek God’s pleasure anymore in the hope of salvation. She can have the gift of eternal life guaranteed right now.

 

We have had quite a bit of activity on the website over the last few days. I thought you might find these stats interesting. Notice the change in activity after Sunday, July 9.

 

Blogging will fall shy of the impact of today. For one thing, it is 1:00 am and I am falling asleep as I write this. I can tell you that I had two incredible home visits today with new families. One meeting was with Mihai and I took another Mihai with me.

I was just amazed that I had the opportunity to share the message with these families that was shared with my grandfather in a similar way 50 years ago.

Got to go to sleep. We have a big day tomorrow in a new town.