INSTE Groups in Romania

Over the weekend we went with Tammy Swailes to Gherla, Romania. Tammy was excited to be able to train two new INSTE leaders in Gherla who will be starting groups soon. We also stopped in Oradia, Romania where Tammy met with the leaders of two Romanian INSTE groups and gave them this semester's books. God is doing good things!
While we were in Gherla, we were the guests of John and Nelly Pop who treated us royally with great food, warm beds and wonderful conversation. Mike was invited to speak Sunday morning at the Gherla Open Bible Church. It was a blessed service and both of us were able to pray for many people following the sermon.


Since this was Nancy's first trip to Gherla (Mike was there in 2000), the Pops took us into the Carpathian Mountains there in Transylvania. We visited two Orthodox monasteries on mountaintops. Monks and/or priests live at these monasteries and there are guest houses available for people who wish to spend time there. This is the outside of a church at the first monastery we visited.
We were able at this monastery to go inside the church building and take pictures. It is quite ornate including the murals painted on the inside of the tall tower. We talked about the hold this works-based religion has on the lives of the Romanian people. It is very difficult for new believers to leave behind the traditions and practices of the Orthodox church and fully trust in God's Word. How wonderful to be able to provide INSTE in their own language to help them grow!

The best part of visiting the monastaries was the mountain views. How glorious is God's handiwork!