About Men and a Picnic

Mike praying over the men and boys

 Sunday was a busy, eventful day.  The worship at church was interrupted for a bit when an older gentleman fainted and had to be taken to the hospital.  We all prayed for Ion, of course, and he is recovering nicely.  Soon after that, Mike preached a powerful sermon about David and Goliath and challenged the men to be spiritual defenders and gate keepers of their families, the church and the city.  He invited the men to come forward and Mike and the women prayed for them. Then Mike encouraged them to join a Bible study group led by Pastor Simi.  After the service, Pastor Simi talked to the men and together they set a time and date for the first meeting.  We were all encouraged to be bold for the Lord.

Most of the men and boys from Sunday morning. (Some left before the picture was taken.)

 Sunday was a hot day with temperatures reaching 94 degrees, but the picnic planned for Sunday evening went ahead as planned.

Mike grilling with the men at the picnic

 We enjoyed great fellowship, delicious food, walks in the forest and a time singing together to the Lord.  The children even built a little fort with branches and such that they found.  We were glad that we joined the group and that the temperatures were much more pleasant by the time we headed home.

The view on the way down the hill after the picnic

Please continue to pray for Gherla and for the Open Bible Church.  God is at work!

Wedding Blessing

Mike and Pastor Simi praying over the newlyweds.

Wedding customs are a bit different in Romania than in the United States, but similar to Hungary's customs.  Here few couples have a big church wedding.  Instead, they have the mandatory civil ceremony at the court house followed by a big reception at a restaurant or hotel that lasts far into the night or even until morning.  Christian couples, however, want the blessing of the Lord on their marriages so a small wedding ceremony is held during a regular Sunday morning service.  There is some instruction or encouragement given by the pastor to the couple followed by some questions of commitment to the Lord and to each other.  Then a blessing is prayed over the couple.
Such a ceremony was held at the Open Bible Church in Gherla on Sunday morning.  Mike was asked to give the charge to the couple and to join Pastor Simi in praying for the them.  There will be another wedding during church in late August that we look forward to.  How happy we are to participate in the life of the church here.  May God bless this lovely couple and their marriage and continue to guide them in His ways.

Children's Camp

It is wonderful to be able to help spread the Gospel here in Romania even though we do not speak the language. Sunday Mike preached a powerful sermon from Matthew 16 on Jesus's question, "Who do you say that I am?"  He ended with a call to use the authority given to us by Jesus, the keys to the Kingdom, to be God's instruments in bringing revival to the city of Gherla.

The reason Mike preached Sunday was that Pastor Simi was gone all week to help at a youth camp for disadvantaged children.  Mariana Pavel, one of the church board members, runs a foundation that ministers to poor children.  During the summer, she conducts a camp for them.  Even though the church van they used to transport the children's baggage broke down and they had to improvise to get the luggage there and back, Pastor Simi was beaming when he reported about the camp Sunday morning.  He said it was the best camp ever, that the children were much better behaved than in previous years and that they were receptive to the Gospel.  Praise God!  Mariana, Pastor Simi and the others were doing during the week what Mike preached on Sunday.

Pastor Simi and the children doing a project at camp. Photo: Simi Hosu

May the Lord continue to bless and guide and provide for Mariana and the foundation as they reach out to children in need in Gherla and may he help us to use the authority he has given us to bring revival to the city.

Visitors from Switzerland

Rosmarie and Heinz Bahren

 This past week we had visitors from Switzerland, Heinz and Rosmarie Bahren.  Heinz and Rosmarie served as missionaries for ten years here in Gherla before returning to Switzerland a couple of years ago.  We got to know and love them during the time we lived in Hungary since we stayed with them several times when we made frequent trips to Gherla.  We are now living in their house in Gherla which is a great blessing to us.
During their visit, they were very busy with many of the friends they had made in Gherla, but we were pleased to able to spend some time with them, too.

Cremes (cream cake) served with watermelon made by Gabi Hosu.  It was delicious! Notice the white cake, blue plate and red melon. Red, white and blue for the 4th! 

 Thursday was Independence Day in the US, but here in Romania it was just another normal day.  Thursday evening at prayer meeting, Mery invited us to her house along with some others to "celebrate the 4th of July."  We found out when we arrived at her home that it was also the pastors' wedding anniversary.  So we celebrated America's birthday, Simi and Gabi's anniversary and Heinz and Rosmarie's visit.

Gabi, Rosmarie and Nancy hiking up the hill.

Friday, we joined Rosmarie, Heinz, Simi and Gabi on a hike to the top of a hill that overlooks the city of Gherla. 

Praying over the city of Gherla.  Photo: Gabi Hosu

When we reached the top, we spent time praying over the city of Gherla, each of us in our native language--Romanian, German and English.  It was well worth the hike to pray together for the city we all love.
On Saturday Heinz and Rosmarie came over and helped us with the garden, giving us many tips on how to take care of it and the house.  A seriously split cherry tree was cut down, the grapevines were pruned and other necessary work was completed.  Pruning the grapevines helped us understand even better what Jesus said in John 15 about the vine and the branches. 
Thank you, Heinz and Rosmarie for your visit and for all you do for us!  May God richly bless you!

Family Time

All seven of our grandchildren, ages 2 to 12

Following Open Bible Convention, we were able to take a few days to be with all three of our sons and their families.  It was so much fun being together and giving hugs all around because it had been three years since all of us were in one place.  We spent time talking, laughing, and loving on each other and the cousins got reacquainted with one other. 
We enjoyed Wisconsin Dells and a few of its attractions, but mainly we played basketball and video games, watched movies, ate good food and were a family.
We thank God for the opportunity to be with all our family again.  He is so good to us.