Shut in With God

This is our garden thus far this year, planted with lettuce and radishes.  Looks like it needs a bit of watering.  Working in the garden has been one of our projects while we are under stay-at-home orders here in Romania.
Like much of the rest of the world, we are sheltering in place, but we are healthy and safe and very thankful to live in a house with a yard and small garden we can spend time in when the weather is good.  We are allowed to go out once a day for exercise close to home.  We are also allowed to leave home to buy necessities like groceries or medicine.
Church meetings, as well as all other types of meetings, are not allowed, but we are enjoying being able to watch online as Pastor Simi and his family lead worship services and prayer meetings.
Now we have more time to spend with the Lord and reminds us of an old song:
  Shut in with God in a secret place,
  There in his presence beholding his face,
  Gaining new power to run in the race,
  I love to be shut in with God.
God is preparing us spiritually for what lies ahead and he is preparing you, too, as you will allow him.  Please take time to pray with us as you are shut in.  Please pray for Romania, for our Inste group, for those who are suffering during this difficult time, for wisdom for national leaders to make wise decisions, and especially for the Gospel to go forth with power, bringing many to faith in Christ.  We need God more than ever today.  May the Father draw you closer and closer to him as you spend time with him in the Word and in prayer.

Spring Snowfall

Our yard covered in snow

This morning we woke up to a bit of snow on the ground.  It is unusual since we had only two rather light snowfalls this winter and it is quite late for snow here in Gherla.  One good thing is that we will not have to shovel it since the sidewalks were warm enough to melt what fell. We are enjoying the beauty of the snow.

Paprikas krumpli - yummy!

The winter-like weather made it a good day to enjoy a little bit of paprikas krumpli soup with some homemade bread for lunch. 

We are doing well here, safe and healthy.  Just like many other countries around the world, we are instructed to stay at home except for essential things like buying food.  Stores and restaurants are closed and a 10 pm to 6 am curfew began last night.  Pastor Simi and his family conducted service Sunday morning to an empty church building, and live streamed it so all of us could watch from home.  No meetings are permitted of more than three people. 

Our prayer is that in this strange situation we are all living through, that God's Kingdom will come and his will be done all around the world as it is in heaven.  There have been several prophetic words in the past few months that revival is coming to Gherla and we believe God can and will use what is happening now to bring many to salvation and to a closer walk with the Lord. 

This is the time for all of us to seek God and to pray for personal renewal, for the souls of our lost loved ones and for a mighty move of the Spirit of God in our communities, our countries and around the world.  Lord, we need you!

Coronavirus in Romania

Just like everywhere else in the world, Coronavirus is the main news here in Romania with well over 100 confirmed cases.  Saturday, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis declared a state of emergency in Romania beginning today, March 16, in order to release funds and streamline processes to slow the spread of the virus and keep the health care system from being overwhelmed.
Schools were closed throughout the country last week and public gatherings of any kind including in churches were limited to fewer than 50 people.  As of today, we are told that stores are closed with the exception of food stores, pharmacies and gas stations.  Citizens are asked to stay home.
Sunday, the Open Bible Church met and since many members stayed home, the attendance was under 50 people.  The service was streamed on Facebook and we focused on prayer for those affected by the crisis and on encouraging each other in the Lord.  After consulting with Pastor Simi, we decided to cancel the Inste meeting this week.
We are all doing well.  We know of no one affected here in Gherla.  The best news is that God is in control.  The Hungarian Open Bible Churches invited us a few weeks ago to visit them at the end of this month.  As of now that plan is still on, but we are keeping informed of news in order to change plans if necessary.  We pray for you in the US as the crisis there spreads and we ask you to pray for us, too. Please pray that the Lord will bring millions around the world to know him as Savior during this troubling time.
Update:  We just heard that Hungary has closed its borders to non-Hungarians.  We and our Hungarian friends are praying that the borders will be opened soon.

International Women's Day

March 8 is International Women's Day and here in Romania it is also Mother's Day.  Since the holiday fell on a Sunday, in church there were special greetings for the ladies, a poem for the mothers, an emphasis on women in the message and each lady in church received a flower.
Women are very important in the Kingdom of God and we appreciate each one who, like the Mary that Paul the Apostle greeted in Romans 16:5, "work so hard" for the benefit of each of us.  Ladies, we salute you and encourage you to continue praying, cooking, cleaning, preaching, teaching and singing for the glory of the Lord and the benefit of his Church.

Women's Fellowship

Saturday was Leap Year Day, February 29, so the ladies of the Gherla Baptist Church decided it would be fun to invite the ladies from other churches to join them for a time of fellowship.  I (Nancy) and several other ladies from the Open Bible Church met long-time friends and made new friends at the meeting that morning.  We enjoyed a time of praising and worshiping Jesus together and then played a few fun little games. My three-some won some cookies thanks to Gabi Hosu who used her math skills to solve a riddle.  A special speaker gave a message on becoming a woman of God and then we all enjoyed sandwiches and treats and chatting with one another.  It was good to take time away from our usual activities and enjoy the fellowship of believers from other churches.