It's Hard to Say Goodbye

 Yesterday was our last Sunday in Romania.  We were asked if we were happy or sad, the truth is both.  We are happy to be going where we believe God wants us to go and happy with the prospect of seeing our family soon, but sad to be leaving our friends and church family here.  We are also sad that on our last Sunday the city was still in quarantine so services again had to be held strictly online.  That means that we did not get to say goodbye in person to many people we love so much.  But we are hoping that the quarantine will be lifted before the weekly prayer service on Thursday so that we will be able to say goodbye in person then.

In spite of the sanctuary being empty, Sunday's service was rich with the presence of the Lord.  Katsu and Kayako Kawai, missionaries to Japan, came from Cluj to minister in song and a short message and to say goodbye.  Nancy shared a short message before worship and Mike preached on the four things a church needs.  

Katsu and Kayako gave us a small Japanese fan and some delicious homemade sushi.  Stefana, the wife of the Greek Catholic priest, who also leads the 40 Days for Life campaigns that we participated in, stopped by Sunday to say goodbye and to give us a small gift.  

Take a picture, quick, before we eat all the sushi!

We are blessed beyond measure and humbled by the kind words we are receiving from our Romanian friends.  It makes it even harder to leave, but we are praying that God will bring revival once again to this city we have come to love.

Please pray with us for a successful, uneventful trip home to Des Moines, Iowa on Sunday, December 6 and a smooth transition to our next place of ministry.