In the month of January I had to spend time with my finacee, Trisha. We got engaged at the end of December and before returning to Romania, I decided to spent a month in developing our relationship and seek God's will for our future. There was much planning and discussions. It was a good time as we prayed together, read God's Word and discussed about the life of ministry and family. At the same time, I was able to spent time with Trisha's family to get to know them better as I will become part of their family. The Lord put on our hearts to serve the Lord in Romania and Eastern Europe, so there is not much time in getting to know everybody very well.

As I plan is to return to Romania at the beginning of February, I am beginning to understand the importance of consolidating my relationship with Trisha during this month. We had opportunities to visit some mature families and get some advise for family life. We took a trip to visit the HeartCry family in Muscle Shoals. We spent a wonderful time with the Currin family, the Washers, John and Gaby Green, and others. We missed a time of good counseling on family issues. We were really blessed and strengthened in our convictions about the way God wants to use us.

The second matter was concerning personal devotional life. I spent many hours in prayer and Bible study. I reflected on the main directions of the ministry of HeartCry in Eastern Europe and I made some decisions that seem to be necessary to implement during 2010. I was in touch with the national coordinators and our missionaries in the four countries in Europe that we are involved with. I paid particular attention to some of the personal needs the missionaries have and the way we could respond.

I began to write a commentary on the Epistle of James. I feel that the Lord leaads me to write. We do not have in Romania good Christian literature that promotes Biblical teaching. Much of what we have is translations that come from all kind of theological trends.

I also spent time in preparation for planting a new church in Romania were we will connect the missions of HeartCry in Eastern Europe and provide training for young men that accept God's calling into ministry.

I also had the opportunity of preaching God's Word in Lynchburg, visiting some people, and evangelizing a couple of people that I met in various circumstances. This was a time of spiritual consolidation and preparation to return to the mission field in Romania.