This passed month has been very rich in events here in Romania. A good deal of it passed with several conferences with two teachers from the U.S. I had to travel with them within Romania, Ukraine and Moldova. We started with a conference in Brasov where we had our missionary team in which other missionaries from the surrounding areas joined us. This conference addressed some vital topics that regard the life and the ministry of those who are called into the spiritual battle field.

After this first conference, we prepared to leave for the Ukraine. We did not know what to expect with the weather.  Each of our teachers arrived in Romania after hours of delay. Trisha could not make this trip with us, as we thought it would be is wise for her to remain and not take the risk of traveling in her second trimester of pregnancy. This was the first time when we were apart for almost two weeks. It was terribly hard for both of us.

As soon as we left to drive to the Northern border of the Ukraine we passed through a terrible snow storm. We advanced slowly, thinking that we will probably have to return if the snow continued to fall. I blessed the Lord that I replaced the tires and bought new winter tires. By the time we reached the border the snow stopped and we were able to continue our trip.

The conference in Ukraine was a great blessing for the 55 ministers that attended. They are missionaries, pastors and elders in the churches from the Romanian cities, towns and villages in the Ukraine.  After each day of conference we went to preach in churches. It was hard work but we felt blessed to minister to our brothers and sisters. Our next conference took place in the Republic of Moldova where we taught in the town of Cahul. For me it was more difficult because I struggled with an infection and had a bad sore throat. Most of the churches we visited were ice cold. In the middle of the winter they were meeting for services, but they were not heating the sanctuary.

We ended our conference tour with a meeting with the Gypsy missionaries in Bucharest and with a student meeting. Both had a great impact on the lives of those who attended.

During all this time Trisha was alone in Brasov. We were in touch on email, but we greatly missed each other. Before leaving on this tour, I took Trisha to Bucharest and I bought a keyboard. This was a great joy for her as she loves to play the piano. Being the Christmas season, she has been blessed to play the traditional carols.

Returning to Brasov, we prepared for Christmas. Our congregation in Brasov is doing very well. We had some events around the Christmas season that brought some new people. One of these events was a youth meeting where we had two boys that are class mates with our Christian teenagers.  Trisha is in charge of this new ministry. She is also having an English class with her doctor’s son. They have some spiritual discussions in English during their class.  A couple from our apartment block is regularly attending the meetings now on Sunday night in our apartment. During this time, the students are on vacation.

We’ve been meeting now for a couple of months and feel that the Lord blesses this new ministry. I am grateful especially for the depth in preaching. This is by far our strength. We want to also emphasize more a deep life of prayer and we’re considering developing a mercy ministry.  On Christmas eve following the meeting with the whole group, we went caroling with some of the non-believers that we pray God will save.