Read the latest report from Peter Owen, has he describes the work carried out by the teams who have supported the Mission to Romania in 2018. You can download the PDF report here.
Newsletters from Gina Forbes - Who is carrying out her own mission in Romania
WS FROM ROMANIA (WINTER 2022)
Greetings and many blessings from Romania.
In my previous newsletter we were just about to go on our summer kids camp, with the very first snowfall of the year arriving today the Camp seems a long time ago. It was very special in that for the first time some of the Roma youth came this year as helpers. There were precious moments when the presence of the Lord came, in His way and timing. The Roma children were having a great time in all fun activities and in the times of worship and sharing the message. But on the last evening after all our activity stopped the chidren began to drift back into the hall and the Lord began to touch them, some of them lay weeping on the floor – it was beautiful.
During the warmer months I joined another missionary from Holland and with two Roma (Elvis and Radu) going out on the streets once a week to share the gospel and pray with people. It has been very encouraging and one woman, Isabella, in particular, has had her life changed by the Lord.
I have also been working alongside Radu in delivering weekly food packages in the village of Solovastru.
One of the most exciting things for me personally is the testimony of a Roma lady, Claudia. You may remember her from a previous newsletter. I prayed for this lady about a year ago, at a time when she seemed in a depression and without hope. We saw such a change in her, praise Jesus. Recently I met up with her and she shared that her sister, who was in Germany was involved in a very bad car accident. She was in a coma and had head and kidney damage and was on life support. Claudia was praying and crying out to God for her sister. The doctors said that they were going to turn off the life support system and advised the family. On the day that this was due to happen at 6pm, Claudia was praying and she said at 5.30 she had an overwhelming sense that her sister would live. At 6pm as they went to turn off the life support her sister opened her eyes. Her sister continues to recover.
I still visit the little community in Curte, we continue to meet on a Thursday evening for a small home group. Next year we plan to try and connect with more Roma in this area. Your support has provided two new front doors for homes here and also materials to repair a ceiling that collapsed through a roof leakage and also wood for the winter.
I also continue with the group in Idece, God continues to encourage and bless us so much here as we meet with brothers and sisters. It has been wonderful to see how one lady, Leonora, has responded over the weeks and the change in her. She recently made the step to be baptized.
A few weeks ago was a very time as the group shared in a feet washing. It was very emotional seeing the Roma men weeping as they washed each others feet.
I continue to support the Roma woman, Cami, who was in a situation of extreme domestic violence. She is the process of trying to heal and rebuild her life, but sometimes we see her making choices that are not so good. We know this is from a place of pain and need and so we continue to love and pray for her through the highs and lows of her life, trusting that the Lord will bring her through.
I am so thankful for the provision of the Lord for the little girl of 19 months called Sonja who needs an operation. I know the mum, Joana and have prayed for her a lot in the past when she was younger and living at home. Recently I reconnected with her. She is now married, lives in a tiny house with her husband and 2 children. The day I first went to visit her was to find out more about her situation – it was then I discovered that the baby at 19 months weighed only 7kg because of a growth on her larynx that prevents her from eating solid food and she is fed with a tube in her stomach.
The baby needs to reach 10kg before they can operate but God has provided special formula milk that is sent from Holland to enable Sonja to gain weight and also monies for the cost of the operation once Sonja reaches her target weight. This family faces a lot of struggles and so it was very special when, a few weeks ago, Joana (the mum) asked to be baptized (pictured below).
On a personal note it amazed me how God spoke to me in the days that I returned to Romania after my summer visit to the U.K. On five separate occasions – 4 of which were in a period of 8 days the Lord kept showing me pieces of a jigsaw. The first was a very large piece on a pavement and the Lord would not allow me to remove my attention from it. The next time was when we prayed for Isabella on the street and the Lord really touched her – after, not 30 meters from where we prayed for her was a piece of a jigsaw. The next was 2 days later very close to the same spot and there was at least 100 pieces of a jigsaw scattered across the pavement where I walked. The very next morning I went into church to pray and on the seat where I usually sit was a piece of a jigsaw. The fifth time was outside the hospital when I was visiting. I was surprised to see when I looked closer at the photo I took that there was not one piece but at least 4 pieces of a jigsaw here. Through these experiences I sensed the Holy Spirit speaking of the Father heart of God - the incompleteness and the empty spaces of our souls apart from our heavenly Father. Within weeks we were hosting a conference in our church - and the theme? The Father Heart of God!
As we draw near to the end of another year I am so thankful for all the Lord has done, for the provision that has come from all those who give towards the work here enabling us to demonstrate the love of Jesus to the Roma through practical blessing. For every prayer that has been lifted up to the Lord. Thank you for your continued love and support. May you have a blessed and peace filled Christmas.
Love Gina
Greetings and many blessings from Romania.
In my previous newsletter we were just about to go on our summer kids camp, with the very first snowfall of the year arriving today the Camp seems a long time ago. It was very special in that for the first time some of the Roma youth came this year as helpers. There were precious moments when the presence of the Lord came, in His way and timing. The Roma children were having a great time in all fun activities and in the times of worship and sharing the message. But on the last evening after all our activity stopped the chidren began to drift back into the hall and the Lord began to touch them, some of them lay weeping on the floor – it was beautiful.
During the warmer months I joined another missionary from Holland and with two Roma (Elvis and Radu) going out on the streets once a week to share the gospel and pray with people. It has been very encouraging and one woman, Isabella, in particular, has had her life changed by the Lord.
I have also been working alongside Radu in delivering weekly food packages in the village of Solovastru.
One of the most exciting things for me personally is the testimony of a Roma lady, Claudia. You may remember her from a previous newsletter. I prayed for this lady about a year ago, at a time when she seemed in a depression and without hope. We saw such a change in her, praise Jesus. Recently I met up with her and she shared that her sister, who was in Germany was involved in a very bad car accident. She was in a coma and had head and kidney damage and was on life support. Claudia was praying and crying out to God for her sister. The doctors said that they were going to turn off the life support system and advised the family. On the day that this was due to happen at 6pm, Claudia was praying and she said at 5.30 she had an overwhelming sense that her sister would live. At 6pm as they went to turn off the life support her sister opened her eyes. Her sister continues to recover.
I still visit the little community in Curte, we continue to meet on a Thursday evening for a small home group. Next year we plan to try and connect with more Roma in this area. Your support has provided two new front doors for homes here and also materials to repair a ceiling that collapsed through a roof leakage and also wood for the winter.
I also continue with the group in Idece, God continues to encourage and bless us so much here as we meet with brothers and sisters. It has been wonderful to see how one lady, Leonora, has responded over the weeks and the change in her. She recently made the step to be baptized.
A few weeks ago was a very time as the group shared in a feet washing. It was very emotional seeing the Roma men weeping as they washed each others feet.
I continue to support the Roma woman, Cami, who was in a situation of extreme domestic violence. She is the process of trying to heal and rebuild her life, but sometimes we see her making choices that are not so good. We know this is from a place of pain and need and so we continue to love and pray for her through the highs and lows of her life, trusting that the Lord will bring her through.
I am so thankful for the provision of the Lord for the little girl of 19 months called Sonja who needs an operation. I know the mum, Joana and have prayed for her a lot in the past when she was younger and living at home. Recently I reconnected with her. She is now married, lives in a tiny house with her husband and 2 children. The day I first went to visit her was to find out more about her situation – it was then I discovered that the baby at 19 months weighed only 7kg because of a growth on her larynx that prevents her from eating solid food and she is fed with a tube in her stomach.
The baby needs to reach 10kg before they can operate but God has provided special formula milk that is sent from Holland to enable Sonja to gain weight and also monies for the cost of the operation once Sonja reaches her target weight. This family faces a lot of struggles and so it was very special when, a few weeks ago, Joana (the mum) asked to be baptized (pictured below).
On a personal note it amazed me how God spoke to me in the days that I returned to Romania after my summer visit to the U.K. On five separate occasions – 4 of which were in a period of 8 days the Lord kept showing me pieces of a jigsaw. The first was a very large piece on a pavement and the Lord would not allow me to remove my attention from it. The next time was when we prayed for Isabella on the street and the Lord really touched her – after, not 30 meters from where we prayed for her was a piece of a jigsaw. The next was 2 days later very close to the same spot and there was at least 100 pieces of a jigsaw scattered across the pavement where I walked. The very next morning I went into church to pray and on the seat where I usually sit was a piece of a jigsaw. The fifth time was outside the hospital when I was visiting. I was surprised to see when I looked closer at the photo I took that there was not one piece but at least 4 pieces of a jigsaw here. Through these experiences I sensed the Holy Spirit speaking of the Father heart of God - the incompleteness and the empty spaces of our souls apart from our heavenly Father. Within weeks we were hosting a conference in our church - and the theme? The Father Heart of God!
As we draw near to the end of another year I am so thankful for all the Lord has done, for the provision that has come from all those who give towards the work here enabling us to demonstrate the love of Jesus to the Roma through practical blessing. For every prayer that has been lifted up to the Lord. Thank you for your continued love and support. May you have a blessed and peace filled Christmas.
Love Gina
NEWS FROM ROMANIA (Summer 2022)
Greetings and blessings from Romania.
As I write this newsletter we are just about to take the Roma children on the annual Kids Camp. Normally, my involvement with this event would be in the preparations; but this year as we began to pray for the children I felt the pull to go mainly in the role of intercessor. This is such a special time in lots of ways for these children, just being out of their home environment, with food, beds and showers is already in itself such a “big deal”. For 5 days they are surrounded in love and prayer and hearing the word of God, this is so precious and potentially life changing, as we know the heart of Jesus and the Father for these precious children and pray that the Holy Spirit will move. There is a young Roma lady, Ramona, who, as a child lived in one of the villages. Her mother was an alcoholic and from a very young age Ramona was left to care for her smaller sibling and lived in a very difficult environment. Her life was not a happy one and very hard. When she was young she attended the Kids Camps and she says it changed her life, as she encountered Jesus in that place. Ramona, now an adult says it was the point from which she never felt alone and knew God was with her. Ramona is now happily married, has a child of her own, she loves and follows the Lord Jesus still, and has been greatly blessed.
This young man is Vali, he and his mum Cami are members of our church. It was a very special day when he made the decision follow Jesus and to be baptized. Both Vali and his mum live in a situation of domestic violence at home and the day Vali was baptized Cami was attacked by her husband and had her life threatened. Until this time she had always tolerated her. Above all else we pray, that like Ramona, these young souls will have a real encounter with the Lord and that their lives will be permanently transformed.
her situation, but this episode was so extreme that the police were called and it seems it was a turning point. The case had to go to court and on the day of the hearing we prayed for Cami asking Jesus to carry her through the ordeal.
The court was unanimous in their ruling, even her husbands own mother testified against him and he was given a restraining order. Cami told us afterwards that she knew Jesus was with her giving her the strength and courage she needed.
Since then we see Cami opening up and the stress, fear and emotions of years of abuse is surfacing. I have been coming alongside Cami to support her both practically and prayerfully during this time. Just this week she has learnt that her husband has taken a lawyer, as the house that Cami and the children currently occupy is actually the house of her mother –in –law. Our prayer for Cami is that God will provide a new home that is right for her and her family, that Jesus will heal the wounds of her heart and mind and she will find freedom in Jesus as we continue to love and support her.
I continue to visit and connect with some of the Roma people in the area of Curte, providing help with medicines and transportation for hospital and doctor visits. What has been so nice has been just to spend time together, sharing meals, chatting and just being in each others company. Some of the houses in this area are very neglected and problematic in the winter and so your support is helping to make a change so that this year they may be warmer.
When I return in the autumn I plan to take some of the ladies on a group outing – to a well - known market that is held in October.
This photo was taken in Idece; the man sat in the centre of the photo, in the dark blue is Albert, to the left (in the grey) is Gabi and to the right is Jordan. Something very exciting is happening with these Roma men. We heard of how God used them to deliver a woman in the nearby village of Beca. She had called the local priest but when nothing resulted from his visit these men felt the prompting of the Holy Spirit to go and pray and Jesus used them to deliver the woman and witness to her husband.
We have been visiting with them weekly to share the word of God together but also to encourage them. We went with them as they went to visit a family in Tonci and when we arrived there were about 20 people also gathered there. It reminded me of how God used the first disciples in the early church as they traveled and the people came to hear them speak. These men are so on fire to do the work of the Lord and what is so exciting to see is that they are Spirit led and not conformed to legalism. It is such an encouragement as this is what we have prayed for and desired to see amongst the Roma people. May this be a flame that will spark many fires that will spread and grow.
As I return to you once again for some weeks over the summer, I come with a grateful heart – for the things that Jesus is doing and once again I thank you, for the prayers and support of the brothers and sisters at home that continue to strengthen, protect and provide.
God bless you
Gina
Greetings and blessings from Romania.
As I write this newsletter we are just about to take the Roma children on the annual Kids Camp. Normally, my involvement with this event would be in the preparations; but this year as we began to pray for the children I felt the pull to go mainly in the role of intercessor. This is such a special time in lots of ways for these children, just being out of their home environment, with food, beds and showers is already in itself such a “big deal”. For 5 days they are surrounded in love and prayer and hearing the word of God, this is so precious and potentially life changing, as we know the heart of Jesus and the Father for these precious children and pray that the Holy Spirit will move. There is a young Roma lady, Ramona, who, as a child lived in one of the villages. Her mother was an alcoholic and from a very young age Ramona was left to care for her smaller sibling and lived in a very difficult environment. Her life was not a happy one and very hard. When she was young she attended the Kids Camps and she says it changed her life, as she encountered Jesus in that place. Ramona, now an adult says it was the point from which she never felt alone and knew God was with her. Ramona is now happily married, has a child of her own, she loves and follows the Lord Jesus still, and has been greatly blessed.
This young man is Vali, he and his mum Cami are members of our church. It was a very special day when he made the decision follow Jesus and to be baptized. Both Vali and his mum live in a situation of domestic violence at home and the day Vali was baptized Cami was attacked by her husband and had her life threatened. Until this time she had always tolerated her. Above all else we pray, that like Ramona, these young souls will have a real encounter with the Lord and that their lives will be permanently transformed.
her situation, but this episode was so extreme that the police were called and it seems it was a turning point. The case had to go to court and on the day of the hearing we prayed for Cami asking Jesus to carry her through the ordeal.
The court was unanimous in their ruling, even her husbands own mother testified against him and he was given a restraining order. Cami told us afterwards that she knew Jesus was with her giving her the strength and courage she needed.
Since then we see Cami opening up and the stress, fear and emotions of years of abuse is surfacing. I have been coming alongside Cami to support her both practically and prayerfully during this time. Just this week she has learnt that her husband has taken a lawyer, as the house that Cami and the children currently occupy is actually the house of her mother –in –law. Our prayer for Cami is that God will provide a new home that is right for her and her family, that Jesus will heal the wounds of her heart and mind and she will find freedom in Jesus as we continue to love and support her.
I continue to visit and connect with some of the Roma people in the area of Curte, providing help with medicines and transportation for hospital and doctor visits. What has been so nice has been just to spend time together, sharing meals, chatting and just being in each others company. Some of the houses in this area are very neglected and problematic in the winter and so your support is helping to make a change so that this year they may be warmer.
When I return in the autumn I plan to take some of the ladies on a group outing – to a well - known market that is held in October.
This photo was taken in Idece; the man sat in the centre of the photo, in the dark blue is Albert, to the left (in the grey) is Gabi and to the right is Jordan. Something very exciting is happening with these Roma men. We heard of how God used them to deliver a woman in the nearby village of Beca. She had called the local priest but when nothing resulted from his visit these men felt the prompting of the Holy Spirit to go and pray and Jesus used them to deliver the woman and witness to her husband.
We have been visiting with them weekly to share the word of God together but also to encourage them. We went with them as they went to visit a family in Tonci and when we arrived there were about 20 people also gathered there. It reminded me of how God used the first disciples in the early church as they traveled and the people came to hear them speak. These men are so on fire to do the work of the Lord and what is so exciting to see is that they are Spirit led and not conformed to legalism. It is such an encouragement as this is what we have prayed for and desired to see amongst the Roma people. May this be a flame that will spark many fires that will spread and grow.
As I return to you once again for some weeks over the summer, I come with a grateful heart – for the things that Jesus is doing and once again I thank you, for the prayers and support of the brothers and sisters at home that continue to strengthen, protect and provide.
God bless you
Gina
CHRISTMAS 2021 NEWSLETTER
Sending Christmas greetings of joy, peace and hope to you brothers and sisters.
Preparing to go back to Romania after an extended summer break in the U.K. I sensed
God speaking to me of returning to something different and being obedient to the
vision He had given me years previously. I wanted to be more involved with working
directly alongside Roma and encouaging them in their own walk and calling. Also to
begin to ”fish” new areas and to evangelise using the ”Mercy Seat” (part of the original
call I heard from the Lord to build and take out a wooden chair which God had said
would be a symbol of His Mercy Seat). As things stood this presented challenges and I
needed God to open some doors.
The discussions that ensued resulted in just that! Technically my role now comes under
the Roma church which better fits and makes room for the vision. And God has already
provided opportunities to begin to work with Roma. Also through another missionary I
have been working in a different area. We visited a Roma family, the wife needed
encouragement but is desiring to serve the Lord more. Her husband was away working
when we first visited but in between this and our second visit the Lord gave words of
knowledge which when we visited the family a second time and the husband was there
left him astounded. We will continue to visit this family after the Christmas break.
Above is a picture of myself with Paul (on the left) and Christie (on the right), on Thursdays we
now go out together to visit Roma. What an answer to prayer and a joy it is to see God using
these two Roma men as they begin to step out. It is beautiful to the see changes in them both
already. I hope and pray this is just the beginning and God has a lot more prepared for us in the future.
And a wonderful testimony from a visit I had with Hoini (Roma lady in the middle of the photo) when we visited Maria (lady on the left).
This lady has been widowed three times and lives in very poor conditions with her adult daughter who has special needs. As we talked to
her she began to ask us about what it meant to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, saying she had read about it in the bible. This is a most
extraordinary question to come from a person from an orthodox background, so much so it left both Hoini and I shocked that she would ask it.
We explained a little to her about it and left her that day only to return some few
days later. For both Hoini and I the days in between these visits were consumed with
her question. When we met her again we asked her more about her thoughts and
whether she wanted to recieve the Holy Spirit. She said she did and so we
encouraged her to pray to God to recieve it. This was very hard for Maria – she said
she didnt know how to pray, we also knew she had been greatly abused in the past
and felt this had been a silencing force in her life. So we just waited patiently with
her praying that Jesus would open her up and lead her. It was such a beautiful
moment as I began to hear this tiny whisper come from her lips. When she had
finished she told us she felt something different inside and asked us why she was
shaking when she prayed and we knew the Holy Spirit had touched her. For me this
was blessing upon blessing as I saw how encouraged Hoini was by what God had
done. This was her first home visit, her first stepping out in this way and a great
blessing for me of again seeing the Roma being used by the Lord.
On a very different note thanks to all of you who prayed into the situation regarding
my rental contract documentaion for my visa. Eventually with just days to spare I
receieved a document in my hand but needed favour that the authourities would
accept it. Praise God I am now able to share great news that I am in possession of a
new 5 year visa, which is the very best outcome I could have had.
And looking ahead to a New Year! To a new season! As the spring time approaches
next year I pray it will be a season of going out with the Roma more and more. I am
excited as to what God has planned for us.
A final thank-you. Thank you for your love and encouragement, this was especially
felt during my time back in the U.K. in the summer. Your prayers and support lifted
me and spurred me on in my own race enabling me to return to the Roma
strenghtened and with resolve which I dearly needed as my knees were feeling pretty
feeble and hands weak. Thank you.
It just remains for me to wish you all a fantastic Christmas and may our Lord Jesus
Christ bless and keep you in His perfect peace and love.
Gina x
Sending Christmas greetings of joy, peace and hope to you brothers and sisters.
Preparing to go back to Romania after an extended summer break in the U.K. I sensed
God speaking to me of returning to something different and being obedient to the
vision He had given me years previously. I wanted to be more involved with working
directly alongside Roma and encouaging them in their own walk and calling. Also to
begin to ”fish” new areas and to evangelise using the ”Mercy Seat” (part of the original
call I heard from the Lord to build and take out a wooden chair which God had said
would be a symbol of His Mercy Seat). As things stood this presented challenges and I
needed God to open some doors.
The discussions that ensued resulted in just that! Technically my role now comes under
the Roma church which better fits and makes room for the vision. And God has already
provided opportunities to begin to work with Roma. Also through another missionary I
have been working in a different area. We visited a Roma family, the wife needed
encouragement but is desiring to serve the Lord more. Her husband was away working
when we first visited but in between this and our second visit the Lord gave words of
knowledge which when we visited the family a second time and the husband was there
left him astounded. We will continue to visit this family after the Christmas break.
Above is a picture of myself with Paul (on the left) and Christie (on the right), on Thursdays we
now go out together to visit Roma. What an answer to prayer and a joy it is to see God using
these two Roma men as they begin to step out. It is beautiful to the see changes in them both
already. I hope and pray this is just the beginning and God has a lot more prepared for us in the future.
And a wonderful testimony from a visit I had with Hoini (Roma lady in the middle of the photo) when we visited Maria (lady on the left).
This lady has been widowed three times and lives in very poor conditions with her adult daughter who has special needs. As we talked to
her she began to ask us about what it meant to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, saying she had read about it in the bible. This is a most
extraordinary question to come from a person from an orthodox background, so much so it left both Hoini and I shocked that she would ask it.
We explained a little to her about it and left her that day only to return some few
days later. For both Hoini and I the days in between these visits were consumed with
her question. When we met her again we asked her more about her thoughts and
whether she wanted to recieve the Holy Spirit. She said she did and so we
encouraged her to pray to God to recieve it. This was very hard for Maria – she said
she didnt know how to pray, we also knew she had been greatly abused in the past
and felt this had been a silencing force in her life. So we just waited patiently with
her praying that Jesus would open her up and lead her. It was such a beautiful
moment as I began to hear this tiny whisper come from her lips. When she had
finished she told us she felt something different inside and asked us why she was
shaking when she prayed and we knew the Holy Spirit had touched her. For me this
was blessing upon blessing as I saw how encouraged Hoini was by what God had
done. This was her first home visit, her first stepping out in this way and a great
blessing for me of again seeing the Roma being used by the Lord.
On a very different note thanks to all of you who prayed into the situation regarding
my rental contract documentaion for my visa. Eventually with just days to spare I
receieved a document in my hand but needed favour that the authourities would
accept it. Praise God I am now able to share great news that I am in possession of a
new 5 year visa, which is the very best outcome I could have had.
And looking ahead to a New Year! To a new season! As the spring time approaches
next year I pray it will be a season of going out with the Roma more and more. I am
excited as to what God has planned for us.
A final thank-you. Thank you for your love and encouragement, this was especially
felt during my time back in the U.K. in the summer. Your prayers and support lifted
me and spurred me on in my own race enabling me to return to the Roma
strenghtened and with resolve which I dearly needed as my knees were feeling pretty
feeble and hands weak. Thank you.
It just remains for me to wish you all a fantastic Christmas and may our Lord Jesus
Christ bless and keep you in His perfect peace and love.
Gina x
SPRING 2021 NEWSLETTER
Greetings and welcome to the spring update from Romania. Here we are still having some days of snow but are thankful, especially for our Roma, that this winter has not been so very harsh. The pandemic has made it even more difficult for them to find work, especially those who travel abroad to pick crops. So we were extremely thankful, not only for normal food packages, but the addition of the tons of potatoes and carrots (it was like a mountain) which we were able to distribute and which were very gratefully received, much needed and a big help for families.
The lady in the picture on the right is Oncha. She came to our attention after a visit from a team member who was concerned about her well-being. She was frail and it was believed she hadn’t eaten for some time. There was no food in the house and she had no care or support given to her. She also was disorientated, confused and struggling to care for herself.
The lady on the left is Irina whom I know and she also happens to live in the same village as Oncha. I asked Irina if she would like to work some hours and provide a meal and visit with Oncha 3 times a week. She agreed and now both are being blessed; Oncha through the practical support and companionship she now has and for Irina it has created a new purpose in her life and helps her financially. Thanks to you, this is one of the ways that your support has helped and brought positive changes to both these Roma women.
I am so happy to share that Jesus is drawing new people in and God is growing our church. We pray that He will continue to add to our number and that people would have an encounter Jesus and be given new life in Him. Last week approximately 200 people came to our Sunday worship and six Roma were baptised.
This is Agnes. I first met Agnes over two years ago in her home and prayed for her, I remember how, at that time Jesus touched her. Since then I have been in her life and I have heard some of her story; of how she was abandoned as a young child and grew up in a Romanian orphanage; she has shared many things. She now lives in Petelea, has a family of 5 boys. Her home-life can be hard and on more than one occasion when we have met up she has had a black eye. But her heart, despite all that she has endured, has always been open for Jesus and I could see the hunger that she has for Him. Beautiful Jesus has drawn her with His gentle, loving kindness and in her words has changed her on the inside and she knows God is with her.
It was such a special day as Agnes was one of the six who were baptised last week. And God is so good her husband attended the service, I pray that having made this huge step that road for him to come again will have been cleared and that he too will come to know Jesus.
Other news is that we have a new home-group location in Petelea and it continues to go well.
As God moved some of our team members onto new things recently it left the Selah School programme in Petelea a little short-handed. We are praying for new workers but temporarily on Mondays I now help in the school with the children. They are so sweet and already I feel I am losing my heart to them.
It is with much relief and rejoicing that I see the COVID numbers turning around in the U.K. and hope that this also means that I will be able to have the long awaited home visit soon. Please pray that this will be so, as figures here are rising and the area where I live this week became a red zone. Please stand with us in faith that nothing can hold back what God is doing here, that our church doors will remain open and that there will be no restrictions on our home visits.
As I close this newsletter Easter approaches. The more I contemplate this time the more everything takes on a different perspective and shrinks beside the enormity of the cross. I think of the place it has brought me from, what it offers me afresh every day and of the glorious promise of what lies ahead and I am overwhelmed. I am thankful for the great privilege of serving the Lord here, for my home church and the love, prayers and support that surrounds me and upholds this ministry. I thank God for it and I also thank you.
May you have a blessed Easter
Gina
Greetings and welcome to the spring update from Romania. Here we are still having some days of snow but are thankful, especially for our Roma, that this winter has not been so very harsh. The pandemic has made it even more difficult for them to find work, especially those who travel abroad to pick crops. So we were extremely thankful, not only for normal food packages, but the addition of the tons of potatoes and carrots (it was like a mountain) which we were able to distribute and which were very gratefully received, much needed and a big help for families.
The lady in the picture on the right is Oncha. She came to our attention after a visit from a team member who was concerned about her well-being. She was frail and it was believed she hadn’t eaten for some time. There was no food in the house and she had no care or support given to her. She also was disorientated, confused and struggling to care for herself.
The lady on the left is Irina whom I know and she also happens to live in the same village as Oncha. I asked Irina if she would like to work some hours and provide a meal and visit with Oncha 3 times a week. She agreed and now both are being blessed; Oncha through the practical support and companionship she now has and for Irina it has created a new purpose in her life and helps her financially. Thanks to you, this is one of the ways that your support has helped and brought positive changes to both these Roma women.
I am so happy to share that Jesus is drawing new people in and God is growing our church. We pray that He will continue to add to our number and that people would have an encounter Jesus and be given new life in Him. Last week approximately 200 people came to our Sunday worship and six Roma were baptised.
This is Agnes. I first met Agnes over two years ago in her home and prayed for her, I remember how, at that time Jesus touched her. Since then I have been in her life and I have heard some of her story; of how she was abandoned as a young child and grew up in a Romanian orphanage; she has shared many things. She now lives in Petelea, has a family of 5 boys. Her home-life can be hard and on more than one occasion when we have met up she has had a black eye. But her heart, despite all that she has endured, has always been open for Jesus and I could see the hunger that she has for Him. Beautiful Jesus has drawn her with His gentle, loving kindness and in her words has changed her on the inside and she knows God is with her.
It was such a special day as Agnes was one of the six who were baptised last week. And God is so good her husband attended the service, I pray that having made this huge step that road for him to come again will have been cleared and that he too will come to know Jesus.
Other news is that we have a new home-group location in Petelea and it continues to go well.
As God moved some of our team members onto new things recently it left the Selah School programme in Petelea a little short-handed. We are praying for new workers but temporarily on Mondays I now help in the school with the children. They are so sweet and already I feel I am losing my heart to them.
It is with much relief and rejoicing that I see the COVID numbers turning around in the U.K. and hope that this also means that I will be able to have the long awaited home visit soon. Please pray that this will be so, as figures here are rising and the area where I live this week became a red zone. Please stand with us in faith that nothing can hold back what God is doing here, that our church doors will remain open and that there will be no restrictions on our home visits.
As I close this newsletter Easter approaches. The more I contemplate this time the more everything takes on a different perspective and shrinks beside the enormity of the cross. I think of the place it has brought me from, what it offers me afresh every day and of the glorious promise of what lies ahead and I am overwhelmed. I am thankful for the great privilege of serving the Lord here, for my home church and the love, prayers and support that surrounds me and upholds this ministry. I thank God for it and I also thank you.
May you have a blessed Easter
Gina
NEWS FROM ROMANIA ( APRIL 2020)
I so missed being with you all, as I usually would have been for the Easter break, but truth told I knew I had to make a decision to either sit this “situation” out here in Romania or in England. It was an interesting process. Just before lockdown when we were in Petelea I gave a lift to a lady I know who had just given birth. She jumped into the van and before I knew it I looked round and a man was sat next to her. He stuck out his hand for me to shake, which I did and as I turned around to start driving the “penny dropped”. This was her husband (in all the time I have been here I had never met him until then) who had returned from abroad with the masses that were now coming back. The next days I found out that the family was in isolation. It was in this period, as I was seeking guidance I felt my place was to stay in Romania.
But, I would like to share a story that happened when we were still able to work in the area. We (being the little team that work in Petelea) have grown to love more and more Maria, she has really has captured our hearts. We hold our little gatherings in her and her husbands home and quite often we drop into Maria at the end of our home visiting. She always welcomes us with joy, coffee and very often insists we stay to eat….this is very hard to refuse as she is one of the best cooks I know. Early this year when we visited her she shared with us that her family situation had changed. She has a cousin who had become very ill, this had also caused her to withdraw from everyone and everything. She refused to let anyone, except Maria, near her. Maria told us how she was now having to visit her cousin in town, in addition to all her other chores. Maria was exhausted and didn’t feel well. I asked if we could visit her cousin, I had such a desire to pray for this woman, but Maria said that would be impossible as she was not letting even family in the house. We prayed for Maria, knowing that God had placed her where He wanted her to be. To our amazement some time later we paid Maria a visit as normal and who should be there…yes, her cousin! We just drank coffee and chatted, but before we left I shared a word with her that I sensed the Lord was saying to her personally. It was what happened next that is so great. Maria contacted us saying that her cousin wanted us to come visit her at home. A miraculous change! This was just days before lockdown came and it is hard not to be a little frustrated that we have now had to wait so many weeks before we can go visit…. but it will come and the Lord will finish what He has started.
We have been in “lockdown” for 6 weeks already now. I think in Romania this looks pretty similar to most other places. Church meetings stopped, although a core group stream church online every Sunday. The work in the Roma villages was suspended but thankfully just before this we managed to get the Easter food boxes delivered early. And, as for all of us, it personally has meant a period of time alone for me; but good things have emerged from this. A re-focusing on my calling and vision, an urgency for the lost, a greater passion to make Jesus known, to seek and hear what God is doing and saying in this time. I think the best word to describe all that I sensed was “Awakening”.
Of course as the Corona virus situation has unfolded my thoughts are with the Roma and the growing implications of the situation for them. Many returned from abroad where they have work (they cannot find work here) and in the spring and summer months Roma pick fruit and vegetables which is vital to their family finances.
Also begging was made extremely difficult which Roma often rely on. Our prayers are with those we know who are sick and also as mentioned in my last newsletter those women whose home situations make them vulnerable. But the Roma people are resilient and strong.
In the most recent government update here we have been told that certain restrictions will be lifted after 15th May. I am unsure as to why this has come now as daily cases and fatalities seem to be the same, but the good news is that it will give us more freedom to move and therefore reconnect with the people. Some flights will also be resumed. At present we do not know if gatherings will be permitted.
That does means we can begin some of our work with the Roma again. May I ask that as we step out you continue to pray for me. As some of you know I asked for prayer when I developed some mild symptoms, which left. In the natural I would be classed as high risk so please pray for ongoing protection.
This situation has created a great opportunity for us, a window has been opened to go and share the Good News. The harvest has been ripened, people who have been closed, may, through this terrible experience now be open to receive the gospel of Jesus. My hope is that I will be able to come, as normal, for summer furlough to England and share with you many stories of what God has done in this season.
Bless you, for your prayers, for your support and your love.
JAMES 5:7 “Consider the farmers who eagerly look for the rains in the fall and spring. They patiently wait for the precious harvest to ripen. You too must be patient. And take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.”
I so missed being with you all, as I usually would have been for the Easter break, but truth told I knew I had to make a decision to either sit this “situation” out here in Romania or in England. It was an interesting process. Just before lockdown when we were in Petelea I gave a lift to a lady I know who had just given birth. She jumped into the van and before I knew it I looked round and a man was sat next to her. He stuck out his hand for me to shake, which I did and as I turned around to start driving the “penny dropped”. This was her husband (in all the time I have been here I had never met him until then) who had returned from abroad with the masses that were now coming back. The next days I found out that the family was in isolation. It was in this period, as I was seeking guidance I felt my place was to stay in Romania.
But, I would like to share a story that happened when we were still able to work in the area. We (being the little team that work in Petelea) have grown to love more and more Maria, she has really has captured our hearts. We hold our little gatherings in her and her husbands home and quite often we drop into Maria at the end of our home visiting. She always welcomes us with joy, coffee and very often insists we stay to eat….this is very hard to refuse as she is one of the best cooks I know. Early this year when we visited her she shared with us that her family situation had changed. She has a cousin who had become very ill, this had also caused her to withdraw from everyone and everything. She refused to let anyone, except Maria, near her. Maria told us how she was now having to visit her cousin in town, in addition to all her other chores. Maria was exhausted and didn’t feel well. I asked if we could visit her cousin, I had such a desire to pray for this woman, but Maria said that would be impossible as she was not letting even family in the house. We prayed for Maria, knowing that God had placed her where He wanted her to be. To our amazement some time later we paid Maria a visit as normal and who should be there…yes, her cousin! We just drank coffee and chatted, but before we left I shared a word with her that I sensed the Lord was saying to her personally. It was what happened next that is so great. Maria contacted us saying that her cousin wanted us to come visit her at home. A miraculous change! This was just days before lockdown came and it is hard not to be a little frustrated that we have now had to wait so many weeks before we can go visit…. but it will come and the Lord will finish what He has started.
We have been in “lockdown” for 6 weeks already now. I think in Romania this looks pretty similar to most other places. Church meetings stopped, although a core group stream church online every Sunday. The work in the Roma villages was suspended but thankfully just before this we managed to get the Easter food boxes delivered early. And, as for all of us, it personally has meant a period of time alone for me; but good things have emerged from this. A re-focusing on my calling and vision, an urgency for the lost, a greater passion to make Jesus known, to seek and hear what God is doing and saying in this time. I think the best word to describe all that I sensed was “Awakening”.
Of course as the Corona virus situation has unfolded my thoughts are with the Roma and the growing implications of the situation for them. Many returned from abroad where they have work (they cannot find work here) and in the spring and summer months Roma pick fruit and vegetables which is vital to their family finances.
Also begging was made extremely difficult which Roma often rely on. Our prayers are with those we know who are sick and also as mentioned in my last newsletter those women whose home situations make them vulnerable. But the Roma people are resilient and strong.
In the most recent government update here we have been told that certain restrictions will be lifted after 15th May. I am unsure as to why this has come now as daily cases and fatalities seem to be the same, but the good news is that it will give us more freedom to move and therefore reconnect with the people. Some flights will also be resumed. At present we do not know if gatherings will be permitted.
That does means we can begin some of our work with the Roma again. May I ask that as we step out you continue to pray for me. As some of you know I asked for prayer when I developed some mild symptoms, which left. In the natural I would be classed as high risk so please pray for ongoing protection.
This situation has created a great opportunity for us, a window has been opened to go and share the Good News. The harvest has been ripened, people who have been closed, may, through this terrible experience now be open to receive the gospel of Jesus. My hope is that I will be able to come, as normal, for summer furlough to England and share with you many stories of what God has done in this season.
Bless you, for your prayers, for your support and your love.
JAMES 5:7 “Consider the farmers who eagerly look for the rains in the fall and spring. They patiently wait for the precious harvest to ripen. You too must be patient. And take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.”
NEWS FROM ROMANIA -November 2019
It’s great to report that a lot has happened in this period and what is included here will have to be a glimpse of some of that activity. I spend almost every day now in Petelea, either home visiting, meeting people on the streets, as part of the Bread to Live programme for families or at our home-group. What I see in this is that our presence is beginning to have an effect as we connect and build relationship with the people. As we walk in the streets people are now actively asking about our little home group and last Monday at our gathering more and more people arrived as the evening went on. We began to overflow from our little room and it is so good to see new people being drawn in. In our prayer time people are being touched and those around are seeing it. To those who partner us in prayer, please keep praying for more of Gods presence, more healing, deliverance and meeting with the Lord. This week as I was interceding I saw a picture of the torn veil and a mass of people stood behind it on the threshold of the face-to-face meeting place with God. I sensed the Lord say there is no barrier just help them step over and in.
I have families or individuals that I regularly visit because of their personal situations and one is an elderly lady called Doina. Over the weeks since I returned after the summer break this beautiful sister in Christ has shown so much perseverance and thankfulness she has become an inspiration to me. When I first visited her in September she was so very ill and in such pain I didn’t know what to pray for. Doina had cancer and an infection, she couldn’t eat and was very weak. But the bigger concern was for her leg, which has a huge, deep infection that covers most of the area of her calf all the way around her leg.
On that visit we prayed giving the situation over to God and said we would return the next day with clean dressings, water and ointment for her leg. When we did return we discovered that in the night she had been taken into hospital. This may sound strange. but I believe it was an answer to our prayer. We went to see her that day in hospital and she was in a clean bed, with clean dressings, being cared for by a Christian nurse named Naomi. It was a great blessing to see that Doina was sound asleep. She stayed in hospital for a week and when she went home was in a much-improved state. What followed was wonderful – we had a visitor who stayed a couple of weeks and not only was she a nurse, but also a specialist in wounds and was able to provide Doina with specialist care. Through this situation we also met with Doina’s daughter who was visiting her mother. She shared the painful story of the tragic loss of her daughter and gave us the opportunity to pray with her as well. Every single time we have met with Doina she has thanked God for all that He has done for her. An inspirational woman.
As we pray for people on the streets and in our group we are hearing how the Lord is working. A woman who had head pain and couldn’t hear was touched by the Lord. Another who was suffering depression as we prayed became hot and she began to weep; she knows, and we see, the change in her. Another woman who had a bad wound on her foot said after we prayed it healed miraculously quickly.
This week we found a new friend in a widow woman, Maria. She invited us into her home and we just chatted and drank coffee. She told us how lonely she has been since the passing of her husband. All we did was spend time with her – we left with bags of preserves that she insisted we take as a gift. It always humbles me and brings me to tears when I see the how the poor give from the little they have.
Every day we see God using us in different ways, and we are thankful.
I would like to finish by sharing some very exciting news about the Community Centre in Petelea. We have found premises that we believe to be the right place for this. The building is in a good position and comes in a good size plot that would allow us to expand when needed. The first part of the building (farthest away in the photo of the outside) we would keep as two separate rooms. One room to become a kitchen area for eating, crafts and such (see internal photo attached) and the other room would be more like a lounge area to relax. There is also a small separate area that we would like to become a prayer ministering room. The second part of the building (closest in the photo of the building) is currently two rooms that we would make into one bigger meeting room for services and gatherings. The outside garden adjacent to the building is large enough to make into a beautiful garden area with tables and seating and a BBQ.
It’s great to report that a lot has happened in this period and what is included here will have to be a glimpse of some of that activity. I spend almost every day now in Petelea, either home visiting, meeting people on the streets, as part of the Bread to Live programme for families or at our home-group. What I see in this is that our presence is beginning to have an effect as we connect and build relationship with the people. As we walk in the streets people are now actively asking about our little home group and last Monday at our gathering more and more people arrived as the evening went on. We began to overflow from our little room and it is so good to see new people being drawn in. In our prayer time people are being touched and those around are seeing it. To those who partner us in prayer, please keep praying for more of Gods presence, more healing, deliverance and meeting with the Lord. This week as I was interceding I saw a picture of the torn veil and a mass of people stood behind it on the threshold of the face-to-face meeting place with God. I sensed the Lord say there is no barrier just help them step over and in.
I have families or individuals that I regularly visit because of their personal situations and one is an elderly lady called Doina. Over the weeks since I returned after the summer break this beautiful sister in Christ has shown so much perseverance and thankfulness she has become an inspiration to me. When I first visited her in September she was so very ill and in such pain I didn’t know what to pray for. Doina had cancer and an infection, she couldn’t eat and was very weak. But the bigger concern was for her leg, which has a huge, deep infection that covers most of the area of her calf all the way around her leg.
On that visit we prayed giving the situation over to God and said we would return the next day with clean dressings, water and ointment for her leg. When we did return we discovered that in the night she had been taken into hospital. This may sound strange. but I believe it was an answer to our prayer. We went to see her that day in hospital and she was in a clean bed, with clean dressings, being cared for by a Christian nurse named Naomi. It was a great blessing to see that Doina was sound asleep. She stayed in hospital for a week and when she went home was in a much-improved state. What followed was wonderful – we had a visitor who stayed a couple of weeks and not only was she a nurse, but also a specialist in wounds and was able to provide Doina with specialist care. Through this situation we also met with Doina’s daughter who was visiting her mother. She shared the painful story of the tragic loss of her daughter and gave us the opportunity to pray with her as well. Every single time we have met with Doina she has thanked God for all that He has done for her. An inspirational woman.
As we pray for people on the streets and in our group we are hearing how the Lord is working. A woman who had head pain and couldn’t hear was touched by the Lord. Another who was suffering depression as we prayed became hot and she began to weep; she knows, and we see, the change in her. Another woman who had a bad wound on her foot said after we prayed it healed miraculously quickly.
This week we found a new friend in a widow woman, Maria. She invited us into her home and we just chatted and drank coffee. She told us how lonely she has been since the passing of her husband. All we did was spend time with her – we left with bags of preserves that she insisted we take as a gift. It always humbles me and brings me to tears when I see the how the poor give from the little they have.
Every day we see God using us in different ways, and we are thankful.
I would like to finish by sharing some very exciting news about the Community Centre in Petelea. We have found premises that we believe to be the right place for this. The building is in a good position and comes in a good size plot that would allow us to expand when needed. The first part of the building (farthest away in the photo of the outside) we would keep as two separate rooms. One room to become a kitchen area for eating, crafts and such (see internal photo attached) and the other room would be more like a lounge area to relax. There is also a small separate area that we would like to become a prayer ministering room. The second part of the building (closest in the photo of the building) is currently two rooms that we would make into one bigger meeting room for services and gatherings. The outside garden adjacent to the building is large enough to make into a beautiful garden area with tables and seating and a BBQ.
There is quite a lot of internal work that needs doing as the property presently has no bathroom / toilet or sewerage, central heating and the water supply is from a well in the garden. Having located “the building” we are now at the stage fund raising to proceed with the purchase and carry out the initial necessary works that will cost in the region of £35,000. The good news is that the vendors would prefer to move in the spring and so that gives us some time.
The desire for this building is that it will be a place for the local Roma to learn about God, grow in faith and where they can serve God and others. That it will be a “haven” to the Roma people of Petelea - a place to lay their burdens down for a short while and simply come.
I hope that the reading of my news will be an encouragement to you. To everyone who partners this work with the Roma, thank you. Thank you so much for all the ways you show your love and support for me and this work and being a part of what the Lord is doing here.
Please keep praying.
“ I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. IF YOU FOLLOW ME, YOU WON’T BE STUMBLING THROUGH THE DARKNESS, BECAUSE YOU WILL HAVE THE LIGHT THAT LEADS TO LIFE”. JOHN 8;12
May every blessings be yours and may you have a wonder and peace filled Christmas. Love Gina
NEWS from ROMANIA Q2 2019
As the summer draws to a close it is a time for reflection and thankfulness as I look back and see all that God has done.
In my last newsletter I wrote about the preparations for an Easter outreach in the area of Petelea where I work. For me this was one of the highlights of this period as we went out on the streets as a whole team sharing the message of the cross, praying and just being with the Roma.
This is a time that many of the Roma people leave to find work abroad for the summer. This is often working as fruit pickers – the work is hard, the pay small and conditions are not so good, but it does supply some badly needed income. It is a difficult time for the families as they leave children in the care of older siblings or other family members. It is during this time that Phoneo holds its’ annual Kids Camp for the Roma children. Although not actually involved in the week of the camp itself for many weeks prior I was busy preparing some of the “decorations’ for the huge room in the camp. This year the theme was “Superheroes” and focused on the stories of Paul, David, Peter, Esther and Ruth. For me that meant weeks of constructing a prison the kids could go in (from Paul) and a maze the kids could walk around in the form of a corn field (from Ruth). From what I heard of the actual week the children really enjoyed using these “interactive” decorations to bring the stories alive. They especially liked sitting in the prison!
Working abroad has also meant that for a few weeks now some of our home –group members have left us. It has been such a great joy to share this time with this little group and to see God surprise us unexpectedly. We have seen the Lord bless groups of young people visiting from Holland and minister to them during their visit to our home-group. Young people being touched by the Holy Spirit and being moved to tears. Those of you who read the newsletter regularly will know of “M” and her family. To continue their story- before they left to work abroad for the first time M’s husband came forward to receive prayer, together with his wife. The stood side by side, hand in hand as we prayed for them. Please keep them in your prayers – I see Jesus gently leading this man and drawing him with His loving kindness.
The progress with the premises for a community centre in Petelea moves slowly, but I trust in the Lords timing for this and that it will come – the right place at the right time. In the meanwhile I continue with the Bread to Live programme and also do home visits in the villages of Petelea and Muncitorilor. This is how real connection is made with individuals and what I love to do. Spending time and listening to their life stories or hearing what is going on for them personally day to day helps us to respond practically and spiritually to that persons situation.
The prayer that has started continues and I really see through this how God is changing us as a team. God wants to take us into a new level of unity, love and fellowship with each other and increase our desire for His presence and leading. I see the Lord creating something very beautiful before us – like a flowing river that He is inviting us to jump into, that we may be carried in the direction He wants to take us.
So as I begin my own preparations for my summer visit to England I very much look forward to once again being with family and dear friends, but I also think further ahead to my returning to Romania in the beginning of the autumn and to all God has prepared for us in the time that lies in front of us….. and I am excited!!!
As always I want to thank you for your love and support, for every encouragement and prayer.
Blessings Gina
NEWS from ROMANIA (Q1 2019)
As I write this newsletter we are just beginning to see some signs that spring is around the corner. A few interspersed warmer days have been very welcome. As the new season approaches we continue to pray and believe for the same in the spiritual realm – a new season and new life.
We have been encouraged to see people touched by a spirit of repentance. Whilst I was visiting a Roma home recently a young man asked for prayer. Surrounded by family and neighbours, as we prayed he fell to his knees and began to weep – I began to weep. He received a word about how Jesus wanted to free him from his feelings anger and a life of fighting. Words of forgiveness and love from the Lord were spoken and flowed over him. It was very beautiful. I visited his house some weeks later and although he wasn’t there, I asked after him and he is going on well.
Also in our church there was a response to a message of forgiveness when about 15 + Roma came forward. We witnessed a wife, husband and his new woman standing shoulder to shoulder, responding to the message of forgiveness and repentance. People were again weeping before the Lord as the Holy Spirit moved them.
I continue to visit homes in the areas of Patelea and Muncitorilor as part of the Bread to Live programme (supporting families). One touching experience happened whilst in a house in Patelea, which reminded me that Jesus is in the small, as well as the big things. I was with a young boy and discovered that he and his twin sister had lost their mother some years previously and had now, in the last few weeks, also lost their father; they were being cared for by a family member. I could see that the boy was hurting deeply. We asked if we could pray for him and as we did we asked for the Lords comfort. Afterwards the boy asked if we might bring him some exercise books and pencils for school. The following week I was in Patelea and I saw him on the street and gave him the stationery and books. I was touched by his reaction, as his whole face lit up and filled with joy, over what was such a tiny gift. I could see Jesus in this small thing, which was such a big blessing to both the boy and me.
Exciting news is that we have begun to look for premises in Patelea with a view to having a community centre in this area. My role in the future would be very much involved in the setting up and running of this project. Basically the village is divided in two; Patelea “up” and “down” and the people from the two areas do not mix so well. So the right location is vital to cultivate a place where people from both up and down feel a sense of ownership and belonging. The vision is not only to serve the people, but also to encourage them in serving - to get the Roma involved.
The idea is to use the centre as a place of worship, prayer, teaching, and ministry, but also it would be a place, where for example, we might have a kids film afternoon and play area, facilities of a couple of washing machines for the women to use, where the elderly who are alone can come and share a meal, women can have their hair done and where we can run craft or dance workshops. We would start this process gradually and hope in time to build it up step by step; the first step being finding the “right place” and praying for workers in the project. The life of most Roma is a struggle and my hope is that this community centre might be a place where they find joy in the Lord Jesus and some joy in their day to day lives.
We are seeing both challenging and good things in our home-group. You may remember in the previous newsletter I shared M’s story and some of the difficulties in her life and family situation, especially with her husband. For all those that have been praying for M and her family, thank- you and please keep praying as we are seeing good things happening. Her husband has attended our last three home groups and is so open to the word of God. What a miraculous turn around!! We had other new people come to this group, which we have been holding at M’s house. We are taking time in the word so as to allow the group to know Jesus more and more. I pray that these will be the first of the harvest that we have been praying for. That they encounter the Lord Jesus as the Holy Spirit continues to work in their hearts and transform their minds. The challenge comes as others have dropped out because they do not want to go to a different group. We see this in all the areas and know it is something that needs to be overcome, broken and changed by the Lord.
I also begin to plan an Easter outreach in Patelea. The Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday of the week commencing 8th April will be a time of preparation and prayer for the area. On the Thursday we will go and walk a circuit of the village carrying a cross, worshiping and praying. As we do this we hope to gather the people. The students of the Bible School will then have a drama to share the message of Jesus’s saving work of the cross. After this we will share a word and hold a time of prayer ministry with the Mercy Seat. Might I ask that you would partner us in prayer for this time; for a move of the Holy Spirit, that strongholds would fall, captives would be released and salvation would come; that the people would have an encounter with the risen Lord Jesus.
The day after this, on the 12th April I fly home for three weeks of Easter visit. It will be a busy time leading up to my coming home, but as always I am looking forward to being with you soon, which is always such a blessing.
Thank you brothers and sisters for the many ways that you faithfully encourage, pray and support the work amongst the Roma here.
Blessings Gina
NEWS from ROMANIA (Q4 2018)
Welcome to the last quarters’ newsletter of 2018.
I had a very good time during the summer visit to England; it was, as always, such a joy to be with friends and family again. Although it was busy, it was also a time of great blessing. I was encouraged that God answered my prayers in strengthening connections at home, particularly in the area of prayer support. As always God is faithful in meeting every need as I go into the next season.
As you may recall, sensing that the time was right, after my home visit I returned to Romania via Sarajevo, Bosnia, which was also good. I must confess I left it to the very last to decide how best to get from Sarajevo (Bosnia) to Reghin (Romania). This as you may know was partly due to my bringing the Mercy Seat (the chair which God told me to build) back with me. In the end the best option seemed to be to go by land - so it was a little amusing carrying a chair on the coaches and even taking it into the accommodation where I had an overnight stay. But “we both” arrived back in Reghin safe and sound.
Arriving in Romania I felt much more settled and quickly fell back into working with the Roma. I continue with the home group in Patelea, and from September had two of the Bible School students join the group. They found their place so easily and are a great blessing – both eager to participate and Emanuela a young Romanian translates for me. We share Gods word and always have a time of prayer, when many come forward to receive from God. I am so thankful seeing Jesus bring His, healing, strength and comfort to these people. The home group is a great way to really come alongside the Roma as relationship and trust builds and I have begun to visit each member of the group in their homes.
It was through this that we heard M’s story. It is not possible to share all that happens here day to day, but I hope this will give a flavour of life with the Roma as, with her permission, I share M’s story.
We met at her house for a home visit and began to pray. As we did I saw a room with a door that had been closed. There was so much hurt and pain here, but I knew that Jesus wanted to open the door and clean out the room. As I shared what I saw and reassured her that with Jesus she was safe and that she could trust Him - she began to open up. She told us that she had never, in all her life, told anyone what she shared that day. When she was a year old her mother died – her uncle had murdered her; so she was raised by her Grandparents. When she was in her teens she married and within a year her husband began to drink heavily. M now has two children. She told us that the situation with her husbands drinking is sometimes very bad and she is becoming increasingly worried as her children now come in between the two parents to protect their mother from their father. Her husband is so afraid and jealous that he won’t let M even go to the shop in her village alone, she has to take her daughter with her. He has stopped her going to church and from how she describes her situation has made her a prisioner in her own home.
Added to this M’s own father became ill and had a huge stroke; he cannot speak or walk, he lives with M and she cares for him.
She told us that at times she had wanted to take her own life and had spent time in a psychiatric hospital – the doctors telling her she was depressed. She told us that she was concerned for her own health and had experienced pain in her arm and head and was worried she would also have a stroke.
Then she said something that touched me so deeply, she said that through all this she had never lost her faith in God!
As I listened all I could think of was that Jesus wanted to bring change in her life and the life of her family. That in sharing and in her bringing into the open what had been hidden for so many years a line had been drawn. We prayed for M speaking words of life and freedom over her and we will continue to visit and pray with her. If M’s story has touched your heart please also remember her, her husband, father and her children in prayer.
The other Roma village I continue to visit is Muncitorilor. Water is a challenge for a number of Roma in this area as the well that they formerly used is contaminated. The local authority has recently laid a water pipe through the main road, but this is not a ready solution for the poorest families who don’t have money to pay for the connection and also the regular bills for mains water. We have looked at drilling for a new water tap or pump to be installed but have hit a number of “roadblocks”. So the next step is to see if we can do something with the existing well. It would bless the most needy in this area if we could find a solution to their water problem and so we pray for a way through.
But it is good to see the relationships growing and the people opening up more and more. One family in particular has been a great encouragement. When I was first in Muncitorilor the husband was drinking; this caused a great strain in the family. I spoke to him recently and he said he no longer drinks, he told us how much he has been changed, as a person on the inside. It was such a great joy to hear and also to be able to pray for him and his wife as a couple.
The prayer and Intercession group has started and what was originally intended to be a monthly meeting quickly became a weekly event. This is a wonderful start. I am so excited and encouraged with what is unfolding and where God is taking us. We pray for an increase in our hunger and thirst - to be in the Lords presence, seeking His face, hearing His voice, seeking His will. We have sensed the Lord telling us to go back – back to His word and back to our first love. What we are petitioning God for with the Roma overflows out of this place of intimacy with Him.
As we prepare for the winter seasons coming and the lead up to Christmas we become busy with distribution of warm clothes and boots and, hopefully, food parcels and wood for fuel. This is always the hardest season for the Roma and we pray God will protect and bless them through these most difficult months. That He will abundantly provide for all who are in need.
As I finish my news for this period, once again I thank all of my brothers and sisters who pray and support this work so faithfully. I am so thankful to God for each one of you. As I go into the Roma communities I know your prayers continue to uphold and protect me.
Thank you and may God bless you.
Gina
NEWSLETTER (Q2 2018)
Hello again, from what has been a very hot beginning to the spring/summer season here in Romania. As nice as this may seem there was some concern as the Roma rely on the mushroom harvest to provide much needed income and the unusually hot, dry weather could affect this. So we have been praying for some wet weather and thankfully in the last few days it has been cooler with some badly needed rain.
It was lovely to have a small visiting team here from England, which was engaged in a house-building project for a Roma family in the area of Patelea. I see a double blessing with teams that visit us in God pouring out His blessing upon them as they love, serve and bless the Roma here.
This area is also where I spend most of my week and I am becoming an increasingly familiar face as I visit people in their homes. I also belong to a house-group in this same area. This has opened another door to share Gods word and pray with people, which is wonderful. As we do this we see the freedom coming from proclaiming biblical truth and people responding as we share. These are powerful weapons of war in “dark places”.
I also continue to work in the smaller Roma area of Muncitorilor as part of the Bread to Live programme which supports families. Always when we do this work we try to be aware of other needs and so include coming alongside people to pray and share. In two families now we have seen God answer prayer in the same way. One of the families being a family I visit in Muncitorilor. The husband had suffered for many years from alcohol abuse, which had had a deep effect on the family. He happened to be in the home on a day that we visited. As we shared Gods word I was aware of this man listening in the doorway. For the entire time he did not move away until we had finished. We returned to this family recently and the wife told us her husband had stopped drinking and things in the home were very different. There is also a very similar story of a family in a different Roma area. As his wife prays the husband is not able to drink. The wife has had such a powerful encounter with Jesus she really trusts in God.
A really big problem for the whole community in Muncitorilor is that the water well has been contaminated. I have located it and am looking into whether or not this problem is solvable or if a new well needs to be dug. I am praying that either way we can bless these people by giving them back the essential water supply they need.
I have also become more involved in prayer and intercession that, together as a team, we have felt Gods prompting to increase. We now have a small intercession group that meets every other week. I also attend an early morning intercession prayer twice a week and we have had our first night vigil which was an amazing time. I feel encouraged to see some of what God has revealed now beginning to happen. Some months ago God gave a word to “call out the Roma people into their Kingdom plan and purpose”. That this is a time of releasing and equipping – that some are called to be preachers, teachers, prophets, others evangelists, intercessors and worshippers. A few weeks ago we went with a group of Roma believers, who took a big step of faith, as they went out on the streets of Lunca Bradului praying and preaching the gospel. We plan to do more of the same in Patelea and also in the areas of Dedrad and Morareni and other Roma districts this summer.
We are also preparing for a big event as we take a group of about 100 Roma children on a Kids Camp for a week. This is something that Phoneo do every year, but this will of course be my first year at this event. The theme of this years camp is “AN OPEN HEAVEN”. The week has already been planned and we will go where there are some activities such as a tree trails and high ropes already on site. We, as a team will also facilitate events such as football, volleyball, water games as well as creative workshops such as dance and drama (this is just to give a flavour). I will be facilitating a drama workshop where we will be exploring emotions through the expression of movement and sound. Tying this into our camp theme the children will pass through a tunnel, to depict the process of prayer to access God in Heaven. Here they can enact giving their negative emotions to God and taking the gifts He wants to give them such as peace, joy, love, acceptance and courage. These children have so much that goes on in their every day lives and it is often very difficult for them to express themselves in a good way. Please pray that as they participate in this workshop God will touch them and bring healing. That they will leave the camp knowing that they have this access to God every day. This is such a special time for the Roma children, a time for fun and receiving from God in a very different environment than they are used to. We know God will really bless them.
As we have prayed we believe God is taking us into something new and this is very exciting, but we have also been increasingly under spiritual attack. Illness, accidents, attack on finances and families are just some of the ways we have seen this. We are encouraged to know that we must be moving in a good direction but would very much value your prayers for the work with Roma and for us personally.
On a personal note I have settled in well into the apartment that is now my home in Romania. I cannot believe that in some nine weeks I will be flying back to England for my summer home visit. I am hoping that at some time I will be able to take a few days holiday either before coming to England or returning to Romania. This would be a very welcome break.
I am always so thankful to all those who pray for me and for the financial gifts I receive to support the work here. You are a great blessing. We are believing for an increased outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the Roma communities and that people will encounter the Lord Jesus. That this is a time of equipping, appointing and anointing Roma and they would step into the plans and purposes that God has for them as His Kingdom people.
Blessings to you
Gina
NEWSLETTER (Q2 2018)
Hello again, from what has been a very hot beginning to the spring/summer season here in Romania. As nice as this may seem there was some concern as the Roma rely on the mushroom harvest to provide much needed income and the unusually hot, dry weather could affect this. So we have been praying for some wet weather and thankfully in the last few days it has been cooler with some badly needed rain.
It was lovely to have a small visiting team here from England, which was engaged in a house-building project for a Roma family in the area of Patelea. I see a double blessing with teams that visit us in God pouring out His blessing upon them as they love, serve and bless the Roma here.
This area is also where I spend most of my week and I am becoming an increasingly familiar face as I visit people in their homes. I also belong to a house-group in this same area. This has opened another door to share Gods word and pray with people, which is wonderful. As we do this we see the freedom coming from proclaiming biblical truth and people responding as we share. These are powerful weapons of war in “dark places”.
I also continue to work in the smaller Roma area of Muncitorilor as part of the Bread to Live programme which supports families. Always when we do this work we try to be aware of other needs and so include coming alongside people to pray and share. In two families now we have seen God answer prayer in the same way. One of the families being a family I visit in Muncitorilor. The husband had suffered for many years from alcohol abuse, which had had a deep effect on the family. He happened to be in the home on a day that we visited. As we shared Gods word I was aware of this man listening in the doorway. For the entire time he did not move away until we had finished. We returned to this family recently and the wife told us her husband had stopped drinking and things in the home were very different. There is also a very similar story of a family in a different Roma area. As his wife prays the husband is not able to drink. The wife has had such a powerful encounter with Jesus she really trusts in God.
A really big problem for the whole community in Muncitorilor is that the water well has been contaminated. I have located it and am looking into whether or not this problem is solvable or if a new well needs to be dug. I am praying that either way we can bless these people by giving them back the essential water supply they need.
I have also become more involved in prayer and intercession that, together as a team, we have felt Gods prompting to increase. We now have a small intercession group that meets every other week. I also attend an early morning intercession prayer twice a week and we have had our first night vigil which was an amazing time. I feel encouraged to see some of what God has revealed now beginning to happen. Some months ago God gave a word to “call out the Roma people into their Kingdom plan and purpose”. That this is a time of releasing and equipping – that some are called to be preachers, teachers, prophets, others evangelists, intercessors and worshippers. A few weeks ago we went with a group of Roma believers, who took a big step of faith, as they went out on the streets of Lunca Bradului praying and preaching the gospel. We plan to do more of the same in Patelea and also in the areas of Dedrad and Morareni and other Roma districts this summer.
We are also preparing for a big event as we take a group of about 100 Roma children on a Kids Camp for a week. This is something that Phoneo do every year, but this will of course be my first year at this event. The theme of this years camp is “AN OPEN HEAVEN”. The week has already been planned and we will go where there are some activities such as a tree trails and high ropes already on site. We, as a team will also facilitate events such as football, volleyball, water games as well as creative workshops such as dance and drama (this is just to give a flavour). I will be facilitating a drama workshop where we will be exploring emotions through the expression of movement and sound. Tying this into our camp theme the children will pass through a tunnel, to depict the process of prayer to access God in Heaven. Here they can enact giving their negative emotions to God and taking the gifts He wants to give them such as peace, joy, love, acceptance and courage. These children have so much that goes on in their every day lives and it is often very difficult for them to express themselves in a good way. Please pray that as they participate in this workshop God will touch them and bring healing. That they will leave the camp knowing that they have this access to God every day. This is such a special time for the Roma children, a time for fun and receiving from God in a very different environment than they are used to. We know God will really bless them.
As we have prayed we believe God is taking us into something new and this is very exciting, but we have also been increasingly under spiritual attack. Illness, accidents, attack on finances and families are just some of the ways we have seen this. We are encouraged to know that we must be moving in a good direction but would very much value your prayers for the work with Roma and for us personally.
On a personal note I have settled in well into the apartment that is now my home in Romania. I cannot believe that in some nine weeks I will be flying back to England for my summer home visit. I am hoping that at some time I will be able to take a few days holiday either before coming to England or returning to Romania. This would be a very welcome break.
I am always so thankful to all those who pray for me and for the financial gifts I receive to support the work here. You are a great blessing. We are believing for an increased outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the Roma communities and that people will encounter the Lord Jesus. That this is a time of equipping, appointing and anointing Roma and they would step into the plans and purposes that God has for them as His Kingdom people.
Blessings to you
Gina
NEWS FROM ROMANIA (Q1 2018)
Although Christmas seems some time ago it was wonderful to be back with family and friends. The short time went very quickly and I soon found myself back in Romania again.
It had been arranged that after the Christmas break the ladies from the Phoneo team would spend
a few days together – a time for relaxing, having fun and getting to know each other a little better. For me this was an especially nice first return to the team, and we all had a great time, with lots of games, eating and playing around in the snow, which gave us a lot of joy and laughter.
With our break over it was time to go back to work – it was very easy to get into the swing of things again. One of my first visits was to a Roma woman that I know a little. She was expecting twins but was in hospital when I returned to Romania. Her story was both difficult and a great testimony to her faith and strength in the Lord. She told of how she had lost one of the babies and that she couldn’t find anyone in the hospital to help her except for one doctor who was a Christian. She had very much wanted another child – and she earnestly prayed to God. It was a very difficult situation and this doctor told her he would do everything he could to save her baby. It does not always happen like this with the Roma. With the help of this doctor the baby was able to reach a weight of 1.3kg and was born by caesarean. Although very small and in need of special attention he did well. Gods timing meant we were able to support the mother as she came out of hospital with a few practical things. It was so wonderful to witness the thankfulness to God of this couple for their new son, whom they have named Raphael, which means God has healed. Little Raphael was in hospital for many weeks, but is now home. This week we took him for his first check up and he is doing very well indeed!
There was good news for the “Bread to Live” project that gained about 10 new sponsors. I have been spending some time since being back helping the families with this scheme which provides a small supply of weekly foods essentials to families most in need. Through this we have heard of a number of Roma men spending time in prison – short sentences, a lot of which are theft related (for collecting wood illegally) - it is easy to see these actions are need driven. This then leaves mothers and children with no other income than the small amount they are entitled to from the government. This is the situation of one of the “new” families I visited. The mother, who also has the added difficulty of being epileptic and is unable to afford medication, does washing whenever she can to provide some income for her family. It is good to know that with this new tranche of sponsorship this family will get some additional help. I also see how God provides great opportunities through these visits to share the bible, a word of encouragement and offer prayer. It is an amazing blessing to me to see small changes in the people we visit as we share with them. The lifting of despair and anger, sometimes Jesus brings comfort and sometimes just tears as He draws near. It is so beautiful to see people touched by God .
The New Year brought an answer to our hopes as Lore (my co-worker) and I began a small homegroup in Patelea . We have just two couples at the moment but are so encouraged by a young Roma lady who gave her life to Jesus and the changes we have seen in her.
I have had it on my heart to encourage the Roma people we visit to pray and speak to God themselves. That they begin to know that they are important to God, who loves and cares for them and that He hears and answers their prayers. It was very special just a few weeks ago when we delivered a wood-burner to a Roma lady in Patelea who we know well and visit frequently. All she has in her one room house is a bed and the old wood-burner. When we came with the new one some of her neighbours came to the house. It was so special, as in front of everyone she announced that she wanted pray and thank God for His provision.
There are other stories like the ones above that I could share. The Roma people are so open and beautiful and it is a great blessing to be here with them.
Some other news is that I was asked to set up a prayer group, which we now hold every other Friday morning. This small group discussed what we all felt our focus should be and our aim is to spend time “listening” to what God is saying and to press deeper into what this means.
It is a time of being still and quiet before God, to provide an environment that helps us to hear Him more clearly.
A few weeks ago I moved out of the small apartment I had been in and moved into a new apartment that I now share with just one other girl. I had been looking for a couple of months (at least) for the right place that would be my home here. I looked at a lot of flats but knew they were not the one for me. Then just at the right moment (we were about to become six girls in a very small space) I heard of a young woman in Phoneo who was moving into a flat in town (which is where I needed to be as I don’t have a car) and wanted to share. So here I am in my new Romanian home!!
Good news to share is that I have been officially granted a 5 year Residency here until 2023. The hope is that this will help with my staying in Romania after the U.K. leaves the E.U.
I am in England again for a short visit of three weeks leading up to and over Easter. My son and his new wife go to Japan to live and work for some time and so I will be back to see them off. May I ask that you please pray for them (Jim & Gemma) as they take this big step; that they would have peace and settle quickly in to their new environment. That this would be a time of trusting God more and more.
I also am settling in more and more here and very much looking forward to the things that lay ahead in the next season. I am thankful and feel greatly blessed by the Lord for being here at this time. Bless all of you who partner with me in so many different ways in this work. I wouldn’t be here without your love, support and prayers.
Love Gina.
Although Christmas seems some time ago it was wonderful to be back with family and friends. The short time went very quickly and I soon found myself back in Romania again.
It had been arranged that after the Christmas break the ladies from the Phoneo team would spend
a few days together – a time for relaxing, having fun and getting to know each other a little better. For me this was an especially nice first return to the team, and we all had a great time, with lots of games, eating and playing around in the snow, which gave us a lot of joy and laughter.
With our break over it was time to go back to work – it was very easy to get into the swing of things again. One of my first visits was to a Roma woman that I know a little. She was expecting twins but was in hospital when I returned to Romania. Her story was both difficult and a great testimony to her faith and strength in the Lord. She told of how she had lost one of the babies and that she couldn’t find anyone in the hospital to help her except for one doctor who was a Christian. She had very much wanted another child – and she earnestly prayed to God. It was a very difficult situation and this doctor told her he would do everything he could to save her baby. It does not always happen like this with the Roma. With the help of this doctor the baby was able to reach a weight of 1.3kg and was born by caesarean. Although very small and in need of special attention he did well. Gods timing meant we were able to support the mother as she came out of hospital with a few practical things. It was so wonderful to witness the thankfulness to God of this couple for their new son, whom they have named Raphael, which means God has healed. Little Raphael was in hospital for many weeks, but is now home. This week we took him for his first check up and he is doing very well indeed!
There was good news for the “Bread to Live” project that gained about 10 new sponsors. I have been spending some time since being back helping the families with this scheme which provides a small supply of weekly foods essentials to families most in need. Through this we have heard of a number of Roma men spending time in prison – short sentences, a lot of which are theft related (for collecting wood illegally) - it is easy to see these actions are need driven. This then leaves mothers and children with no other income than the small amount they are entitled to from the government. This is the situation of one of the “new” families I visited. The mother, who also has the added difficulty of being epileptic and is unable to afford medication, does washing whenever she can to provide some income for her family. It is good to know that with this new tranche of sponsorship this family will get some additional help. I also see how God provides great opportunities through these visits to share the bible, a word of encouragement and offer prayer. It is an amazing blessing to me to see small changes in the people we visit as we share with them. The lifting of despair and anger, sometimes Jesus brings comfort and sometimes just tears as He draws near. It is so beautiful to see people touched by God .
The New Year brought an answer to our hopes as Lore (my co-worker) and I began a small homegroup in Patelea . We have just two couples at the moment but are so encouraged by a young Roma lady who gave her life to Jesus and the changes we have seen in her.
I have had it on my heart to encourage the Roma people we visit to pray and speak to God themselves. That they begin to know that they are important to God, who loves and cares for them and that He hears and answers their prayers. It was very special just a few weeks ago when we delivered a wood-burner to a Roma lady in Patelea who we know well and visit frequently. All she has in her one room house is a bed and the old wood-burner. When we came with the new one some of her neighbours came to the house. It was so special, as in front of everyone she announced that she wanted pray and thank God for His provision.
There are other stories like the ones above that I could share. The Roma people are so open and beautiful and it is a great blessing to be here with them.
Some other news is that I was asked to set up a prayer group, which we now hold every other Friday morning. This small group discussed what we all felt our focus should be and our aim is to spend time “listening” to what God is saying and to press deeper into what this means.
It is a time of being still and quiet before God, to provide an environment that helps us to hear Him more clearly.
A few weeks ago I moved out of the small apartment I had been in and moved into a new apartment that I now share with just one other girl. I had been looking for a couple of months (at least) for the right place that would be my home here. I looked at a lot of flats but knew they were not the one for me. Then just at the right moment (we were about to become six girls in a very small space) I heard of a young woman in Phoneo who was moving into a flat in town (which is where I needed to be as I don’t have a car) and wanted to share. So here I am in my new Romanian home!!
Good news to share is that I have been officially granted a 5 year Residency here until 2023. The hope is that this will help with my staying in Romania after the U.K. leaves the E.U.
I am in England again for a short visit of three weeks leading up to and over Easter. My son and his new wife go to Japan to live and work for some time and so I will be back to see them off. May I ask that you please pray for them (Jim & Gemma) as they take this big step; that they would have peace and settle quickly in to their new environment. That this would be a time of trusting God more and more.
I also am settling in more and more here and very much looking forward to the things that lay ahead in the next season. I am thankful and feel greatly blessed by the Lord for being here at this time. Bless all of you who partner with me in so many different ways in this work. I wouldn’t be here without your love, support and prayers.
Love Gina.
NOV 2017
I am writing this newsletter on the day that we have received here in Romania the first real snow of the winter. Of course as lovely as this sounds it does bring with it the reality of even greater hardships for the Roma people. I continue to work with 2 or 3 other women in the three different Roma communities of Apalina, Petelea and Muncitorilor. We visit families in their homes and one of practical roles we have is to co-ordinate a programme where children are found sponsors who donate monthly for the provision of a small amount of food to their families. Part of our role is to maintain a good relationship between the sponsor and child. So we will tell the sponsor a little about the family’s situations, send pictures and crafts the child has made and things like this so that the sponsor has a small glimpse into the life of the family. The money that the sponsor gives makes a very real difference to Roma’s lives, at times it is literally the difference between the family having a meal or not.
I would like to share with you one of the life stories that I recently encountered in Apalina whilst working there. It had been raining which made the way difficult through the mud to call on a family we had not visited before. We wanted to gain a better understanding of the family situation and to see if they might be eligible for the sponsorship programme. When we arrived at the house it was in a very bad state both inside and out. As we began to talk to the mother she unfolded a story that I had heard about a few days earlier. Of course most Roma families do not have the money to buy wood for the winter and so I thought it was perfectly ok when I heard that they go into the woods to gather. I was so shocked to learn that this practice is illegal. The woman’s husband who we visited that day in Apalina had gone to gather wood for his family and the police had been there. They called to him to stop and in fear he had run. As he ran the police shot him in the head; they shot him dead for collecting wood that he couldn’t afford to buy for his family. The woman had been left a widow and her small baby an orphan. I know this sounds a blunt account of what took place and I don’t know what more can be said. For me it really reflects the Roma life – the measures needed to survive drive these people to desperate acts. We will help this family as much as we are able. We pray, trusting in the goodness of God who sees all things and holds the promise of an eternity where there is no more sorrow, suffering and pain, which is often the message we share with the people here. The promise of the life to come.
The organization I am working with has a generous donation this year to provide wood and wood burners for those Roma who are most in need; widows or those unable to work due to illness, but this still leaves many in great need, who will go cold or hungry.
As we visit people we are trying more and more to encourage them to pray for themselves, to see that God cares for them, hears their prayers and answers them. We did this recently with a husband and wife in Patelea who wanted to get electricity in their house. It was exciting when we next visited to see that the cables and other work had been done in preparation for this and the family was so encouraged and thankful.
In my first newsletter I wrote about a young man with cancer. I am so pleased to be able to report that he received an operation and is recovering well. I saw him this week and he is gaining weight and strength. We are so very thankful to God when we see stories of hope like this.
We are experiencing great and powerful times with God during our services. It is wonderful for me to see what God is doing and how He is touching the people. We are praying and believing for even more of His presence.
I wanted to finish this newsletter by sharing with you the amazing time we had at the event for the Roma women that we held on the 10th & 11th November. I didn’t realize until well into the organizing of it that an occasion like this had been hoped and prayed for over the past two years. The weekend (Friday and Saturday) was entitled “Beauty for Ashes”. As we prepared for the two days our desire was that the Roma women would be surrounded and deeply touched by Gods presence and they would really feel blessed and special as women.
There was a beautiful “soaking” room with mattresses under a canopy with flowers where the women could come and lay and just rest or receive prayer. The Lord was so gentle as He ministered to the Roma in this place; here there was sleep and the flow of gentle tears. It was truly beautiful. There was a choice of “workshops” that the women could visit with dance, hair, painting and makeup. The sharing of food together was a great delight and as with everything about the event we really wanted to show how much we, and God loves his Roma daughters. For me it was a very special moment when I took time to step back and just watch the women share a meal together. A meal that they hadn’t had to find, or prepare, or serve. I found it so touching to just watch the enjoyment they had as they talked and ate together as women in friendship.
Each day there was a time of worship, word and prayer. It was at these times we saw the hunger and thirst the Roma people have for God and it was at these times we saw Gods ministering and deliverance.
The time we had with these women was truly special. The life of a Roma woman is filled with trial, need, hunger and desperate situations. Their day to day existence is beyond anything I can imagine. I am so thankful to our Lord for the opportunity to, for at least this small moment in their lives, show them how special and how precious to God they are, and to experience His love.
This is just a snapshot of some of the things that have been happening in the last couple of months; I hope it gives some idea of life with Roma in Reghin.
I return to England for a short 2 week Christmas break, but already have a return ticket booked to Romania.
Thank you so much for your prayers, love and support - I really know and feel the power of this carrying and upholding me in my work here. I am so thankful to each of you.
Gods Blessing.
Gina
Walt Meyer's Blog
Mission Trip To Reghin 13th-20th May 2017
Dear Friends
I would just like to thank you all for your prayers for my team comprising of Peter Ferenczy , Richard Dixon, Serena Young, Darren Baker and myself. We all gelled so well together and strengthened our friendships even more although we have all known each other for a number of years. Each and every one of the team brought a lot of joy to one another and also to our partners in the Phoneo team. There was such a lot that went on during the course of the week and never at any time were we without Gods presence. Having been involved within the Mission To Romania group for approximately 10 years now every time it has been such a blessing.
Our tasks in our May and June trip was to build a small play area for what is called “The Blue House”, because of its very blue roof, which was set up for looking after women and children who suffer from domestic violence and abuse. Some of the cases that our Phoneo friends deal with on a daily basis is quite simply shocking but the way in which our Phoneo friends deal with this and the love that they have for God is inspiring. The Blue House is just one of the many different things that the Phoneo team undertake. Normally we are involved in building projects ie small dwellings for extremely poor Roma families but we are also involved in sending out people who would be interested in working with children, bible school and a homeless shelter so there is a huge opportunity to do any of these things and age or gender is no problem. There is something for everyone to do!
We landed in Romania on Saturday 13th May so we had a couple of rest days before starting our week on the Monday. On Monday we started with clearing the garden, which the grass itself was about 2feet high and had to be cut before we could work out and discuss ideas with Saskia, who runs the Blue House. We all came up with different ideas and split up into different groups and projects so that each of us had something to do throughout the week. We built a fantastic figure of eight cycling area which we had to put some shuttering around and created a raised cycling area for the children to ride around on their bikes and scooters. We ordered 15 tons of hard base material (scalpings) and then 8 tons of flooring grit mixed with concrete as a top surface so there was an awful lot of shovelling and wheelbarrowing these materials in temperatures of approximately 27 degrees, which when we looked back you have to kind of wonder how this was possible. We have such a strong relationship with our Phoneo friends and from time to time they also lent a hand and we had such of lot of laughter throughout the day which made the time just fly and in the afternoons we played with the children as well. Our evenings were spent having dinner, having great conversations with each other, meeting up the Phoneo team and at all times constantly aware of the Lords presence.
Richard had plans of his own as to building a hexagon-shaped large “wendy house” which I remembered thinking at the time “what are you letting yourself in for?!”. However Richard being Richard said that he wanted to do it and if you were to go onto our website you will be absolutely amazed at his thinking outside of the box. I strongly urge all of you guys to look at.
As for Peter Ferenczy, Peter and myself together are the biggest kids going, Peter brings so much of laughter into every situation and his giving is truly amazing.
Serena being amongst us four guys showed a lot of guts but in all honesty she was just a lad and being the youngest in our group she was looked after her like she was our own daughter.
Darren is not used to manual labour but he worked really hard for the whole week and found an amazing sense of spiritual being spending a lot of time with Alex. Alex is Roma and has been completely blessed by the power of God who uses him to go out and heal people just by walking up to total strangers and healing them physically for things that they have been suffering with for years. He has first-hand knowledge of what the Lord can do through him and it is truly humbling and Darren enjoyed spending time with him.
As for Richard, his sense of goodness and is always willing to help anyone at any time and is nothing less than God inspired. He loves being in Romania - you just cannot stop him from going out every year!
We were also given a lot of football kit donated by the Bournemouth Football Club which we are so deeply grateful for and we passed them over to Frans and Herman who dedicate themselves through sport, particularly football, in order to give the Roma boys a sense of belonging and working together as a team. My very special thanks to Andy Rimmer, who over so many years has supported us through prayer and funding through the missions committee. I would really like to give him a special thanks for all that he has done over the years, he will be truly missed by our group. I wish him the best of luck as he moves on. Also a big thank you to Geoff Boland, likewise he has been absolutely and totally committed and supportive financially and otherwise, in what we do at St Barnabas. He is someone who has been a great source of advice when I have personally needed it.
I can only say that this entire mission is so life-changing for so many people, it is truly a blessing to be a part of it. For myself, may God help me stay in good health so that I can continue His calling to go out at least two times a year. I am often very humbled when so many of my church family come over to me and thank me for what I am doing which I appreciate, however there is just no way that I can even begin to say how personally I am blessed and how much I get out of it and it is me that receives rather than me gives, particularly having my wife, Angela, that is so involved and our children supporting us and being a part of something that is so greater than all of us. But most importantly I would like to thank you for constantly praying for us, supporting us financially and in so many other amazing ways. God bless you all for what you do and for what you all achieve by making so many peoples lives so much more bearable.
Once again thank you with all my heart and with every blessing and in the name of God and Christ Jesus I thank you.
Walt Meyer
Mission Trip To Reghin 13th-20th May 2017
Dear Friends
I would just like to thank you all for your prayers for my team comprising of Peter Ferenczy , Richard Dixon, Serena Young, Darren Baker and myself. We all gelled so well together and strengthened our friendships even more although we have all known each other for a number of years. Each and every one of the team brought a lot of joy to one another and also to our partners in the Phoneo team. There was such a lot that went on during the course of the week and never at any time were we without Gods presence. Having been involved within the Mission To Romania group for approximately 10 years now every time it has been such a blessing.
Our tasks in our May and June trip was to build a small play area for what is called “The Blue House”, because of its very blue roof, which was set up for looking after women and children who suffer from domestic violence and abuse. Some of the cases that our Phoneo friends deal with on a daily basis is quite simply shocking but the way in which our Phoneo friends deal with this and the love that they have for God is inspiring. The Blue House is just one of the many different things that the Phoneo team undertake. Normally we are involved in building projects ie small dwellings for extremely poor Roma families but we are also involved in sending out people who would be interested in working with children, bible school and a homeless shelter so there is a huge opportunity to do any of these things and age or gender is no problem. There is something for everyone to do!
We landed in Romania on Saturday 13th May so we had a couple of rest days before starting our week on the Monday. On Monday we started with clearing the garden, which the grass itself was about 2feet high and had to be cut before we could work out and discuss ideas with Saskia, who runs the Blue House. We all came up with different ideas and split up into different groups and projects so that each of us had something to do throughout the week. We built a fantastic figure of eight cycling area which we had to put some shuttering around and created a raised cycling area for the children to ride around on their bikes and scooters. We ordered 15 tons of hard base material (scalpings) and then 8 tons of flooring grit mixed with concrete as a top surface so there was an awful lot of shovelling and wheelbarrowing these materials in temperatures of approximately 27 degrees, which when we looked back you have to kind of wonder how this was possible. We have such a strong relationship with our Phoneo friends and from time to time they also lent a hand and we had such of lot of laughter throughout the day which made the time just fly and in the afternoons we played with the children as well. Our evenings were spent having dinner, having great conversations with each other, meeting up the Phoneo team and at all times constantly aware of the Lords presence.
Richard had plans of his own as to building a hexagon-shaped large “wendy house” which I remembered thinking at the time “what are you letting yourself in for?!”. However Richard being Richard said that he wanted to do it and if you were to go onto our website you will be absolutely amazed at his thinking outside of the box. I strongly urge all of you guys to look at.
As for Peter Ferenczy, Peter and myself together are the biggest kids going, Peter brings so much of laughter into every situation and his giving is truly amazing.
Serena being amongst us four guys showed a lot of guts but in all honesty she was just a lad and being the youngest in our group she was looked after her like she was our own daughter.
Darren is not used to manual labour but he worked really hard for the whole week and found an amazing sense of spiritual being spending a lot of time with Alex. Alex is Roma and has been completely blessed by the power of God who uses him to go out and heal people just by walking up to total strangers and healing them physically for things that they have been suffering with for years. He has first-hand knowledge of what the Lord can do through him and it is truly humbling and Darren enjoyed spending time with him.
As for Richard, his sense of goodness and is always willing to help anyone at any time and is nothing less than God inspired. He loves being in Romania - you just cannot stop him from going out every year!
We were also given a lot of football kit donated by the Bournemouth Football Club which we are so deeply grateful for and we passed them over to Frans and Herman who dedicate themselves through sport, particularly football, in order to give the Roma boys a sense of belonging and working together as a team. My very special thanks to Andy Rimmer, who over so many years has supported us through prayer and funding through the missions committee. I would really like to give him a special thanks for all that he has done over the years, he will be truly missed by our group. I wish him the best of luck as he moves on. Also a big thank you to Geoff Boland, likewise he has been absolutely and totally committed and supportive financially and otherwise, in what we do at St Barnabas. He is someone who has been a great source of advice when I have personally needed it.
I can only say that this entire mission is so life-changing for so many people, it is truly a blessing to be a part of it. For myself, may God help me stay in good health so that I can continue His calling to go out at least two times a year. I am often very humbled when so many of my church family come over to me and thank me for what I am doing which I appreciate, however there is just no way that I can even begin to say how personally I am blessed and how much I get out of it and it is me that receives rather than me gives, particularly having my wife, Angela, that is so involved and our children supporting us and being a part of something that is so greater than all of us. But most importantly I would like to thank you for constantly praying for us, supporting us financially and in so many other amazing ways. God bless you all for what you do and for what you all achieve by making so many peoples lives so much more bearable.
Once again thank you with all my heart and with every blessing and in the name of God and Christ Jesus I thank you.
Walt Meyer
Last year Bill Smith joined one of our teams helping to build the new School.
Heavily impacted by what he experienced on his trip He returned to Romania earlier this year with his wife Susanna for an extended visit. Below is the diary account of their time in Reghin serving with Phoneo.........
Heavily impacted by what he experienced on his trip He returned to Romania earlier this year with his wife Susanna for an extended visit. Below is the diary account of their time in Reghin serving with Phoneo.........
Some feedback from previous trips
Feedback from the June 2015 trip to Reghin to help Phoneo with building work.
Feedback from the June 2015 trip to Reghin to help Phoneo with building work.