During February and part of March I was in US sharing with churches, small groups and with individuals about the work God is doing here in Romania through PTJM. What an amazing time I had. I was away from US for two years and going back was an adventure and a blessing. I met with friends of our ministry from all over the US, from the shores of the Atlantic Ocean in New Jersey, New York, Georgia and Florida, through Midwest in Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee, to the Pacific Ocean in California, then to Arizona and Texas. It was lots of travel, many take-offs and landings and many hours spent in the car. Was it worth it? You bet it was. It was such a joy and delight to see the faces of our friends and partners in ministry to the poor and the orphans of Romania. A big and hearty “Thank You!” to all of you for opening your homes, for the meals we shared together, for prayer and the ministry of the Word we encounter together.
While it is almost fashionable today all over the world to hate the United States and the American people, as an American citizen looking in from outside the United States I see amazing things happening. I know the economy is not great, I know some of the problems you/we are all facing, but throughout my travels I saw the true face of America and of the American people. From the soldiers I meet in airports, to the young and older people praying together in small or large church buildings, from the people that love the orphans and the poor zillion miles away in foreign countries to the people that get involved in the neighborhoods across town, I saw love, compassion, charity and sincerity. This is the wealth that most of the world has not. That's why I love America. This is the spirit that God loves in all of us.
I returned to Romania a few days ago and we are already in full swing. The same day I arrived a team of 32 high school students from Atlanta arrived to assist us with the work. We work in churches, at the hospital, in the local orphanage. Part of the team is busy tearing down an old house to make room for the new school we want to build for the gypsy children in Sabolciu. Most of the gypsy kids are illiterate. The reason is, when they go to the Romanian schools they do not speak the Romanian language. Due to this handicap most of them don't get through first grade and drop out of school for the rest of their lives. We want to teach the Gypsy children and youth the Romanian language and give them the necessary tools to succeed in life: language acquisition through the the Word of God. Please pray for funds to accomplish this project.
In the village of Tinca we are now installing the windows at the youth ministry building and are looking with excitement to the day when we will begin to use this facility to reach the youth in Tinca for God. We still lack part of the funds to finish this key building project but have faith in God.
While I was gone the orphan ministry experienced an answer to prayer. The government ban to place abandoned children under two years of age in foster homes was lifted. PTL! This answer to prayer positions us strategically in the lives of the 80 children abandoned at the Oradea Children's Hospital. We are now able to place all these children from the hospital in foster homes and enable them to escape the entrapment they experienced for such a long time. To accomplish this we need sponsors for each child. By God's grace and with your help we can accomplish this. In our next newsletter I will tell you about the two girls ages 2 and 4 that we found abandoned in one of the villages. After many months and lots of prayer they are in a safe place.
Space does not allow me to go any further in sharing with you what God is doing these days throughout our ministry, but let's stay in touch! If you have any questions, suggestions or ideas we want to hear from you. Please write a note to: ptjm4him@gmail.com. If you want to partner with us please fill the enclosed card.
We continue to covet your prayers and support and we pray that Our Father richly bless you in everything you do, according to his Grace and Mercy.
Sincerely yours,
Prayer Requests
Please pray for:
● Church Planting Ministry: workers to help carry the load of ministering to the needs of the people.
● Funds to finish the building in Tinca
● Orphan Mentoring Program: our staff, for patience and love for the 115 teenage orphans
● Foster Care Ministry: the foster families that care for the 33 children
● Oradea Children’s Hospital Ministry: the abandoned orphans and our staff working there
● The two girls we found abandoned in the village of Sabolciu
● The Bucurs: protection and strength to oversee all the ministries
● More partners to join our prayer and support team
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