As a child, I could not get enough of the exciting stories told by missionaries while sitting in church. Whenever a missionary or evangelist spoke at the city auditorium, I was there if at all possible. When I was too young to know what to pray about, I prayed for the protection of missionaries. Never did I dream I might someday be called.
My husband Jim retired me as a small business owner much earlier in life than I desired. I had the business before we were married and it was being blessed. That realm offered me the opportunity to pray with others and share the Gospel. It didn’t make any sense whatsoever, but I immediately honored him, and with a few tears, the business was terminated. I knew this meant God had something else for me and my new task was to watch and wait.
When an invitation came in 2000 to go on a mission trip to Romania, up went my hand and said I will go.. That lead to the first three trips, working with two foundations, one of which I helped in the start-up. Four churches are fully provided for now, including a Christian preschool / kindergarten. My heart ached for the lost and despised Roma (Gypsies) as I saw their forlorn villages, ramshackle one room homes on mud roads with the occasional horse for transportation. Even though I was discouraged by many not to reach out to them, I knew that was where God wanted me. I started contacting missionaries, asking for someone to show me the remotest village they were aware of. Patricia with Mission To Serve was willing but I had to be there a.s.a.p. as she was heading back to the States in 3 weeks.
That was the start of doing mission work on my own even though that was not the goal. Patricia was ill and already had 11 surgeries. Two of which she died and was resuscitated. God kept her going for my arrival. I learned from her as much as I could before she passed. Mission to Serve still works in Sibui, Romania carrying on her legacy. I found myself with 5 Roma villages not far from the Danube River and no one else to serve them. I have taken 3 teams but it’s well known, almost always, no one wants to return to Romania. That common response adds to the stigma that the Roma are sub-human and not worthy of love. These villages, twelve years later still need a pastor / teacher.
During that first trip to southern Romania, I visited several villages and made a connection in each one. The very first church service we held, was in a small, two room house. It was filled to capacity with some of us, at their their insistence, stood on the beds with more standing outside in the drizzle. A couple of musicians heard about us and came to play their instruments. What an awesome time we had together as tears were flowing. The Holy Spirit was in attendance. Afterward a young man followed along and watched on as we looked at a two story, dilapidated house for sale in hopes someday it could be a church. Not so typical, this man over time has been blessed. Bought, rebuilt that house and now lives in it with his family. A large room downstairs has been used as a church for that village. On his own, he is now putting in a larger church in a used, sturdy, long brick barn. 2019 will be the first time I will serve in it. While all this was taking place, his mother, with a little financial aid, added a room onto her house. That room we used for church a couple of years until a heavy snow storm caused the roof to cave in. Snow does major damage to these shacks or makeshift tents they live in. Along with that, several can be killed by vehicles each year as there are no street lights. As a matter of fact there are little to no utilities and many don’t own their own well. I don’t know how some get water.
Even though I had been working there, a couple of years later Jim and I planted another church in a neighboring village. Leo, the builder, became the Bible reader on Sundays. We have given him some bible study books but that is not enough. Many cannot read and education is still limited. His family is my host family. Things were off to a great start until Leo was called to work in another country doing seasonal summer work. That left the church with closed doors more often than not. It’s been a struggle to find even a roving pastor for this region. They must be paid in order to afford traveling there. In today’s world we ashamedly should have made disciples out of those particular Roma by now.
There are many stories, but the crux is they need more help than I alone can give them. Matthew 9:37-38 … the harvest is ripe but the workers are few, therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.
Both your encouragement and prayers are more than appreciated. Not many are called to go into the mission field. If God has laid on your heart to financially help continue this work in sharing much needed love and the Truth, God promises us His word does not go out in vain. We have partnered with Commission Ministers Network to raise funds.
Thank you in advance for anything you can do.
We have not been called to hold the fort, but to storm the heights!
