Month: April 2009

  • Gorilla’s, clowns and earthquakes

    Thought that would get your attention…

    With a completely packed STL vehicle, myself and two Romanian ministry volunteers made our way down south towards the Bulgarian border to a small village of Potelu about 3 hours outside of Bucharest.  I have done many outreaches and knew that the children were anxiously awaiting the return of Upa our gorilla. 

    This weekend was packed full of children’s and adult’s outreaches.  We arrived Friday afternoon with about 2 hours to spare before the start of our children’s program.  A group of friends arrive from Timisoara and together we set up and rehearse for the outreach.  Upa the gorilla and Benjamin bear walk through the streets gathering the kids.  The theme is Jesus is alive and I teach about Easter and it’s significance.  We have a full body gorilla and bear costume that we use in the program and a clown and puppets. 

    Friday evening we set up to prepare for an outdoor evangelistic outreach to adults.  All goes well this first day.  We all settle into our selected homes for the night.  I get to stay at a family’s home in the next villlage.  It’s the home of the aunt of a friend.  Not being used to farm life the chickens, turkey and rooster all keep me awake.  I thought the rooster was supposed to wake me up in the morning??? Must be on a different time zone than me.

    Well saturday morning is a relaxed time of fellowship and meal.  Early afternoon we set up for our second children’s outreach.  Getting a little concerned since it’s raining an hour before the program and we are outside we do the only thing we can imagine to do and that is to pray!  Wouldn’t you know it…. it stops raining just before we begin and starts up again after we finish.  God is so awesome. 

    Program goes well and I teach on Jesus’ neverending love and forgiveness and our need for His forgiveness.

    The evening program for adults is cancelled due to storm but with the few that show up we divide up (girls in one room and guys in another).  We have an impromptu meeting with the women and one of the gals who came with me from Bucharest gives a wonderful talk with the women about breast cancer.  For many it was the first time hearing about this and doing self exams etc.  She also gets into some other discussions for women and overall we have a wonderful time with the women. 

    In the middle of the meeting I experience my first Romania earthquake.  Shook us up a little but was very brief. 

    Sunday morning brought us to church where we had great worship, some gave testimonies, I was asked to give a word and I did so all in Romanian (I’m sure with many mistakes

    After lunch we pack up my little STL truck and head back to Bucharest. 

    Please pray for the seeds that are planted and God’s continued work in this village of Potelu

     

  • A time for rest

    There is a very good reason why I haven’t been able to update for the past 5 weeks.  Over the past 5 weeks the following has taken place:

    1)  My colleage and I hosted 3 different teams (from Evangel University, Tulsa Oklahoma,  and Ireland)

    2)  We visited 17 different villages, towns and cities.  Sometimes returning several times for follow up.

    3)  We held 10 Evangelistic outreaches for children

    4)  We held 6 Public School Assembly Programs focusing on developing good Character

    5)  We held 8 Women’s Evangelistic outreaches in the form of Ladies Teas

    6)  We taught a 3 day seminar at Bible College in Constanta on children’s ministry

    7)  We held a Chapel service for elementary and 2 chapel services for Secondary students at Missionary School in Bucharest.  Also serving hot lunches for students

    8)  Between the 3 teams we led 4 different Sunday Services

    9)  The teams did various work projects and construction projects at Kidz Romania Ministry Center.

    THANK YOU TO ALL WHO CAME AND SERVED!!!!  The teams were amazing and worked hard.  Only God knows the true impact and the many lives which were changed as a result of their labor.  Many seeds were planted so please continue to pray.

    As a result of so many outreaches we have received many many more invitations.  Praise God for these open doors.

    Tamara Henkes

    www.henkes.ministryhome.org