April 27, 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

   

  • 1:51 pm
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