Nick Vujicic In Timisoara

We did not get the chance to blog immediately following Nick's visit due to our annual GEM conference that took us to Hungary.  People have been asking and wondering.

It was a blessed whirlwind of a few days.  I thought a few of us were picking Nick and those on his team at the airport.  As we waited I did not see any cameras in the crowd, but as he rolled out in his wheelchair out popped video cameras in many directions.  Yup, it was big news in Timisoara. The newspapers had referred to him as a pastor living without limbs.  The first church service on Monday was packed with people standing along the side of the aisles.  That church can seat 2500. His message was powerful and the line afterward to greet and hug him took almost 2 hours.

The following day there was a press conference followed by a kind of townhall meeting with local professional regarding the state of living for those with disabilities here in Romania.  That evening he went to our church in Timisoara.  Yes, the one that had just built a ramp the two weeks prior to this visit.  God has great timing.  This church can only seat about 1200 people. Because of this it was overflowing into the front hall and 300 chairs in the basement with a live video stream there.  

We have been praying for a movement that the churches can reach out to this part of the community.  Please pray with us that maybe from these events the churches can provide special bible study and sunday school classes for as well as access to their general services.

Successful Week

The ramp above was excellently constructed and a great example to the church body and also the whole community.

Highlands Church sent true servants to serve Betel church in Timisoara.  It was great to see their attitude of humility and partnership.  They came with a dual purpose to advance disability ministry in Timisoara, and to develop a true partnership with Betel.  It was great to see how the relationships developed between the churches.  God was truly with us.

Last week was FULL!  Full of things to do, people to meet, training - BUT most of all it was full of loving one another.  God worked out details of schedules and chance meeting of those He wanted to introduce to each other.  

He also allowed time to do a little sight seeing.  We traveled all of Thursday to see Hunedoara Castle, the fortress at Deva, and the Roman ruins at Sarmizegetusa.

The end of the day was at the home of Pastor Alex's parents in a village near Caransebes.  Here is a picture of Pastor Alex and his wife Nuti.  They are also the parents of Tania and Elias pictured in past posts in our blog.

Their hospitality they shared with us and the team this past week was a huge blessing.  Thanks Alex & Nuti.  

Thanks also to the whole team from Highlands - Matt, Mike, Joy, Doug, Missy, Katonna & Kelsey.  We appreciate all the work you did and your hearts you opened up to share to so many others.  We look forward to seeing you when we travel back to the states.  

Get the Current Update

Highlands Church in Scottsdale Arizona currently has a team here in Timisoara.  They have a blog that is being updated daily of their activity.  Check it out by clicking here.

God is working in some amazing ways.

Holiday Seasonings!

The spice of Christmas this year was flavorful!  

On the 18th of December we were invited out to the village of Recas for a children's program. The choral director from our church also works there teaching the children within the orphanage to sing.  The event was also supported by a team from England with Samaritan's Purse.  The place was packed with the children from the facility as well as the children and families from the village.  Check out more pictures from the program.

Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and the day following all had church services.  The messages and music all celebrated the birth of Christ.  From the children's program on Monday evening, to the brass band Christmas morning, to the choir and orchestra at the evening service, all were wonderful presentations. 

Christmas Eve, Steve and I enjoyed the evening at our Pastor's home in front of a warm fire as we waited for carolers to stop.  I loved the brass players in their courtyard playing Christmas hymns and then again in the house after partaking in hot tea and food.

Christmas Day we ate at our GEM - Romania director's home along with seven international medical students from India.   The following day was also filled with more good food as we were invited into a Romania home and ate traditional sarmale (cabbage rolls) and mamaligia (cornmeal mush or grits).  The meal had three courses all excellent and leaving us bursting from our seams.  Diets are in our future!

The past few days we have enjoyed house guests playing card games and relaxing.  See more pictures of our guests.

Celebrating One Year!

Kristi and Steve on a mountain top in Switzerland.

Now after one full year in Romania, life is beginning to be more at ease. As missionaries with Greater Europe Mission we participated in a conference specifically designed for first term missionaries. It was held in Saas Grund, Switzerland in June. What a beautiful and relaxing location to gather new GEM missionaries to debrief on the highs and lows of moving to another country. Those who attended were from Bulgaria, France, Portugal, Germany, Holland, Austria, Malta, and Romania.

Every morning we were involved in sessions dealing with culture, language, and family issues. Then each afternoon was free to take nature walks, read, or naps. The temperatures were cooler for long sleeves and a light jacket. It was refreshing, and we returned to Romania with renewed energy to face another year of expectant possibility.
Check out some of our photos.

This past weekend two of our pastors from Highlands Church in Scottsdale, AZ. came to Timisoara for a short visit. It was exciting for us to share with them our local church we attend, some city sites, our home, and neighborhood.

Steve, Pastor Les and Pastor Tyler while having some coffee and ice cream at a cafe in Union Square.

At Church This Morning

Today at church there was a brass band playing. Every Sunday there is a choir and organist. Sometimes they have an orchestra with strings, and at the evening service it is more contemporary with guitars and the young leading worship.

I had my digital camera and for the first time I used the little film clip button. You can view that on our picasa album webpage. http://picasaweb.google.com/skCarnazzo/BetelBaptist
Click on the third picture for a short 10 sec video clip of this brass band. We were in the last row of the balcony and the quality isn't the best, but you can have a little taste of a church here in Romania.