Taking A Break

After a wonderful and blessed summer we found ourselves exhausted. In knowing we needed a vacation we discussed the many possible locations in driving distance from us. We chose Vienna, Austria which was only an 8 hour drive away.

It was a time of more relaxation than sightseeing. We were fortunate to be able to stay in the home of fellow GEM missionaries who live in a smaller community just outside of Wien (Vienna). While we enjoyed visiting this family we also had quiet time to read and take leisure walks through the town exploring and tasting the foods of Austria.

Two of the days we traveling by train and subway into the city and explored. It is a beautiful city and rich in history. Kristi loved seeing the locations where many famous composer preformed and lived. We even took in a orchestra concert at Musikverein (The Golden Hall) where every year they perform on New Years Day and it is aired worldwide. The music of this concert was of Strauss and Mozart. The website for the hall is at http://www.musikverein.at/

It was that time again for annual conference.  Every year we look forward to this time to reconnect with other GEM missionaries servicing throughout Europe.  Worship is with a great professional team from the states that serve in a week long mission to us missionaries.  This is a huge blessing to us.  Worshiping in our language is a moving and true worship experience.

It is encouraging to hear how God is moving in other countries and ministries.  We connected with those we had initially met when joining the GEM team to some new missionaries just coming to the field.

This year they had an evening of a talent show and also a night with the opening of the Olympics in Beijing.

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.

Adoption Update

While we were preparing for the team from Highlands our lawyers office called our Romanian cell phone.  The phone call was to inform us that a birthmom was interested in talking to us. Within the next half hour we were on the phone talking to her for almost 2 hours.

The following day we heard again from the lawyers that she has chosen us as adoptive parents for her baby.  She is due to deliver a baby boy in early December.  We are in the middle of summer ministry and will be updating you more to our travel plans when the due date comes closer.

Thanks for your prayers and please continue to pray for the baby and birthmom.

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.

Huge Evangelical Festival in Timisoara

Franklin Graham Festival of Hope was in Timisoara July 4th - 6th. This was during our travel to Suceava, but we heard great things from our friends who attended. There were over 1000 Romanians that participated by singing in a choir. The sun was shining with a little breeze to help cool it a little.

We received this information from Dwight Poggemiller.

Friday Attendance 19,283 # of Decisions 676

Sat. Children's Attendance 7,252 # of Decisions 1,476

Sat. Evening Attendance 22,662 # of Decisions 703

Sun. Evening Attendance 27,787 # of Decisions 1,067

Totals: Attendance 76,984 # of Decisions 3,922

Prior to this Festival on June 24 - 26h we were happy to take part in a wheelchair distribution connected with the Festival of Hope in Timisoara.

140 Wheelchairs were fitted, modified, and then given to those in need before the fesitval. Watch this short video below:
Click Here

Steve Carnazzo