Wednesday 5/19/2010 7:25 PM
Russ Ewing
We have landed in Detroit.
Wednesday 5/19/2010 8:30 PM
Russ Ewing
We are on the plane in Detroit ready for takeoff on our overnight flight to Amsterdam.
Thursday 5/20/2010 10:30 AM
Russ Ewing
We have arrived in Bucharest. We are now waiting on our flight to Baia Mare.
Thursday 5/20/2010 3:57 PM
Russ Ewing
We made it to Baia Mare, our final destination -- it is a long trip. Everyone is fine, but tired. All of our luggage made it, except for one team bag of glasses and other supplies. All of the glasses (except for the missing bag) cleared customs without a hitch. We are checked in the hotel -- everyone is looking forward to a good night of rest.
Friday 5/21/2010 2:34 PM
Russ Ewing
Today was a rest day for the team. We did a little shopping, had at lunch at the Italian Restaurant and later we got to visit Sucumata Mare Church. What a difference from the first time we visited. They will have the dedication of the church on Sunday evening. In the evening we got to experience the Midevil Restaurant and a variety of food. Of course with Russ ordering the dessert we had ice cream!
Tomorrow we start our work. Everyone is very excited to visit a new village - Buesta. Please keep the team in your prayers. Pastor Daniel said the people in this village have not had anyone come to their village and share the gospel . Also pray that the missing bag gets here on Sunday as planned.
Your Romanian Team
Friday 5/21/2010 2:18 PM
Russ Ewing
We made it to Baia Mare, our final destination -- it is a long trip. Everyone is fine, but tired. All of our luggage made it, except for one team bag of glasses and other supplies. All of the glasses (except for the missing bag) cleared customs without a hitch. We are checked in the hotel -- everyone is looking forward to a good night of rest.
Sunday 5/23/2010 9:31 AM
Russ Ewing
Inaugural service at new Somcuta Mare church building.
Sunday 5/23/2010 3:01 PM
Russ Ewing
Below is our Sunday update -- I would just add 2 things to the below summary:
1. Tom and Linda Golden shared their testimonies.
2. Our missing team bag arrived tonight -- we now have all of our luggage.
On Sunday morning the team worshiped at Buruinta Church in Baia Mare, Ciprian and Claudia Paduraru gave their testimony and Pastor Charles delivered the sermon. After the service, five families from the Buruinta Church invited team members into the homes for dinner. The food and fellowship in the homes was wonderful, as always. For the evening service, the tam was privileged to attend the first service in the Somcuta Mare church. The new building was constructed around the original house that was being used for church meetings. The part of the old house inside the new building was then removed. The new building is beautiful and has room for 110 for worship service. There were many more than that there this evening as many were standing outside during the service. Pastor Charles and Pastor Daniel both spoke. The people at Somcuta Mare are thrilled to be in there new building, whose construction was supported by First Baptist Ellisville members.
Tomorrow we will do our second vision clinic of this trip at Grosi. Please pray that God will prepare the people of Grosi for the message we will be bringing.
Your May 2010 Romanian Mission Team
Monday 5/24/2010 3:01 AM
Jerry Deese
Today was a wonderful day in Baia Mare. It was sunny and 70 degrees. We traveled to a new village called Buetsa. The scenery getting to the village was beautiful. The village itself was small but it was a good turnout for the number of people that live there. We started the vision clinic around 1:00 PM and finished at 6:00 PM. During that time some of the team went outside to work with the children. It started raining several times but we were able to finish inside. In the evening service John Sheldon and Susie Causey shared their testimony, Bro Charles and Bro Daniel preached and we were very blessed to hear the Romanian team sing.
We gave out 175 pairs of glasses, 60 prescription, and 105 reading. There were around 26 children at the children’s program and they listened very intently as we shared several bible stories with them. During the service there were 25 decisions made. Pray that there will be believers from that area willing to help start a church.
Everyone is doing well, just a bit tired. Tomorrow is a very busy day as we will attend church with Pastor Daniel at Burinta church in the morning, go to different church families homes for lunch and later that evening we will attend the dedication ceremony for the new church in Somcuta Mare.
Pray for a good nights rest.
Your team
Monday 5/24/2010 10:07 PM
Russ Ewing
On Monday we visited our second village and held a vision clinic, children’s program and evangelistic service. We had thought we were going to Grosi, but found out that Pastor Daniel had set things up to go to Ardusat instead. We had a large turnout at Adusat, keeping the vision clinic team busy all the way to 5 o’clock. We gave out 409 pairs of glasses, 239 pairs of reading glasses and 170 pairs of prescription glasses. We examined another 20 who didn’t need glasses. Thirty-two children came to the children’s program. During the evangelistic service, Tina Chereji and Ken Ferreira gave their testimony, and Pastor Charles preached the sermon. There were 65 decisions for Christ at the service. Pray that these new believers will be able to start a new church in Ardusat.
All the team members are doing well. Tomorrow we will be in Handalu Ilbei. Please pray for our work there.
The MAY 2010 Romanian Mission Team
Tuesday 5/25/2010 3:07 PM
Russ Ewing
Today we visited our third village for this trip, Handalu Ilbei. While the weatherman had been predicting rain, the day turned out to be very nice, partly cloudy, with temperatures in the 60’s. The vision clinic went well, with 146 reading glasses and 111 prescription glasses being distributed. About 30 of those examined didn’t need glasses.
There are lots of children in Handalu Ilbei. More than 70 came to the children’s event. Many were accompanied by a parent. They had a great time getting their picture taken, hearing and watching Bible stories acted out, and doing crafts.
There were about 100 attendees at the evangelistic service, filling the building where it was held to capacity. Anna Scantlan and Wyatt Speckman gave their testimonies and Pastor Charles preached. Seventy of those attending made decisions for Christ!
Tomorrow we will visit our fourth and final village for this trip, Berchezoala. We have had excellent results so far. Pray that the people of Berchezoala will be receptive to the message we bring.
Your May 2010 Romanian Mission Team.
Wednesday 5/26/2010 3:12 PM
Russ Ewing
Today we visited our fourth and final village for this trip, Berchezoala. The weather again was better than forecast, though there was a rain shower that forced the children’s program inside. During the vision clinic 310 pairs of glasses were distributed and another 30 were examined who didn’t need glasses. There were 40 children who came to the children’s program. The meeting hall was full for the evangelistic service again today. Pat Bullock and Jerry Deese gave their testimony and Pastor Charles delivered the sermon. There were 60 decisions for Christ at his service!
After returning to Baia Mare we enjoyed the traditional last evening meal where all those, both American and Romanian, who had a role in the week’s events, eat together. Sad farewells were tempered by the hope that we will be able to work together again, perhaps as soon as next year.
Tomorrow we will leave for the airport at 5:00 AM to fly to Bucharest. We will spend the day there before making the long trip from Bucharest to St. Louis on Friday. Pray that our trip will be safe and uneventful as we look forward to our return home.
Your May 2010 Romanian Mission Team
Thursday 5/27/2010 11:31 AM
Russ Ewing
We arrived in Bucharest pretty much on time this morning with all our luggage. We had an afternoon of sightseeing and shopping. We will be picked up at 4 AM tomorrow to be taken to the airport to catch our 7:05 AM flight. We will be back in St. Louis at 4:10 PM and should be back at the church around 5:15 PM. We have had a wonderful trip -- thank you for allowing your relative/friend/family member go with us. Everyone on the team has made significant contributions to the team effort.
