Randy and I are new at this blogging business; so be patient as we do our best to share from our hearts the joy of serving God while on the Mission field. We have just returned from our third short term mission trip in Romania and Moldova located in Central Eastern Europe. Randy and I would like to relay to you stories of the people we have met and the countries where they live. This picture was taken in Lipcani, a village in Northwestern Moldova. We were standing in front of the Culture Center, a meeting place for the communist propaganda to be spread. This is a bust of "Lenin", Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars; from 1917-1924. He was a leader in the Bolshvik Revolution that led to the communist takeover of this part of the world. Lenin died at the age of 53. His body is on permanent display in Moscow at the Lenin Mausoleum. Lenin hated Christianity, under the his leadership and the communist party; Christianity and public worship was sternly curtailed. It's hard to put in words the feeling that comes over you when you are standing in what used to be part of the Soviet Union with your Bible in hand; sharing Jesus without fear on the street to people who are starving to hear the truth. The Communist Party financially supported the Orthodox Church. Their teaching of "working your way to heaven" encouraged the masses to work for very little to no pay. This is the drviving force that brings us back year after year. 87% of Romanians claim to be Orthodox and 98% of Moldovians claim to be Orthodox (from Wikipedia). The goal of our mission trips are to share with the people verses like Eph. 2:8-9: " For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast," that state His grace is sufficient.
5 comments:
I pray that God will use this Blog to keep peoples mind on the incredible opportunity we have to bring the Gospel to people in CEE. They are precious people and need to hear the Gospel at least once before the die. Over here people are dying for lack of information....they really don't know how someone can get to heaven when they die and some really do respond..AMEN! I pray the Lord will open hearts though this Blog and bring more people to help!
Welcome to the blogosphere! I look forward to hearing more about your plans. :)
lwbcroger@gmail.com
lwbcroger: I hope you know just how proud I am to know both of you. I can think of nothing better to do with the rest of your life if that is what God has in store. I will continue to pray for God's blessings in your lives.
Randy: I must have goofed on the last comment don't know how it happened.
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