Merry Christmas fron Galati

Still More Christmas Lights

More Christmas Lights

Christmas Lights

Dear Jennifer, Ryan, Peggy, Kelly, Jason, Carissa and Kimber:

Randy and I miss all of you so much this Christmas season. It is very difficult having to spend the holiday apart. The beautiful lights decorating the City of Galati help to brighten our spirits. We wanted to share the lights with you. We hope you enjoy the video clips of our drive through the city with some highlights of my favorite spots. I threw the singing in for free.

We wish you a “Craciun fericit si un An Nou cu multe bucurii!”
(Merry Christmas and a New Year with much joy)

Remember the reason for the season, the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Love, Mom and Dad

Standing in Lines

On Mission With God In Central and Eastern Europe (CEE)

As our first year in the field comes to an end , I was reflecting on the past year’s activities and I came to the conclusion that standing in line is an honor. The last several months have been filled with the visa process. This is a confusing and time consuming activity that requires many hours of standing in line. Many times these are the same lines you were in yesterday.
I told our daughter that these lines remind me of the worst day at our local license bureau in Missouri. Every time you get to the front of the line the person at the counter tells you “you need something else”, but they never tell you all of what you will need, so you get to come back and they look very busy.
But now even with those memories very fresh (yesterday as I was writing this) I think of them knowing it is an honor. Teresa and I have been called into His service here in Eastern Europe, where long lines abound. Therefore it is an honor to stand in a line, because we are here on mission with God in CEE.
We are also honored by God’s people who pray for us and finance our being here. Without the support of our SBC churches through the cooperative program (CP) and the Lottie Moon Offerings, we could not be here now.
I want you to read part of a letter we received this week from a member of the International Mission Board (IMB). These are the people that decide where and how the money from the CP and Lottie Moon Offerings are spent. Here is that segment of the letter:

Two lessons stand out.
First, we learned that restricting missionary appointments is not a temporary move with temporary consequences. It takes a long time to regain lost ground — years. The seriousness of the decision to restrict appointments cannot be overstated. Every time a missionary is delayed, a witness among an unreached people group is delayed, new church starts are delayed, baptisms are delayed and salvations are delayed. For the sake of those dying without Christ, we cannot miss that lesson.
Second, we learned Southern Baptists respond to needs when they know about them. As reports of insufficient funding and delayed missionaries began to circulate among our churches, we witnessed an immediate and unprecedented response. Record gifts began to pour in from our churches. In one year’s time, gifts received through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering increased by more than 18 percent!
Why do I share these lessons with you? Because we are on the verge of repeating history. With a record number of missionaries depending on Southern Baptists for financial support and the ongoing worldwide financial crisis, the 2009 IMB budget is now under strain to support growth in our missionary force.
Paul Chitwood is pastor of First Baptist Church, Mt. Washington, Ky., and chairman of trustees for the International Mission Board.

Funding gets us here and takes care of us physically, but this is spiritual warfare and your prayers are our support!
Please pray for us as we are here and not at home this Christmas. Please pray that peace which passeth all understanding will come over us and we will be happy as well as joyful this year.
Please pray with your family, for us and our family, as you gather together this Christmas. We can only stay here as long as you give and pray.
Thank you for all your support, Just two sinners saved by grace, Randy & Teresa Myers

Bernice Holloway

Bernice Holloway
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Bernice Holloway went home for her reward this week.

I have known Bernice over 40 years. My first recollection of her was while she was working for the Neelyville school district as a cook. But I learned that she had known me all my life. Bernice and Frank were friends of my family long before I was born. They became close to me after I returned to Missouri after working in Texas for 3 years in the early 80’s. My daughter Peggy was preschool and “Mrs. Holloway” worked with her in Sunday School, they loved each other. That was over 20 years ago.
When some time would pass between our visits together she would always say “I thought you might have give up on us”, but I never did, nor did she.
In this pass year as Teresa and I prepared for the mission field we made our
last visit to Frank and Bernice. At that time she moved into her most
important role for my life as a Prayer Warrior for us. We depend on the
prayers of others to keep us on our mission. Words cannot express the true
meaning of someone praying for you. Teresa and I as well as the people here
in Galati who have heard the Good News about Jesus this year are eternally
grateful for her prayers. I pray that God will place someone in the gap she
has left in our prayer line. The loss of Bernice is not only personal but also
strategic to this mission. God hears the prayers of people like Bernice.

2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

A Great Idea

I found this on Pastor Jay's Blog.It is a great idea!
Copy and paste or type this address and then play the You Tube.It lasts about 3 minutes.
http://www.adventconspiracy.org/
I will try to get set up where you can have it right on this blog.

We work with a young man from the states named Justin. He wrote of an encounter he had in zone 9 last week. Please that time to read it and be Thankful that you know "The way,the truth and the life" John 14:6

Monday, November 17, 2008
Surprising Night....
Hello Everyone,

I would like to share with you an experience I had with an older Romanian woman tonight. Our groups were sharing Christ with people in Zone 9 of the city for a couple of hours. As people were passing by us we were handing out separate books of the Scriptures as studies for them to read. I encountered a lady who was orthodox and talked with her concerning her salvation. She was suspicious about what Bible we were preaching from. (This is because many of the orthodox priests have told the people that Baptists are a cult and do not read the same Scriptures as the Orthodox Christians.) So, I told her the main difference between Baptists and Orthodox was that we believe in Salvation by faith not by works. This distinguishes us (The Church) from many religions, not just Orthodoxy. I quoted Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is a gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." She was a bit surprised by this so I asked her immediately what she must do to receive salvation. She went on to tell me that she prays everyday for people and serves in her church. Once she had finished telling me all that she "did" for God she realized what she was saying . I went on to encourage her to read the Scriptures and to put her hope in the promise of God for all men through faith, not by her works. Then, something amazing happened...She reached in her purse and pulled out 10 Leu. (4 dollars) She told me she wanted to support me in this mission and wanted to know my name so her church could pray for me while I serve in the city. This woman makes about a tenth of what the normal salary is in the states, and she gave to God's work here. I wish that I would have asked what her name was, but things went by pretty quickly because of how cold it was. Please pray for this woman that lives in the southern part of the city. Please pray for her salvation and her family. This act of love encouraged me greatly and confirms in my spirit again what we are here to be doing.

As I search the Scriptures daily I find more and more how the Gospel "...is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes," (Romans 1:16) This power is not through my words or any man's but it is through the work of God Himself. I am reminded of Paul's words to the Corinthians, "For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God." 1 Corinthians 2:2-5. I am afraid that some of us rely on the eloquence of men to bring about Salvation in someone's life and not in the power and sovereignty of God. I pray that the Church will continue to put it's trust in God's divine work in salvation and not in our resources and wisdom. Remember, the Gospel was meant to be foolishness to those who are perishing. (1 Corinthians 1:18) Thank you all again for your continued support as we work in the Harvest for our God, waiting for His return...

Love you all,

Justin

We are Back!

We are finally done going back and forth to Bucuresti! I hope we can get back to our mission now. I have copied parts of the news letter from the IMB for you who do not receive it to look over. We are in for some changes next year as well as changes for our teams. I hope to get focused on the prayer letters soon, but for now pray for our country, that God’s will be done.
P.S. it’s a Girl!! Bogdan & Paula’s new baby:



WorldView: Culture – No ‘flat’ superhighway to world evangelization
Location still matters. Despite the so-called “shrinking world,” fewer than 3 percent live in a country where they were not born. An even smaller minority have access to all the advantages of modern technology and travel. The rest are still tied to the cultures that spawned them. So why is the IMB moving away from dividing its missionaries by location or region and toward “global affinity groups” that focus on peoples sharing the same language, culture or ethnicity? Because “place” is a state of mind and heart as much as a physical location. The most powerful “place” is culture. And those who live somewhere else often hold the key to reaching those they left at home. The new global affinity groups will be designed so missionaries can more effectively engage unreached peoples regardless of their location.

IMB asks church mission teams to provide child protection measures
With sexual abuse among children a growing problem even in churches and ministry organizations, the IMB is requesting that short-term mission trip participants have training in child protection and go through a background screening process. For the screening, local churches can use a company they already have a relationship with or a company the IMB has contracted with to provide the services at discounted rates. Free training resources will be available from the IMB in January 2009.

Language School

Just a quick update. Teresa and I are in language school at this time. We travel back and forth to Bucuresti each week for class. We may be done by the end of the month but I do not have any of that information as of now. We would like you to pray for us as we go though this, as it is a very trying time. We will get back to our blog and prayer letters as soon as we can. Thank you for checking in on our blog. Randy

Street Children In Galati Part 2

I was having trouble getting all the video on the last blog,here is more.

Street Children In Galati

This is more of the video that I took this summer when Mihai, Pastor Dave, and I went to visit the children’s home in Galati. In these clips we had Benu take us to where some of the street children called home before they came to the children home. Then we went to the parking lot below McDonalds where Donnie had gotten the boys who would not go to the children home together. He bought them all something to eat so they were pretty happy to spend some time talking to us. Please pray for the effort that these folks put into these children, will produce much fruit in God’s Kingdom.

Children's Home Third Blog

Continuing the series of blogs from the children’s home here in Galati. We will start with Mihaela and then Benu will pick up the conversation. Benu’s email address is:
benub@yahoo.com
Feel free to email him with any questions you may have. Troy has known these folks for several years. They are members of Holy Trinity Church and have been very helpful to Troy in his ministry.
Part 8

Part 9



Part 10

Children's Home Second Blog

This summer Brother David Groves, Mihai, and I got to spend some time with people from the children's home here in Galati. I will be sending these videos out in pieces so to get them on the blog. The first conversion is with Mihaela,she does ministries at the girls home. This is the second blog from the girls home.
Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Children's Home

This summer Brother David Groves, Mihai, and I got to spend some time with people from the children's home here in Galati. I will be sending these videos out in pieces so to get them on the blog. The first conversion is with Mihaela,she does ministries at the girls home. There will be more blogs to follow with Mihaela.

Part 1



Part 2



Part 3



Jam 1:27 What God the Father considers to be pure and genuine religion is this: to take care of orphans and widows in their suffering and to keep oneself from being corrupted by the world.

Spend Your Time Serving God


2006 Photo
Tonight Bogdan called and asked me if I would like to go with him to a Bible study, I said “sure”. That Bible study has taken me back to the joy where I need to be. Bogdan and Paula had met with this young couple yesterday, and the lady had prayed to God that she wanted Jesus to be Lord in her life. Tonight Bogdan and I had the first lesson from the People Who Knew Jesus booklet. It was great! The lesson was all in Romanian and I didn’t understand 1% of what was said, but the Spirit of God filled that home. I was so blessed to be there! This young couple does not have anything, but the joy in that home was overwhelming!

This is what Jesus said:

Matt.(18) Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth. (19) Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. (20) Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

If you do this, you do not have time for anything else.

Up Dated Prayer Requests and Answers

We have up dated our Prayer Requests, and added Answers to the list on the right side of this blog.Thank you for praying.

Choose You This Day

Jos 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; … but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

This week while running errands, I received a phone call from the big Baptist Church on Cosbuc Street, Holy Trinity. The call came from the office of the missionary from Romania, Cristina. She asked me if I had time to come by her office and speak with an American who was asking questions about her visa for Romania.

Roland and I were close by and dropped in to speak with the young lady. She was an American, there with her Romanian boy friend. After a short conversation we explained what we (Cristina, Roland, and I) knew about the visa process. At that point I told them that there was something much more important than getting the visa, that is “where are you going when you die?”

Then the talk about religion started. She explained she was a devout Catholic, he was an Orthodox, and that only God knows who will go to Heaven. I knew this would to be the only chance I would ever get to speak to these two young people so, I spoke these words which came from 1 John 3:8.

1Jo 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.

I explained to them how John was talking about continually sinning or doing something over and over that they knew was wrong. I explained to them that everyone does sin, but those who “follow” Christ do not continue in sin. Then I asked them, “Which religion saves you?” The young man was quick to answer “ Orthodoxy”. Before his Catholic girl friend could get real mad at him I said “Jesus Saves, not religion.”

I am writing this because Teresa was reading today about what happens when we do what we think is right. Please don’t be caught on the day you are judged by God playing by your rules, His rules are the only ones that matter, live by them!

“He said, ‘Take now your son…’” (Genesis 22:2)

God’s command is, “Take now,” not later. It is incredible how we debate! We know something is right, but we try to find excuses for not doing it immediately. If we are to climb to the height God reveals, it can never be done later--it must be done now. And the sacrifice must be worked through our will before we actually perform it. (Taken from “My Utmost For His Highest”), by Oswald Chambers




Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Feed My Sheep

Joh 21:15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
Joh 21:16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
Joh 21:17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.


Although unaware, the disciples were “on-the-job” training as Jesus spoke these words to them. Jesus was preparing them to be ready when His time was at hand. He wasn’t talking about physical food, it was spiritual nourishment, leadership and guidance Jesus was referencing.

Every time Randy and I leave the comfort of our apartment and amply stocked cupboard, poverty and hunger hits us square in the face. You might think that we would only see such deficiencies in the ’Valley’, where the majority of the poverty-stricken are confined, not so; it is everywhere. Recently early one morning Randy had gone to take out the trash. He returned, came back into the kitchen and asked me if there was anything I could give him to take to a young girl at our dumpster. He had found her digging when he had gone down with our trash. We had extra bread and juice, I sacked it up quickly so that Randy could hurry to catch her, I believe he had told her to wait. The dumpster is visible from our back balcony, since then I’ve noticed how often (daily) many people come to see what they can find to eat.

In the past the heels were my favorite piece bread, but now for some reason, the heels seem to stick to the bread bags; so I just toss them in the trash can. I know that someone will have a bite of bread that day. I’ve discreetly watched, as a whole family rummages through our dumpster, and this scripture has come to mind:


Mar 6:40 And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.
Mar 6:41 And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.
Mar 6:42 And they did all eat, and were filled.



It’s difficult to see someone hungry. Randy and I know that we can’t take 5 loaves and 2 fish and feed the hungry of Galati. However, with God’s help, His mercy and grace we are determined to do the very best at what He sent us here to do: Feed His Sheep, “Facem Ucenicii” (Make Disciples).

These are pictures of a group of 3 young women that live together, between them there are about 12-13 small children, no fathers in the home. We had delivered a sack of groceries, it was gone in just seconds. Pray for us as we seek the Lord’s wisdom in dealing with the hunger all around us, and as The Myers and The Geddes work together“Facem Ucenicii”(making disciples). Randy & Teresa

Summer Highlights

There have been many things take place in Galati this summer, which I have stored in my mind, I hope to recall and blog about. I will start with the ones that have impressed me the most. God sent Mihai back into my life.
I met Mihai about three years ago; he was working with Jeremy and Holley. They are Independent Baptist, at that time they were living in Galati. Mihai helped me at that time as a translator and as a fellow worker in the National Bible Reading Campaign. Since then Jeremy and Holley have moved to Bucuresti. This left Mihai without clear direction in his life. But God! Don’t you love that; (But God) when you see it in the Bible, you know God is right on time. But God had a plan for Mihai to come to the rescue of Randy. Just when Mihai was needing someone, he was in the hospital for dehydration, and Randy was needing someone (for just about everything) God put His plan in action. Mihai is my right arm!




The next event that caught my attention also involved Mihai and a hospital. Sorena is a young lady about ten years old who attends the meetings in the valley almost every time the door is open. She is being raised by her grandmother along with six other grandchildren. Sorena went to the children’s hospital (spital) for and eye exam on a Monday. I learned late Tuesday night that she was still in the hospital being treated for what I later discovered was an infection. Because of the other children at home grandma was unable to spend much time at the hospital. I only know of one time it was possible for her to visit Sorena. And at the same time Mihai was off work due to doctors orders until some test came back. So right in the middle of Operation Blackout while hundreds of people were getting introduced to Jesus, Mihai and I were visiting Sorena. We did this in the afternoon while the team was getting ready for the evening operations. There was one particular afternoon which stands out in my mind. Troy was with us, and there was a child from the valley also in the spital. There was a lot of talking and some child told Troy he had been baptized. That’s when Sorena turned to Troy and said “Yes, but he is not a repenter”. That just went all through me, here a ten year old gypsy girl knows more about salvation than half the people in the U.S. who go to church all their lives. This young lady told the story of so many people you are on their way to hell because they think getting wet will get them into heaven. I thank God for her grandmother and the way she is raising her grandchildren.

Mat 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Luk 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Act 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out

Just a sinner saved by grace, Randy

Highways and Hedges

Romans 1: 13-16...I want to work among you and see good results, just as I have done among other Gentiles. For I have a great sense of obligation to people in our culture and to people in other cultures, to the educated and uneducated alike. So I am eager to come to you in Rome, too, to preach God’s Good News. For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes-Jews first and also Gentiles. NLT


One of my favorite things to do on the field is “Share Jesus Without Fear”. However, I must confess, I’ve been a failure! I have found it impossible to over come the fear factor. Many times I’ve wondered; other than Lottie Moon, has there ever been a missionary that could actually “Share Jesus… Without Fear”. To me it’s similar to being on a safari. You search and walk a great distance until finally, the big 3 in 1; The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit leads you right on top of your big game! The initial encounter can be rather awkward. Right away you get the sense of how the meeting is going to progress. It’s always a good idea to have a partner with you for backup, support and most importantly prayer.

All my life I’ve heard, “practice makes perfect”. During the month of July I received considerable practice. I must admit, my presentation skills improved, and time spent reading my Bible increased as well. But, all this significant practice failed to diminish the fear factor. The butterflies are still in my stomach!

Luk 14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filed.

Between Operation Blackout with Cameron First Baptist, and Team Spirit with Cane Creek Stoddard Baptist Association, few stones were left unturned. Lanny’s team from Cameron hit all the highways (14 zones), Bro. Marshall’s team, Cane Creek, came in like a clean up batter and covered all the hedges. Zone 9 (the concrete jungle) was saturated with God’s Good News. In July every highway and hedge in Galati was sown with the word of God. One can only imagine how many seeds feel onto good soil….

Mat 9:37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
Mat 9:38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

Would you come help?

Teresa

Busy Summer

I have been very busy with teams here from FBC Cameron, Missouri and from Cane Creek Stoddard Association headquarters in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. I was leaving the house at about 8:30 AM and getting back home many times at 11 PM. Usually I would get an hour or so off in the afternoon. The temperature has been near 100 F for several days. Teresa usually went out in the mornings with us. She would stay at home in the afternoon. Many evenings she would rejoin the teams. The morning was spent prayer walking, asking God to guide us and open peoples hearts and minds so that we could share the Good News with them. I took care of errands in the afternoon and in the evening we would “Share Jesus Without Fear”.

Now that the teams have gone, Bogdan and I were able to take some of the people who attend meetings in the valley to the clinic in Braila for dental work. The Serving HIM ministry has a clinic there at affordable prices. We have funding from the “Romanian Yard Sale”, which is a Poplar Bluff area ministry, we use for the cost at the dental clinic. We took three ladies this trip; this is about a thirty minute drive from the valley in Galati.
Bogdan and I were able speak with the Executive Director of Serving HIM, Mike Redeker, who has a heart for helping the people we work with. He is in contact with HIS Bridgebuilders whom Bogdan is working with to improve the living conditions for the believers in the valley. Daniella, who is a member of team Galati, a lady from 89 Dogarei Street, and Sorena’s Grandmother went with us. We thank you for being able to get this care. God is blessing us through you. Teresa and I would not be able to be here without your prayers. We would not be here at this time if you didn’t give to the Cooperative Program and the Lottie Moon offering at your SBC Churches. The clinic is here because Serving Him gives of their time and money for people they have never met.

Paul expresses himself better that I can:
{Paul's Request for Prayer}
(1) Finally, dear brothers and sisters, I ask you to pray for us. Pray first that the Lord's message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you. (2) Pray, too, that we will be saved from wicked and evil people, for not everyone believes in the Lord. (3) But the Lord is faithful; he will make you strong and guard you from the evil one. (4) And we are confident in the Lord that you are practicing the things we commanded you, and that you always will. (5) May the Lord brings you into an ever deeper understanding of the love of God and the endurance that comes from Christ.

Just two sinners saved by grace, Randy and Teresa

More from Galati

Here is another site.
http://gospel4romania.blogspot.com

FBC

We have First Baptist Cameron with us, look at these blogs.

http://iveneverownedabox.blogspot.com/

http://wrecklesspursuit.blogspot.com/

http://pianowiz24.blogspot.com/

http://seekandsave1.blogspot.com/

1John 5:13 "that ye may know that ye have eternal life..."

In the cool hours of the morning Randy, Miahi and I went to the Valley searching for people interested in beginning a Bible study. We ventured down a strada (street) none of us had been on before, Str. Rasaritului. It was very inviting with a nice cool currant, or breeze as we would say in
America and ample shade to withdraw from the hot sun. We hadn’t journeyed far when we met “Toma”, a very cordial white-haired man relaxing and enjoying the comfort offered by a large tree under which he was sitting. With Miahi’s help Randy started a conversation with Toma. We soon learned that Toma has a Bible. Soon, his neighbor, a lady, Petria, joined us on the sidewalk under the wonderful cool shade. I was able to introduce myself in Romanian to Petria. She was a very nice lady. In just a few minutes her daughter Silvia and granddaughter Oana Maria were there with us also. They were very curious about where we were from in America, how long we were going to stay in Galati and if we were Jehovah Witness. We had a very nice visit. Petria volunteered to have a Bible study in her home. She wants to invite Toma, and several other of her neighbors. Petria asked for my cell phone number, she will call me and let us know when to come to her house. Praise the Lord!

We visited another young lady named Dana. She understood English, but said that she could not speak it very well. I could tell by the expression on Dana’s face that there was an interest. She would not commit to a Bible study today. We invited her to our worship service on Sunday, she said that she would come because she was very interested.
















We visited with one of the families evicted from their home and living on the street. Their temporary living quarters was already in the heat of the sun, so they had moved to the opposite side of the street to set in the shade. Randy spoke to them about having a Bible study. The older son said they had to see the Mayor today and had other things they must do. Randy asked permission to pray for the family, they were very receptive and appreciative of Miahi’s prayer there on the sidewalk.

This is what Randy & I enjoy doing. Being out among the people. Not being able to speak the language is such a barrier. By the grace of God, as we continue with our language lessons we will be able to communicate with the people God has sent us to serve in their “heart language”.
Pray for the contacts we made today, that God will move upon their hearts.

1John 5:13 “that ye may know that ye have eternal life….”

My Kingdom Is Out of This World

One thing that God has done in my life since I have been here in Galati is, He has opened my eyes wider to the difference between the people in His kingdom verses the people who live for the things of the world.
John 18:36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world”
In the area of the states where we come from there is a large percentage of Christians and lots more who call themselves “christians.”

Act 11:26 He found Saul and brought him to Antioch, where they met with the church for a whole year and taught many of its people. There in Antioch the Lord's followers were first called Christians.

Using the Bible for defining the word “Christian” you will find that it means to be “the Lord’s followers”. The distinction is very easily seen here. Maybe its because I don’t understand what they say. They are unable to influence me with words which would mislead and all I know is their actions. Or maybe it is because many Americans use John chapter three verse sixteen for their doctrine and have never understood it, yet think they are saved.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

The word “believeth” means “entrust, put trust in, commit” just like if you were living in, let’s say, Romania and you gave someone in Texas power of attorney. That person then controls your life. You have to turn your life over to that person to make decisions for you. Believe God, entrust Him with your life, turn control over to Him, do as He ask and follow Him. Then follow Him.
Remember:
Using the Bible for defining the word “Christian” you will find that it means to be “the Lord’s followers”.

Then you would truly be able to call yourself a Christian. That’s the Bible definition not mine or yours!

If you are a college age Christian, here is a new way the IMB has opened up for you to follow Him.

Hands On Program:
http://www.imb.org/main/news/details.asp?StoryID=6801&LanguageID=1709

Time For Prayer

Monday June 23,2008 our nephew James is going to Houston, Texas for an appointment at M.D. Anderson hospital. Please join us in a day of fasting and prayer, asking God to heal James of the cancer he has. Monday is also James' birthday. When we found out about his condition, he asked us to pray that God would make him a good witness as he deals with the illness, please ask God to do that also.

The New Clinic

We took a trip to the new clinic in Braila.The group Serving HIM from Dallas area set up this clinic, with help from others.Teresa needed to see the doctor while Roland and Bogdan were going to see dentist.


Bogdan meets Scott before seeing the dentist.If you think he is nerves, you're right.

Next stop is with Dr. Cam, as he gets to choose which dentist that Bogdan will see. When you got up this morning I bet you never thought you would be seeing this .


This is the dentist we met on our trip to Dallas last fall. The man assisting him works for American Airlines. What are you doing on your vacation this year? These guys are making a life long difference in hundreds of people lives, and perhaps even an eternal difference. Hey, Living Word, they are doing it something like we do with Alex and company in Moldova.
You may want to slip the next clip, unless you are thinking of becoming a dentist.



Bogdan and Teresa survived!!! All in all it was a very good trip. Please keep in your Prayers that the clinic see needing a full time dentist and doctor. Oh! Where is Roland?

Children in the Valley

This was at the start of the meeting time Sunday night, as the evening went on more children came. All together around 15-20 this age, about 12 were there as we were ready to leave.

WE HAVE INTERNET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
More later.

Our Brother Victor

Today in small group worship time we were reviewing the Hope column of the Universal Disciple as taught by Thom Wolf. I was assigned this task after I went to bed on Friday night by a note slid under our door. We were in class all day Saturday, therefore I was unable to do much work on the assignment until Sunday morning.

I didn’t have too many notes from class, he was very fast and I am very slow. So I started out with establishing what Hope as used in the Bible was; Heb. 11:1 “ the things we hope for” means expect/trust. Not merely to wish for but to expect to get, to know what is coming next.

Then we headed toward Tit. 3:6-7 (see verses at bottom of page) where we find one of the things we hope for is eternal life. And then we went to Rom. 8:35-39 where we find our hope is in never being separated from the love of Jesus Christ our Lord and having victory. After that we went to Eph. 4:29-30 where we see we are owned by God and have hope in the guarantee of being set free. And then in 1Peter 1:13 our hope is in the blessing when Jesus Christ is revealed. But I wanted everyone to take note that in each of these verses Hope was an action:
Titus- “giving their time to doing good deeds”
Romans- “we can have complete victory”
Ephesians- “do good”
1 Peter- “ready for action”

Then I went to today’s applications, what better actions then to pray that someone would be found in Jesus Christ. That is what happened this week while I was talking to my brother Victor for the last time. We prayed that his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren as well as my children would commit themselves to Jesus. He had already told Teresa that he knew that his time was short and he was in a great deal of pain, yet we prayed that our children would follow Jesus. Knowing that the only way that he could continue to see them all was if they followed Jesus.

Teresa and I are going to tell others about Jesus, Victor was praying that others would come to know and trust Jesus as he did. There can be no greater action then the action taken to lead others to Christ. If you are a child of God it is you job, no matter how you go about it. Victor facing death, was praying for someone else.

Verses:

Heb 11:1 To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see.

Tit 3:6 God poured out the Holy Spirit abundantly on us through Jesus Christ our Savior,
Tit 3:7 so that by his grace we might be put right with God and come into possession of the eternal life we hope for.
Tit 3:8 This is a true saying. I want you to give special emphasis to these matters, so that those who believe in God may be concerned with giving their time to doing good deeds, which are good and useful for everyone.

Rom 8:35 Who, then, can separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble do it, or hardship or persecution or hunger or poverty or danger or death?
Rom 8:36 As the scripture says, "For your sake we are in danger of death at all times; we are treated like sheep that are going to be slaughtered."
Rom 8:37 No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us!
Rom 8:38 For I am certain that nothing can separate us from his love: neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers, neither the present nor the future,
Rom 8:39 neither the world above nor the world below---there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord

Eph 4:29 Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you.
Eph 4:30 And do not make God's Holy Spirit sad; for the Spirit is God's mark of ownership on you, a guarantee that the Day will come when God will set you free.

1Pe 1:13 So then, have your minds ready for action. Keep alert and set your hope completely on the blessing which will be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed

Pray, Give, Go!

Pray, Give, Go….is a great little phrase which has it all together in a one-liner. The backbone of any ministry is prayer. God listens to His people when they pray!

The prayer of a good person has a powerful effect. James 5:16 GNB

This weekend starting at sundown Friday, and going through sundown Saturday we would like to ask you to fast and pray for the mission effort in Romania. This is a time to fellowship with God and deny your physical self and enrich your spiritual being. The Bible says fasting and praying is not only for showing God what we would like Him to do for His Kingdom, but also says that it is a way of "serving God" Luke 2: 37

We know that many of you are facing troubles from the flooding, as well as the everyday challenges. We understand the sacrifice you are making and we appreciate your commitment. Teresa and I will be praying for each of you, our partners, as we pray this weekend. As one of our speakers here at the learning center put it; today may be Friday, but Sunday is coming!

As we go into this Resurrection weekend remember it is not about us, life is about what we can do for God. Please, in each of your prayers ask God, "what do you want me to do today?"

A Cool Stream

Psa 42:1 As a deer longs for a stream of cool water, so I long for you, O God.
Psa 42:2 I thirst for you, the living God. When can I go and worship in your presence?


Last Sunday, after lunch Randy and I went for a hike. Several days before he had discovered a beautiful creek and wanted to show it to me. It is located here on the property at the ILC. As I’ve grown older and I must admit, out-of- shape, I’m not usually too anxious for a hike. It was a gorgeous day, the first one we’d seen in a long time, so I agreed.

To my ultimate delight I was so happy to have endured the shortness of breath and aching muscles when I beheld the well hidden treasure. When I first saw the creek, I was spell bound. Randy shared with me his first reaction was the song; “This is My Father’s World”, came to his mind. I’d say that is a very good description of the thought this handiwork of God brings to one’s mind.

After having the time to view the snap shots we took, the scripture in Psalms 42:1-2 filtered through my thoughts. I could see a deer carefully coming down to this cool stream of water to drink, and staying there until its thirst was completely
quenched.

Randy and I are in our 5th week of training here at the ILC. Soon and very soon we will be boarding a plane that will take us to Romania. There are hundreds of thousands of thirsty people where we are going. They don’t realize it, but they are looking for a stream of cool water to quench their thirst. The people of Romania have tried many other things in their lifetime, but are still thirsting for the real thing…….the living God.

Please join us on March 21st - March 22nd until sundown for 24 hours, as we pray and fast for the people of ROMANIA. Randy and I will be praying that God will stir their hearts and give them an unquenchable thirst for the LIVING GOD.

Just Two Sinners Saved By Grace, Randy & Teresa Myers

Fasting and Prayer

Act 13:2 While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said to them, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul, to do the work to which I have called them."
Act 13:3 They fasted and prayed, placed their hands on them, and sent them off.


This is not Barnabas or Saul, however they have been sent out from their churches to proclaim the Good News of Jesus in far off countries. They know without God’s blessing they can not accomplish anything.

Jesus tells us to pray for workers to gather his harvest. In the upcoming weeks we will be asking you to pray for workers, for the lost to come to know Christ and for many other needs concerning the work in Romania. We are posting our prayer list on the right hand side of this blog and updating it weekly.

This Easter we are planning to ask you to commit to fasting and prayer in an organized effort for God to move in a mighty way. More information will be sent to you, be in prayer about how you can participate.

We are excited about what God is going to do in Romania, and we want you to share a part of the excitement as well.

House Church AKA 7th Baptist Quad Church

Sunday we had church service in our “quad” in the common area of our apartment building. We have been studying Acts starting from the beginning and we will go through all the chapters, one each day. Sunday we were on the story in Acts 6 where Steven the newly appointed deacon, was out preaching the Word.
I made note that Steven wasn’t the missionary in this story, but an active deacon in the local church. As I made this observation I also realized Teresa and I were in a room full of missionaries. The range in age was from 6 to mid fifties. We are going to many different counties and we all have one purpose, one God, one Redeemer, one message. I would love for you to meet these brave souls however, some of the countries they are going to are not happy that a missionary would be coming. In those instances they are getting into the country by teaching English or running a business. Therefore, I cannot tell you their names, but I can show you their picture.






Rom 10:15 How can people tell the Good News if no one sends them? As Scripture says, "How beautiful are the feet of the messengers who announce the Good News."
Isa 52:7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces the good news, "All is well." He brings the good news, announces salvation, and tells Zion that its God rules as king.
We all may have different job descriptions yet all have the same message, announce the Good News of salvation!!!

Life In Training

Psalms 118:24
“This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

This is February 14th, our second week here at the ILC is almost finished! Time is passing much too quickly. This morning when we awoke, we had snow on the ground!
The day here is fully packed from 7:00 a.m. when breakfast begins until 6:00 p.m. at the end of supper. Each hour is scheduled with different sessions of utmost importance. There are periods of Bible study and then discussion time with your small group. Added to this are assignments that must be turned in A.S.A.P., committee meetings you must attend, reports to write, books to read, bible verses to memorize and on and on. However, it is important that you make room for “quiet time” with God, not an easy task with such a pressing regimen. I found that by getting up an hour earlier than Randy allows me to have my quiet time with God in the morning at the start of my day.

I Corinthians 6:19
“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”
Randy and I have tried to be faithful to exercise since we have arrived at the ILC. We do understand the importance of trying to get in shape and stay in shape for arrival on the field. We will do most of our travel by foot and climbing a lot of stairs so any walking we can do here will benefit us greatly. The weather since our arrival has been very strange with strong winds and cold temperatures. Two days the rain kept us from walking outside.
We have met some wonderful people and made new friends that we will miss when we all go our separate ways in April. It has been a blessing to be among this group of those “sent out”. Hearing their personal testimonies of how God brought them here is very uplifting.
In the weeks remaining it is our desire to learn as much as possible, for whatever we can take away from this place will be of great value as we attempt to serve where the Lord has “sent us“…..

I Thessalonians 5:25
“Brethren, pray for us.”

The Ultimate Adventure!

The Ultimate Adventure!

This is a picture of the seats were Teresa, Aunt Camille, and I usually sat on Sunday mornings in Living Word Baptist Church. It was taken after The commissioning service Sunday night. We really liked setting there, the seats were so comfortable. We were surrounded by church family and very long time friends. Life was very good on these seats. We did not want to leave these seats. “But God.”

Yes, we have left these seats and have started “The Ultimate Adventure” just like the Awanas T&T song.

“We are off on the Ultimate Adventure,
Trusting Jesus all along the way,
To the truth of God’s Word I will surrender,
No matter where I am from day to day.
In the sky, undersea, in the wild, Christ with me,
Here at home, around the world,
His love is clear to see.
Won’t you come along with me, on the Ultimate Adventure!
We will train for the mission He has for me.
As I read His Word and pray, He gives direction,
As I follow Him each and every day.”

So as of today Aunt Camille will be “here at home” and Teresa and I will be “around the world” yet we all are on the Ultimate Adventure. As Teresa and I “train for the mission He has for us” we (plus hundreds of others) will be reading “His Word” and “praying” as “He gives direction” and we “follow Him each and every day”.

As Teresa and I take the finial steps on our way to
the mission that He has for us in Romania, many people will be praying for us as we go and tell the
things we have heard about Christ to followers who can be trusted to tell others of these same truths (see 2 Timothy 2:2).
We need your prayers, as we will miss you even more then you will miss us. Yes, I do already miss those seats and the people they represent; “But God” has plans for our lives, as He does for yours. Teresa and I have chosen this day to serve God, who are you going to chose, self or Jesus? We (Teresa, Aunt Camille, and I) know it is Not an easy choice to make.

Brothers and sisters, pray for us.

It's January 15Th, the house is empty except for a love seat, 2 chairs, a bed and chest of drawers. This is quite a contrast from a four bedroom, L/R, D/R, kitchen, den; home that had been full of furniture and all the trimmings. Eleven days from now, we are having an auction to sell the remainder of our "worldly goods" which we have acquired. Actually this down-sizing experience has brought a well received feeling of freedom and relief.

The additional open space allows for extra room to spread out the suitcases as we prepare to pack for our journey. We have bags to pack that we will need in Rockville, Virginia. Then we have more bags to pack which will not be needed until we arrive in Galati, Romania. Originally we had planned to pack everything in 4 large suitcases for our move to Romania. Randy is the expert packer of the family, so early into the procedure he learned we would need a few more additional suitcases!

God has done a marvelous work in our lives since we returned home from the trip to Romania and Moldova with Living Word Baptist Church in May, 2007. After returning home in May we immediately started the application process with the IMB, was invited for interviews in October and in November received official word that the International Mission Board had approved us as Missionaries to serve in Galati, Romania. We will be back in Romania April 7, 2008, a little less than one year from the start of the application process. We give God all the praise, honor and glory.

Randy and I are so honored that God would place such a call on our lives. We fully understand that we are not capable of the great responsibility God has set before us. However, answering in obedience and willingness to His call, and by the Holy Spirit working through us; we are looking forward to giving our lives to the Lord's service. It is the desire of our hearts to help bring hope to those living without hope. To those who are living in sin and darkness we want to introduce them to Jesus Christ, the Light of the World.

We request your prayers as we face the difficult challenge of leaving behind our family, church family and friends who are so dear to us. Pray that we will allow God to always work in and through us to be about Kingdom Work, that everything we do brings glory and honor to His name. Pray for us as we seek to win the lost to Jesus Christ and then to disciple these new babes in Christ. Just simply put; we need your prayers.

Just Two Sinners Saved By Grace
Randy & Teresa Myers

1 Thessalonians 5:25
Brothers and sisters, pray for us.