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