I'm Dreaming Of A White Christmas

As far back as I can remember I've been crazy about snow. I become as excited as a small child on Christmas morning any time I see that first snowflake fall. Randy has some difficulty understanding my infatuation with this white, cold, frozen glittery blanket that covers the ground. It doesn't seem too promising there will be a white Christmas in Bucuresti this Christmas, however we all know weathermen aren't always correct in their predictions; so I'm still hoping.

I can explain a large portion of my fondness for this creation, snow. God gave us the different seasons to enjoy, each of them have their own distinct beauties for our enjoyment and pleasure. Winter is my favorite season, you guessed it; because of the snow. I am going to use another person's words to express the reason for my excitement and adoration for snow. These words are a true picture of what snow brings to my mind when I have the privilege and opportunity to view the splendor and beauty of this mantle of white:

"Every snowflake came to earth as a picture of our Savior’s birth, because they are sent from up above and remind us of God’s care and love.

Each one is so intricate and small because Christ see the details of us all, and just as two are never the same the Lord knows and calls us each by name.

Snowflakes gently cover the world in white and hide what’s unlovely from our sight, showing us how He covers our sin and gives us His grace when we come to Him.

So may every snowflake bring Christ to mind and in every bit of white may you find a reason to celebrate anew and a reminder of his love for you."

Have you ever compared yourself to a snowflake, God made you completely different from everyone else; all of us are unique and individually designed, yet He knows every infinite detail about each of us. God knows our strengths, weaknesses, talents, thoughts, our needs before we ever ask, every sin we have or will commit, and yet He loves us. His desire is that none perish, that's why God sent his only son to earth, born in a manger to die on a cross; so the world could have eternal life.

Isa 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Whether or not you have a White Christmas, our prayer is that you make room in your heart for the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ the one who can wash your sins white as snow. He is the reason for the season, and the reason we celebrate.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Randy and Teresa Myers

Hope Across the Street !

Today I went with two colleagues, Bob and Richard to see some work being done in the Ferentari area of Bucuresti. We are told this is the poorest part of Bucuresti. Bob had talked to Ovidiu, the director of the foundation, at Holy Trinity Church here in Bucuresti.
We found the reports about the area to be correct as far as the poverty is concerned. But we did find hope in all the hopelessness, The Philip House Foundation. This is a operating kindergarten which doubles as a outreach for the community.
The workers here help older children with their home work and give them lunch each school day. Ovidiu told us they spend about $300 each day on food, which is mainly rice and potatoes. The out reach is operated from funding he gets from donations, mostly locally. The building is owned by the city and is only open to the foundation because they operate the kindergarten. The foundation gets sponsors for some of the kindergartners because they do not have the money to go to the school and the kindergarten must maintain at least 100 students.
The building has a dental office and a doctors office that are open when ever either one donates their time to work in them. There is also a small kitchen and a lunch room as while as a class room. We saw that they had some computers but were told that they did not work so no one is able to learn how to use them.
In spite of the short comings this is one great ministry. Even though they are not allowed to do direct evangelizing everyone in this community can see God’s love in the people who work here. Please pray that this ministry will be blessed by our Father in the coming year.

Also Ovidiu told us teams are welcome, besides clinic teams, a VBS team would be helpful in this area, he can use about any type of team.
Their web site is:
http://www.caminul-phillip.ro/

Unto Us A Child Was Born

Randy and I want to wish our family, faithful prayer partners and dear friends a Merry Christmas. This is my favorite time of the year. I am always so humbled each year when I consider the love of God through his gift to the world in the birth of Jesus.

During my lifetime, I have had many beautifully wrapped and bedazzled gifts under the Christmas tree. Oh how they catch the eye and spark the imagination of our Granddaughter Emma! When our children were small Christmas couldn't arrive quick enough. The beautiful lights and all the decorations are breathtaking and I do so enjoy the excitement of it all myself.

Our prayer this Christmas season is in all the hustle and bustle, in all the festivities, in all the comings and goings, gift buying, gift wrapping, house cleaning, getting ready for guests, preparing to travel and cooking that wonderful Christmas dinner; that we do not fail to remember something of great importance.......

Luk 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
Luk 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Jesus Christ is the reason we celebrate Christmas. God sent his son to earth that special day gift wrapped in the body of a precious baby boy; the Savior of the World. Jesus, a gift for anyone who will accept Him.

Once again, we wish you a very Merry Christmas from our hearts to yours and may God bless you with a New Year filled with happiness and health.

Randy and Teresa

Who do you Admire?

From time to time I look at the blogs of the people I know, trying to keep up with them and what is happening in their lives. Recently I was reading the blog of a young person that Teresa and I have grown to love and I was somewhat concerned with a statement made there, “I admire him”. The “him” was a person who was active in helping others, which is a great thing to do. Paul says in Romans:

If our gift is to speak God's message, we should do it according to the faith that we have; if it is to serve, we should serve; if it is to teach, we should teach; if it is to encourage others, we should do so. Whoever shares with others should do it generously; whoever has authority should work hard; whoever shows kindness to others should do it cheerfully. Romans 12:6-8


What concerns me is people admiring people. That is like one painting admiring another painting. How many people admire of the painting of Mona Lisa but rarely admire the talent of Leonardo Da Vinci. And if they do admire Da Vinci do they ever admire the creator who gave Da Vinci those talents?

Rom 1:25 They exchange the truth about God for a lie; they worship and serve what God has created instead of the Creator himself, who is to be praised forever! Amen

Worshiping and serving created things leads to other sins (see Romans chapter 1) and some religions are basic on this sin:

Deu 5:7 " 'Worship no god but Me.

Know any tree huggers? Know anyone who trusts the stars instead of God? How about devil worshipers? Anyone who puts other people ahead of God?

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Mat 6:19-21

Where do you spend your time? A girl friend, or a boy friend?
Where do you spend your money? A boat, traveling, or shopping?
We all should get serious about what we do with our resources:
And He said to them, Watch and keep yourselves from covetousness. For a man's life is not in the abundance of the things which he possesses. Luke 12:15
"But God said to him, 'You fool! I will demand your life from you tonight! Now who will get what you've accumulated?' That's how it is when a person has material riches but is not rich in his relationship with God." Luke 12:20-21

Admiration of other people and physical things, should never be given priority in our lives. Even in our prayer life:
"So do not start worrying: 'Where will my food come from? or my drink? or my clothes?' (These are the things the pagans are always concerned about.) Your Father in heaven knows that you need all these things. Instead, be concerned above everything else with the Kingdom of God and with what he requires of you, and he will provide you with all these other things. Mat 6:31-33

John 14:15 "If you love me, you will obey my commandments.
John 15:14 And you are my friends if you do what I command you.
John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not have life, but will remain under God's punishment.
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Romans 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Da Mario

Act 1:8 But when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be filled with power, and you will be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Ristorante Da Mario is approximately a 3 minute walk from our apartment. You will not find it in Jerusalem, Judea or Samaria. Ristorante Da Mario is located in Bucuresti, Romania; practically a stone's throw from the entrance of our block.

Last evening Randy and Dawn Nicholas came over for a visit and to give Randy N. the opportunity to work on our computers. Dawn and I spent the evening watching an old movie and visiting, while the men took care of the technology problems at hand. On completion of the repair work, the four of us headed to Da Mario for pizza.

Randy and I have been looking for a local establishment to start visiting and setting a pattern or routine for people to become familiar with our faces. Da Mario has become our destination to meet at least once weekly for dinner and follow immediately with Bible study. Randy and Dawn Nicholas joined us last night for the initial study. The service was good and the pizza was great. As in any restaurant, when we had finished our meal, the waiter cleared our table. We opened our Bibles and began reading from Colossians.

Col 3:16 Christ's message in all its richness must live in your hearts. Teach and instruct one another with all wisdom. Sing psalms, hymns, and sacred songs; sing to God with thanksgiving in your hearts.
Col 3:17 Everything you do or say, then, should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks through him to God the Father.

From Colossians we went to many other chapters and verses as we continued our study for an hour. On three different occasions, our waiter and a waitress came by our table to see what we were doing. That's what this tool is all about, to get someone's attention, someone's curiosity stirred up, someone interested in who and what we are talking about. In today's busy society, you have to reach the lost where they are, even if it means when they take time from their schedule to stop for a meal.

Please be in prayer for Randy and me as we continue to search for new avenues to reach out to and witness to the lost in Bucuresti, our Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria.

Give Thanks

Emma Marie

Vivy, Daniela and Flori

Psa 95:2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving and sing joyful songs of praise.

Last Thursday Randy and I joined 7 other Missionary couples to celebrate Thanksgiving. One couple joined us from Moldova and another couple will soon be moving to Braila. We had a wonderful time of fellowship and a great thanksgiving feast with all the trimmings!

As I reflect on our blessings from God, quickly I realize how impossible it would be to count them all. My salvation, my marriage, health, family....on and on and on. The pictures I have attached to this blog are just 2 blessings that I chose to expound upon. In January we were truly blessed to become Grandparents to a precious little girl named Emma Marie. Instantly she won our hearts. What a pleasure and absolute joy it has been to be Grandparents, even at long distance. Randy and I are so thankful God has given man the knowledge to develop computer technology and skype which allows us to interact with Emma very frequently. It is our desire to have a spiritual influence upon her life as well as her 8 year old sister Kimber's. As Grandparents, we want to see our Grandchildren accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. Please pray for Randy and me that God will help us to be the Godly Grandparents that Emma and Kimber deserve. We are indeed so very thankful for Emma Marie and Kimber to be a part of our lives.

Vivy, Daniela and Flori are only 3 of the young ladies from Galati who were in the weekly Bible study group at my apartment in Galati. They came to Bucuresti and spent the night with Randy and me. What a joy to have them in our home. I miss this group of young ladies, as well as Katie, Gabby, Andrea and Larisa who aren't shown in the picture. All of these young ladies are very special, they have grown and matured in their walk with the Lord in the nearly 2 years that I have known them. I am very proud of them and their love for God and their willingness to serve him. They have been a blessing to my life. God richly blessed me when He brought them into my home each week, I will be forever thankful.

I am truly blessed and so thankful, God is so good. I hope each of you took time out of your busy schedule to ponder over all your many blessings.

Emanuel Baptist Christian Church

BISERICA CRESTINA BAPTISTA EMANUEL

Randy and I would like to introduce you to what we will consider our home church while we are here in Bucuresti. Emanuel Baptist Christian Church is located in the Southeast section of the city, this area is tagged "Berceni". Vali Radu is the Pastor of this flock of approximately one hundred. EBCC's congregation greets you with a firm hand shake and a very warm welcome that truly encourages you to sit down, enjoy the service, praise and fellowship.

Pastor Ovi of Holy Trinity in Galati and Pastor Vali are acquainted with one another.
As we said goodbye to Pastor Ovi and thanked him for all his help while we were in Galati, we told him we were attending Emanuel Church, he was pleased.

Biserica Crestina Baptista Emanuel and Pastor Vali has asked us to partner with them to instruct and encourage the congregation in evangelism. Pastor Vali is very eager to get out into the community of Berceni which encompasses the church and work with Randy to train his people how to evangelize the neighborhood for Christ.I will be involved in Bible study groups. There will be a group with the college age young ladies of the church and also a Bible study with the women of the church. The goal for these young ladies and women is to invite lost friends to the meetings.
We are extremely excited to receive this invitation to be a part of something of such importance as teaching and disciplining others.

Please pray for us as begin this new ministry. Pray that as God goes before us we will always follow his footsteps, that we will be a Christ like example to those following our leadership. Pray for Emanuel Baptist Christian Church and their burden to reach out to the lost in the community that many seeds will be planted and that they will see lost souls saved.