Bags Are Packed, Ticket in Hand..............Final Destination?

Yep, our bags are packed, we have our tickets, and we know our final destination!
How many of you reading this can relate this to your spiritual life? Have you made preperations, do you have your ticket and do you know your final destination; where you will spend eternity? If you were able to say yes to all the questions, praise the Lord. However, if you are uncertain about any of the three, I pray that you will seek God and get confirmation on this urgent life after death issue.

Make your preperations!

Luk 18:18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
Luk 18:19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.
Luk 18:20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.
Luk 18:21 And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.
Luk 18:22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
Luk 18:23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.
Luk 18:24 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
Luk 18:25 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Luk 18:26 And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?
Luk 18:27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.
Luk 18:28 Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.
Luk 18:29 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake,
Luk 18:30 Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

Get your ticket!

Act 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Know your destination!

Joh 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.

Called According To His Purpose

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

The picture above was taken at our commissioning service for family members in Richmond, Virginia in April of 2008. Literally, it seems as though it was yesterday. We were so excited that day and thrilled our family and friends had come from Kansas and Texas to celebrate with us and to have one more chance to say goodbye. Our dear friends left that afternoon, but our children stayed and spent a few days in Richmond
with us seeing the sights of the city, since we had a few days until our flight for Romania.

It has been an incredible journey since Randy and I were called according to His purpose to Romania. When you begin a journey it always turns into an adventure because as a child of God, you are not in control. We had plans, ideas, materials we brought along we thought we would use; but you see we were called according to His purpose....not ours. I would have to say personally for myself, I feel like I have been privately tutored by Jesus Christ all along the way. Never did I have a clue this body of clay needed such molding from the Master's hand. His hands were gentle, but firm at the same time as He iluminated the path and guided me in the direction I should go. I am so thankful I can say Aba Father, to be able to have that personal of a relationship with my Lord and Savior is the most important thing in life to me. No, I am not the same person who arrived in Romania April 7th, 2008. During those months of change in my life, God blessed me in so many ways. I have been touched by many Romanian young ladies and a few young men whom God allowed me to lead in Bible studies. I would prepare weekly for the lessons, during our time together for discussion those young men and young ladies would bless me and thrill my soul. I also worked with the women of the church we attended and it was the same way, I received such a blessing from being with those ladies and just loving on them and receiving their love back.

We've lived in Bucuresti the last 7 months and it has been a joy and pleasure working with the other missionaries here. Randy and I have formed a deep friendship with each unit and enjoy the sweet fellowship we all share. In just these short 7 months we have grown close to several of the Romanians who live here in the city.
Our term would have ended in February of 2011 but due to a severe problem with my left shoulder, I must return to the United States for surgery. The need to return to the United Sates for surgery requires us by the mission board to end our term at this time. We are very saddened by this, but realize that for the best medical care I had no other option. Through every glorious high, and there have been many, through every painful, dark valley, and there have been many....God has been right there beside us. His word promises us He would never forsake us or leave us! We are living proof, He walked with us through the fire, He walked with us on the mountain tops, He walked with us when things were just o.k., He was always there. He was there when we got the word our term would end prematurely. Randy and I have been called according to His purpose, God knows what that purpose is, we will continue to love him, serve and live for him.

It's been an incredible adventure. I'm thankful for the experience and how God worked in and through me. We will miss Romania and all our National friends. We will miss our dear Missionary friends we will be leaving behind, they are family, we have grown to love them.

Please pray for us as we start a new adventure with God on a new mission field in Kansas City, Missouri.

Our "Neighbour"

Luk 10:25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

Luk 10:26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
Luk 10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

I am sure most of you are very familiar with this passage in Luke. A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves. He was robbed, stripped, wounded and left half dead in the road. As he lay there, he was passed by a priest and a Levite, who both looked upon him and crossed to the other side of the road. But, a certain Samaritan, came to him and had compassion on him.

Luk 10:36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
Luk 10:37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Roland and Laura Hubati live in Galati, Romania and are the proud parents of two handsome sons, Dorian who is 10 years old and Arie who is 4 years old. Roland is a highly skilled computer technician and Laura is a school teacher.

Randy and I met this wonderful family in 2005 on our first short term mission trip to Romania. Very quickly it became evident that both Roland and Laura have a servants heart. We returned on two more short term trips to Romania, and just as before, Roland could not do enough to make sure that all our needs were met. Randy and I arrived on the mission field in Galati, April of 2008 and Roland and Laura haven't changed in their affections toward us. We have become family, not merely friends or acquaintances that you enjoy spending time with occasionally, we are family.

In October, 2009 we moved to Bucuresti which separated us by many miles. We have missed them greatly. Roland and Laura's jobs and our schedules make it very difficult to get together often. I have been experiencing severe trouble with my left shoulder and arm which has not permitted me to travel. Christmas was the last visit we were all together. Last evening, Randy and I had the most pleasant surprise. Roland rented a car, loaded up his family and headed to Bucuresti. Laura had prepared a traditional Easter dinner and packed it to bring with them. We were so surprised when they arrived at our door. What a blessing! We sat down to an elegant and delicious traditional Romanian Easter dinner, prepared just for us. We felt so special. We felt a little like the man who had been left in the road and the Samaritan had compassion on him and saw to his every need. They knew I needed a hug, words of encouragement, fellowship with ones that we love and some of Laura's awesome cooking! Randy and I thank God for the Hubati family!. Dorian and Arie are dear to our hearts as well. When we leave Romania at the end of our term, the Hubati family will be keeping a big portion of our hearts behind.

Roland, Laura, Dorian and Arie thank you for being such precious neighbours as described in Luke 10:25-37. You are setting a great example for others to follow.

Naked, wet and hungry

We are born naked, wet and hungry.
Then things get worse.

This is the greeting that our friend Roland has on his Skype page. This is humorous because it is also true in more respects then the mental picture of yourself at birth. This statement leads me to this point, Today is a very dark day in the history of Christianity. The followers of Christ were not looking forward to the morning; they were looking at the past. Paul said it this way:
If Christ hasn't come back to life, our message has no meaning and your faith also has no meaning. 1Co 15:14
They could not recall what they were taught by our Lord:
And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. Mar 8:31
Some Christians focus on the birth of Christ and some the cross while others the miracles. But truth is that if He had not risen from the dead we would not have hope. But He did! And we do! Roland’s greeting is correct until the time comes when we have a restored relationship with God. At that time our future becomes wonderful. Physical things may become worse and probably will but the lasting things, those spiritual things, and the things that last forever get better and better.
Christ died for us while we were still sinners. This demonstrates God's love for us. Since Christ's blood has now given us God's approval, we are even more certain that Christ will save us from God's anger. If the death of his Son restored our relationship with God while we were still his enemies, we are even more certain that, because of this restored relationship, the life of his Son will save us. In addition, our Lord Jesus Christ lets us continue to brag about God. After all, it is through Christ that we now have this restored relationship with God. Rom 5:8-11
By which also ye are saved, if you keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless you have believed in vain. I passed on to you the most important points of doctrine that I had received: Christ died to take away our sins as the Scriptures predicted. He was placed in a tomb. He was brought back to life on the third day as the Scriptures predicted.He appeared to Cephas. Next he appeared to the twelve apostles. Then he appeared to more than 500 believers at one time. (Most of these people are still living, but some have died.)
Next he appeared to James. Then he appeared to all the apostles.
Last of all, he also appeared to me. I'm like an aborted fetus who was given life. 1Co 15:2-8
Hristos a înviat! Adevărat a înviat!
Christ is risen! Truly risen!

Pastor Vali

I want to introduce you to Pastor Valeriu “Vali” Radu. He is pastor at Emanuel Baptist Church in Berceni, which is sector 4, the south eastern part of Bucuresti. The church has 150 members and is the only Baptist church in sector 4. The population of sector 4 is just over 300,000 people. Pastor Vali also has a full time job at the apartment complex where many of the students from outside Bucuresti live. Besides normal church activities, the church is active in two different mission points outside the city.
Pastor Vali told me that before we came to Emanuel, he had been praying for someone to help him mobilize his church in evangelism. And in late October Teresa and I were asked by our team leader, Richard Clark, to go to the Emanuel Church to see if we could work with them. We have found that they want us as much as we need them. Pastor Vali has even taken time to go with me as we try to lead people to Christ. This week Pastor took Teresa and I to a doctor he knows, also from the Emanuel Church, so that the doctor could give her opinion about Teresa’s arm and shoulder problem.
During a recent conversation with Pastor Vali, he also speaks English; I learned that he is also a college student. He already has the degree he needs to be a pastor under the guidelines of the Romanian Baptist Union, (Paul could be a pastor here but Jesus Christ could not be one). Now he is working on a degree that will allow him to be a licensed counselor under Romanian government’s guidelines. The Romanian government has lots of hoops for you to jump throw, even more then the Romanian Baptist Union. When he completes his degree and becomes licensed by the government, he will be the only licensed Christian counselor in Bucuresti. The city has over 2 million people and there is not 1 Christian counselor in the city.
Pastor Vali is a very busy man about God’s work; please pray for him, his family, and his ministries. Please ask God to bless him so that his cup runs over. Ask the Father to strengthen him as he continues this huge schedule that he has each week. And also thank God for him on our behalf, he is a great encourager and helpful pastor to Teresa and me.
Heb 6:10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

Peace Be Still

Mar 4:36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
Mar 4:37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
Mar 4:38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
Mar 4:39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Peace, be still...

We arrived on the mission field April 7, 2008 with many hopes, dreams and great expectations. God has been good, He has blessed and He has provided everything we have needed. I wish I could say we have accomplished all the goals we had set. There isn't enough of us or time to achieve the amount of work needed in this city to reach the lost and plant churches.

Much like the disciples, more than once we found ourselves in the proverbial small boat taking in water on the rough sea. Randy and I were definitely plunged into some rough sailing early on. Looking back I believe those were testing waters, like the refining fires the Bible talks about. In despair we called out "Lord Jesus, help us..do something...we're in trouble here!" He arose, said "Peace, be still" and there was a GREAT calm.

Peace, be still...

Randy and I came on the mission field with no set time frame of returning to the states. Our terms would last 3 years, we would be home a few months, turn around and come back to Romania. The world wide economic crisis has left no one untouched. Unfortunately it has greatly impacted the missionaries serving in foreign countries.
The major support for us to remain on the field comes from the Lottie Moon Christmas offering collected in Southern Baptist Churches, the offering has dropped to a devastating low. Thousands of missionaries are being forced to leave the field with no option to return, there's no money. We are in that number. February, 2011 when our term ends, we will not be returning to the mission field. This news was a hard blow for us. We gave up everything we owned to "go". We are glad we did, we have no regrets. There is a blessing in being obeident when God calls you. It will be very difficult to leave Romania. We have formed friendships with the Nationals here that will last a lifetime. Romania will have been our home for 3 years when our term ends. The Romania people are precious to Jesus, he died on the cross for them, so few of them understand that concept. So, we've been back in that little boat again...and He said "Peace, be still."

God has given us a new Mission field. We will return to Kansas City, Missouri where 2 of our children and a precious grand baby live. There's much work to do there also.
We will serve the Lord with joy in Kansas City and cherish always the memories of Romania.

Pray For Ferentari

Psalms 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

As we looks for ways to establish Bible studies in Ferentari, the 23th Psalms comes to mind. Although you heard this read at a large number of funerals, it is for the living. This is a reminder no matter where we are, God is there, the Holy Spirit is ever present in the believer. I want those of you who want to see a positive change in Romania to please being praying with us for a special worker.
Mat 9:38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
Ferentari needs a person who believes Psalms 23:4, because Ferentari is a rough place to work. God has given us the opportunity to start work in that community of Bucuresti, through the Phillip House Foundation. We need a person who can work at the foundation and become familiar with the children and the area, and through this effort will be able to start Bible studies with the families of these children out in their area. This would require a great deal of time and may only be possible if the person finds sponsors who could support an individual for an ongoing mission.
Please pray and keep praying until a child of God comes along side us that can take on this role of reaching into the darkness called Ferentari.
Please pray that God will provide a way of keeping a person’s needs met while they spend a great deal of time in this area.
Please pray as Paul asked in 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2
2Th 3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:
2Th 3:2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.