Work Diary II
Oct. 2, 1997
We had 40 students enroll in our institute, more than expected. There will be some adjustment until we work out such problems as their schedules or transportation, so in a few weeks we will know how many will be able to remain in school.
Nov. 14, 1997
One of the missionaries who works with us in our churches had a very bad accident. He struck a 10-year-old boy who had run across the street in front of his car, and the boy died. The accident happened right in front of the boy’s house, and the father came out, saw his dead son, and slugged the missionary in the face. The police came, and the missionary also called the American Embassy. I thought this was a wise move, as the American Embassy then called the chief of police for that area, and said they were taking an interest in this situation, and to inform them of any decisions that were made.
I preached the very next service in the church that this missionary worked in, because he was all broken up about this. And I told the few people who came to this church (about 20 people) that if any left because of this, no one would have any respect for them. I also shared some verses that tell us if we endure trials, God will afterward bring a blessing (I Peter 5:10 and James 5:10–11). We will see how it will go, but for now they are staying.
I went to the funeral in place of the missionary, as he was afraid the father would not want him there. I had spent the day before this going around with the mother, trying to get the things they needed for the funeral. (The missionary paid for it all, including the casket and grave site.) The mother cried a few times, and one of the sisters who had come from our church tried to console her. I found out from the grandmother of the boy who died, that just 10 days before, he had asked Christ to be his savior.
Nov. 28, 1997
God has given us four good Romanian young men. Marian, Pactrica, Stefan, and Lica. They help the other missionaries as translators in our churches, and all play the electric keyboard (for music in the churches), plus all are good preachers. (There are many others who have either helped us or encouraged us, but there is not the space to give all their names and what all they have done for the cause of Christ. Again, the purpose of this Work Diary is to show how God worked in Nancy and I to fulfill His calling in our lives. But God keeps a perfect record of each individual’s service for Him. Hebrews 6:10 says, “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.”
Dec. 10, 1997
Seventeen people were baptized tonight, including Caleb, our youngest son (this was the most we ever baptized at one time)! Our church was packed, and the service was great! Several came from our different churches, and we held the service in Busteni because it is the only one of our churches that has a baptismal tank.
Dec. 12, 1997
*The last nine days were extra busy, and I am looking forward to Monday, my day off. Also in about 10 days the Bible institute will let out for a few weeks for the winter break and I am looking forward to it.
1998
Jan. 1, 1998
A Sunday school teacher at one of our works had been seen smoking by one of the other members. We need Sunday school teachers to be a good example, not only to be able to teach. Normally, such a situation would only call for the Sunday school teacher to step down from her class till she had a better testimony, but this got out of hand. And because the Sunday school teacher denied that she had done this, and also called the lady who said she saw her smoking a “liar,” well, that made a big mess out of it all!
The Bible says that two witnesses are needed: “One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established” (Deuteronomy 19:15, also Mathew 18:16). Another witness came forward, and I sent Marian to this church to handle the problem. He is a meek man, and people respect him, and he has a way of talking to people so they will listen even when it’s a difficult matter. The missionary of the church went with him, and Marian did the talking. He got the Sunday school teacher to admit she had smoked, and Marian told her she needs to stop smoking and have a time period when she is off cigarettes before she starts teaching again. Then he told her something I thought was very wise. He said that when her husband gets home from work, what she would say to him about this would determine if he ever comes back to the church or not. And she agreed to think through what she would say, as she wanted her family to continue to come. Plus, he got her to apologize to the lady she had called a liar. Since I have been in Romania, this is the third church discipline (Mathew 18:15–16) we have had. But this one worked out the best and caused the whole church to be more humble! The Devil meant it for bad, but God worked it out for good. Praise the Lord!
Jan. 15, 1998
It is almost midnight and I was thinking I had not got much done, and today there were a couple of things that caused me discouragement because they did not work out as I had hoped. Then as late as it was, Glen Sanders called and said he had forgotten to tell me they had a good service at a small village called Tohanul Nou. And that two young ladies from there want to come to our Bible institute, which encouraged me. I can always find something that is not exactly right, but there are many blessings.
*Yesterday we had nine more baptized!
*At one time we were holding services every day someplace in our ministry, except Monday, but we had to stop Saturday services because people thought we were Adventists.
Feb. 1, 1998
*A young lady, one of our students who will graduate this May from our Bible institute, has said she wants to be a missionary in Africa. She regularly does two Sunday school classes in different works we have, and she faithfully visits children to get them to church.
Feb. 5, 1998
My car was broken down, so I called a taxi driver I know to come and get me. He said he would be by to pick me up in 15 minutes. I waited out in the snow, but he did not come, so I walked into town (about 2 1/2 miles). Later that day another taxi driver I know asked me if I heard what had happened to the taxi driver who I had called to pick me up. I said, “No, what happened?” And he told me a truck had hit his taxi and he was dead! I went to see his relatives, and while I was there his daughter came in crying, and then I met both of his parents, who are good people, and they were crying, the father uncontrollably. His mom said, “We buried our parents but did not imagine we would have to bury our children.”
I had witnessed to this taxi driver several times, but he never would pray and ask Christ to save him. And even last week, while in his taxi, I just asked him outright what was keeping him from trusting Christ for salvation, and he said, “I don’t know.”
Feb. 18, 1998
*Benjamin turned 18 today. We love him and pray he will go in the right directions. He said he wants to go to college in the States and study computers.
*We mailed out letters for the Missionary Get-Together.
*Time goes fast when we are busy and slow when we have nothing to do.
*The Internet is such a blessing for us missionaries, with instant e-mails and news from your own state. (We can now call our grandchildren and see their faces while they talk to us, all over the Internet, for basically free. Before, it was very expensive.)
March 12, 1998
Marian, the Romanian young man I mentioned earlier, is a good preacher, and the church in Saint George is going forward with his preaching and leadership. I plan on ordaining him into the ministry this May when we have the Missionary Get-together, as there will be many missionaries here to help on this.
April 7, 1998
We have been having some financial problems, something I normally do not have. The cost of rent and utilities is going up, so the dollar does not stretch as far as before. Also we need almost $8,000.00 for our round-trip tickets to the States (for my wife and I plus are six children), as we plan to go on furlough this summer. It has been almost four years since we have been back, except for the short time my wife went back when her dad had a heart attack, but thankfully, he recovered from it. Last time we were in the States, my parents had their 50th wedding anniversary, and this time Nancy’s parents are having the same. Also, we will need about $3,000.00 over and above normal expense for this upcoming Missionary Get-Together. I could sell our van and then, while we are in the States, hopefully save up enough to get something else when we get back. Nancy never seems to worry about these things, believing as long as we are doing what the Lord wants, He will take care of us. It is a blessing she is this way!
May 39, 1998
*We leave in three days for the states, and there are many loose ends to tie up
The Missionary Get-together went well, and the spirit of all was great. God gave us 32 families of missionaries from Eastern Europe. This was not counting the guest speakers who came from the States to encourage us. I have had better success at getting missionaries to come to a conference than others have had. I believe this is in part from my six years as youth director in Pastor Nolan’s church, as I learned how to get teenagers to come to activities when they did not want to. The lady who wants to be a missionary (a graduate of the Bible institute) shared her desire to serve as a missionary in Africa. Also Marian Stefan was ordained. (Through the years there were four Romanians ordained in this work.) Marian and Costina Stefan
We had 40 students enroll in our institute, more than expected. There will be some adjustment until we work out such problems as their schedules or transportation, so in a few weeks we will know how many will be able to remain in school.
Nov. 14, 1997
One of the missionaries who works with us in our churches had a very bad accident. He struck a 10-year-old boy who had run across the street in front of his car, and the boy died. The accident happened right in front of the boy’s house, and the father came out, saw his dead son, and slugged the missionary in the face. The police came, and the missionary also called the American Embassy. I thought this was a wise move, as the American Embassy then called the chief of police for that area, and said they were taking an interest in this situation, and to inform them of any decisions that were made.
I preached the very next service in the church that this missionary worked in, because he was all broken up about this. And I told the few people who came to this church (about 20 people) that if any left because of this, no one would have any respect for them. I also shared some verses that tell us if we endure trials, God will afterward bring a blessing (I Peter 5:10 and James 5:10–11). We will see how it will go, but for now they are staying.
I went to the funeral in place of the missionary, as he was afraid the father would not want him there. I had spent the day before this going around with the mother, trying to get the things they needed for the funeral. (The missionary paid for it all, including the casket and grave site.) The mother cried a few times, and one of the sisters who had come from our church tried to console her. I found out from the grandmother of the boy who died, that just 10 days before, he had asked Christ to be his savior.
Nov. 28, 1997
God has given us four good Romanian young men. Marian, Pactrica, Stefan, and Lica. They help the other missionaries as translators in our churches, and all play the electric keyboard (for music in the churches), plus all are good preachers. (There are many others who have either helped us or encouraged us, but there is not the space to give all their names and what all they have done for the cause of Christ. Again, the purpose of this Work Diary is to show how God worked in Nancy and I to fulfill His calling in our lives. But God keeps a perfect record of each individual’s service for Him. Hebrews 6:10 says, “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.”
Dec. 10, 1997
Seventeen people were baptized tonight, including Caleb, our youngest son (this was the most we ever baptized at one time)! Our church was packed, and the service was great! Several came from our different churches, and we held the service in Busteni because it is the only one of our churches that has a baptismal tank.
Dec. 12, 1997
*The last nine days were extra busy, and I am looking forward to Monday, my day off. Also in about 10 days the Bible institute will let out for a few weeks for the winter break and I am looking forward to it.
1998
Jan. 1, 1998
A Sunday school teacher at one of our works had been seen smoking by one of the other members. We need Sunday school teachers to be a good example, not only to be able to teach. Normally, such a situation would only call for the Sunday school teacher to step down from her class till she had a better testimony, but this got out of hand. And because the Sunday school teacher denied that she had done this, and also called the lady who said she saw her smoking a “liar,” well, that made a big mess out of it all!
The Bible says that two witnesses are needed: “One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established” (Deuteronomy 19:15, also Mathew 18:16). Another witness came forward, and I sent Marian to this church to handle the problem. He is a meek man, and people respect him, and he has a way of talking to people so they will listen even when it’s a difficult matter. The missionary of the church went with him, and Marian did the talking. He got the Sunday school teacher to admit she had smoked, and Marian told her she needs to stop smoking and have a time period when she is off cigarettes before she starts teaching again. Then he told her something I thought was very wise. He said that when her husband gets home from work, what she would say to him about this would determine if he ever comes back to the church or not. And she agreed to think through what she would say, as she wanted her family to continue to come. Plus, he got her to apologize to the lady she had called a liar. Since I have been in Romania, this is the third church discipline (Mathew 18:15–16) we have had. But this one worked out the best and caused the whole church to be more humble! The Devil meant it for bad, but God worked it out for good. Praise the Lord!
Jan. 15, 1998
It is almost midnight and I was thinking I had not got much done, and today there were a couple of things that caused me discouragement because they did not work out as I had hoped. Then as late as it was, Glen Sanders called and said he had forgotten to tell me they had a good service at a small village called Tohanul Nou. And that two young ladies from there want to come to our Bible institute, which encouraged me. I can always find something that is not exactly right, but there are many blessings.
*Yesterday we had nine more baptized!
*At one time we were holding services every day someplace in our ministry, except Monday, but we had to stop Saturday services because people thought we were Adventists.
Feb. 1, 1998
*A young lady, one of our students who will graduate this May from our Bible institute, has said she wants to be a missionary in Africa. She regularly does two Sunday school classes in different works we have, and she faithfully visits children to get them to church.
Feb. 5, 1998
My car was broken down, so I called a taxi driver I know to come and get me. He said he would be by to pick me up in 15 minutes. I waited out in the snow, but he did not come, so I walked into town (about 2 1/2 miles). Later that day another taxi driver I know asked me if I heard what had happened to the taxi driver who I had called to pick me up. I said, “No, what happened?” And he told me a truck had hit his taxi and he was dead! I went to see his relatives, and while I was there his daughter came in crying, and then I met both of his parents, who are good people, and they were crying, the father uncontrollably. His mom said, “We buried our parents but did not imagine we would have to bury our children.”
I had witnessed to this taxi driver several times, but he never would pray and ask Christ to save him. And even last week, while in his taxi, I just asked him outright what was keeping him from trusting Christ for salvation, and he said, “I don’t know.”
Feb. 18, 1998
*Benjamin turned 18 today. We love him and pray he will go in the right directions. He said he wants to go to college in the States and study computers.
*We mailed out letters for the Missionary Get-Together.
*Time goes fast when we are busy and slow when we have nothing to do.
*The Internet is such a blessing for us missionaries, with instant e-mails and news from your own state. (We can now call our grandchildren and see their faces while they talk to us, all over the Internet, for basically free. Before, it was very expensive.)
March 12, 1998
Marian, the Romanian young man I mentioned earlier, is a good preacher, and the church in Saint George is going forward with his preaching and leadership. I plan on ordaining him into the ministry this May when we have the Missionary Get-together, as there will be many missionaries here to help on this.
April 7, 1998
We have been having some financial problems, something I normally do not have. The cost of rent and utilities is going up, so the dollar does not stretch as far as before. Also we need almost $8,000.00 for our round-trip tickets to the States (for my wife and I plus are six children), as we plan to go on furlough this summer. It has been almost four years since we have been back, except for the short time my wife went back when her dad had a heart attack, but thankfully, he recovered from it. Last time we were in the States, my parents had their 50th wedding anniversary, and this time Nancy’s parents are having the same. Also, we will need about $3,000.00 over and above normal expense for this upcoming Missionary Get-Together. I could sell our van and then, while we are in the States, hopefully save up enough to get something else when we get back. Nancy never seems to worry about these things, believing as long as we are doing what the Lord wants, He will take care of us. It is a blessing she is this way!
May 39, 1998
*We leave in three days for the states, and there are many loose ends to tie up
The Missionary Get-together went well, and the spirit of all was great. God gave us 32 families of missionaries from Eastern Europe. This was not counting the guest speakers who came from the States to encourage us. I have had better success at getting missionaries to come to a conference than others have had. I believe this is in part from my six years as youth director in Pastor Nolan’s church, as I learned how to get teenagers to come to activities when they did not want to. The lady who wants to be a missionary (a graduate of the Bible institute) shared her desire to serve as a missionary in Africa. Also Marian Stefan was ordained. (Through the years there were four Romanians ordained in this work.) Marian and Costina Stefan
Aug. 6, 1998
We are living in Arkansas, as Nancy’s parents have moved here. I had to borrow some money to get a vehicle while in the States. I do not like borrowing, but this is the situation I am in. Most of my calendar is full now till I leave back for Romania. I usually preach three or four times each week, including Wednesday services and Sunday morning and evening, which means I am usually in three different churches each week, which involves lots of driving. This is done to report to those who support us and hopefully to get some new support.
*Nancy’s mom had a heart attack this week and will have an operation this morning.
*I will be driving out to Oregon for some meetings, but glad I will be going there with Benjamin, our oldest son.
Aug. 26, 1998
*I have been with Ben for over two weeks visiting the churches, and he has done much of the driving. It has been fun being together.
Something happened that I would never have expected. I was driving our van at night on Highway 78 on the back side of Oregon. I passed a yellow sign with a cow on it, like the type you see for deer to warn you that they might jump out in front of your vehicle. I thought, “Yeah, right, a cow is going to jump out in front of me.” But it was open range, and the cows were standing on the road “waiting for me.” They were totally black, no color at all. And a cow’s eyes don’t seem to reflect like a deer’s eyes would. At any rate, I hit two cows, and both died. And even with seat belts and airbags in our van, Ben and I were both shaken up. The police told us that three months before, a lady hit a cow in the same area and is still in the hospital. He said that if I had been driving a car instead of a van, the cows would have easily gone through the windshield and killed us. Our van was totaled, but thankfully, our insurance will pay for both the cows and the van. We are now both on a bus on our way home to Arkansas. I can’t wait to see Nancy and the rest of the family and just be home with them.
Oct. 3, 1998
I preached in an Internationale fellowship meeting at Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada, on Tuesday night just before Pastor Sam Davison preached. About 1,500 were present, mostly preachers. I also spoke at a Bible college in the Boston area, and then another college two weeks ago in Missouri.
*Nancy has enrolled our five youngest children in a Christian school to have a break from home schooling and let our children make some new friends and play sports, etc.
While in the Boston area, I went to a site called the Plymouth Plantation, the area where the pilgrims landed in America. The people who worked there were dressed in the type of clothes of that time period. But I was troubled by the fact that the plantation workers said the main reason the pilgrims came to America was to make money and worship God. Which meant they were seeking religious freedom. I tried to explain to two of them that the pilgrims came from Holland, where they already had religious freedom, and then went to England to get their passage and charter for the New World. And that the main reason they came was to win the American Indians to Christ, but the workers did not believe me. I said if they were going to accurately portray the lives of the pilgrims, then they should read the Mayflower Compact that the pilgrims signed. “Having undertaken, for the Glory of God, and advancements of the Christian faith…” Which means the evangelization of the Indians, they did not come to evangelize the rabbits and squirrels. But they shook their heads at me and walked off. I thought the only ones who came there to make money were them, not the pilgrims.
Nov. 20, 1998
In a little over a month, we will be going back to Romania. And not long ago I was praying and felt like God wanted me to say something to Him. I even asked the Lord if there was something He wanted me to say to Him, and the thought came to my mind that I should say to the Lord, “I love you.” Which I did, and as soon as I said this, God spoke to my heart and said to me, “Then go back to Romania.” Now I have never heard God’s audible voice with my ears, but He did speak to me. And I thought, “But I am planning on going back to Romania,” and even told the Lord this. And then again, “Be sure that you do it.” I stopped praying and thought about that most of the rest of the day and came to the realization I had been flirting with the idea of staying in America. Perhaps teaching at a Bible college or taking a “large” church that needed a pastor. It seemed similar to when Peter, whom the Lord asked three times in a row if he loved Him more than fishing: “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” (John 21:15, see also verses 16–17). If you love God, you will do some things that He wants that you may not want, and God wanted me back in Romania with my heart, not just my body.
Dec. 26, 1998
*Witnessed to my dad, and my mom was close enough to also hear. Sometimes I think it will take a big jolt from the Lord to open their eyes, but I hope not. Still, I felt better after I talked to them, as I love them both and want to see them in heaven when I die.
*Three of the missionaries who help us are going back to the States: two on furlough and one permanently—Glen Sanders and his wife. He is in his 70s. We got them a plaque for their service, as they have done “above and beyond the call of duty.”
1999
Jan. 14, 1999
We are in the airport in Amsterdam, waiting for our next leg of the flight to Romania. When I get back, I need to prepare for the Bible institute, see a new missionary who may fill in for those who are now on furlough, and see about sending out one of the students to Africa as a missionary, and perhaps go to Africa to help start a church. I also still want to build a new building, at our main work, that looks like a church building, not just a house.
Jan. 19, 1998
Been back five days now, and things are moving fast. The main thing is, the property right in front of our main work in Busteni is for sale. About four years ago I asked the lady who owns it if she wanted to sell the property, and she said for $100,000.00. But besides thinking it was too much, I did not have that amount anyway. Now she is willing to sell for $40,000.00, and this may be possible. In my opinion it is the best property in town, right in the middle of town, and being how it is right in front of our present church property, it can be tied together and made big enough for a nice size church building.
Feb. 18, 1999
Yesterday was a good day. It started with devotions as normal, but there was one verse that seemed to stand out to me, and I was not sure why. “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will” (Proverbs 21:1). I thought, "What has that got to do with me?" I prayed and asked the Lord about it, and the thought came to my mind that I should go see the mayor about our new building. “Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established” (Proverbs 16:3). If the mayor is in favor of this, it will make getting the paperwork through the mayor’s office much simpler. I went and saw the mayor, who was in favor of us building, and he even recommended the construction company to build the building.
Dinner With My Sweetheart, Valentine's Day
We are living in Arkansas, as Nancy’s parents have moved here. I had to borrow some money to get a vehicle while in the States. I do not like borrowing, but this is the situation I am in. Most of my calendar is full now till I leave back for Romania. I usually preach three or four times each week, including Wednesday services and Sunday morning and evening, which means I am usually in three different churches each week, which involves lots of driving. This is done to report to those who support us and hopefully to get some new support.
*Nancy’s mom had a heart attack this week and will have an operation this morning.
*I will be driving out to Oregon for some meetings, but glad I will be going there with Benjamin, our oldest son.
Aug. 26, 1998
*I have been with Ben for over two weeks visiting the churches, and he has done much of the driving. It has been fun being together.
Something happened that I would never have expected. I was driving our van at night on Highway 78 on the back side of Oregon. I passed a yellow sign with a cow on it, like the type you see for deer to warn you that they might jump out in front of your vehicle. I thought, “Yeah, right, a cow is going to jump out in front of me.” But it was open range, and the cows were standing on the road “waiting for me.” They were totally black, no color at all. And a cow’s eyes don’t seem to reflect like a deer’s eyes would. At any rate, I hit two cows, and both died. And even with seat belts and airbags in our van, Ben and I were both shaken up. The police told us that three months before, a lady hit a cow in the same area and is still in the hospital. He said that if I had been driving a car instead of a van, the cows would have easily gone through the windshield and killed us. Our van was totaled, but thankfully, our insurance will pay for both the cows and the van. We are now both on a bus on our way home to Arkansas. I can’t wait to see Nancy and the rest of the family and just be home with them.
Oct. 3, 1998
I preached in an Internationale fellowship meeting at Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada, on Tuesday night just before Pastor Sam Davison preached. About 1,500 were present, mostly preachers. I also spoke at a Bible college in the Boston area, and then another college two weeks ago in Missouri.
*Nancy has enrolled our five youngest children in a Christian school to have a break from home schooling and let our children make some new friends and play sports, etc.
While in the Boston area, I went to a site called the Plymouth Plantation, the area where the pilgrims landed in America. The people who worked there were dressed in the type of clothes of that time period. But I was troubled by the fact that the plantation workers said the main reason the pilgrims came to America was to make money and worship God. Which meant they were seeking religious freedom. I tried to explain to two of them that the pilgrims came from Holland, where they already had religious freedom, and then went to England to get their passage and charter for the New World. And that the main reason they came was to win the American Indians to Christ, but the workers did not believe me. I said if they were going to accurately portray the lives of the pilgrims, then they should read the Mayflower Compact that the pilgrims signed. “Having undertaken, for the Glory of God, and advancements of the Christian faith…” Which means the evangelization of the Indians, they did not come to evangelize the rabbits and squirrels. But they shook their heads at me and walked off. I thought the only ones who came there to make money were them, not the pilgrims.
Nov. 20, 1998
In a little over a month, we will be going back to Romania. And not long ago I was praying and felt like God wanted me to say something to Him. I even asked the Lord if there was something He wanted me to say to Him, and the thought came to my mind that I should say to the Lord, “I love you.” Which I did, and as soon as I said this, God spoke to my heart and said to me, “Then go back to Romania.” Now I have never heard God’s audible voice with my ears, but He did speak to me. And I thought, “But I am planning on going back to Romania,” and even told the Lord this. And then again, “Be sure that you do it.” I stopped praying and thought about that most of the rest of the day and came to the realization I had been flirting with the idea of staying in America. Perhaps teaching at a Bible college or taking a “large” church that needed a pastor. It seemed similar to when Peter, whom the Lord asked three times in a row if he loved Him more than fishing: “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” (John 21:15, see also verses 16–17). If you love God, you will do some things that He wants that you may not want, and God wanted me back in Romania with my heart, not just my body.
Dec. 26, 1998
*Witnessed to my dad, and my mom was close enough to also hear. Sometimes I think it will take a big jolt from the Lord to open their eyes, but I hope not. Still, I felt better after I talked to them, as I love them both and want to see them in heaven when I die.
*Three of the missionaries who help us are going back to the States: two on furlough and one permanently—Glen Sanders and his wife. He is in his 70s. We got them a plaque for their service, as they have done “above and beyond the call of duty.”
1999
Jan. 14, 1999
We are in the airport in Amsterdam, waiting for our next leg of the flight to Romania. When I get back, I need to prepare for the Bible institute, see a new missionary who may fill in for those who are now on furlough, and see about sending out one of the students to Africa as a missionary, and perhaps go to Africa to help start a church. I also still want to build a new building, at our main work, that looks like a church building, not just a house.
Jan. 19, 1998
Been back five days now, and things are moving fast. The main thing is, the property right in front of our main work in Busteni is for sale. About four years ago I asked the lady who owns it if she wanted to sell the property, and she said for $100,000.00. But besides thinking it was too much, I did not have that amount anyway. Now she is willing to sell for $40,000.00, and this may be possible. In my opinion it is the best property in town, right in the middle of town, and being how it is right in front of our present church property, it can be tied together and made big enough for a nice size church building.
Feb. 18, 1999
Yesterday was a good day. It started with devotions as normal, but there was one verse that seemed to stand out to me, and I was not sure why. “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will” (Proverbs 21:1). I thought, "What has that got to do with me?" I prayed and asked the Lord about it, and the thought came to my mind that I should go see the mayor about our new building. “Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established” (Proverbs 16:3). If the mayor is in favor of this, it will make getting the paperwork through the mayor’s office much simpler. I went and saw the mayor, who was in favor of us building, and he even recommended the construction company to build the building.
Dinner With My Sweetheart, Valentine's Day
April 2, 1999
The missions’ office gave me a loan for the property in front of our church in Busteni. The loan is in my name, not the church’s, and with the Lord’s help, I will pay it off. But I am now trying to raise money for a church building, and it is slower than I thought it would be. Called several churches directly from Romania, and they said they would take up an offering. But even if every church that supports us gave a $1,000.00 (not likely), it still would not be enough. Someone will have to give some larger sums of money. Overall, I do believe this is of the Lord. I do not plan on taking out any other loan, as I already have the one for this property and hope to build without borrowing.
I have gone through two architects and am now on my third one (It will be a Romanian style building). The first one said it would cost $92,000.00 to build, and the last one said $120,000.00. It is much cheaper to build here in Romania than in the States. There is also no need of a parking lot, setbacks, green belts, retention ponds, elevators, etc. And the property is right in the middle of town. I can even build right on the property line!
I sent out a letter to my supporting churches asking for help with this and enclosed the architect’s drawing of the building. It is very nice and will make us look more “serious.”
April 7, 1999
*We baptized 11 people from our eight works!
We are ready to organize the church in Saint George, with Marian as the pastor. This church is averaging about 30 people now. He and his wife both graduated from the Bible institute three years ago and he is now a teacher there.
The church in St. George.
April 16, 1999
I have been feeling some pressure, trying to raise money for the new building, and have to put it in the Lord’s hands. “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (I Peter 5:7). “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6–7).
I prayed and sought the Lord for some verses that would encourage me on this. I opened the Bible, and a verse that stood out to me was: “I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us…” (Isaiah 63:7). God wants me and our church congregation to praise Him for all His blessings so as not to become spoiled on this. The Romanians do want to give to this and are, but with an average salary of about $80.00 a month, I will be looking to the States for help. The second verse was Acts 9:9: “And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.” I plan on fasting for three days for this, but I will drink water. Three days of fasting is a small price to pay for a beautiful building. And thirdly: “Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD” (Ezekiel 38:23). This last verse was not talking about a building program, but I believe many outside of Romania will hear of this and be encouraged by it, and our God magnified. Though there are many churches in the States that have congregations in the thousands, still in Europe, for the independent Baptist, that is not the case, and the only ones that were averaging 300 to 400 were those with soldiers from military bases, and these have downsized now that the Cold War is over.
June 18, 1999
Just over a month since my last entry. It looks like we have all our permission from the city to build the building! The real issue will be raising the money. Our church gave $2,500.00 toward this so far, little compared to the States, but comparatively speaking, very good when you consider the average salary is only $80.00 a month (there is assistance from the government here to help subsidize families). I raised $6,500.00 from the States from different churches, but spent $500.00 just in phone calls. A long ways to go to raise $120,000.00, but this amount in Romania will defiantly build a whole lot more building than in the States! I believe I have checked with God on all my decisions, small and big, for, “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it” (Psalm 127:1), and how much more for His houses! But I do believe God wants me to build a building for His name’s sake, and I have joy even while I write this.
*Soon, perhaps two to three months, two of the missionaries who help us in the ministry will go out and start their own churches. This will leave us shorthanded, but God knows, so I will see how it will all work out.
June 21, 1999
*It seems like we are having revival. There is an air of expectancy in our midst. Our people are praying and looking forward to seeing what God will do for His church.
We have a house church in Azuga, and the few brothers and sisters there (about a dozen) said they were praying for my dad to be saved. I had not asked them to do this, but they heard I was concerned for him to be saved. This touched my heart, that they would do this for my dad.
*I challenged our church in Busteni (our main church) to pray one hour on their knees for the new building we hope to have. “What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray” (Matthew 26:40–41).
*My family got me some presents for Father’s Day. It is good to be loved!
I called a church in the States today, asking for money toward our new building, and the pastor said he would send $500.00. Calling long distance from East Europe costs, and many times I only get an answering machine or a church secretary who wants to help by taking a message to the pastor, but if you are asking for money, it needs to be done directly. The point is, I need some help from the States from certain pastors I know who could ask for me on this, and have enlisted a few who said they would help.
June 25, 1999
*I am waiting on the architect, who says he still needs 10 days more to draw up the plans. I also need to try and get one telephone pole moved on the property so we can start the building.
July 30, 1999
We moved the telephone pole and a water pipe that was on the property. And we will meet with the architect Monday (Aug. 2) at the property, so he will oversee the placement of the stakes for the foundation so the contractor can start the digging.
*I feel a little hurt because the raising of the money is not going exactly as I thought. But if God is in this, and I believe He is, then somehow it will work out.
Aug. 7, 1999
The work in Predeal voted to sell the building there (a house I had bought) and use the money for our new building. (Only four are meeting at Predeal, and it had not been organized into a church). We already van them into our main work in Busteni on Sunday mornings and will in the future. When the church voted on this, a missionary who is helping us openly voted against this. I thought, “Fine, that is his problem.” But I have heard that he is talking to others about it also. I do not have a problem if everyone does not see things the way I do, but I do not want someone (especially in his position) going around and telling others this, as it will only cause problems. So I had to tell him to stop this. He said he would but added that it was only something that had come up in conversation. I told him not to bring it up, and in the future if someone else does, they are to see me.
Sept. 7, 1999
The building program is going better. The contractor wanted $22,000.00 to start the work on the foundation, but I only have $10,000.00. I sent in a letter to our supporting churches telling them of the situation and asking for prayer and finances. I hated to do this, as I have already been asking them, but there is a need. Right after I did this, I felt better about the whole thing.
I feel pressure about the cost of the building: “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish” (Luke 14:28–30). More than once I have had to pray and give the whole building program into the hands of the Lord, and I feel much better after I do this. God has me in a position where I believe I am willing to do whatever He wants me to, whether to start or stop moving forward on the building. I just need to ask Him what my part is to be. Also now the contractor has said he will start the foundation with the money we have in hand.
We (our church) will do some of the work on the building, but we do not have permission to construct most of the building, as it is reinforced concrete, and those who do this have to be authorized. But there is some sheetrock, painting, etc. which we will do.
Sep. 17, 1999
The young lady who graduated from the Bible institute and wants to go to Malawi, Africa, as a missionary, is having problems with obtaining a visa there. At present she will only be able to get a 30-day visa and then will have to leave. I have talked to another missionary in Malawi, and he said he should be able to get her visas. She could also work in his ministry, teaching vacation Bible schools and Sunday school classes. I am lining up churches here in Romania to get support for her. I do not want to send someone out from Romania with US dollars. If God wants someone from Romania to go out, then He will have the Romanians support their own missionary.
The building program seems to be going good. There are at least enough promises from churches in the States that should be in by Oct. 1, to pour the concrete to the ground level. Right now the contractor has over 20 people working on the job site, and a number of people in the town are asking about the project. I enjoy seeing it go forward!
Nov. 4, 1999
The building is going forward, and I started calling the churches in the States again, asking for money, and I have received some good responses. Then, unexpectedly, Pastor Sam Davison of Oklahoma City, who has a large church of over 2,000 people, called me from the States and asked if his church could help. And they sent us $10,000.00! This was a great “pump primer,” not only because it was a large sum of money but because he is well known, and when I call and ask for help on the building, I can say that Pastor Sam Davison believes in what we are doing and has given to it. There are certain key pastors that if they believe God is working in you then others will also.
*So far we have one fourth of the money we need and are asking $29,500.00 for the house in Predeal that we want to sell for the building program. We have put an ad in several newspapers, but little response.
*Yesterday they started putting blocks on the foundation of our new building, as well as getting the rebar ready for the pillars that will be in the church.
*Our Bible institute started with an increase of students over last semester.
2000
Jan. 22, 2000
*New century! The “Y2K” problem did not happen.
Not much happening on the building, as it is too cold to pour concrete. Even during the days, most of the time it is below freezing. The work may not go forward till March, when it is warmer. I am eager to get started, as we have money in the bank for this. The building in Preadeal sold, and we now have half of the money raised for this building project, with promises of more churches who said they would help.
*Had to cancel our Bible institute today because of the snow.
March 16, 2000
*Still not able to start again on the building because some nights get below freezing and will crack the concrete if we pour it.
*We received another large gift of $10,500.00 given to us for the building from Pastor Karl Skinner’s church in Warrenton, Virginia. Also, some other offerings, and all together we have 60 percent of the funds needed to build.
*Evangelist Mike Gass from Medford, Oregon, plans on coming to preach a revival for us in some of our churches. He will come with some teens, a Christian school principal, and a businessman. Hope we can be a blessing to them and them to us.
April 3, 2000
*They have started building the church building again after three months of winter. It is good to get started again!
July 5, 2000
There have been a couple of changes to the church building, and I am not sure how much more it will cost, but these changes could not be helped. So I need to talk to the contractor about this. We have about 68 percent of the cost to build, but this is not counting some extra money (at least $15,000.00 more) that will be needed to do finish work, and now the money has slowed down. Obviously our church building is much smaller than Solomon’s temple, still I understand better now why King David, when he charged his son Solomon to build the temple, said, “be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed” (I Chronicles 22:11–19). And King David had prepared most of the gold, silver, and stones for this temple before Solomon started to build. Another verse speaks to me, “Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it” (I Chronicles 28:10).
*I will be going back stateside for two weeks to put our son Philip into Bible college. Hope he does well. I love him.
Aug. 12, 2000
We tried to start a couple of works, but they did not work out, and Christ said if they do not receive, you leave, so we have done some leaving. However at the town of Buda, about an hour and 15 minutes south from Busteni, is a small village of only 62 families. And over 70 people came to the showing of a film about the life of Jesus Christ that had been translated into Romanian. We showed it outside at night, as there was no other place there to show it, and we needed it to be dark enough to see the film, so from 9:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. we showed the film. I had told Buna, one of our helpers, how much joy I had, and he said he had the same. I know God loves everyone, but something seemed special there. Jesus Christ died for them also, “to the poor the gospel is preached” (Luke 7:22).
*I will be 50 years old Aug. 17th.
Sept. 11, 2000
*It will be at least a month before the roof is on our new building, and we need this if we are to do any work on the inside during the winter months.
*The work in Buda did not go anywhere, but I believe the Lord wanted us to try. At least they had the opportunity to hear the gospel (good news), and some made professions of faith.
Nov. 10, 2000
*The roof is still not on the new building yet! Perhaps in two weeks? Hope the weather holds.
*We will run out of money on the 24th of this month. Hoping and praying for more. To date, 74 percent of the funds have come in.
*Our Bible institute had 45 students this semester!
Dec. 1, 2000
*Our church building has a roof now but needs to be enclosed. Next week, Lord willing, they will put in the windows and gutters. It is starting to take shape.
*In January I plan on sending out a special letter to certain pastors who may help on the funds. I will enclose pictures of the building and follow up with phone calls.
It is not carnal to ask for money for the Lord’s work, as I once thought (I Corinthians 9:11; II Corinthians 11:7–8 and 12:13; and many more). Some believe you should only trust God and not ask for help but you can trust God and still ask for help. Hebrew 11:34–37 talks about the faith of those who “escaped the edge of the sword…And others…were slain with the sword…” It is interesting that both those who were slain by the sword and those who escaped the edge of the sword were said to have done this by faith. The passage tells us that certain were “not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection.” So their rewards would be greater, but both did this by faith. Maybe this is one reason the Lord told us not to judge anything before the time, as someone might judge and say those who were slain did not have faith but they did. And to ask others to get involved is not a lack of faith but challenging them to have a part, and afterward they are excited about the Lord’s work. See I Chronicles 29:5–9, where King David got the people of Israel to bring offerings to build the temple.
JUST NOW WHILE I WAS WRITING THIS a phone call came in from the States from Pastor Karl Skinner (who has given before, and I wrote him again telling him of our need for more money), and he said he would send us another $6,000.000 more for the building. Yes, I am rejoicing! And guess what he said to me? “Thank you for letting us know your needs. It is a blessing to us.” “Ask and it shall be given you” (Matthew 7:7). Thank the Lord I got over my shyness of asking for funds!
2001
Jan. 22, 2001
The building is going forward. I put in four space heaters so the workers can put the stucco on the inside over the blocks and concrete. The stucco is an inch and a half thick on both sides of the wall! This is how they straighten out the walls. They started putting the tile on the roof, and hopefully it will be done by next week. Though the money has been coming in for the building as I needed it, still in the last four months there was only one month that I did not need to borrow a few hundred dollars for myself from some missionary. I paid it all back at the beginning of each month, but I do not like doing this. The ministry has grown, and there are many needs, especially with the vans that keep breaking down and lunch for the students, not to mention unexpected needs.
*The Bible institute had 50 Students this semester. Hope they all continue, as usually there are a few each semester who drop out.
*The young lady from the institute has gone to Zambia instead of Malawi, as that is where she can get a place to stay and work with a missionary, plus visas.
March 1, 2001
We had another large gift come in, $14,000.00, again from Pastor Karl Skinner! Praise the Lord, it has all come in!!! But, I am facing about $3,000.00 more in cost overruns, and it is a little deflating to have to pick up the phone and ask again for these funds and then try to explain why I was “not smart enough” to see these needs at the first. None of this is counting the money I will need for some finish work on the building, and now it appears this will be at least $20,000.00. Hope the new building will help build up the church in attendance.
*Looking forward to furlough in November.
March 2, 2001
The contractor agreed that the cost overruns would be only $3,000.00. He had wanted $6,000.00. I had met with him to discuss the final bill to make sure there were no hidden costs, something I have checked on from time to time. And when he showed me all the monies that they had record of, surprisingly they thought I had given more than I did. I actually owed him $2,500 more than they thought. When I told him they had made the mistake in my favor, he was surprised and happy I was willing to come up with the other monies. And thankfully he lowered the cost from $6,000.00 down to the $3,000.00. Anyhow, we both feel better about this, and I have joy! This contractor is a good man, and more than once there were changes in the building that I knew would cost more, but he said he would make the changes without charging us extra. I asked why he would do this, and he said, “I want this church building to be an advertisement for our construction company.” Which meant he would do a good job on the construction.
June 10, 2001
The missions’ office gave me a loan for the property in front of our church in Busteni. The loan is in my name, not the church’s, and with the Lord’s help, I will pay it off. But I am now trying to raise money for a church building, and it is slower than I thought it would be. Called several churches directly from Romania, and they said they would take up an offering. But even if every church that supports us gave a $1,000.00 (not likely), it still would not be enough. Someone will have to give some larger sums of money. Overall, I do believe this is of the Lord. I do not plan on taking out any other loan, as I already have the one for this property and hope to build without borrowing.
I have gone through two architects and am now on my third one (It will be a Romanian style building). The first one said it would cost $92,000.00 to build, and the last one said $120,000.00. It is much cheaper to build here in Romania than in the States. There is also no need of a parking lot, setbacks, green belts, retention ponds, elevators, etc. And the property is right in the middle of town. I can even build right on the property line!
I sent out a letter to my supporting churches asking for help with this and enclosed the architect’s drawing of the building. It is very nice and will make us look more “serious.”
April 7, 1999
*We baptized 11 people from our eight works!
We are ready to organize the church in Saint George, with Marian as the pastor. This church is averaging about 30 people now. He and his wife both graduated from the Bible institute three years ago and he is now a teacher there.
The church in St. George.
April 16, 1999
I have been feeling some pressure, trying to raise money for the new building, and have to put it in the Lord’s hands. “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (I Peter 5:7). “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6–7).
I prayed and sought the Lord for some verses that would encourage me on this. I opened the Bible, and a verse that stood out to me was: “I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us…” (Isaiah 63:7). God wants me and our church congregation to praise Him for all His blessings so as not to become spoiled on this. The Romanians do want to give to this and are, but with an average salary of about $80.00 a month, I will be looking to the States for help. The second verse was Acts 9:9: “And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.” I plan on fasting for three days for this, but I will drink water. Three days of fasting is a small price to pay for a beautiful building. And thirdly: “Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD” (Ezekiel 38:23). This last verse was not talking about a building program, but I believe many outside of Romania will hear of this and be encouraged by it, and our God magnified. Though there are many churches in the States that have congregations in the thousands, still in Europe, for the independent Baptist, that is not the case, and the only ones that were averaging 300 to 400 were those with soldiers from military bases, and these have downsized now that the Cold War is over.
June 18, 1999
Just over a month since my last entry. It looks like we have all our permission from the city to build the building! The real issue will be raising the money. Our church gave $2,500.00 toward this so far, little compared to the States, but comparatively speaking, very good when you consider the average salary is only $80.00 a month (there is assistance from the government here to help subsidize families). I raised $6,500.00 from the States from different churches, but spent $500.00 just in phone calls. A long ways to go to raise $120,000.00, but this amount in Romania will defiantly build a whole lot more building than in the States! I believe I have checked with God on all my decisions, small and big, for, “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it” (Psalm 127:1), and how much more for His houses! But I do believe God wants me to build a building for His name’s sake, and I have joy even while I write this.
*Soon, perhaps two to three months, two of the missionaries who help us in the ministry will go out and start their own churches. This will leave us shorthanded, but God knows, so I will see how it will all work out.
June 21, 1999
*It seems like we are having revival. There is an air of expectancy in our midst. Our people are praying and looking forward to seeing what God will do for His church.
We have a house church in Azuga, and the few brothers and sisters there (about a dozen) said they were praying for my dad to be saved. I had not asked them to do this, but they heard I was concerned for him to be saved. This touched my heart, that they would do this for my dad.
*I challenged our church in Busteni (our main church) to pray one hour on their knees for the new building we hope to have. “What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray” (Matthew 26:40–41).
*My family got me some presents for Father’s Day. It is good to be loved!
I called a church in the States today, asking for money toward our new building, and the pastor said he would send $500.00. Calling long distance from East Europe costs, and many times I only get an answering machine or a church secretary who wants to help by taking a message to the pastor, but if you are asking for money, it needs to be done directly. The point is, I need some help from the States from certain pastors I know who could ask for me on this, and have enlisted a few who said they would help.
June 25, 1999
*I am waiting on the architect, who says he still needs 10 days more to draw up the plans. I also need to try and get one telephone pole moved on the property so we can start the building.
July 30, 1999
We moved the telephone pole and a water pipe that was on the property. And we will meet with the architect Monday (Aug. 2) at the property, so he will oversee the placement of the stakes for the foundation so the contractor can start the digging.
*I feel a little hurt because the raising of the money is not going exactly as I thought. But if God is in this, and I believe He is, then somehow it will work out.
Aug. 7, 1999
The work in Predeal voted to sell the building there (a house I had bought) and use the money for our new building. (Only four are meeting at Predeal, and it had not been organized into a church). We already van them into our main work in Busteni on Sunday mornings and will in the future. When the church voted on this, a missionary who is helping us openly voted against this. I thought, “Fine, that is his problem.” But I have heard that he is talking to others about it also. I do not have a problem if everyone does not see things the way I do, but I do not want someone (especially in his position) going around and telling others this, as it will only cause problems. So I had to tell him to stop this. He said he would but added that it was only something that had come up in conversation. I told him not to bring it up, and in the future if someone else does, they are to see me.
Sept. 7, 1999
The building program is going better. The contractor wanted $22,000.00 to start the work on the foundation, but I only have $10,000.00. I sent in a letter to our supporting churches telling them of the situation and asking for prayer and finances. I hated to do this, as I have already been asking them, but there is a need. Right after I did this, I felt better about the whole thing.
I feel pressure about the cost of the building: “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish” (Luke 14:28–30). More than once I have had to pray and give the whole building program into the hands of the Lord, and I feel much better after I do this. God has me in a position where I believe I am willing to do whatever He wants me to, whether to start or stop moving forward on the building. I just need to ask Him what my part is to be. Also now the contractor has said he will start the foundation with the money we have in hand.
We (our church) will do some of the work on the building, but we do not have permission to construct most of the building, as it is reinforced concrete, and those who do this have to be authorized. But there is some sheetrock, painting, etc. which we will do.
Sep. 17, 1999
The young lady who graduated from the Bible institute and wants to go to Malawi, Africa, as a missionary, is having problems with obtaining a visa there. At present she will only be able to get a 30-day visa and then will have to leave. I have talked to another missionary in Malawi, and he said he should be able to get her visas. She could also work in his ministry, teaching vacation Bible schools and Sunday school classes. I am lining up churches here in Romania to get support for her. I do not want to send someone out from Romania with US dollars. If God wants someone from Romania to go out, then He will have the Romanians support their own missionary.
The building program seems to be going good. There are at least enough promises from churches in the States that should be in by Oct. 1, to pour the concrete to the ground level. Right now the contractor has over 20 people working on the job site, and a number of people in the town are asking about the project. I enjoy seeing it go forward!
Nov. 4, 1999
The building is going forward, and I started calling the churches in the States again, asking for money, and I have received some good responses. Then, unexpectedly, Pastor Sam Davison of Oklahoma City, who has a large church of over 2,000 people, called me from the States and asked if his church could help. And they sent us $10,000.00! This was a great “pump primer,” not only because it was a large sum of money but because he is well known, and when I call and ask for help on the building, I can say that Pastor Sam Davison believes in what we are doing and has given to it. There are certain key pastors that if they believe God is working in you then others will also.
*So far we have one fourth of the money we need and are asking $29,500.00 for the house in Predeal that we want to sell for the building program. We have put an ad in several newspapers, but little response.
*Yesterday they started putting blocks on the foundation of our new building, as well as getting the rebar ready for the pillars that will be in the church.
*Our Bible institute started with an increase of students over last semester.
2000
Jan. 22, 2000
*New century! The “Y2K” problem did not happen.
Not much happening on the building, as it is too cold to pour concrete. Even during the days, most of the time it is below freezing. The work may not go forward till March, when it is warmer. I am eager to get started, as we have money in the bank for this. The building in Preadeal sold, and we now have half of the money raised for this building project, with promises of more churches who said they would help.
*Had to cancel our Bible institute today because of the snow.
March 16, 2000
*Still not able to start again on the building because some nights get below freezing and will crack the concrete if we pour it.
*We received another large gift of $10,500.00 given to us for the building from Pastor Karl Skinner’s church in Warrenton, Virginia. Also, some other offerings, and all together we have 60 percent of the funds needed to build.
*Evangelist Mike Gass from Medford, Oregon, plans on coming to preach a revival for us in some of our churches. He will come with some teens, a Christian school principal, and a businessman. Hope we can be a blessing to them and them to us.
April 3, 2000
*They have started building the church building again after three months of winter. It is good to get started again!
July 5, 2000
There have been a couple of changes to the church building, and I am not sure how much more it will cost, but these changes could not be helped. So I need to talk to the contractor about this. We have about 68 percent of the cost to build, but this is not counting some extra money (at least $15,000.00 more) that will be needed to do finish work, and now the money has slowed down. Obviously our church building is much smaller than Solomon’s temple, still I understand better now why King David, when he charged his son Solomon to build the temple, said, “be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed” (I Chronicles 22:11–19). And King David had prepared most of the gold, silver, and stones for this temple before Solomon started to build. Another verse speaks to me, “Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it” (I Chronicles 28:10).
*I will be going back stateside for two weeks to put our son Philip into Bible college. Hope he does well. I love him.
Aug. 12, 2000
We tried to start a couple of works, but they did not work out, and Christ said if they do not receive, you leave, so we have done some leaving. However at the town of Buda, about an hour and 15 minutes south from Busteni, is a small village of only 62 families. And over 70 people came to the showing of a film about the life of Jesus Christ that had been translated into Romanian. We showed it outside at night, as there was no other place there to show it, and we needed it to be dark enough to see the film, so from 9:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. we showed the film. I had told Buna, one of our helpers, how much joy I had, and he said he had the same. I know God loves everyone, but something seemed special there. Jesus Christ died for them also, “to the poor the gospel is preached” (Luke 7:22).
*I will be 50 years old Aug. 17th.
Sept. 11, 2000
*It will be at least a month before the roof is on our new building, and we need this if we are to do any work on the inside during the winter months.
*The work in Buda did not go anywhere, but I believe the Lord wanted us to try. At least they had the opportunity to hear the gospel (good news), and some made professions of faith.
Nov. 10, 2000
*The roof is still not on the new building yet! Perhaps in two weeks? Hope the weather holds.
*We will run out of money on the 24th of this month. Hoping and praying for more. To date, 74 percent of the funds have come in.
*Our Bible institute had 45 students this semester!
Dec. 1, 2000
*Our church building has a roof now but needs to be enclosed. Next week, Lord willing, they will put in the windows and gutters. It is starting to take shape.
*In January I plan on sending out a special letter to certain pastors who may help on the funds. I will enclose pictures of the building and follow up with phone calls.
It is not carnal to ask for money for the Lord’s work, as I once thought (I Corinthians 9:11; II Corinthians 11:7–8 and 12:13; and many more). Some believe you should only trust God and not ask for help but you can trust God and still ask for help. Hebrew 11:34–37 talks about the faith of those who “escaped the edge of the sword…And others…were slain with the sword…” It is interesting that both those who were slain by the sword and those who escaped the edge of the sword were said to have done this by faith. The passage tells us that certain were “not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection.” So their rewards would be greater, but both did this by faith. Maybe this is one reason the Lord told us not to judge anything before the time, as someone might judge and say those who were slain did not have faith but they did. And to ask others to get involved is not a lack of faith but challenging them to have a part, and afterward they are excited about the Lord’s work. See I Chronicles 29:5–9, where King David got the people of Israel to bring offerings to build the temple.
JUST NOW WHILE I WAS WRITING THIS a phone call came in from the States from Pastor Karl Skinner (who has given before, and I wrote him again telling him of our need for more money), and he said he would send us another $6,000.000 more for the building. Yes, I am rejoicing! And guess what he said to me? “Thank you for letting us know your needs. It is a blessing to us.” “Ask and it shall be given you” (Matthew 7:7). Thank the Lord I got over my shyness of asking for funds!
2001
Jan. 22, 2001
The building is going forward. I put in four space heaters so the workers can put the stucco on the inside over the blocks and concrete. The stucco is an inch and a half thick on both sides of the wall! This is how they straighten out the walls. They started putting the tile on the roof, and hopefully it will be done by next week. Though the money has been coming in for the building as I needed it, still in the last four months there was only one month that I did not need to borrow a few hundred dollars for myself from some missionary. I paid it all back at the beginning of each month, but I do not like doing this. The ministry has grown, and there are many needs, especially with the vans that keep breaking down and lunch for the students, not to mention unexpected needs.
*The Bible institute had 50 Students this semester. Hope they all continue, as usually there are a few each semester who drop out.
*The young lady from the institute has gone to Zambia instead of Malawi, as that is where she can get a place to stay and work with a missionary, plus visas.
March 1, 2001
We had another large gift come in, $14,000.00, again from Pastor Karl Skinner! Praise the Lord, it has all come in!!! But, I am facing about $3,000.00 more in cost overruns, and it is a little deflating to have to pick up the phone and ask again for these funds and then try to explain why I was “not smart enough” to see these needs at the first. None of this is counting the money I will need for some finish work on the building, and now it appears this will be at least $20,000.00. Hope the new building will help build up the church in attendance.
*Looking forward to furlough in November.
March 2, 2001
The contractor agreed that the cost overruns would be only $3,000.00. He had wanted $6,000.00. I had met with him to discuss the final bill to make sure there were no hidden costs, something I have checked on from time to time. And when he showed me all the monies that they had record of, surprisingly they thought I had given more than I did. I actually owed him $2,500 more than they thought. When I told him they had made the mistake in my favor, he was surprised and happy I was willing to come up with the other monies. And thankfully he lowered the cost from $6,000.00 down to the $3,000.00. Anyhow, we both feel better about this, and I have joy! This contractor is a good man, and more than once there were changes in the building that I knew would cost more, but he said he would make the changes without charging us extra. I asked why he would do this, and he said, “I want this church building to be an advertisement for our construction company.” Which meant he would do a good job on the construction.
June 10, 2001
New building in Busteni
Today (June 10, 2001) we dedicated our new facility to God! I am not sure how many came, perhaps 300? This included all nine of our works, as we bussed them all in to have a part, some people from our town, plus those who had worked on the building. I gave those who had worked on the building special recognition, except one lady who had made the drapes, because “I forgot.” Needless to say, she was upset with me, but fortunately I had an extra bouquet of flowers to give her, which she wanted, thankfully! There were many professions of faith today for Christ!
Today (June 10, 2001) we dedicated our new facility to God! I am not sure how many came, perhaps 300? This included all nine of our works, as we bussed them all in to have a part, some people from our town, plus those who had worked on the building. I gave those who had worked on the building special recognition, except one lady who had made the drapes, because “I forgot.” Needless to say, she was upset with me, but fortunately I had an extra bouquet of flowers to give her, which she wanted, thankfully! There were many professions of faith today for Christ!
Our church was built without borrowing. I do not want the church to be in debt, “the borrower is servant to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7). However, there were extras after the initial cost of the construction, such as marble and crystal chandeliers. There were, in fact, 57 lamps made of crystal, including two chandeliers of 24 arms each. The total price for the 57 lamps, including the tax, was $2,700.00! I could not have bought even one chandelier in the States for this. And Romanian crystal and marble are of good quality. I wanted it to be really nice. Have you ever wanted to do something really nice for the Lord?
So the building has “extras”—real crystal, marble, brass hand railings, and fancy drapes. But I did not want someone thinking I was making people in the States pay for this extra, so I borrowed this last part in my name, not the church’s. If someone wants to borrow money and buy a car or a home, that is his business, and if I wanted to borrow money and give it to the Lord, that is my business. “[T]here came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head. And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her. And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. She hath done what she could” (Mark 14:3–9).
So the building has “extras”—real crystal, marble, brass hand railings, and fancy drapes. But I did not want someone thinking I was making people in the States pay for this extra, so I borrowed this last part in my name, not the church’s. If someone wants to borrow money and buy a car or a home, that is his business, and if I wanted to borrow money and give it to the Lord, that is my business. “[T]here came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head. And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her. And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. She hath done what she could” (Mark 14:3–9).
Children singing in front of the church on dedication day.
We were so rushed to get everything ready for the building dedication because my pastor had already bought tickets to be here for that date, and the building had to ready by then. I was able to squeeze in some extra prayer for this big day, but not fasting, which I regret. You don’t get a second chance to do it right!
It was a little less than two years in construction, and every day I came to the work site twice. I told the workers of the construction company, “This is not for me. It is in truth for God, so it has to be right!” All bills for the construction of the building and land are paid in full except the personal loan I took out for the extras. I am tired!
Sep. 8, 2001
The attendance at our church in Busteni is up only a little (five extra per week). I had hoped because of the new building it would greatly help the attendance. However, the people in town show us more respect now. I think they were afraid we would build a shack. After all, the location of our building is in the center of the city, and they would not want something that would be an eyesore. It is nice now that the pressure of raising the funds and the building are passed (I hope).
*Getting ready for another Missionary Get-together. I am lining up speakers and calling around to get a good group of missionary families to come.
*We have been here in Romania 10 years and hope to take our third furlough soon. I want to be stateside for Nancy’s birthday on Nov 14.
*The Bible institute starts in one week. Most of the teachers are now Romanians who have graduated from the institute.
2002
Jan. 29, 2002
*The Missionary Get-together went well, and our guest speakers were Evangelist Dave McCracken and Pastor Karl Skinner. Bro Skinner’s church had given the most to the new building.
We have had nonstop situations all through the summer and fall. “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all” (Psalm 34:19). I will mention only one. A missionary who was to take our place so we could go back to the States left unexpectedly, so we were not able to go back and may not be able to for another six months. Most of the time I do not think about going to the States on furlough, but once plans are made, it is hard not to think about it, with planning on where you will go and seeing relatives, etc.—in this case, for our children and their grandparents and friends they have in the States. Nancy and I bought a new luggage case for each one of our children so they could see we were definitely planning on going back, just not now.
March 29, 2002
We are having a guest speaker from the states come and speak on creationism about why we did not come from animals. We will have this for our church in Busteni, but mainly for the teens. We have invited a number of churches and are planning to host around 300 teenagers. Most believe the Genesis account already and not in evolution, but as in the States, they are taught evolution in public schools, so it is good for them to have reasons from science.
2003
May, 23, 2003
Over a year since my last entry. We spent a full year on our third furlough. The other two were six and seven months, respectively. One reason we stayed so long was because we had enrolled our three youngest children in Christian school. Our three oldest (Ben, Philip, and Bethe) are now all over 19 years of age and “out of the nest.” The Christian school had four hundred students and is well managed. It is part of Pastor Paul Chappel’s church, and he graciously let us put our children in for free to be a blessing to missionaries. Otherwise, I could not have afforded it. I am not sure how many thousands go to his church on Sunday, but even on Wednesday night there are 2,000 in attendance.
*Plan to start a church in Bucharest now that we are back in Romania. We’ll see.
July 5, 2003
*Doing planning and have a year calendar for the church. Met for two days with our workers and shared things I thought would help in our ministry.
There are some situations with our works and where the workers live and work at. It is understandable they may not want, or be able, to move to a new church location to minster in. However, this usually means more gas money (twice what it cost in the States) and makes it harder to do visits at the church they will minster in. I do not have an answer as yet for this, so I am praying about it.
*Nine more graduated from our Bible institute.
We were so rushed to get everything ready for the building dedication because my pastor had already bought tickets to be here for that date, and the building had to ready by then. I was able to squeeze in some extra prayer for this big day, but not fasting, which I regret. You don’t get a second chance to do it right!
It was a little less than two years in construction, and every day I came to the work site twice. I told the workers of the construction company, “This is not for me. It is in truth for God, so it has to be right!” All bills for the construction of the building and land are paid in full except the personal loan I took out for the extras. I am tired!
Sep. 8, 2001
The attendance at our church in Busteni is up only a little (five extra per week). I had hoped because of the new building it would greatly help the attendance. However, the people in town show us more respect now. I think they were afraid we would build a shack. After all, the location of our building is in the center of the city, and they would not want something that would be an eyesore. It is nice now that the pressure of raising the funds and the building are passed (I hope).
*Getting ready for another Missionary Get-together. I am lining up speakers and calling around to get a good group of missionary families to come.
*We have been here in Romania 10 years and hope to take our third furlough soon. I want to be stateside for Nancy’s birthday on Nov 14.
*The Bible institute starts in one week. Most of the teachers are now Romanians who have graduated from the institute.
2002
Jan. 29, 2002
*The Missionary Get-together went well, and our guest speakers were Evangelist Dave McCracken and Pastor Karl Skinner. Bro Skinner’s church had given the most to the new building.
We have had nonstop situations all through the summer and fall. “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all” (Psalm 34:19). I will mention only one. A missionary who was to take our place so we could go back to the States left unexpectedly, so we were not able to go back and may not be able to for another six months. Most of the time I do not think about going to the States on furlough, but once plans are made, it is hard not to think about it, with planning on where you will go and seeing relatives, etc.—in this case, for our children and their grandparents and friends they have in the States. Nancy and I bought a new luggage case for each one of our children so they could see we were definitely planning on going back, just not now.
March 29, 2002
We are having a guest speaker from the states come and speak on creationism about why we did not come from animals. We will have this for our church in Busteni, but mainly for the teens. We have invited a number of churches and are planning to host around 300 teenagers. Most believe the Genesis account already and not in evolution, but as in the States, they are taught evolution in public schools, so it is good for them to have reasons from science.
2003
May, 23, 2003
Over a year since my last entry. We spent a full year on our third furlough. The other two were six and seven months, respectively. One reason we stayed so long was because we had enrolled our three youngest children in Christian school. Our three oldest (Ben, Philip, and Bethe) are now all over 19 years of age and “out of the nest.” The Christian school had four hundred students and is well managed. It is part of Pastor Paul Chappel’s church, and he graciously let us put our children in for free to be a blessing to missionaries. Otherwise, I could not have afforded it. I am not sure how many thousands go to his church on Sunday, but even on Wednesday night there are 2,000 in attendance.
*Plan to start a church in Bucharest now that we are back in Romania. We’ll see.
July 5, 2003
*Doing planning and have a year calendar for the church. Met for two days with our workers and shared things I thought would help in our ministry.
There are some situations with our works and where the workers live and work at. It is understandable they may not want, or be able, to move to a new church location to minster in. However, this usually means more gas money (twice what it cost in the States) and makes it harder to do visits at the church they will minster in. I do not have an answer as yet for this, so I am praying about it.
*Nine more graduated from our Bible institute.
Aug. 23, 2003
*Started a work in Bucharest. We have a good family there to help, but the man does not preach. I drive down there on Sunday and Friday evenings to preach. So far, only a few are coming to our services.
Aug. 30, 2003
Someone who is helping us said he was not happy with how I was ministering and was thinking about going elsewhere. I said we would help him move if he liked, but if he decided to stay, his attitude needed to change. (A few years later another man who was getting upset over situations and people in the church said to me, “You want me to go, don’t you?!” I said, “No, you can stay, but your attitude needs to go!”)
Oct. 28, 2003
The three-day Missionary Get-Together went well! Our main speakers were Dr. Carl Boonstra and Evangelist Mike Gass. God gave us 43 missionary families, including their children. The missionaries are mostly from East Europe, plus those who came from the States to minister to them and our Romanians, in all over 250. It was good to see that many in God’s house! Although it wore me out getting the housing for them all. I was impressed that God was speaking through our guest speakers to give the missionaries a wider ministry in the countries they work in. Preachers (evangelists, pastors, or missionaries) who do not see the need for fellowshipping with other preachers and hearing preaching, can go off on tangents or think they are the only ones serving God.
*The work in Bucharest seems to be going forward. One of our workers does the preaching there. It is a five-hour round-trip drive.
*The Bible institute is down to 40 students. Need some more God-called men.
Nov. 19, 2003
Had a problem with a student at our institute. He got caught doing something wrong, which he called an “accident.” I told him he would be out of the institute this semester, and there would have to be a complete change if admitted back in. He and his relatives got upset with me. I told them the biggest problem I had was his attitude. I thought about it some more and decided I would call him. I explained to him that he was not a robot that had malfunctioned (had an accident), but he, as everyone else, has free will, and people in the Bible had consequences for their actions. And though I forgive my children when they do wrong, there is normally some restriction or extra chores for them to do. And that this correction helps to keep it in their mind and fosters a better attitude afterward. This seemed to help some; at least it showed brotherly love for him because I took the time to explain it better.
Dec. 27, 2003
We had a good Christmas; a church in the states had given us some extra money. We usually get some extra money before Christmas, as the churches in the States take good care of us. However, this was more than normal, so we bought some nice presents for our children and also gave some to our workers.
*God has led me through many different situations of late to help me learn something about mercy. “By mercy and truth iniquity is purged” (Proverbs 16:6).
2004
Jan. 23, 2004
*I have been writing a book about things that have happened in my life, a sort of autobiography. Some stories are funny, but all are true and hopefully interesting.
Jan. 30, 2004
Just finished one of our best revival services with missionary Brian Nibbe. He is a good preacher, and his wife has an excellent voice. The last night we had 100 people counting the visitors, which is good for us. Our people were built up by the messages, and we hope to see some growth from this.
May 8, 2004
*My Mom asked Christ to save her! I led her to the Lord over the phone, from Romania. My Dad still needs the Lord. But it is usually a big argument if I try to tell him of his need.
*Eight more students graduated from the Bible institute! And it seems like our Lord is working among us more than normal!
*Started a work in Bucharest. We have a good family there to help, but the man does not preach. I drive down there on Sunday and Friday evenings to preach. So far, only a few are coming to our services.
Aug. 30, 2003
Someone who is helping us said he was not happy with how I was ministering and was thinking about going elsewhere. I said we would help him move if he liked, but if he decided to stay, his attitude needed to change. (A few years later another man who was getting upset over situations and people in the church said to me, “You want me to go, don’t you?!” I said, “No, you can stay, but your attitude needs to go!”)
Oct. 28, 2003
The three-day Missionary Get-Together went well! Our main speakers were Dr. Carl Boonstra and Evangelist Mike Gass. God gave us 43 missionary families, including their children. The missionaries are mostly from East Europe, plus those who came from the States to minister to them and our Romanians, in all over 250. It was good to see that many in God’s house! Although it wore me out getting the housing for them all. I was impressed that God was speaking through our guest speakers to give the missionaries a wider ministry in the countries they work in. Preachers (evangelists, pastors, or missionaries) who do not see the need for fellowshipping with other preachers and hearing preaching, can go off on tangents or think they are the only ones serving God.
*The work in Bucharest seems to be going forward. One of our workers does the preaching there. It is a five-hour round-trip drive.
*The Bible institute is down to 40 students. Need some more God-called men.
Nov. 19, 2003
Had a problem with a student at our institute. He got caught doing something wrong, which he called an “accident.” I told him he would be out of the institute this semester, and there would have to be a complete change if admitted back in. He and his relatives got upset with me. I told them the biggest problem I had was his attitude. I thought about it some more and decided I would call him. I explained to him that he was not a robot that had malfunctioned (had an accident), but he, as everyone else, has free will, and people in the Bible had consequences for their actions. And though I forgive my children when they do wrong, there is normally some restriction or extra chores for them to do. And that this correction helps to keep it in their mind and fosters a better attitude afterward. This seemed to help some; at least it showed brotherly love for him because I took the time to explain it better.
Dec. 27, 2003
We had a good Christmas; a church in the states had given us some extra money. We usually get some extra money before Christmas, as the churches in the States take good care of us. However, this was more than normal, so we bought some nice presents for our children and also gave some to our workers.
*God has led me through many different situations of late to help me learn something about mercy. “By mercy and truth iniquity is purged” (Proverbs 16:6).
2004
Jan. 23, 2004
*I have been writing a book about things that have happened in my life, a sort of autobiography. Some stories are funny, but all are true and hopefully interesting.
Jan. 30, 2004
Just finished one of our best revival services with missionary Brian Nibbe. He is a good preacher, and his wife has an excellent voice. The last night we had 100 people counting the visitors, which is good for us. Our people were built up by the messages, and we hope to see some growth from this.
May 8, 2004
*My Mom asked Christ to save her! I led her to the Lord over the phone, from Romania. My Dad still needs the Lord. But it is usually a big argument if I try to tell him of his need.
*Eight more students graduated from the Bible institute! And it seems like our Lord is working among us more than normal!
June 3, 2004
*Last week was a very hard week, and twice I asked the Lord to help me and strengthen me. Seems I have lost some of my joy of service to the Lord. Thankfully, I can pray and get it back, which I did.
Nov. 17, 2004
Several things have happened since my last entry. We sold our home we have lived in for 10 years, where basically our children grew up in. Sort of sad in some ways, but we no longer need this large of house. All our debts are paid, and we are presently renting while we wait to build a parsonage to live in. I am having the same architect who made the plans for our church building do the same for our home, which we will build above the church’s new fellowship hall. This will be right in back of our new building, so we will need to tear down the old home we had originally used. I bought a Romanian car, a brand-new Dacia Logan, for only $7,000.00! This is the second Dacia I have owned, and they have been good for me.
*The Bible institute has 30 students in it, and they seem serious.
*I was in the country of Moldova this summer and was the main speaker at a college-age camp for Christian young people, about 200 from 18–24 years of age. Moldova is the only other country that speaks the Romanian language.
2005
Jan. 25, 2005
*I thank the Lord for solving a bunch of different situations.
*Our daughter Bethe is visiting us from the US Air Force; she is spending three weeks and bought presents for all. She is scheduled to go to Iraq this spring. Hope she will be OK, we love her. Our son Philip did a six-year tour of duty with the army and is now going to Tempe Arizona University.
March 8, 2005
We have about $20,000.00 saved up for the church fellowship hall and our house that will be on top of it. Thankfully, things are still much cheaper here, but we will need another $20.000.00 to get the job done, and that is with us doing much of the work. Pastor Karl Skinner came through for us again and said he would give $10,000.00 and I could use it for a matching fund. So when I call a church up and ask for $1,000.00, I can tell the preacher it will be double because of the matching fund that is set up. This will make it easier to raise the money.
May 30, 2005
I have started a search for the “great stones” of Jeremiah 43:9–10, the ones he buried in Egypt. Everyone thinks they were large stones because it says “great” stones, but they were in one hand, so they had to be small. The word great in the Bible, as it is today, can also mean important. Perhaps I will make this a chapter in my book of short stories. I hope to take my son Caleb to Egypt to the town where Jeremiah went to.
*We only need $1,600 more for the fellowship hall and our home.
*Our daughter Bethe has been in Iraq for over a month and will be for another four or five more months. She loves it!
Aug. 9, 2005
Got back from Egypt. Overall, I was not happy with the ancient site we went to. It was just some old bricks. And we were stopped two times at checkpoints outside of Cairo, by the military or police. But I love Caleb and it was fun being with him, and we got to see the sphinx and go inside the Great Pyramid. However, while we were there, 200 people were injured and over 80 killed by terrorists at Sharm el-Sheikh in the Sinai Peninsula. And that same day, they doubled the guards at our hotel and other hotels around Cairo.
*We will start building next week on the church’s fellowship hall.
2006
Sept. 3, 2006
We went stateside for my mom’s funeral. Thank God she was saved! The funeral was held in her old church, which never mentions salvation, and when they asked if anyone from the audience (about 100 people) had anything they would like to say, I said. “I do.” And I preached a 10-minute message on how to get to heaven without a church or priest.
We ended up taking a furlough while we were back in the States, and visited our churches that support us and our children. Left our daughter Sarah with a car, place to rent, and enrolled in a beauty school she wants to attend. Hope it will be well with her, we love her.
*Right after I got back to Romania, a businessman, whom I have known since I first came here, literally gave me a van! It was a 2000 model and looks nice. I was out of money and had no transportation. I was not sure what I was going to do, but God supplied.
Sunday school in Busteni
*Last week was a very hard week, and twice I asked the Lord to help me and strengthen me. Seems I have lost some of my joy of service to the Lord. Thankfully, I can pray and get it back, which I did.
Nov. 17, 2004
Several things have happened since my last entry. We sold our home we have lived in for 10 years, where basically our children grew up in. Sort of sad in some ways, but we no longer need this large of house. All our debts are paid, and we are presently renting while we wait to build a parsonage to live in. I am having the same architect who made the plans for our church building do the same for our home, which we will build above the church’s new fellowship hall. This will be right in back of our new building, so we will need to tear down the old home we had originally used. I bought a Romanian car, a brand-new Dacia Logan, for only $7,000.00! This is the second Dacia I have owned, and they have been good for me.
*The Bible institute has 30 students in it, and they seem serious.
*I was in the country of Moldova this summer and was the main speaker at a college-age camp for Christian young people, about 200 from 18–24 years of age. Moldova is the only other country that speaks the Romanian language.
2005
Jan. 25, 2005
*I thank the Lord for solving a bunch of different situations.
*Our daughter Bethe is visiting us from the US Air Force; she is spending three weeks and bought presents for all. She is scheduled to go to Iraq this spring. Hope she will be OK, we love her. Our son Philip did a six-year tour of duty with the army and is now going to Tempe Arizona University.
March 8, 2005
We have about $20,000.00 saved up for the church fellowship hall and our house that will be on top of it. Thankfully, things are still much cheaper here, but we will need another $20.000.00 to get the job done, and that is with us doing much of the work. Pastor Karl Skinner came through for us again and said he would give $10,000.00 and I could use it for a matching fund. So when I call a church up and ask for $1,000.00, I can tell the preacher it will be double because of the matching fund that is set up. This will make it easier to raise the money.
May 30, 2005
I have started a search for the “great stones” of Jeremiah 43:9–10, the ones he buried in Egypt. Everyone thinks they were large stones because it says “great” stones, but they were in one hand, so they had to be small. The word great in the Bible, as it is today, can also mean important. Perhaps I will make this a chapter in my book of short stories. I hope to take my son Caleb to Egypt to the town where Jeremiah went to.
*We only need $1,600 more for the fellowship hall and our home.
*Our daughter Bethe has been in Iraq for over a month and will be for another four or five more months. She loves it!
Aug. 9, 2005
Got back from Egypt. Overall, I was not happy with the ancient site we went to. It was just some old bricks. And we were stopped two times at checkpoints outside of Cairo, by the military or police. But I love Caleb and it was fun being with him, and we got to see the sphinx and go inside the Great Pyramid. However, while we were there, 200 people were injured and over 80 killed by terrorists at Sharm el-Sheikh in the Sinai Peninsula. And that same day, they doubled the guards at our hotel and other hotels around Cairo.
*We will start building next week on the church’s fellowship hall.
2006
Sept. 3, 2006
We went stateside for my mom’s funeral. Thank God she was saved! The funeral was held in her old church, which never mentions salvation, and when they asked if anyone from the audience (about 100 people) had anything they would like to say, I said. “I do.” And I preached a 10-minute message on how to get to heaven without a church or priest.
We ended up taking a furlough while we were back in the States, and visited our churches that support us and our children. Left our daughter Sarah with a car, place to rent, and enrolled in a beauty school she wants to attend. Hope it will be well with her, we love her.
*Right after I got back to Romania, a businessman, whom I have known since I first came here, literally gave me a van! It was a 2000 model and looks nice. I was out of money and had no transportation. I was not sure what I was going to do, but God supplied.
Sunday school in Busteni
Sept. 27, 2006
*Been back in Romania now a month, and Sunday we had visitors from out of town and from our town of Busteni.
*God has given me more love for my family and brothers and sisters in Romania. After 15 years of living here and going through some of the same situations together, knowing people better and seeing their love and prayers for us, causes love to grow one for another, and it is good.
*I have been working hard trying to get our house ready so we can move into it.
2007
April 27, 2007
*Earlier this year we had a wedding (pictured below) of a graduated from the institute who had met his wife at summer camp.
Saturday, three more students will graduate from the Bible institute. The institute is smaller now because two other missionaries who were sending students to be trained by us are no longer in Romania but have gone back to the States to minster there. In fact, most of the missionaries we have known have gone back to the States permanently. It will be harder in the future to have the Missionary Get-Togethers, with so many gone.
*Nancy and I were in London for four days, and also a side trip to Oxford University. I was looking for information about the “great stones” of Jeremiah 43:9. So far I have not found anything except where not to look.
*Been back in Romania now a month, and Sunday we had visitors from out of town and from our town of Busteni.
*God has given me more love for my family and brothers and sisters in Romania. After 15 years of living here and going through some of the same situations together, knowing people better and seeing their love and prayers for us, causes love to grow one for another, and it is good.
*I have been working hard trying to get our house ready so we can move into it.
2007
April 27, 2007
*Earlier this year we had a wedding (pictured below) of a graduated from the institute who had met his wife at summer camp.
Saturday, three more students will graduate from the Bible institute. The institute is smaller now because two other missionaries who were sending students to be trained by us are no longer in Romania but have gone back to the States to minster there. In fact, most of the missionaries we have known have gone back to the States permanently. It will be harder in the future to have the Missionary Get-Togethers, with so many gone.
*Nancy and I were in London for four days, and also a side trip to Oxford University. I was looking for information about the “great stones” of Jeremiah 43:9. So far I have not found anything except where not to look.
At the British Museum and Nancy and I at Oxford
May 16, 2007
*After 16 years here in Romania, our church is only averaging a little over 50 people. And we have a beautiful building with a great location.
June 27, 2007
I called my dad on the phone this last Father’s Day. I have witnessed to him several times in the past, and usually it is a big argument. But since my mom’s funeral, where I preached for 10 minutes, he seems more open. But he still thinks it is up to him to do enough good things in order to get to heaven. “Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:9). I pray for him a little each day that he would be saved and open to God’s working in his heart. At any rate, when I called him, he brought up the subject and said, “You know, I think we will all make it to heaven and all be holding hands up there together.” I said, “I will be holding Jesus’s hand.” “Oh yeah,” He said.
July 14, 2007
I had to stop the work in Bucharest, as the main family who was helping with this work had moved to a city three hours away, so it was just not possible to keep it going. But as in other locations that have not taken root, at least some people heard the gospel, and hopefully, the seeds that were planted will bear fruit.
*We had a good VBS in our main work.
*We started a teen night on Fridays. It last for three hours, to give our teenagers someplace to go rather than on the streets or some worldly temptation. We have ping-pong, chess, puzzles, and the third-hour has songs, and a message. At present only a few are coming, but they seem to like it.
July 31, 2007
Sunday morning we had 71 at church in Busteni, which is good for us. There is a group called the Baptist Union, which has been in Eastern Europe for hundreds of years and has some large churches in Romania. I heard one has 3,000 in attendance.
Oct. 13, 2007
We just finished our seventh Missionary Get-Together, with great preaching. It lasted for three days, and we arranged for the food and hotel rooms for the missionaries to get them a break in the prices. There were 30 families of missionaries present, and 12 Romanian pastors. There are less and less missionaries here in Romania, and it will be even harder in the future to have meetings like this.
*We are tired but getting rest. God is good!
Oct. 19, 2007
*We are still tired from the Missionary Get-Together (getting old), and Sunday we only had 46 in attendance! The Bible institute is now down to five students. We have no missionaries working with us, as they have either gone back to the States or started their own works.
Nov. 19, 2007
Sunday we had the church from Saint George, where Marian is the pastor. He has got the church self-supporting. And after the main service, we had a nice lunch for both churches.
*My eyes hurt from all the reading I am doing, searching for the stones that the prophet Jeremiah buried (Jeremiah 43:9–10). It seems the more I study, the more I need to study.
Dec. 8, 2007
*Nancy was not happy with me because I spent $500.00 on about 30 e-books (all on archaeology). I hope my search will have a happy conclusion. At times it consumes me.
*Missionary Dave Manary will be taking over the work at Pucioasa. He is a good man and has a desire to build a church building for the church there. Something I could not do, and they need someone there to encourage them.
2008
March 25, 2008
We had a big day at our church, with five of the works we started all coming together at Busteni. We are not a big church, and the other works are even smaller, but with all of us together, it is a good group and a great encouragement to all. Each church has song specials, and the children recite verses they have memorized. There are testimonies and preachers from the different works. For this special day, we started at 10:00 a.m. and went to 3:00 p.m.
The town we live in only has one main factory (a paper factory), and when we came to Busteni ion 1991, it employed over 2,500 workers. But it started to close down some years back, and today only a few work there. Our town here is only about 12,000, and without this factory, most have a hard time making ends meet, and so many have left and gone elsewhere. But now I see some growth here, with the construction of some new apartment blocks (five-story buildings) and some other construction that I have not seen before. Hopefully, more people will move to our town and we will be able to reach them
May 29, 2008
Sent my manuscript about Jeremiah 43:9–10 to a pastor to read and to get some feedback. We found the stones and held both of them in one hand, as Jeremiah did. They were not important as I thought, but expensive, and still small enough to fit in one hand. Nancy said the book was a good read, and I hope to get it published. Hopefully, it will show how accurate God’s word is, similar to how a book on creationism shows the errors of evolution. I have never put this much study into anything in my life. It has, however, been lots of fun!
Sept. 2, 2008
We changed the hours of our church, from 10:00 and 11:00 a.m., and Sunday evening at 5:30, to 10:00, 11:00, and 12:00. We now get out at 1:00 p.m. Though we do not have the evening service, we still have three hours on Sunday. One of the benefits to this is we do not lose half of our people on Sunday evening, because they are already at church. Also, we do not have to run a van in the evening or keep the gas heaters on all afternoon in the winter. And because it is a little long (three hours), we take a 15-minute break after the main service and have fellowship, coffee, and snacks. Our people love it, and I do too because it helps them make friends in the church. And then they come back into the main auditorium, and we have our last services. Now I have Sunday evening services off to preach in one of our other works. It is true this will not work in every church but it has here, especially for those who come from a long distance to our church each week, but it is worth the distance for them because they stay longer and have all three services at once.
The Friday night teen service, which also lasts for three hours, has grown into a family night, and now we have many more coming to it. I was surprised by this, thinking the teens would not want their parents or younger siblings to be there, but it is not a problem, and all enjoy it. And after the first two hours, we have a regular church service.
2009
Jan. 23, 2009
I was never able to get an agent at a publishing company to even look at our book (Great Stones), so I have sent the manuscript in to a self-publishing company. It will be print on demand (POD), which means they only print out a copy if someone orders it, so I do not have to pay for a large number to be printed.
Nancy and I are going back on furlough and will have a short-term missionary fill in for us while we are back in the States. These helpers are provided by our missions’ office for missionaries who ask for them, which is a blessing to us. I was sent out by my local church, and the missions’ office is a clearinghouse (collects our money from the different churches and sends it to us) at no cost to us. A big blessing is, when I need a loan, I just pick up a phone and ask, without a hassle or long wait. They are like a bank to me, only without a lot of red tape, and I do not have to agree with a banker on his beliefs, but then I don’t need too.
May 16, 2007
*After 16 years here in Romania, our church is only averaging a little over 50 people. And we have a beautiful building with a great location.
June 27, 2007
I called my dad on the phone this last Father’s Day. I have witnessed to him several times in the past, and usually it is a big argument. But since my mom’s funeral, where I preached for 10 minutes, he seems more open. But he still thinks it is up to him to do enough good things in order to get to heaven. “Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:9). I pray for him a little each day that he would be saved and open to God’s working in his heart. At any rate, when I called him, he brought up the subject and said, “You know, I think we will all make it to heaven and all be holding hands up there together.” I said, “I will be holding Jesus’s hand.” “Oh yeah,” He said.
July 14, 2007
I had to stop the work in Bucharest, as the main family who was helping with this work had moved to a city three hours away, so it was just not possible to keep it going. But as in other locations that have not taken root, at least some people heard the gospel, and hopefully, the seeds that were planted will bear fruit.
*We had a good VBS in our main work.
*We started a teen night on Fridays. It last for three hours, to give our teenagers someplace to go rather than on the streets or some worldly temptation. We have ping-pong, chess, puzzles, and the third-hour has songs, and a message. At present only a few are coming, but they seem to like it.
July 31, 2007
Sunday morning we had 71 at church in Busteni, which is good for us. There is a group called the Baptist Union, which has been in Eastern Europe for hundreds of years and has some large churches in Romania. I heard one has 3,000 in attendance.
Oct. 13, 2007
We just finished our seventh Missionary Get-Together, with great preaching. It lasted for three days, and we arranged for the food and hotel rooms for the missionaries to get them a break in the prices. There were 30 families of missionaries present, and 12 Romanian pastors. There are less and less missionaries here in Romania, and it will be even harder in the future to have meetings like this.
*We are tired but getting rest. God is good!
Oct. 19, 2007
*We are still tired from the Missionary Get-Together (getting old), and Sunday we only had 46 in attendance! The Bible institute is now down to five students. We have no missionaries working with us, as they have either gone back to the States or started their own works.
Nov. 19, 2007
Sunday we had the church from Saint George, where Marian is the pastor. He has got the church self-supporting. And after the main service, we had a nice lunch for both churches.
*My eyes hurt from all the reading I am doing, searching for the stones that the prophet Jeremiah buried (Jeremiah 43:9–10). It seems the more I study, the more I need to study.
Dec. 8, 2007
*Nancy was not happy with me because I spent $500.00 on about 30 e-books (all on archaeology). I hope my search will have a happy conclusion. At times it consumes me.
*Missionary Dave Manary will be taking over the work at Pucioasa. He is a good man and has a desire to build a church building for the church there. Something I could not do, and they need someone there to encourage them.
2008
March 25, 2008
We had a big day at our church, with five of the works we started all coming together at Busteni. We are not a big church, and the other works are even smaller, but with all of us together, it is a good group and a great encouragement to all. Each church has song specials, and the children recite verses they have memorized. There are testimonies and preachers from the different works. For this special day, we started at 10:00 a.m. and went to 3:00 p.m.
The town we live in only has one main factory (a paper factory), and when we came to Busteni ion 1991, it employed over 2,500 workers. But it started to close down some years back, and today only a few work there. Our town here is only about 12,000, and without this factory, most have a hard time making ends meet, and so many have left and gone elsewhere. But now I see some growth here, with the construction of some new apartment blocks (five-story buildings) and some other construction that I have not seen before. Hopefully, more people will move to our town and we will be able to reach them
May 29, 2008
Sent my manuscript about Jeremiah 43:9–10 to a pastor to read and to get some feedback. We found the stones and held both of them in one hand, as Jeremiah did. They were not important as I thought, but expensive, and still small enough to fit in one hand. Nancy said the book was a good read, and I hope to get it published. Hopefully, it will show how accurate God’s word is, similar to how a book on creationism shows the errors of evolution. I have never put this much study into anything in my life. It has, however, been lots of fun!
Sept. 2, 2008
We changed the hours of our church, from 10:00 and 11:00 a.m., and Sunday evening at 5:30, to 10:00, 11:00, and 12:00. We now get out at 1:00 p.m. Though we do not have the evening service, we still have three hours on Sunday. One of the benefits to this is we do not lose half of our people on Sunday evening, because they are already at church. Also, we do not have to run a van in the evening or keep the gas heaters on all afternoon in the winter. And because it is a little long (three hours), we take a 15-minute break after the main service and have fellowship, coffee, and snacks. Our people love it, and I do too because it helps them make friends in the church. And then they come back into the main auditorium, and we have our last services. Now I have Sunday evening services off to preach in one of our other works. It is true this will not work in every church but it has here, especially for those who come from a long distance to our church each week, but it is worth the distance for them because they stay longer and have all three services at once.
The Friday night teen service, which also lasts for three hours, has grown into a family night, and now we have many more coming to it. I was surprised by this, thinking the teens would not want their parents or younger siblings to be there, but it is not a problem, and all enjoy it. And after the first two hours, we have a regular church service.
2009
Jan. 23, 2009
I was never able to get an agent at a publishing company to even look at our book (Great Stones), so I have sent the manuscript in to a self-publishing company. It will be print on demand (POD), which means they only print out a copy if someone orders it, so I do not have to pay for a large number to be printed.
Nancy and I are going back on furlough and will have a short-term missionary fill in for us while we are back in the States. These helpers are provided by our missions’ office for missionaries who ask for them, which is a blessing to us. I was sent out by my local church, and the missions’ office is a clearinghouse (collects our money from the different churches and sends it to us) at no cost to us. A big blessing is, when I need a loan, I just pick up a phone and ask, without a hassle or long wait. They are like a bank to me, only without a lot of red tape, and I do not have to agree with a banker on his beliefs, but then I don’t need too.
Oct. 11, 2009
*Got back from our furlough, and we were able to see all of our children a number of times, including a family reunion. We have our first grandchild, and his name is Lucas!
*I have been researching and writing about the Red Sea crossing by Israel during the Exodus. It’s fun! The scholars have started from the wrong place!
*We have an “empty nest” now, for all of our children are in the States, either in the military, working, or in college. Our son Philip graduated summa cum laude from Arizona State University.
Nov. 7, 2009
*We are planning a revival with missionary Tom Gentry, who is a good friend of mine. Nancy is making some nice posters for this, to encourage our people to be at all the services and to invite others.
*More research. I am looking for Mount Sinai—the traditional Mount Sinai is just that, “traditional.”
Dec. 30, 2009
Nancy, I and Caleb, who is home visiting from Bible college, just got back from Egypt. We went to see a mountain I believe is Mount Sinai (Gebel Gharib). We drove out there in a rented four-wheel drive and spent the night there. No one anywhere around, not even Bedouins. There were camel paths there, but no road, not even a dirt road, within 10 miles. Also, we went to check out some traditions of the Exodus being in that area.
2010
Feb. 17, 2010
Last month we were called by two of our daughters with bad news. We were told our oldest son, Benjamin, had died by a self-inflicted gun wound. He was one month shy of his 30th birthday. He had been taking medication for depression for several years, and to make a long story short, his depression got the best of him. Our daughter Ruthe said that he had called her and talked for an hour and said he was depressed, but nothing about ending it all. Obviously what he did was not right, but then it was not right that King Saul fell on his own sword, but still he went to heaven. Samuel, the prophet who had died and gone to heaven, told King Saul “to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me” (I Samuel 28:19). If someone says, “Where was God when your son died?” The answer is, same place He was when His Son died.
Thank God for all the Romanians who prayed for us. Nancy and I both received peace and even joy more than once. I would be in my study and then receive peace, but I had not asked for it. I would then walk into the living room where Nancy was sitting and ask her if she was receiving peace, and she would say she was. But she was not asking for it either, and still we both received this at the same time because of our brothers and sisters in Christ who loved us and were “labouring fervently” (Colossians 4:12) for us in prayer.
All the money came in for the round trip back and forth to the States and for the funeral. On our last furlough, we spent some extra time with Ben down at the ocean for two days and gave him our car we had used on furlough, and I am glad we did this. We will see him again (I Thessalonians 4:11–19). We hope to be a help to his son (our grandson), and are glad for him.
Something else that happened was with our van. Nancy and I were in our van. She was driving and got in a wreck. Normally she is a better driver than I. Thankfully, no was hurt, and right after we got the car pushed off the road, a man walked up to me and said, “Will you sell me your car?” I asked him if he was joking, because the van was totaled. He had the same van and wanted the pieces off ours for his. Then he even offered to give me a car as a trade, and it had an automatic transmission in it, something that is not common in Eastern Europe, but Nancy likes driving an automatic. Truly this was the hand of the Lord. Who else would have wanted our type of van, at that moment, and even had a car to give us to use, which we got the same day and drove away with it!
April 10, 2010
*Celebrated Easter. We serve a risen Savior: “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins” (I Corinthians 15:17).
Nancy has been listening to the Bible on a “stick” that she keeps with her, and uses earphones when she is doing work around the house. She has heard much more of the Bible than ever before and has come up with some good ideas. She wanted us to have a nice-quality tract made from good-quality paper and with nice pictures. So we made up a few thousand, and on Saturdays we had tract distribution until we covered our city.
Aug. 17, 2010
*I am 60 years old today. “Oh my!”
2011April 8, 2011
I had some pottery pieces date tested that I had picked up in the desert of Egypt, at a sight I believe was one of the encampments of Israel during the Exodus. The same pieces were tested at three different laboratories with the oldest date being 1530 BC.
*Put our book EXODUS: The Route, Sea Crossing, God’s Mountain in to the printer.
*Got back from our furlough, and we were able to see all of our children a number of times, including a family reunion. We have our first grandchild, and his name is Lucas!
*I have been researching and writing about the Red Sea crossing by Israel during the Exodus. It’s fun! The scholars have started from the wrong place!
*We have an “empty nest” now, for all of our children are in the States, either in the military, working, or in college. Our son Philip graduated summa cum laude from Arizona State University.
Nov. 7, 2009
*We are planning a revival with missionary Tom Gentry, who is a good friend of mine. Nancy is making some nice posters for this, to encourage our people to be at all the services and to invite others.
*More research. I am looking for Mount Sinai—the traditional Mount Sinai is just that, “traditional.”
Dec. 30, 2009
Nancy, I and Caleb, who is home visiting from Bible college, just got back from Egypt. We went to see a mountain I believe is Mount Sinai (Gebel Gharib). We drove out there in a rented four-wheel drive and spent the night there. No one anywhere around, not even Bedouins. There were camel paths there, but no road, not even a dirt road, within 10 miles. Also, we went to check out some traditions of the Exodus being in that area.
2010
Feb. 17, 2010
Last month we were called by two of our daughters with bad news. We were told our oldest son, Benjamin, had died by a self-inflicted gun wound. He was one month shy of his 30th birthday. He had been taking medication for depression for several years, and to make a long story short, his depression got the best of him. Our daughter Ruthe said that he had called her and talked for an hour and said he was depressed, but nothing about ending it all. Obviously what he did was not right, but then it was not right that King Saul fell on his own sword, but still he went to heaven. Samuel, the prophet who had died and gone to heaven, told King Saul “to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me” (I Samuel 28:19). If someone says, “Where was God when your son died?” The answer is, same place He was when His Son died.
Thank God for all the Romanians who prayed for us. Nancy and I both received peace and even joy more than once. I would be in my study and then receive peace, but I had not asked for it. I would then walk into the living room where Nancy was sitting and ask her if she was receiving peace, and she would say she was. But she was not asking for it either, and still we both received this at the same time because of our brothers and sisters in Christ who loved us and were “labouring fervently” (Colossians 4:12) for us in prayer.
All the money came in for the round trip back and forth to the States and for the funeral. On our last furlough, we spent some extra time with Ben down at the ocean for two days and gave him our car we had used on furlough, and I am glad we did this. We will see him again (I Thessalonians 4:11–19). We hope to be a help to his son (our grandson), and are glad for him.
Something else that happened was with our van. Nancy and I were in our van. She was driving and got in a wreck. Normally she is a better driver than I. Thankfully, no was hurt, and right after we got the car pushed off the road, a man walked up to me and said, “Will you sell me your car?” I asked him if he was joking, because the van was totaled. He had the same van and wanted the pieces off ours for his. Then he even offered to give me a car as a trade, and it had an automatic transmission in it, something that is not common in Eastern Europe, but Nancy likes driving an automatic. Truly this was the hand of the Lord. Who else would have wanted our type of van, at that moment, and even had a car to give us to use, which we got the same day and drove away with it!
April 10, 2010
*Celebrated Easter. We serve a risen Savior: “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins” (I Corinthians 15:17).
Nancy has been listening to the Bible on a “stick” that she keeps with her, and uses earphones when she is doing work around the house. She has heard much more of the Bible than ever before and has come up with some good ideas. She wanted us to have a nice-quality tract made from good-quality paper and with nice pictures. So we made up a few thousand, and on Saturdays we had tract distribution until we covered our city.
Aug. 17, 2010
*I am 60 years old today. “Oh my!”
2011April 8, 2011
I had some pottery pieces date tested that I had picked up in the desert of Egypt, at a sight I believe was one of the encampments of Israel during the Exodus. The same pieces were tested at three different laboratories with the oldest date being 1530 BC.
*Put our book EXODUS: The Route, Sea Crossing, God’s Mountain in to the printer.
Sept. 29, 2011
We arrived back in Romania yesterday from a three-month furlough. We went back to the States because we wanted to encourage our children. We saw them all several times, including a family reunion. I saw my brothers, sisters, and dad, he asked Christ to save him! Nancy also saw all her family. We thank God for this trip, and we and our children were encouraged by it.
Witnessing To My Dad
2012
June 4, 2012
*Our two books, EXODUS and Great Stones, have only sold a few copies, but I believe God is in this. I published a website True Christian Short Stories.
Oct. 26, 2012
I bought tickets for a room and flight to Jordan for three days at Petra, an ancient city carved into the solid rock of a mountain. I will be looking for the Ark of the Covenant, but not at Petra. I will drive to Sela, an ancient fortress on top of a mountain. It is located halfway between Petra and Mount Nebo. There are some ancient legends that say Jeremiah hid the Ark there.
Nov. 14, 2012
I found nothing at Sela, but it was an interesting place, as was Petra. Makes you wonder what it would have been like 2,000 years ago, a totally different world then. But it is disappointing to make such a trip and come back empty handed, even though it was almost expected before I went.
Dec. 14, 2012
*About every other day I go on a blog for a few minutes and leave the web address of our Internet sites (True Christian Short Stories), hoping to get more visits. And it is helping us get more hits on our sites.
*Concentrating on trying to get our church to grow. We held a family conference in our church, and it went well, with some new visitors.
2013
Feb. 19, 2013
*I have been getting our website, True Christian Short Stories, translated into other languages: Spanish, Romanian, French, and Mandarin Chinese. It is nice to think that when I am asleep, someone around the world is reading our sites, which all have the plan of salvation sown in them.
April 12, 2013
The site I got the broken pieces of pottery from in Egypt has been excavated by archaeologists. I believe this site to be where God’s “fire” burnt among those of the Exodus and where the Bible tells of a mass grave (Numbers 11). As would be expected, the archeologists have a different opinion (most archeologist do not believe Moses ever existed) of the site than I do. They make no mention of the ashes in the vases found there, but did acknowledged that earlier archaeologists had called the site “catacombs.” And the dates they gave for the site were based upon their chronologies of the different dynasties of ancient Egypt, but not carbon-14 testing, and they did find carbon material at the sites. The dates I got from the pottery pieces at the site (Thermoluminescence test, TL) were over a 1,000 years earlier than what they believed. In truth, they had at least one good reason for believing the site was much older. And it is true that the TL tests I used to date the site are not as accurate as C-14, so why don’t they use C-14 to test this site? The British museum told me it was possible that the caves (I believe they are catacombs) at the site could have been reused by someone at a later date, which is a possibility.
June 27, 2013
For over a year I have been working on a Biblical encyclopedia with over 200 subjects from the Bible (I ended up calling it The Layman’s Biblical Handbook). I taught at a small Bible college in Washington state, and I have taught at our Bible institute in Romania, not to mention preaching and teaching an average of four times a week since Bible college. I sent it in to be edited and hope to put it on the Internet for free. I will put it on a different site than our True Christian Short Stories, but will link to it. (Later I had this translated into Romanian and put on the internet. I could not find another Bible encyclopedia on the internet in the Romanian language.)
2014
April 15, 2014
*Our church in Busteni seems to be growing.
Went back to Egypt with expectations of finding something there, and did. The Bedouins did not have any inscription around Mount Gharib to show me, but an Egyptian man did. His name is Hosam Mosa. He showed me a Greek inscription of 31 letters on a large boulder (about 25 feet high) right next to Mount Gharib. It was by a Pharaoh of Egypt, Ptolemy II from the Greek Dynasty, set up by Alexander the Great. Already I have found that there are good reasons that he may have known of Mount Sinai, and why he would have gone there. To find an inscription by a pharaoh out in the desert is very rare.
We arrived back in Romania yesterday from a three-month furlough. We went back to the States because we wanted to encourage our children. We saw them all several times, including a family reunion. I saw my brothers, sisters, and dad, he asked Christ to save him! Nancy also saw all her family. We thank God for this trip, and we and our children were encouraged by it.
Witnessing To My Dad
2012
June 4, 2012
*Our two books, EXODUS and Great Stones, have only sold a few copies, but I believe God is in this. I published a website True Christian Short Stories.
Oct. 26, 2012
I bought tickets for a room and flight to Jordan for three days at Petra, an ancient city carved into the solid rock of a mountain. I will be looking for the Ark of the Covenant, but not at Petra. I will drive to Sela, an ancient fortress on top of a mountain. It is located halfway between Petra and Mount Nebo. There are some ancient legends that say Jeremiah hid the Ark there.
Nov. 14, 2012
I found nothing at Sela, but it was an interesting place, as was Petra. Makes you wonder what it would have been like 2,000 years ago, a totally different world then. But it is disappointing to make such a trip and come back empty handed, even though it was almost expected before I went.
Dec. 14, 2012
*About every other day I go on a blog for a few minutes and leave the web address of our Internet sites (True Christian Short Stories), hoping to get more visits. And it is helping us get more hits on our sites.
*Concentrating on trying to get our church to grow. We held a family conference in our church, and it went well, with some new visitors.
2013
Feb. 19, 2013
*I have been getting our website, True Christian Short Stories, translated into other languages: Spanish, Romanian, French, and Mandarin Chinese. It is nice to think that when I am asleep, someone around the world is reading our sites, which all have the plan of salvation sown in them.
April 12, 2013
The site I got the broken pieces of pottery from in Egypt has been excavated by archaeologists. I believe this site to be where God’s “fire” burnt among those of the Exodus and where the Bible tells of a mass grave (Numbers 11). As would be expected, the archeologists have a different opinion (most archeologist do not believe Moses ever existed) of the site than I do. They make no mention of the ashes in the vases found there, but did acknowledged that earlier archaeologists had called the site “catacombs.” And the dates they gave for the site were based upon their chronologies of the different dynasties of ancient Egypt, but not carbon-14 testing, and they did find carbon material at the sites. The dates I got from the pottery pieces at the site (Thermoluminescence test, TL) were over a 1,000 years earlier than what they believed. In truth, they had at least one good reason for believing the site was much older. And it is true that the TL tests I used to date the site are not as accurate as C-14, so why don’t they use C-14 to test this site? The British museum told me it was possible that the caves (I believe they are catacombs) at the site could have been reused by someone at a later date, which is a possibility.
June 27, 2013
For over a year I have been working on a Biblical encyclopedia with over 200 subjects from the Bible (I ended up calling it The Layman’s Biblical Handbook). I taught at a small Bible college in Washington state, and I have taught at our Bible institute in Romania, not to mention preaching and teaching an average of four times a week since Bible college. I sent it in to be edited and hope to put it on the Internet for free. I will put it on a different site than our True Christian Short Stories, but will link to it. (Later I had this translated into Romanian and put on the internet. I could not find another Bible encyclopedia on the internet in the Romanian language.)
2014
April 15, 2014
*Our church in Busteni seems to be growing.
Went back to Egypt with expectations of finding something there, and did. The Bedouins did not have any inscription around Mount Gharib to show me, but an Egyptian man did. His name is Hosam Mosa. He showed me a Greek inscription of 31 letters on a large boulder (about 25 feet high) right next to Mount Gharib. It was by a Pharaoh of Egypt, Ptolemy II from the Greek Dynasty, set up by Alexander the Great. Already I have found that there are good reasons that he may have known of Mount Sinai, and why he would have gone there. To find an inscription by a pharaoh out in the desert is very rare.
The 2,300 year old Greek inscription of three lines and 31 letters.
June 14, 2014
Been studying the Pithom Stele discovered over 100 years ago, about a trip Ptolemy II (of the inscription pictured above) took and Egyptian idols he found out in the desert. Surprisingly, Israel took the idols of Egypt with them on the Exodus route (Ezekiel 20:7–11), and there are reasons why they would have discarded them at Mount Sinai.
Nov. 17, 2014
On my royalty statement, which I get from the printer each quarter, for my book EXODUS, it shows a minus (-) sign. For the three months in this reporting period, only one e-book sold, and five paperback books were returned! Hmm. Still, I believe God wants this book sold. Hope so! Actually, it is good that it has not sold before now, as there are many good finds since I first published it. I recently sent in a round of corrections and changes with the updated material on Ptolemy II.
Dec. 8, 2014
Our main church in the town of Busteni has been growing! Not in leaps and bounds, but last Sunday we had in the 90s, which is good for us, and it was not a special day.
2015
March 2, 2015
*We had a funeral this week, two adults baptized, and a first-time visitor I lead to the Lord Sunday at church.
*This is the best growth I have seen in our church.
June 14, 2014
Been studying the Pithom Stele discovered over 100 years ago, about a trip Ptolemy II (of the inscription pictured above) took and Egyptian idols he found out in the desert. Surprisingly, Israel took the idols of Egypt with them on the Exodus route (Ezekiel 20:7–11), and there are reasons why they would have discarded them at Mount Sinai.
Nov. 17, 2014
On my royalty statement, which I get from the printer each quarter, for my book EXODUS, it shows a minus (-) sign. For the three months in this reporting period, only one e-book sold, and five paperback books were returned! Hmm. Still, I believe God wants this book sold. Hope so! Actually, it is good that it has not sold before now, as there are many good finds since I first published it. I recently sent in a round of corrections and changes with the updated material on Ptolemy II.
Dec. 8, 2014
Our main church in the town of Busteni has been growing! Not in leaps and bounds, but last Sunday we had in the 90s, which is good for us, and it was not a special day.
2015
March 2, 2015
*We had a funeral this week, two adults baptized, and a first-time visitor I lead to the Lord Sunday at church.
*This is the best growth I have seen in our church.
March 11, 2015
We are back in the States on furlough, and a graduate from the Bible Institute has been left in charge, something he has done before while I am gone. I brought these dairies with us. Hopefully, I will start going through them to see what parts are interesting and important enough to print up.
June 25, 2015
Our family get together went well! Our children and grandchildren came together for parts of three days, and we played volleyball and went to a Seattle Mariners baseball game, which they won. I have done a lot of preaching—in one stretch I preached for 11 days straight (revival and mission conference back to back). And this week I am speaking to teens and parents at camp. I was able to visit my dad for three days. He is 94 years old and living in a veterans’ home. Nancy and I have been thinking about buying a home in Olympia or Tacoma, Washington, as an investment. The home we have in Romania is the church parsonage and not ours.
Our little grandchildren Lucas, Maeve and Nola
Sept. 20, 2015
We have been back in Romania now for a while. Before we came back, we had seriously considered staying in the States and not being missionaries. There were some reasons why it would have been helpful, but I could not get any peace about it. I called and talked to my pastor (Pastor Nolan), and he asked me, “What do you want to do?” And I said, “Well, frankly, I want to go back to Romania. My heart is there, and I enjoy it!” He said if I did not go back, he believed I would regret it the rest of my life, and now I agree!
*Last week I started to type out my diaries. Hopefully, someone will get some help from them.
We are back in the States on furlough, and a graduate from the Bible Institute has been left in charge, something he has done before while I am gone. I brought these dairies with us. Hopefully, I will start going through them to see what parts are interesting and important enough to print up.
June 25, 2015
Our family get together went well! Our children and grandchildren came together for parts of three days, and we played volleyball and went to a Seattle Mariners baseball game, which they won. I have done a lot of preaching—in one stretch I preached for 11 days straight (revival and mission conference back to back). And this week I am speaking to teens and parents at camp. I was able to visit my dad for three days. He is 94 years old and living in a veterans’ home. Nancy and I have been thinking about buying a home in Olympia or Tacoma, Washington, as an investment. The home we have in Romania is the church parsonage and not ours.
Our little grandchildren Lucas, Maeve and Nola
Sept. 20, 2015
We have been back in Romania now for a while. Before we came back, we had seriously considered staying in the States and not being missionaries. There were some reasons why it would have been helpful, but I could not get any peace about it. I called and talked to my pastor (Pastor Nolan), and he asked me, “What do you want to do?” And I said, “Well, frankly, I want to go back to Romania. My heart is there, and I enjoy it!” He said if I did not go back, he believed I would regret it the rest of my life, and now I agree!
*Last week I started to type out my diaries. Hopefully, someone will get some help from them.
Thank You Lord for giving us a good life!
“Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that” (James 4:13–15).
“For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you” (I Peter 1:24–25).“
Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more” (Psalm 103:13–16).
“Only one life will soon be passed, only what’s done for Christ will last” (author unknown).
What are you doing with your life? Be a light today for Jesus Christ!
Please read our other short stories at the top of the page
and pray for this website to be used of God and to help Christians!
By G. M. Matheny
2015, Copyrighted ©
“Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that” (James 4:13–15).
“For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you” (I Peter 1:24–25).“
Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more” (Psalm 103:13–16).
“Only one life will soon be passed, only what’s done for Christ will last” (author unknown).
What are you doing with your life? Be a light today for Jesus Christ!
Please read our other short stories at the top of the page
and pray for this website to be used of God and to help Christians!
By G. M. Matheny
2015, Copyrighted ©