Let’s not go home yet

In late June, Bus4Life was warmly welcomed to the county of Buzău, where it took part in school outreaches organised together with Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF). Several workshops were put on for the children, including arts and crafts, sports and watching Christian cartoons inside the bus. In one of the villages, about 120 children came to the school and the films had to be shown outside – there was simply not enough room inside.

“It started raining in the middle of the movie, but the kids insisted on watching the rest, and sat under umbrellas with their parents and teachers, until it was late and very dark outside,” Raluca says. “The school principal told us it had never happened before in the history of the school that children didn’t want to go home! And it was their summer holiday, they didn’t even have to be there!”

Out of the church

The first week of July the Bus4Life team travelled south, and organised an outreach with a small church of about 20 people. It was the first time the church had ever organised a public event for their city. The event was a big success. The local newspaper wrote articles about the bus every day the team was there.

Feedback from the church was also encouraging: “Bus4Life is such a great tool! People are curious about the colourful bus, and it is so easy to start conversations with them. We could see how they started to respect the church more, because they saw the quality programme we offered to the community. For us, too, it was nice to be able to offer such a wide range of activities: from medical tests to kids' programmes and lots of books – even a conversation with international people!”

"Don’t wait until Sunday to confess sins"

At the end of July, Bus4Life returned to Romania for another twelve days, this time to the Constanta area near the Black Sea. In the mornings, the team invited people onboard to have their blood pressure and blood sugar tested. Some had never had their blood pressure checked. OMer Delia said, “It is quite common in this area for people to live all their life without ever visiting the doctor’s office. Some of the older people are afraid of the doctor, fearing they will be diagnosed with some awful disease."

The team offered to pray with everyone who had their blood pressure measured. While some said "no", others enthusiastically accepted. Upon finding out that Bus4Life is a Christian ministry, one Orthodox man exclaimed, “This is why you know so much about God!”

Formal confession and praying to Holy Mary play significant parts in the Orthodox faith. “I tried to encourage him to pray directly to God”, Delia said. “I said to him, ‘You don’t have to wait until Sunday to confess your sins, you can ask for God’s forgiveness any day.’”

Hugs and encouragement needed

Vasile* is a 12 or 13-year-old boy who came to the bus in one of the villages. He didn’t know how to count or read, and it seemed even difficult for him to understand every spoken word. Delia learnt from other children that Vasile was a boy ‘without parents’, and that he and his little brother were being raised by their grandmother.

Vasile came to the bus early in the morning, and spent the two days with the team from the morning until the evening. “We shared our lunch with him, and gave him water to wash himself, as his skin was quite stained,” Delia reported. The boy grew close to the team over the two days, and in the end hugged everyone, begging for more and more hugs.

Thankfully, the local church knows Vasile, and has been helping his family, providing them with food and other supplies. Unfortunately, there are many children like him in Romania.

15-year-old Alex* was one of the local teenagers who volunteered with the bus during the outreach. Alex goes to church with his family and believes in God, but has yet to make up his mind about actively following Him. Encouraged to ask anything that’s on his mind about God and Christianity, Alex asked Delia: “Is it ok to paint your nails?”

Romanian Christians are often very modest with their appearance, and girls are usually not allowed to wear make-up or jewellery. For a young teenager, the decision to follow Jesus has everything to do with culture. 'What is the price that I have to pay for this?' 'What is right and wrong?' Alex ended up having a good conversation with the team about culture and sin, and how to navigate between the two worlds that seem so far from one another.  

Known as OM’s 'ship on wheels', Bus4Life is a multi-functional missions centre that serves the communities of Central and Eastern Europe. Bus4Life is currently looking for a driver for the year 2019.

*names changed to protect identities

“This is the third year when the OM team comes to our school. The first two years, we only had one day for the competitions, but the kids loved it so much that this year we wanted to have two days of KidsGames. Every year when we hosted the KidsGames, our school was granted a special award from the county’s teaching director for the best teaching activities outside the national curriculum,” one of the teachers from the school said. “This year, even the mayor’s house sent a photographer/journalist to spend both days with us at the school and write articles about the activities. The KidsGames programme is so complex and so creative, and the kids get to develop in a short time so many different skills from sports to building/architecture, social skills or cultural heritage.”

The school was transformed into an ‘Olympian facility,’ and 10 teams competed against each other in many different games and activities. At the end of the two days, every child was given a diploma for participating, and the top three winning teams received medals—and lots of applause.

“Each team had kids in all age groups. The eighth graders were the leaders of the groups, and it was amazing to see how, in only two days, they got to develop their leadership skills so much,” an OMer said. “Some of them had no idea that they are born leaders and that they can do such a great job in this role. It was eye-opening experience for them and we were happy to coach them and teach them how to take on the responsibility of carrying for their teams and leading them to the podium.” At the end of the games, OM offered a special prize to the best leader in the school.

“I loved to play newspaper hockey. I never played this game before. It was so much fun. I hope next year we can play newspaper bowling as well,” one of the kids in fifth grade enthused.

“The only thing I didn’t like about KidsGames was that my team didn’t win,” another boy from fifth grade joked.

“You cannot imagine the conditions some of these kids have in their homes. The first time I visited them to meet their families was shocking for me. The houses look like they are about to fall over them,” a kindergarten teacher shared. “When they are not in school, they have to work the fields in order to help their families earn money to buy food. I am so glad when I see them laughing and having fun through the KG, it’s like they forgot for a moment about all the troubles at home.”

Some games were purely for fun, while others were based on the Bible. On the second day, the OM team shared the biblical story of Noah, and, afterwards, played some interesting games about the oceans.

“My favourite part of the whole programme was that we had a special 'station' where we could do a ‘science club.’ Here we did some experiments and we could compare what happened in the experiments with our day-to-day life,” an OMer said.

The experiments also provided a place for spiritual input. “For example, we used raw and boiled eggs to compare people. From the outside we cannot judge people, because we are all the same. What sets us apart from each other is the way we behave, just as the eggs [react] when we spin them. Also, if we have a glass of water we will see that the boiled egg will sink. If we add salt to the water, the egg will float. It’s just like that with Jesus—if we have Jesus in our life, we will be able to float, but if not, we will sink. It was so interesting for the children to make these analogies and learn in a practical way how Jesus can be a part of our life.”

Fruit from the past

One town holds special memories for Esko Mäki-Soini and bus driver Esa Tuuri (FIN). In fact, this is where Esko had worked for many years alongside the local pastor during the time of persecution.

“Pastor Viktor was one of our contacts who faithfully received and distributed the Bibles and literature we secretly brought in,” recalls Esko. “And in 1990, after the revolution, we did an outreach here together with Viktor. As a result, a number of orphan girls received Jesus as their Saviour.” Later, when they turned 16 and had to leave the state orphanage, pastor Viktor and his wife opened their home for many of these girls.

“We could never have imagined at the time that 26 years after the girls accepted Jesus they would be volunteering for a Bus4life outreach in their town!” smiles Esko, “and even if it was raining when we arrived, these young ladies faithfully stood out in the rain and invited people to come inside the bus.”

Shadow from the past

In Romania, the Bus4Life team offered free blood sugar and blood pressure checks. This proved quite popular and also provided an opportunity for distributing invitations to the Sunday Service at the nearby church.

When the bus opened for visitors, a slightly drunk man came inside to have his blood pressure checked. Marius* began a long conversation with Pastor Viktor and then left. A few hours later he returned to the bus asking to have his blood pressure checked again since he felt the workers had lied to him about the results. There was very little difference in the results and it soon became obvious the real reason for his return was to continue the conversation with Viktor.

“Who is this man?” Esko wondered, and Pastor Viktor explained how during Communism, Marius had been the Chief of Police in their town and after the revolution became a judge. He had lived across the street from Viktor during those years.

As they were talking that day on the bus, Marius had said when he dies he only needs a hole for his body to be thrown into; he did not believe there was anything else after death. Being a bit drunk, Marius had admitted to Viktor that during the years of Communism he had watched and monitored Pastor Viktor and his activities. This came as no surprise to Viktor because they lived near each other and it was common practice back then. Marius had not caused problems for him but as Chief of Police he was required to inform his superiors about the pastor.

Marius’ wife had become a believer after the revolution and joined a local church. When their daughter got married, he had refused to go to the wedding because it was conducted in a church. Yet Marius had also said to his wife that if he ever became a believer, he would like to join Pastor Viktor’s church.

Viktor had been a living testimony of Christ to his former “persecutor”.

“We have an amazing God," concludes Esko, "when we think of me as a former Bible smuggler meeting with a former Chief of Police on the bus together with Pastor Viktor who has faithfully reached out all these years.”

Please pray 2 Thess. 3:1 (NIV) for the people the Bus4Life team came into contact with in Romania: “…that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honoured, just as it was with you”.

* Name changed

Three months later Rafael had learned enough about Christianity and was ready to receive Jesus as his Saviour. As a “bonus”, God gave him a girlfriend named Alice who later became Rafael’s wife.

Anywhere but Moldova

In the year of 1996, a Love Europe team visited Rafael’s church. Alice was already familiar with OM’s summer campaigns, and asked Rafael to help with the visiting team. A year later in 1997, Rafael was asked to lead an international summer outreach team, a fact which still amuses him.

“They were either crazy or simply decided to take a huge risk”, he laughs. “I was a new Christian and I didn’t speak English. Who was I to lead an international team?”

Risky or not, leading the team changed Rafael.

“I’m not sure what I did this summer, but I want to do the same for the rest of my life”, he told Alice when they met after the outreach. “In that case, we need to get married”, she declared and planted a kiss on Rafael’s mouth. “I want to be a missionary too.”

Next year the young couple took part in a missions training program, and started praying about the future. “We were ready to go anywhere”, Rafael remembers. “Africa, India, anywhere but Moldova.” Moldova, they thought, was ”too close, too conservative, and too legalistic”.

Yet Moldova was exactly where they were sent for their required two-week outreach.

“We’ll survive two weeks anywhere”, Rafael and Alice promised each other as they packed warm clothes in their bags. It was November and Moldova was having an unusually cold winter.

During the two-week outreach God changed Rafael and Alice’s hearts and minds and they began to realize they were falling in love with their neighbouring country and its people. A few years later the Năstases returned to Moldova as OM missionaries, and stayed there for seven years.

Back to Romania

When Rafael and Alice’s time in Moldova was drawing to a close they started praying about their future once more. They dreamed of working in Afghanistan, but wanted to stay open to other options as well. “We were praying the anywhere but prayer again”, Rafael recalls. “This time we added Romania at the end of the prayer – anywhere but Romania.”

God has a great sense of humor, and the Năstases made the decision to return to Romania in 2007. The leadership of OM Romania was going through a change, and Rafael was asked to come back to help. He later became the field leader of OM Romania, a position he still holds.

Around the time of the move Rafael was given a DVD that talked about Christianity in Romania.

“I learned that the Romanian church is one of the largest ones in Europe”, he explains. “I realized that we could be a blessing to the world. We could start sending missionaries to other countries, and get involved in world missions.”

The return to Romania was not easy. OM Romania was in the middle of a financial crisis, and didn’t have the money to even pay for the heating of their office building. The temperature outside was -20 degrees Celsius; and giving the office staff woolen mittens was of no use. A decision was made to move the team to a rental apartment. It was cheaper to rent a small apartment than to heat the old building. It took two years before the team was able to return to their building. Today the OM property has had a nearly complete face lift, and can accommodate 15-20 short termers at a time.

In 2015 OM Romania’s most critical need will be new staff.

“We would like to add one or two fulltime members to our team”, Rafael says. “The most immediate need we have is for someone to coordinate our sports ministry.”

OM Romania runs several sports clubs that have enabled over 200 children and youth to learn about God’s love. Several have had their lives changed radically.

Growing in faith

Rafael Năstase would like to see young Romanians grow in their faith and get involved in ministry either within Romania or around the world. For the past two years he has been meeting about 20 young mission enthusiasts every week. Together they study the word of God and take part in short term projects. “The church of Romania has its foundations in tradition”, Rafael explains. “We need people who speak the language of today’s teenagers and understand where they come from.”

There is a need for similar missions groups as this one all around the country. OM Romania is currently looking for someone to work full-time in missions education, teaching young Romanian Christians what it means to follow Jesus.

“Anyone can come!” Rafael says. “Romanian is a very easy language. You can learn it in three months.”

Doctors serving people

In the centre of OM Romania’s work is the idea of transforming communities. Rafael talks about Christian dentists who bring their skills and equipment into rural Roma villages – free of charge – and serve people by helping them in a very practical way. International teams have accompanied local dentists, too.

OM Romania is also putting together a network of Christian doctors. Many have “complained” that “only the dentists are allowed to serve the poor”, offering their time and skills to be used alongside the dental clinics.

For the poor, ostracised Romas the arrival of the Christian doctors is a miracle. While health care should be free of charge in Romania, in reality doctors require “extra” for their services and one cannot see a doctor without money. Because of this kind of corruption, locally-available and free health care is a source of surprise and joy in the Roma communities.

“Why do these Christians want to help us?” they ask and many follow the visitors to church to find out why they are different – much like Rafael himself over twenty years ago.

They invited villagers to the bus to meet the team. Many came, and the team was thrilled to see what God was doing: Kids played games and the volunteers spoiled them with hugs and stories of the Bible; youth were involved in a deep discussion about life questions with team members who provided a Christian perspective; inside the bus 20 people were watching Magdalena: Released From Shame.

“It seemed like a heavenly atmosphere,” said OM outreach leader Raluca Cardos upon reflection afterward. “But we all knew when something like this happens and the Holy Spirit descends, the evil one is also ‘cooking’ something to break it up!”

Later, after all the locals had gone home, the team packed the bus with excitement that so many people had heard God’s Word that day.

Tuukka Linkopuu, the Bus4Life driver, felt something was wrong when he smelt smoke coming from the electrical board of the bus. When he checked, he noticed that the wires were melting and in another minute it would have caught fire, the whole bus potentially turning to ashes.

“Thank God he found the problem in time and stopped the fire from happening!” exclaimed Raluca. “Even if we could not use the bus the next day, we praised God for His protection! If this would have happened during the programme many people could have been injured or worse. If it had happened during the night, and Tuukka had not found the problem in time, we would have lost the bus and with it the bus ministry.”

Many people’s faith was strengthened when they learnt how the Lord had watched over them, not allowing harm to come upon the people or the programme.        

"But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one." – 2 Thessalonians 3:3 (ESV)

During the days in the little town of Amara, we visited neighbouring villages where we were blessed to meet so many lovely people! One day we visited a blind couple and two elderly women. Their families and neighbours heard that a team of foreigners were coming and they all gathered to meet us and listen to what we had to share. We sang songs, prayed and shared the Gospel message.

At the end of the programme, while saying our goodbyes, we saw tears in their eyes. The elderly and the blind said they all felt nearly guilty that they couldn’t go to church anymore because of their age and disability. Their desire to have fellowship with God’s children was so great!

We tried to remind them that the church is not a building but the people who serve the Lord. It deeply moved them that God had sent the church to their home, and that these young people came from all over the world to pray for them. Indeed, to them, we were a miracle!

Oh, what a feeling it is to know you can be someone's miracle, just by allowing yourself to be in the right place where God is calling you to be!

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28 (NIV)

We began work in the dental clinic Monday morning, but since I was not on the morning shift I decided to go on outreach on the streets with a few young volunteers. We told folks about the free dental care and invited them to come. The youth gave out leaflets about the clinic, and as we walked up a side street we also prayed.

I noticed a person sitting under an apple tree and stopped. Was it a person? Yes, it had moved. I felt at that moment that God was asking me to go up to the person, who I discovered was a woman.

I stepped through the gate, and she beckoned me closer. I thought to myself, But Lord, I can only say good morning in this language. I am only a dentist from England. I can hardly have a good conversation and communicate with her! But God urged me to go up the driveway.

So, I walked up to her, smiled and said my few words of Romanian. She had white curly hair and was about 65 years old. She was paralyzed down one side of her body and her trousers and socks had holes in them, from dragging herself along the ground.

I told her in English that she was precious to God and beautiful, made in His image. She began to cry. I repeated these truths, and as the tears fell, I put both my arms around her and gently rocked and patted her, as if I were comforting a child. I asked if I could pray in the name of Jesus, and I prayed for healing for her body and soul. When I had to leave I told her I would return.

The next day was too busy at the clinic, but I returned with a translator the day after, and we gave her a Romanian Bible. She was so pleased and said God had sent me to her! I learnt that her name is Maria, and she had a stroke five years ago. I noticed she was blind in her left eye.

We arranged for her to come to the clinic the following day, and I was able to do much-needed fillings and extractions in her mouth, making her dentally fit and avoid future pain and infection. However, I was unable to provide a prosthesis to replace her four front teeth. She was happy when she tried my reading glasses, but she needed a stronger prescription. Someone from the team went into town the next day and bought some. I was able to deliver them the next day. They were perfect!

Her son and granddaughter also had dental care with me at the clinic. Andrea, her six-year-old granddaughter, had enjoyed the Bible class we offered. Now Maria's mouth felt comfortable, she had received glasses to read her new Bible, and I had told her about the reality of Jesus in my own life.

Our week of outreach was over, but God was at work by His Holy Spirit in my heart too – for the Gospel is to share with others, not to keep tightly to ourselves. So, I spoke a little about God’s Word being true, and His faithfulness. I realised this was my last chance, and I asked Maria if she wanted to have Jesus as her friend and eternal life.

She said yes! I was so happy I could hardly believe it. This was the reason God spoke to me the first morning. Through the translator we prayed for repentance, and a soul was saved by the blood of the Lamb of God! We parted as sisters in Christ.

We do not always act on the still small voice within us, but God can do much through us when we say yes to Him!

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” – Romans 8:14 (ESV)

For more information about missions opportunities with OM Romania’s dental clinics, click here.

The Bus4Life is OM's 12-ton, 12-metre-long multimedia ministry on wheels that travels throughout Central Europe. Volunteers from local churches play a key role, inviting curious people inside to watch films, read books for sale, or simply relax at tables and chairs outside with free coffee, tea and conversation. The Bus4Life engages youth with sports, games, face painting, singing, drama and short messages for the crowds that gather.

Since 2007, the Bus4Life has visited 150 locations, welcomed 10,000 visitors, sold more than 5,500 books, and had over 1,500 professions of faith in Jesus Christ.

Bus4Life visits Romania

The Bus4Life spent two weeks in Romania, from 7-21 April. The OM team, which includes bus driver Tuukka, from Finland, Bus4Life coordinator Raluca, from Romania, and Alice and Rafael, also from Romania, took the bus to Valea Jiului, an area known as one of the poorest in Romania, and Timisoara, where the main youth national conference was taking place. Around 1,000 people attended.

In Petrila (in Valea Jiului), almost all of the old communist coal mines are closed due to low productivity and a lack of security. Many people have left the country to work overseas.

Raluca obtained permission from the local government to park the Bus4Life in downtown Petrila. The team parked the bus, set up the tables and prepared the tea and coffee. They offered balloons to kids, inviting them to a children’s programme. The team hoped 10-15 children would come, and they were surprised when over 70 children were at the bus at the appointed time, enjoying loud music from the bus’s speakers and looking forward to the programme prepared by the OM team and the youth from the local church.

Connection made with local teen

Bus4Life team member Alice approached four teenagers and gave them a New Testament for teens. One of them, a boy of 14 years, opened the Bible and began reading to the others. Rafael asked if they had a Bible at home.

“Sure,” said the boy. He looked down, adding, “I am Ruben, and I go to the local evangelical church—in fact, I am not going anymore. I haven’t been for a long time.”

The next day, when Ruben returned, Rafael took him aside and asked him about his life. Rafael learnt that Ruben’s mother had been baptised at the local church, but seven years ago she had found another man on the Internet and left Ruben and his father. Now Ruben lives with his grandmother, while his father is away working.

Teen responds to God’s love

“I knew that I needed to be very honest and direct with Ruben,” Rafael said about the revelation of Ruben’s past. “I said, ‘Ruben, you are so precious in God’s eyes. He didn’t want for your mother to go away. He is not happy with what she did—but you need to come back to your heavenly Father. He loves you as His son and He is able and willing to receive you.’”

With tears in his green eyes, Ruben looked down, saying he knew he needed to repent and come back to God. When Rafael asked if he wanted to do it at that moment, Ruben looked up into Rafael’s eyes and said, “Yes.”

“As we were sitting there in the Bus4Life driver cabin,” Rafael said, “Ruben prayed and found peace in his Father’s arms.”

Making the stories happen

The Bus4Life team praises God for the change in Ruben’s life. But the reality is that the Bus4Life is very old, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep the bus on the road. At almost every destination, the team must stop for repairs to be made on the bus, which has now travelled around 800,000 kilometres.

“We fix one part, investing a lot in spare parts and mechanic fees,” Rafael said, “and then another part is falling apart.”

One pastor who has partnered with the ministry called Bus4Life the “revolution of love”. The Bus4Life team is praying for God to provide a new vehicle so the revolution can continue and their work of bringing the good news to Central Europe can move forward in 2013.

Please pray for Ruben to forgive his mother and remain faithful in his walk with God, and that the local youth leader would help, coach and disciple him. Pray also for God to provide a new vehicle for the Bus4Life ministry.

To see what else God is doing in Romania, see http://news.om.org/country-news/roq.

With his unique style, George shared how God searched his heart and prompted him to start OM, and encouraged young people to live a pure life. George’s openness about his fight with his temptations amazed the audience. The translator had difficulty at times communicating George’s open truth.

A young man came to George during the lunchtime, saying: “I have never heard somebody talking about pornography, even though this is such a big issue in Romania too.”

Another tough issue George addressed is the problem of abortion in Romania. Romania has the highest abortion rate in Europe and is near the top worldwide. According to Operation World, three children are killed before birth for every child born.

“In Romania, every 108th second, one abortion takes place,” said Rafael, the field leader of OM Romania. “Since 1958, over 22 million abortions have taken place: this is the actual number of the Romanian population. We killed our doctors, our teachers, our scientists—all those who are supposed to pay the pensions for the older generation.”

To raise awareness of this issue, OM Romania gave out over 500 copies of Randy Alcorn’s book, Why Pro Life? But that wasn’t the only literature passed out, as OM Romania had a book stand with over 60 titles. They sold 500 US dollars of books, and 2,000 books written by George and Roy Hession were handed out for free, as well as 200 prayer booklets for the Arabian Peninsula. The books quickly disappeared from the book table, although organisers aren’t sure whether all the people read English, or if the books were taken simply because they were free.

OM Romania hopes and prays they will have many new connections on a national level thanks to George’s visit. Pray also for the Romanian Church to stand up against infanticide in their nation. Read more about the work of OM Romania here. 

"Even though we are sometimes far from people who need our help, the Lord blesses us with generous Christians from all around the world who have a heart for the poor,” said Ina Gligore, with OM Romania. “Thank God for those who helped us to make a difference through Agape Meal. In this we were able to be in touch with poor people.”

Sterea and Bucşani, two villages 50 km (about 31 miles) from Bucharest, are located near a landfill where regular household and industrial garbage is dumped almost daily. “I do not know how many of us rejoice when we see trash,” said Ina “but some of the inhabitants of two villages enjoy seeing huge trucks full of garbage.”

Armed with tools, children and adults go through the mountains of garbage in hopes that others’ waste might become their everyday income. They are glad to find metal, plastic bottles or copper to sell to recycling centres. With 15 lei (about 4 US dollars) in their pocket, they can buy some bread, food or something to drink.

Pădureni Church, a church OM Romania has helped build and partner with over the last five years, is now planting a church in both of these villages. In Sterea, there is a new building, built by a short-term team from South Africa last summer. A handful of believers gather and are fed by Padureni church members. In Bucşani, four evangelical believers and 30-35 orthodox people come and sit outdoors, regardless of the weather, to receive a plate of food and the Word of God. In both locations, over 80 children and adults come to be spiritually and physically fed.

Mina, a 28-year-old mother of four children, lives on what the landfills provide. Mina’s children come with her to the church every Saturday, glad to have a day off from the landfill. At church, they sit in a welcoming room and have a meal. They warm their hands, cracked by the cold weather and roughened from pulling metal cord out of the garbage. It is a rest day. Marian, the pastor of Pădureni Church, is praying for God to bring families like this further relief.

Please pray for a parcel of land to build on in Bucşani. The desire is for a small one-room building where believers can gather, preach the Word and feed the poor. Please pray for a literacy programme to begin for poor children in Sterea, Padureni and Bucşani. Please pray for financial provision to continue the meals. The Pădureni believers want to build a day centre, where children can study their lessons and receive a hot meal.

"Every day it’s a new challenge. I can see God working more in our midst during this crisis,” says Luminita, the OM Romania Bus4Life (B4L) coordinator. 

Early this year, a severe snow storm blanketed Romania, unlike anything in recent history. To access the streets, people dug tunnels from their homes. The snow covered entire villages and houses above the chimney. About 90 people died, and many families ran out of wood, food, electricity and water. People were found captive in their homes when the army came to shovel the snow from their windows and doors.

“I realised that believers were watched by God about how they witnessed during these times,” Luminita continues. “Are we going to hide behind the sentence 'we don’t have money’, or will we go out of our comfort zone, sharing the love of God?"

On 4 March, six OM Romania team members went by Bus4Life to the Buzau area to work alongside a local Brethren church and two members from Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF). Starting in Campeni village—where the snow in some areas was as high as the bus—they visited a family with six children, the youngest five months old, all living in one room.  

"I was looking around but I didn’t see any jackets," said one team member. "Later we found out that since they didn’t have any wood to warm up, they put all their clothes in their stove to burn to keep warm." The mother was breast feeding the baby, but there was no food or drinking water for the others, says the team.

Later, the men on the team brought wood for another family who couldn’t afford it. In the evening, the group held an evangelistic programme for kids and their families.

In a similar way, the team brought food, wood and hope to people in other villages in the area. Overall, they gave bags of food to 150 families, wood to four families that would last for three months, and about 800 Euros (about 1,000 US dollars) worth of Bibles, New Testaments and Christian books to people they met. 

One family with seven children touched the team particularly. "The mother just returned from hospital,” shares Luminita. “She is a born-again believer. We thought we would encourage the family. Instead, we left the house encouraged by our sister, seeing her so faithful despite her poorness."

In Matesti village, about 15 children and one mother attended the programme. “People around us were so thankful to receive our help,” said one team member. “Then we listened to their stories about how they survived the white calamity."

The OM Romania team thanks God for the generosity of His servants who helped bring help and hope to the victims.

"What I learnt from this experience, is that even though we are tired or upset, seeing the joy in the big eyes of kids, I felt so privileged,” says Robert, one of the Bus4Life volunteers. “Seeing the joy of the kids when they received some extra food or learnt a Christian song, I am glad to have the opportunity to be with OM Romania and B4L."

Please pray that OM, CEF and local churches would continue to have an impact in the affected areas. Pray for those in Romania still suffering from the effects of the snow storm.

On one occasion, Michael and team member Emi (Romania) began speaking to a lady and her daughter about God. “We were encouraged when both, right there on the roadside, next to the fence, asked God for forgiveness and received the gift of salvation by faith,” says Michael.

A few days later, Michael met the same woman again and saw she was beaming with joy, a Bible in her hand.

The team went to a Roma village where they met with a group of adults, youth and children. They were encouraged by their response to the message of love. “Several of those present were willing to receive salvation, and we prayed with them,” said Michael.

Among them was an elderly woman who was initially critical of the message. She eventually opened her heart to the Lord and asked the team to pray, not just for salvation, but also for healing from sickness.

As the team prepared to leave, a small girl approached Raphael (Romania), and tugged at him, saying, “I also would like to repent. Can I repent too?”

“It was a glorious moment, praying with this 11-year-old child right there at the gate of the homestead,” remembered Michael.

A few days later, the team returned to the same village to show the JESUS film. A large crowd gathered, and at the end of the film, they preached about salvation. “Here was fertile ground,” said Michael. “Nearly the whole crowd responded and prayed to receive forgiveness of sins that night. We knew it was a milestone for the new church in that village.”

“Among the beloved Roma, there is much land that still remains to be impacted,” says Michael. “This time of outreach brought me in direct confrontation with myself. I could clearly see the many ways in which I personally failed to trust, believe, seek and truly yield to the Holy Spirit.

“I was convicted by the shallowness of my own spiritual life in the face of such an ocean of need and received new insight on what is truly meant by the Scripture: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord Almighty’ (Zechariah 4:6). I received a challenge to seek the presence of God, for only His anointing can break the yoke and lift our burden. 

 For more information about OM’s work in Romania, contact info.ro@om.org.

From 22-28 November, 30 OM short-term mission coordinators gathered in the snow-covered city of Sibiu, Romania, for the sixth annual Short-Term Missions (STM) Forum. The group, from 14 nationalities, represented 22 different OM fields, mostly from Europe.

The theme of the week, “Short-term mission—long-term goals”, summarised the purpose of the forum, which was to impart vision and give motivation to the leaders of short-term missions, provide information and training and share resources.

Throughout the week, the group received training on partnering with the local church, communications, member care and best practices and procedures for sending and receiving for missions.    

“We accomplished more than what I hoped for,” said Luzia, who coordinated the forum. “Many new short-term coordinators came who needed training asked many good questions and engaged a lot.”

In addition to the training, participants connected with each other, encouraging and helping one another in their roles, which some found very valuable. “There was a real sense of connection, sharing experiences and encouraging one another,” said Luzia.

The group spent the final two days of the forum doing outreach in Sibiu and surrounding villages to put into action what they had discussed the previous few days. Splitting into three groups on Friday, participants prepared for the outreach and prayed for those they would meet.

Though the outside temperature was minus five degrees Celsius and a few participants felt intimidated by the task ahead, the weekend outreach proved to be an overall highlight.

Many were struck by the needs of the families they visited. “Our hearts broke when we entered some of the homes, because of the poverty!” said Chrisma, a South African participant with the team visiting Nou, a village about 20 kilometres from Sibiu. “Coming to these homes to encourage them and suddenly being faced with the difficulties people faced left us crying out to God for wisdom and words of knowledge!”  

In one home, the team asked the lady how they could pray for her, and she burst into tears. “We felt helpless,” remembered Chrisma. “But when we started praying and afterwards sharing testimonies, we could see God ministering to her heartfelt need of loneliness and love.” In the end, Chrisma knows that God comforted the woman even though the team had nothing but encouraging words to offer.

Another group stayed in Sibiu to walk around the city and pray for it. “I was told that if you want to pray for a city, go to a high place and pray over the city,” said Anna from the UK. “So, we climbed up the church tower—all 182 steps!”

Anna and her teammates prayed for the places they could see from the four corners of the tower. They also had an opportunity to share with the lady collecting the visitors’ fee from those climbing the steps. “She was quite open to talking about God and what she believed,” said Anna. “She used to go to an evangelical church, but there was something that had happened so she didn’t go any more. It was great because we passed two people coming down when we went up and two people coming up when we went down—it was like God had given us that time to be with her.”

The third team went to Agnita, a village about 60 kilometres northeast of Sibiu. There they discovered the passion Romanian churches have for the Lord. They visited various churches in the area to speak at prayer meetings and church services. Regardless of the number of people in attendance—some churches had only 10 members—the congregations wholeheartedly worshiped God. Numerous times during the services everyone stood up to pray together with voices joined in unison, crying out to God.

“These two days were a great encouragement for me to see the church in Romania,” said Simon, the international short-term coordinator, from South Korea. “The prayer meeting we went to Saturday afternoon and the way they pray and cry out to God reminded me of how the church in South Korea started to cry out to the Lord in the early church history. Through this, I saw there is a hope in the church in Romania, because God will hear their cry.”

Though the teams only did outreach for two days, they know that the impact will be lasting, both for them and those they met.

Anna, who helped run the forum concluded: “To have this opportunity to bond with fellow co-workers through training and hands on ministry is invaluable to us whether we’re based in a sending field office or looking for renewed vision how to develop outreach opportunities and prayer for receiving countries.”

About 15 years ago, a young Roma man named Marian married Mariana and received a gift from God: a very handsome boy called Cristi. As a musician, Marian earned a good living, and with his money, he dreamed of one day buying a house in Pădureni, a small Roma village in Romania.

One day, while Mariana was washing clothes in a pot of boiling water, Mariana’s two-year-old son fell into the pot and burnt himself critically. Marian immediately organised transport, but the hospital was 40 kilometres away, and by the time they got to the doctor, Cristi had fallen into a coma.

Desperate to save his son’s life, Marian offered everything he owned to the doctor.

Desperate to save his son’s life, Marian offered everything he owned to the doctor. “Only God can save your son,” replied the doctor gently. Moments later, Marian, a young and proud Roma man with money in his pockets, fell to his knees in the hospital corridor and begged God for mercy.

Two days later, Cristi recovered from the coma, and within a month, he was released from hospital.

Around this time, a Christian couple visited Marian. They told him that only God could save his son, and He could save Marian and Mariana too.

Cost of following Jesus

Becoming a follower of Jesus that day, Marian decided never to perform his music in locations where people got drunk, but to sing for God alone. As time went on, Marian lost all means of providing for his family, his parents and his five siblings.

“By changing your religion, you have brought shame upon our family,” cried his mother. “You better go away from my house.”

Marian and his family moved into a small mud room, and for the next six months, all they could afford to eat was corn bread with melted pork fat.

A few years later, a church formed in their village, with Marian as the pastor. Today, over 25 believers gather for worship regularly. To supplement his income, Marian started making and selling bricks, and was thus able to build his own house. God has also given Marian and Mariana two more sons and a daughter. With his sons, Marian leads worship to God at church.

Remarkably, Cristi did not suffer any marks from the accident, even though one third of his body had been burnt.

God’s blessing has also extended to Marian’s children. Remarkably, Cristi did not suffer any marks from the accident, even though one third of his body had been burnt. In addition, Marian’s second son wants to work in missions or attend Bible collage to become a pastor after high school next year.  

Vision for the future

Marian would like to establish a Christian music studio in their village to write Roma Christian music in both Roma and Romanian languages. He also hopes to start a literacy class for adults and children who can’t write or read, and to provide computer classes for Roma children. Marian’s vision is to serve the Lord all his life, so that his fellow nomadic nation might also become followers of Jesus.

Praise God for turning a tragic situation into a blessing for Marian and his family, despite the challenges they face daily. Please pray for God’s guidance as the church’s vision in Pădureni takes shape. Pray that Marian would have the means to feed his family and serve the Lord through the gifts he has received.

For more information, please contact OM Romania.

An estimated 2.2 million Roma—sometimes known as gypsies—live in Romania, many of whom live in poverty. Discrimination against the Roma people is deeply entrenched in society and low student enrolment and high numbers of dropouts among Roma children ensure they remain part of a subculture.

Although there is no historical connection between Romanians and the Roma people, OM Romania has been involved in church planting, literacy work and humanitarian aid amongst the Roma for more than 10 years.

During the summer, OM partners with short-term teams and local churches to bring Jesus to the Roma people. While staying in the Roma villages, participants build relationships, hold kids’ camps, do sports ministry, conduct service projects and more.

For 18 days in July, Catherine Miller, a dental student from the UK, joined OM Romania for an outreach in the Roma village of Pădureni. Among other activities, including a kids’ club, computer classes and community outreach, OM partnered with a local church to host a four-day dental clinic in the church building.

News of the clinic spread quickly, and the team of two dentists, three dental students, a nurse and assistants saw between 150 and 200 patients over the course of the four days.

Catherine learnt quickly that improvisation was important. While the team was fortunate to have a good ultrasonic scaler used to remove tarter, she says, the water supply consisted of an upside down soda bottle and piece of tubing taped to a microphone stand. But other than the occasional power outage, she happily reports that the team experienced few problems.

Where else would you find a group that meets daily, without fail, for a time of prayer, Bible study and fellowship?

Overall, it’s the joy on people’s faces that Catherine remembers the most. “One of the ladies from the church came to the clinic with front teeth that were black and decayed,” says Catherine. “[Doctor] Ema removed the decay and did some beautiful white fillings. At the prayer meeting the next morning the lady couldn’t stop smiling.”

Later, a group of women who had been to the clinic came back the next day with a gift of chocolate. “These people had nothing and their gift made me realize how important the clinic had been for them,” remembers Catherine.

During the last week of Catherine’s trip, a group of eight drove to a nearby village to show the film Mary Magdalene. The showing took place outside and the film was projected onto a curtain tied between two trees.

Before the film started, an old woman sitting in front of the group disappeared. “We assumed she was bored of waiting for the video to start,” says Catherine. “About 10 minutes later she came back with coats for the OM team because she thought we looked cold!”

As the film told the gospel message, Catherine could hear the local women around her crying. “That moment will stay with me forever, as we saw God touching the lives of these people,” she says.

“The community I stayed with have nothing materially, but have a love for each other and a love for God that is very humbling,” continues Catherine. “Where else would you find a group that meets daily, without fail, for a time of prayer, Bible study and fellowship? When they sang, they sang their hearts out in genuine praise to God, and it was a privilege to be part of their community for just a few days.”

It’s the middle of the night. It’s so hot in the tent I share with my wife, Alice, and two children, Filip and Ruben. I feel drops of sweat dripping off my body. Dogs bark nearby, and roosters crow as they wait for the sun to rise. Across the street, neighbours play gypsy melodies on an accordion. Suddenly, someone screams, “Come here, or I’ll kill you!” A cry for help is followed by silence.

Thanks to the light that shines through our tent, I can see Alice breathing. I’m glad she is on this outreach with me, even though three days ago I was very close to returning home. She was sick in bed with no medical help. I’m glad that not only is she sleeping well, but that she is also boldly making appointments for 200 patients who will visit our mobile dental clinic this week.

I put in my earplugs, hoping to get a couple of hours of sleep. After a while I hear team members whisper to each other in a neighbouring tent, probably sharing about their difficulties with the unruly kids causing trouble at KidsGames.

Generator keeps mobile dental clinic open

I still can’t sleep. My mind wanders, remembering how we lost electricity yesterday. Praise God for OM Europe's Bus4Life generator that will hopefully produce enough electricity for the clinic this week. A doctor from Romania and another from Finland have come to help us, along with medical students from Romanian and the UK and a Romanian dental assistant. They work eight hours a day for the Roma people here in Padureni. We are lucky that the Bus4Life driver is skilled and able to fix the bus and its generator whenever problems arise. I’m also glad for the 20 children who have come to the Bus4Life every night to watch Bible stories and hear the gospel.

Games, sports and Bible lessons

I need to sleep. Tomorrow, 75 children and adolescents will come to the stadium for games, sports and Bible lessons. I am thankful that only one of the 50 volunteers has experienced stomach problems so far, and even more so, I am grateful to see the Word preached to the Roma community.

At 21:00 last night, we projected the Jesus Film on a wall in a neighbouring village. We also showed the Magdalena movie in Padureni. About 30 people of all ages came. I was extremely moved when I saw all the children, as well as a couple of teenagers and several adults, lift their hands at the end of the movie, admitting they were sinners and wanting to become followers of Jesus. When I saw my son, Filip, lift his hand to receive Jesus into his heart, I was overwhelmed. It is impossible for me to explain.

Grateful heart

Filip is now asleep in the tent and is covered with red spots. They might be mosquito bites or perhaps spider bites, or they could be simply because of the heat of the day. Tomorrow Filip will receive a gold medal at KidsGames. He was very proud to be the team leader and he fit in very well with the Roma children. He might make a good missionary one day.

I look at the clock—it is 2:00 in the morning.

Ruben rolls in his sleep and falls down from the mattress. I pull him close to me and close my eyes. I must sleep because I need to wake up within the next four hours. Tomorrow morning I am on duty in the kitchen, and I hope there will be enough water left at the improvised shower in the garden.

Thank you, Jesus; it was a great day. Please help us tomorrow…I mean today.

Sadly, discriminatory attitudes sometimes extend to churches. Although some evangelical fellowships are integrated, others don’t really welcome the Roma. The majority of the people group would consider themselves to be Orthodox Christians but there are a growing number of evangelical followers and churches being planted in Roma villages.

For several years OM has been sending short-term teams to the Roma village of Padureni, population around 7,000, for evangelism and practical projects. A church was started in 2002 and last year its 20 members decided to replace the building where they were meeting. Each man and woman contributed sacrificially.--One elderly lady gave half her pension. And by Easter this year they joyfully held their first meeting in their new church—which they made sure is big enough to accommodate visiting OM teams! A Roma community outreach will take place in Padureni and a neighbouring village this August 15-30.

Henry & Ingrid Tellez, who worked 5 years with the Mapuche Indians in southern Chile before joining OM Romania, have a real heart for reaching marginalised Roma. Last Christmas they initiated a Christmas gift project which resulted in being welcomed into a new community for ministry. This spring they experimented with a discipleship training weekend for Roma believers. The response was so enthusiastic they plan on offering two further courses, with a certificate awarded upon completion.

This August 1-10, an 86 km ‘Bike for Life’ will send 16 international participants through 8 towns and villages, 3 of them Roma. In each place they will stop to work alongside churches, doing practical service projects and evangelism. Two of the 6 football teams OM has started to introduce teenage boys to Christ are also in Roma villages.

OM Romania is looking forward to the first Roma woman to join the team this autumn. Ramona’s church is supportive but her mother is not a Christian, and daughters in this culture are expected to stay close to home. Pray that this young woman’s dream to serve the Lord in missions will become a reality, and that OM’s ministry among this people group will continue to expand.

Small wonder that the population of this nation is in decline. At around 21.5 million it is 1.5 million less than it was during the revolution; and experts say that at this rate numbers could drop 23% by 2050. The phenomenon isn’t just due to emigration and trafficking, however. Romania has the highest abortion rate in Europe, the second highest in the world. 75% of pregnancies—3 out of 4 babies—are deliberately terminated. With already-inadequate public sector salaries being slashed 25% this June, it isn’t likely this trend will be reversed.  

98.8% of Romanians belong to the Eastern Orthodox Church. In spite of this fact, Romania is one of the top five Christian "hot spots" in Europe today, with more evangelical churches than the rest of the countries in Eastern Europe put together. The Transylvania region in the north was once part of Hungary and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and came under the influence of the Reformation. Even during the Communist era more Bibles were smuggled to the north. This is perhaps why the northwest half of the country has three times more evangelical churches than the south and east.

OM’s base lies in the centre, near the beautiful medieval city of Brasov. surrounded by the stunning, snow-covered Carpathian Mountains and Transylvanian Alps.

The team made a good investment in buying a huge, 100-year-old building in 1997, but because of the subsequent economic downturn they have been unable to renovate or even heat it. This summer they are finally moving into a section they have finished off for office use. The potential for dormitories, kitchen, and meeting rooms remains untapped, however, and the team is asking the Lord for the means to make use of the whole facility.

Although Romania has 450 Christian foundations, Bible schools and missions, OM is one of only 4 organisations dedicated to recruiting Romanians for world mission. To do this, says Field Leader Rafael Nastase, it’s crucial to partner with local churches. “But we first need to prove that we esteem them. For instance, one of the members of a large fellowship with 400 people and a Bible School wanted to join OM Ships. We told the leaders that we wanted her to be sent and blessed by the church. They said they didn’t have money to send her, and gave us only five minutes to speak.

“Six months later the church wrote for more details of what the girl needed, and invited us to visit again. We went back and this time they gave us an hour to speak, and told us they wanted to support their member with 100 Euros a month. This is a common situation. We need to show that we are esteeming and serving the church, that the focus is on them, not OM.”

Rafael smiles. “I hear churches all the time saying about missions, ‘we’re Romanians, we’re too poor! I tell them my own church has only 25 people, and they are helping to send 8 or 9 missionaries to Romania and the rest of the world!”

As part of their efforts to raise awareness, OM Romania is working with OM EAST to supply sets of mission testimony and missiological books to theological schools in the country. 

Of course, there is no shortage of opportunities to evangelise within Romania. With the help of five coaches from local churches OMer Gabriel Gligore has organised six’ football teams—called ‘The Genesis League’--with the aim of leading teens to the Lord. Another team member, Adi Martin, is an enthusiastic evangelistic who is helping to plant a church in his town. And Chileans Henry and Ingrid Tellez have a heart to reach the Roma (gypsy) people; they look forward to several village outreaches this summer.

But one of the most effective and unique ways for getting churches involved in ministry has been through the Bus4Life.

ON THE ROAD WITH BUS4LIFE

The Bus4Life [www.bus4life.org] is OM’s 12 ton, 12 metre-long multimedia ministry on wheels in Central Europe. The bus spends considerable amount of time each year in Romania, and OMer Luminita Dragusin says it takes her one or two months to line up each visit. She believes it’s essential for local churches to take ownership as soon as the colourful red, white and blue vehicle is set up in parks, festivals, conference venues and village greens. Volunteers must be on hand to invite curious people inside to watch films and peruse the books for sale, or to relax at tables and chairs outside enjoying free coffee, snacks and chat.  

The team effectively engages youth with sports, games, face-painting, and singing while various church groups present dramas, concerts and short messages for the crowds that gather. The possibilities for creative interaction are endless.—Even blood-pressure check-ups have been offered! And not waiting for people to come to them the team often shares their good news with local schools, nursing homes and refugee camps along the way.

Valentin Bita, a Christian worker in the town of Calarasi, declared of a visit this May: “I saw something that made me very happy.—Members of my own church came here to make coffee and talk to people. It’s easy for Romanians—even Christians—to lose their focus and passion. But this event has brought all the Christians together. Even the pastor from a very traditional church came and sang with us. It’s a beginning! We want the Bus to come again, for sure!”

Romanians today are crossing borders, and not just to emigrate. They are becoming Jesus’ ambassadors to disillusioned hearts both inside and outside their land. Pray for God to bless and empower this ‘revolution of love’!