Missions Trip Report From Romania, 1999

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In April 1999, Central sent to a new adult missions team back to Romania: Cora Edwards, Elaine Hale, Ron Kone, Georgia, Lee, Sue and Pete Penno, Ben Walker, Nancy Reichley, Murray Smoot and Christina Reichley. Here is their report.

Central Goes to Romania - adapted from the Penno Prayer Letter

Our thanks go out to you - beyond measure - for your support of our team in Romania. The smoothness of travel, good health, and peace among the delegation can only be credited to God in response to your prayers. This trip across the ocean and 2000 mile bus ride turned out to be an intense and moving experience for each of us. Our mission was to visit nearly 1000 children, give them bibles in their own language, and present the gospel to them using puppets, drama, songs, games, testimonials, and story boards. It was a humbling experience to convey God's love to Romanian orphans and street children.

In addition to the ten Centralites, our team included an American teacher and South African diplomat living in Vienna, five Romanians from the Romanian Bible Society (RBS) and our missionary, Joe Parker, the Eastern European Director of the International Bible Society (IBS)!

We arrived in Timisoara, Romania, at the apartment of Iosif Ignatoaie, the RBS Director, amidst great fanfare from Gypsy children.. The apartment was a lesson in creativity, efficiency, and frugality. It contained the family living quarters, a recording studio and the national RBS office - all in two large rooms. It was amazing to see the dedication and musical genius of the Romanian Christians. After a focused - but fun - organizational and practice session on the morning of the first day, we were off on what would certainly be one of our most moving experiences.

The first orphanage was a low-rise complex situated behind a 10ft fence. As our bus approached, the orphans, ranging in age from 4-18, swarmed toward us with excitement. Some began to scale the fence while others threw rocks to make them get down. We could clearly see that there were some boys who dominated all of the others with force. The bus pulled into a courtyard in the center of the complex and we began to descend into the crowd. After several moving experiences we were all able to love the children without tears.

Our first program was a huge hit. The children loved to sing and were crazy about the puppets. Each of us formed a special bond with someone. It was heart wrenching to see the needs of these children. We were overwhelmed by hundreds of reaching arms while handing out hair ties. It is amazing to see how such a little thing could be so valuable to these kids.

We visited about 10 orphanages during the week. We handed out gum, barrettes, matchbox cars, pencils, bubbles, shoelaces and other gifts sent by our friends in the US. We also had each taken a whole suitcase full of clothes for them. Vienna Christian School sent new shoes for many and NIKE donated new sweat suits. The kids who needed so much enjoyed everything. But most important were the bibles. The orphans do attend local schools and are able to read. Pray with us that they can find and experience the love of God through His word in their bibles.

Our other mission involved street kids. The most difficult group was the one we visited last in Timisoara. They assembled in a small, windowless room - about 30 kids ranging in age from 1 to 18. They were soiled and rough looking. The entire room reeked of glue, the preferred pastime of these kids. All present seemed to love to sing, but as the program began, several dropped into a deep sleep - this had not happened before. They were very tired-looking. They were hard-hearted. They didn't seem to trust each other or us. Afterwards we presented them with bibles and then they were treated to an Easter meal put on by a church. Nadine, a missionary from Australia, said that she saw no evidence of softening in the year she had been there. She needs your prayers for encouragement in her ministry. So does Iliana, a Romanian who also ministers with them. These kids were in a survival mode. Their world is the adult world, even though they are children. I felt as if my life began anew on this trip. I loved sharing the gospel and loved the children. The hunger for missions is strong.

A particular blessing were the youth on our team, Lee, Georgia and Christina. They were an immediate hit with the Romanian children, and were able to minister in ways that adults could not. Of course, on the other side of the coin, all were amazed and blessed by the energy and enthusiasm of Murray (at over 80), the patriarch of the team.

We now have an idea of why God sent us to Romania. He wanted us to see the needs of others first hand. We now have Romanian friends who are on the "front lines" bringing the word of God to kids who have very little hope. We have faced deprivation and poverty in a new way, and hopefully will never look at our own lives in the same way. We have been privileged to be God's instruments of blessing in that place for a time. We have been changed. And now we are convicted to tell of the need and to do what He has asked. "Feed my sheep." God's will be done. Our deep thanks go to all who made this opportunity possible, and to God who made it a reality.

See also:

• For more information contact Pastor Jerry Cooper.
• The report from the 1996 missions trip to Romania.