| Romania December, 2008 |
Update Romania---- December 2008
Ilisua.......
This latest trip came after a long absence.
When we left Romania three years ago, some land and several buildings had been
purchased. They were acquired with funds we helped raise here in the United States.
The funds were to be used for the newly formed church in Ilisua, a small village with
Hungarians, some Romanians and many Gypsies.
This was a Free church openly inviting whosoever wanted to come, to come. This is
not the norm, sad to say, in Romania at this time. The churches are very separated.
Hungarians attend Hungarian church, Romanians attend their church and the Gypsies
attend either small mission churches for just Gypsies, or they try to fit into other
congregations. That is not always a good thing. They are expected to conform to the
ways of the people whose church they are attending. They are by and large a joyful
free people and often must stifle their creativity and love for happy music . Instead,
attempting to become something they are not, in Ilisua they are allowed to be who the
Lord made them to be Gypsy, Hungarian and Romanian all together worshipping in
their own styles.
They had been meeting in houses , but this was causing some problems. When the
buildings were first bought they had been empty for some time. They were in much
need of repair but were solid and good, but had no heat and no electricity.
Our good friend and Apostle Jolti, with the help of Simon and others were able to put
in a small wood burning stove, and electricity.
They have continued the meetings and kept this young church alive.
Jolti has even gone to Germany to raise funds for Ilisua and his other church Lompirt.
When I say to raise funds, I mean doing manual field labor on farms there. This meant
leaving his own home and family to help these churches survive. Sometimes for
several months at a time.
The Freedom enjoyed at Ilisua has not come without a price. There is some
persecution from those who do not like what they are doing there.
The main thing they complain about is that it is like a wedding feast there. Too much
joy and singing and so free...
All I can say to that is PRAISE THE LORD !!!! The Joy of the Lord will be their strength.
Plans are being made to knock down some existing walls, to enlarge the area to hold
more people. The services we held there in December kept growing until we had to
literally open doors to allow folks room to hear and see what was going on in the
Room that is being used now.
Jolti and Simon both plan to go abroad this Spring and Summer to raise more funds.
This is both for their own personal expenses and for the church maintenance and
expansion.
Lompirt........
Lompirt is the other church Jolti and Simon care for and oversee. Lompirt is the
Mother church. It has also undergone many changes in the last three years. Lots of
upheaval in the leadership. Many petty jealousies and jockeying for position.
Four years ago Haddon and I saw a man we called him David. He was a quiet man ,
strong but humble and willing to do whatever was asked for the church. Imagine our
delight when we walked in to Lompirt and saw him in the pulpit preaching. The group
is much smaller. Many of the trouble makers have left. Now we believe the Lord can
and will build His house on a clean, strong, foundation.
The church in Lompirt was used to hold a water baptism just after we arrived. It has a
tank built in under the pulpit. It is very basic. Water must be carried in by bucket
hand after hand. Then the water must be heated with firewood under a 55 gallon
drum. When it was finished this water was brown and still cold, not very appealing to
the flesh. We knew these two who were being baptised meant business for the Lord.
Both of them had been seriously ill. The older man Lazar had just had stomach
surgery a month and a half before the service. The younger man Alex 14 yrs old had
been undergoing chemo therapy for Leukemia. As a result he had lost his hair. They
were both determined to have this baptism.
There was a large turnout. Lompirt was full, with people from several churches. It
was a very special night.
Order of business this trip seemed to be ministering to leaders. Across the board we
found them to be weary, poured out and very discouraged. Almost to the point of
giving up in some cases.
Most had been experiencing power struggles in their churches.
We were able to be a part of a Holy Covenant Alliance that was formed between three
special men. The Covenant was made between Jolti, Simon, Miklaus and the Lord.
We were just privileged to lay the groundwork, and witness the forming of this group.
They have agreed to work together to further the ministry of the Lord in their areas.
They will also COVER one another, Help each other when needed . They will,
participate in the ongoing building of HIS CHURCH.
One of them is Hungarian, one is Gypsy, and one is Romanian, Gypsy and Greek. This
in itself is prophetic. A coming together of three groups who traditionally do not
gather together in Romania.
Our goal is to one day be able to see these men supported enough to be able to give
all their time and effort to God's work. Because they have to raise money simply to
exist, the churches are sometimes without leadership for months at a time. We know
this is not God's best and are Praying for HELP for these our brothers in the body of
Christ.
I ask you to continue to Pray for this ongoing work.
They hope to have water baptism's in Ilisua in March. I will add pictures as I can.
Paula and David Moore were a major part of our team. I have enclosed their photo's.
I believe they will be going back to Romania, and like Timothy, they will help bring a
younger, fresh perspective to the ministry there.
God Bless, Pray hard for the success of this work.
Shalom Sue and Haddon Minns
They were well received and they are now knitted into the fabric and framework of the
Romanian Tapestry
Ilisua.......
This latest trip came after a long absence.
When we left Romania three years ago, some land and several buildings had been
purchased. They were acquired with funds we helped raise here in the United States.
The funds were to be used for the newly formed church in Ilisua, a small village with
Hungarians, some Romanians and many Gypsies.
This was a Free church openly inviting whosoever wanted to come, to come. This is
not the norm, sad to say, in Romania at this time. The churches are very separated.
Hungarians attend Hungarian church, Romanians attend their church and the Gypsies
attend either small mission churches for just Gypsies, or they try to fit into other
congregations. That is not always a good thing. They are expected to conform to the
ways of the people whose church they are attending. They are by and large a joyful
free people and often must stifle their creativity and love for happy music . Instead,
attempting to become something they are not, in Ilisua they are allowed to be who the
Lord made them to be Gypsy, Hungarian and Romanian all together worshipping in
their own styles.
They had been meeting in houses , but this was causing some problems. When the
buildings were first bought they had been empty for some time. They were in much
need of repair but were solid and good, but had no heat and no electricity.
Our good friend and Apostle Jolti, with the help of Simon and others were able to put
in a small wood burning stove, and electricity.
They have continued the meetings and kept this young church alive.
Jolti has even gone to Germany to raise funds for Ilisua and his other church Lompirt.
When I say to raise funds, I mean doing manual field labor on farms there. This meant
leaving his own home and family to help these churches survive. Sometimes for
several months at a time.
The Freedom enjoyed at Ilisua has not come without a price. There is some
persecution from those who do not like what they are doing there.
The main thing they complain about is that it is like a wedding feast there. Too much
joy and singing and so free...
All I can say to that is PRAISE THE LORD !!!! The Joy of the Lord will be their strength.
Plans are being made to knock down some existing walls, to enlarge the area to hold
more people. The services we held there in December kept growing until we had to
literally open doors to allow folks room to hear and see what was going on in the
Room that is being used now.
Jolti and Simon both plan to go abroad this Spring and Summer to raise more funds.
This is both for their own personal expenses and for the church maintenance and
expansion.
Lompirt........
Lompirt is the other church Jolti and Simon care for and oversee. Lompirt is the
Mother church. It has also undergone many changes in the last three years. Lots of
upheaval in the leadership. Many petty jealousies and jockeying for position.
Four years ago Haddon and I saw a man we called him David. He was a quiet man ,
strong but humble and willing to do whatever was asked for the church. Imagine our
delight when we walked in to Lompirt and saw him in the pulpit preaching. The group
is much smaller. Many of the trouble makers have left. Now we believe the Lord can
and will build His house on a clean, strong, foundation.
The church in Lompirt was used to hold a water baptism just after we arrived. It has a
tank built in under the pulpit. It is very basic. Water must be carried in by bucket
hand after hand. Then the water must be heated with firewood under a 55 gallon
drum. When it was finished this water was brown and still cold, not very appealing to
the flesh. We knew these two who were being baptised meant business for the Lord.
Both of them had been seriously ill. The older man Lazar had just had stomach
surgery a month and a half before the service. The younger man Alex 14 yrs old had
been undergoing chemo therapy for Leukemia. As a result he had lost his hair. They
were both determined to have this baptism.
There was a large turnout. Lompirt was full, with people from several churches. It
was a very special night.
Order of business this trip seemed to be ministering to leaders. Across the board we
found them to be weary, poured out and very discouraged. Almost to the point of
giving up in some cases.
Most had been experiencing power struggles in their churches.
We were able to be a part of a Holy Covenant Alliance that was formed between three
special men. The Covenant was made between Jolti, Simon, Miklaus and the Lord.
We were just privileged to lay the groundwork, and witness the forming of this group.
They have agreed to work together to further the ministry of the Lord in their areas.
They will also COVER one another, Help each other when needed . They will,
participate in the ongoing building of HIS CHURCH.
One of them is Hungarian, one is Gypsy, and one is Romanian, Gypsy and Greek. This
in itself is prophetic. A coming together of three groups who traditionally do not
gather together in Romania.
Our goal is to one day be able to see these men supported enough to be able to give
all their time and effort to God's work. Because they have to raise money simply to
exist, the churches are sometimes without leadership for months at a time. We know
this is not God's best and are Praying for HELP for these our brothers in the body of
Christ.
I ask you to continue to Pray for this ongoing work.
They hope to have water baptism's in Ilisua in March. I will add pictures as I can.
Paula and David Moore were a major part of our team. I have enclosed their photo's.
I believe they will be going back to Romania, and like Timothy, they will help bring a
younger, fresh perspective to the ministry there.
God Bless, Pray hard for the success of this work.
Shalom Sue and Haddon Minns
They were well received and they are now knitted into the fabric and framework of the
Romanian Tapestry
| The Team Helping one another build the Kingdom! |
Covenant Service Zalau, Romania Jolti, Simon and Mikllaus Haddon and David |
Some of the beautiful children in Ilisua and Lompirt and Valley of the Trees |
| Rev. Sue Minns with children |
 | |  | |  |