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Online Journal - February, 2008 Archive
February 19, 2008 - Tuesday -
We were back on the road (I should say, rails) this weekend.
After I preached Sunday morning here in Arad, Paula and I
caught a 1:30pm train to
Sighisoara (in north central Romania). Since July we
have had
VISA (Volunteers In Service Abroad) colleagues--Maurice
& Karen Hopkins and
Melanie Roorda--working there in conjunction with a
Church of the Nazarene. The reason for our trip was
two-fold: 1) to touch base with our colleagues and encourage
them in their ministries, and 2) to say hello to a team of
teenagers and their adult chaperones from
Pearce Memorial Free Methodist Church who are working in
Sighisoara for 10 days with the Hopkins and Melanie. As a
well-preserved medieval Saxon town, Sighisoara is always a
great place to visit, but our people connections made for an
extra-special visit. It was a short trip; we returned to
Arad around 11pm Monday night. As you pray, remember
Maurice, Karen, and Melanie. Their ministry is planned
to continue through June of this year, and they are putting
some things in place now to help them accomplish more of
their goals (they've already accomplished much!) and
finish strong. Scott
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February 11, 2008 - Monday -
  We
had a fun weekend hosting a visit from our
Budapest Fellowship here in Arad. Twelve people made the
3.5 hour trip southeast from Budapest to Arad, arriving
Saturday early afternoon. We gave them a whirlwind tour of
the city, including stops at City Hall, Reconciliation Park
(a park symbolizing reconciliation between Romanians and
Hungarians),
an Orthodox church, and
the 17th century fortress. We ended the afternoon with
stops at both Oaza family homes. Casius, one of our
 church
leaders, prepared an awesome meal for us on
 Saturday
evening. Norbi, from the Budapest Fellowship, brought the
message on Sunday morning (in Hungarian translated direct to
Romanian). And after church, the group
gathered with all of our church leaders and spouses for a
great lunch at a local restaurant. It was great to have the
two bodies enjoying and growing from fellowship with one
another. Scott
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February 7, 2008 - Thursday -
We've posted our latest newsletter. Just click on the
Newsletters
button above to find and download it. Thanks for praying!
Scott
February 7, 2008 - Thursday -
Our recent good weather (almost like Spring) has allowed our
contractor to make good progress towards completing the
exterior work on Oaza's New Shalom house. Click on the box
at left to view updated
photos. Scott
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February 2, 2008 - Saturday -
 Scott
and I spent Tuesday and Wednesday in Budapest this week
meeting with newer missionary colleagues from across Europe.
We had a great time in friendship Tuesday evening. Wednesday
morning Scott led devotions and then together we shared our
“testimony” from our two years here especially related to
cultural adaptation.
(more...)
While in Budapest, we picked up a new
volunteer for Oaza, Nicole Stoodley. She will be working
with us for the next year helping with supervision and daily
care of the children as well as teaching an Art club and
helping me with my English club. A long-time friend of Oaza,
Ann Long, also arrived for a visit and we brought them both
back with us to Arad.
Preparing for teams to come this year is high
on my list at this moment, and it takes a lot of
preparation; visas, housing arrangements, planning,
processing of paperwork, etc. I spent a good deal of time
yesterday (with people from the church) trying to find a
location where the
Greenville College choir can perform in March
when they
come to Europe. After four stops around town, we finally
found the border police office to discuss visa issues for the
choir. But for me, this is all fun work. You can pray about
this event. We desire to invite all of the churches in town
as well as the community and to be a witness.
Right now we would ask that you pray for us
to have God’s wisdom in how to help with a few relationship situations
here. We want to be a support, salt and light, and always
following Jesus’ example. These situations are all very
complicated.
 Yesterday was the one year anniversary of my
sister’s death. At times it seems like it has been ages
ago…and at others times, it feels like yesterday. A friend
sent me a writing last year from which these words are
taken… “…gratitude changes the pangs of memory into a
tranquil joy. The beauties of the past are borne, not as a
thorn in the flesh, but as a precious gift in themselves.” I
remember my sister with sincere love and a thankful heart. I
truly treasure my memories of her as a precious gift!
Prayer items:
1. The leaders in Scott’s leadership group and the leaders
of Emmanuel Church.
2. Preparations for the Greenville University choir for
March
3. Paula’s English club
4. Our kids… Lydia needs more relational stimulation and
Stephen is behind in school.
With a thankful heart! Paula
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