Online Journal - September 2006 Archive

 

September 22, 2006 - Monday -

Today is my grandma’s birthday. She is 103 years old. I tell you this because of how blessed our family has been to have had grandma living with us since I was around 12 years old (this was when my grandfather needed more care). She is now under the care of Hospice in a nursing home just down the street from my parents. We are thankful she can be so close to them. I miss my grandmother a lot and wish I could see her today of all days! My grandmother is a dear person who loves Jesus so much and just wants to be at home with Him. We are all very proud of who she is, her character, her sense of humor, and her love for the Lord.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA! ~~Paula

 

September 22, 2006 - Friday - Miracles do happen! :-) Praise the Lord! The trip for Scott and our friends to Bucharest was long and tedious. They slept little and waited a lot. However, ALL of the visas to the UK were granted including Pastor Nelu’s visa even though he was unable to attend in person. (This is nothing short of answered prayer!) Please be praying for God to direct our thoughts and plans as we prepare for this trip in mid-October.

The first night of my ladies Bible study begins next Tuesday (September 26). Please pray for me to be sensitive to the Spirit’s leading, for the Spirit to “walk among us” as we talk, share and pray, and for my ability to use the little Romanian I know…quickly preferably. :-) Initially, we will open this study to the ladies of the church but we will be praying for God to quickly bring others not of His Kingdom…yet.

Scott is preaching on Sunday (September 24) so I know he would appreciate your prayers that God would speak through him and cross any culture-language barriers.

Next week, Scott and I travel to Sighisoara (in the center of Romania) to meet with a team of Free Methodist people from a church in New York. We will be bringing them back to Arad for a few days to worship with the church. They will also bless us and Pastor Nelu by helping with a construction project on his home. Pray for the safety of all of us in our travels and for a great time of relationship building.

Stephen and Lydia are well…school is progressing…socialization is still difficult at times…but they continue to amaze us in how they are trying so hard to adapt to this change in their lives. Please continue to pray for them.

 

In the Romanian language, you “ask” for something…an object, etc. But when you ask a person for…help or to do something…you “pray”. These are literal translations of their verbs for these actions. So, if I may…I “PRAY” you will continue to pray for us…God hears your prayers and is pouring out the answers! Mulţumim! (Thank you from us.) ~~~Paula

 

September 19, 2006 - Tuesday - Do you know the phrase…the best laid plans of mice and men… Better yet…"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding but in all your ways acknowledge Him and he will direct your paths." It is a general rule of thumb here that when you make plans, just be prepared that they probably will not go as you planned. We just always hope that we are sensitive to God’s leading and trust Him to work it all out for good and His glory.

We left Friday (Sept. 15) in the morning very excited about our trip to attend a leader’s conference in Uzhhorod, Ukraine. We were thrilled to be taking four people from the church here in Arad with us. We would be joining other Free Methodist’s from our ministries in Ukraine and Hungary for this weekend at the Nehemiah Training Center. God had worked out all of the visa issues for our Romanian friends and even worked out the paperwork allowing our friend’s leased vehicle to go out of country.

After working out a detail at the Romanian border (which we did not know to prepare for) we had no problems crossing the Hungarian border. But we quickly came upon problems trying to enter the Ukraine. Through the fault of no one, our friend’s vehicle was not permitted in the country. After much discussion…difficult when you don’t speak the same language…we were able to get twoof the four Romanians across the border…walking. Our other friends had to head back to Hungary. After many, many hours of praying, talking and waiting on strategies to get them and their car into Ukraine, our friends had to make the long journey back to Romania. We were all very disappointed but we praise the Lord that everyone arrived safely at their destinations.

Our family and Laura Andres, along with her daughter, were able to attend the conference. The entire group had a wonderful time joining together over the course of the three days in worship, teaching, praying, eating, and just hangin’ out. Scott, Lydia and I joined Laura and her daughter in singing a song in Romanian…a first in front of everyone. :-) We heard several testimonies of God’s touch through healing and personal ministry.

On Saturday afternoon, the group visited one of three ministries, an orphanage, a nursing home, and a ministry to at risk families/children. Words cannot express the things experienced but it is good to see how God is using His Church.

Sunday afternoon included a field trip to a castle and historical village in the city. The historical village exhibited different styles of homes from different parts of the country. It included an Orthodox church that had been relocated to this site.

On Sunday evening, we shared in a Love Feast. The evening ended with some impromptu worship and singing. (At our home church, we affectionately call these times “Presto Requesto”.) We all had a great time!

We left Monday morning and headed back to Romania…about a seven-hour drive. No problems making the border this time, just about a hour wait which is pretty normal. We are thankful for God’s provision of safety and opportunity to further build relationships.

Scott leaves this afternoon for a trip to the UK Embassy in Bucharest. We are planning to take Pastor Nelu and some church leaders to visit a church in England in October. We pray the process of obtaining visas for our Romanian friends will go smoothly and safely. Pastor is not feeling well and cannot go today, so it will take a miracle to get his visa. ~~~Paula

 

September 19, 2006 - Our last journal entry included information about a prayer gathering that took place at our home in the States. I asked Scott’s mom to write something for you about it. We believe God is growing not just our faith but that of many others through the situation with our house. Read, enjoy, and rejoice! Paula

Prayer Circle by Margaret Dunn

The idea to form a prayer circle around Scott and Paula Dunn’s home in Ohio came from sharing the frustrations of the prayer supporters for them. Each day and each month we keep expecting God to answer our prayers for the sale of their house and be able to go on to more fervent prayers for other causes for which they ask us to pray.

We know our prayers are heard by God and in his time he answers them. When I gave Pastor Scott Griswold (pastor of United Church of South Vienna) the email telling of the latest developments with the sale of the house, his comment was quick and decisive. He said “You know what we ought to do is go up there and form a prayer circle around their house”. The idea sounded good to me. So without much planning a date was set. He called the pastors of LifeNet Church (home church to the Dunns) and together people from each congregation met at their home at 7:00pm on September 10.

Those persons who attended will always remember the experience. Since we had only enough people to cover one side of the house the decision was made to split up and each group take a side of the house, lay hands on it and saying our prayers to God.

Before we began, several cars pulled up and a realtor got out to show a family the house. The first “God thing” to happen that evening.

On our approach to Columbus the weather looked a lot like we might get wet. However, we only felt a slight mist in the air and that did not disturb us. Later, on our way to Culvers Ice Cream (one of the favorite places of the Dunns) we could see the streets less than a half-mile from us were very wet and the rain must have been heavy. The second “God thing.”

The best part was the camaraderie among the people of the two churches. Most of us had never met before and obviously the singleness of purpose brought us together. All of us made comments about how God had listened, we felt his presence, the agent was prayed for and blessed, the people were prayed for and blessed and the house was blessed. We know and knew this is in God’s hands but we all felt better by joining forces and realizing that we are in sync with others in our prayers. Some of the feelings from the meeting are not able to be put in words but I have done my best. Mom Dunn

 

September 11, 2006 - Monday - I wish I had an American flag this morning. I would hang it outside just as a way to say that we remember. It’s funny how I used to listen to my parents talk about “where they were” when they heard the news about President Kennedy being shot. Now, I understand. I woke up this morning thinking about “where I was” on this morning five years ago.

Last weekend we also had an experience of remembering…this one much more pleasant. Oaza, the church-connected ministry to orphaned and abandoned children, had their 10-year anniversary celebration. It was awesome to hear the story of how God weaved this work together through so many people giving sacrificially and showing God’s love and grace. Some of the children of Oaza shared musically and they also put together a Romanian dance with folk music and traditional clothing. The pictures of the last 10 years were captivating…children have a way of growing up, don’t they? There were supporters and guests from the city government offices, the UK, our missionaries in Hungary (Larry and Katie Winckles-click here for Larry's report on this event), Marcie Huson), friends from the Budapest church, and us.

Another work team from Free Methodist churches in the UK are here hanging plaster board for the new Shalom house for Oaza. They have really worked hard! We are so thankful for them. They tell us that some plasterers are needed next. Do you know anyone who would make a trip to Romania to plaster? Let us know!

Scott and I have begun traveling again to Timisoara for language study. The drive is just as long and dangerous as ever. We are going twice a week. The kids will not be going with us yet as we want to give them a chance to get school underway. Our language learning is coming slowly and we are committed to keep going. This is a major matter for prayer…we really needs the Lord’s help!

We attended an evangelistic concert on Saturday evening sponsored by another mission organization in the area. One of our worship leaders in church was the MC and his band, Born Again, was one of the featured bands. We accompanied teens and children from our church so they could attend…and we wanted to go too. It was great to see the large number of people of all ages gather together. The concert took place at the local strand…that means swimming pool but also much more. “The Strand” is the local hang-out place including several major nightclub scenes. It can be a pretty wild place! We were thrilled that the concert was being held there as we would like to see more Christian musicians come to Romania and especially at this venue. Cristi Cazacu and Cici Andres, Pastor Nelu’s son, are amazing musicians but they also made a clear testimony for Jesus Christ. We wish you could have been there! :-)

Just this morning we received pictures from Scott’s mom of an awesome prayer gathering that took place around our house in Hilliard (Columbus), Ohio yesterday evening. People from the United Church of South Vienna (Scott’s parent’s church) and our home church, LifeNet Free Methodist Church, gathered for the sole purpose of praying for the repair and sale of our house.As I looked at the pictures, I felt a little homesick. (I still like my house…why doesn’t anyone else?!) :-) But more importantly and more powerfully, I could feel the support and the presence of the Holy Spirit. Our prayer is that God would receive glory from His plan!

A few items for prayer:

1. Please pray for us and four Romanians from the church here as we travel on Friday to Ukraine for a leaders conference with the Free Methodist churches in Hungary, Ukraine and Romania. It is still a little unnerving for us as we pass through border crossings between countries. We are excited to make this trip but especially with our friends from here. Pray for safety, open hearts to the Holy Spirit, and a oneness among us. We return on Monday.

2. Pray for spiritual insight and wisdom as Scott and I prepare for two study groups for this fall. One group will be for ladies and the other for people interested in studying more about Biblical stewardship. Timing is important and translation of materials is always an issue.

3. Pray for favor with the UK embassy as we try to help leaders from the church here obtain visas to enter the UK in October for a trip to visit some FM churches. There are many details to work through in preparation for this trip.

Thank you always for your prayer support, your financial support, and your contacts via email and letters! Knowing that you are behind us gives us encouragement. Thank you!

 Pace (peace)--Paula