ROMANIA MISSION 2012

Sunday, July 3

Sun, 03 Jul 2011 15:37:00 +0000

We have just arrived back at our accomodations from a tremendous service in a little tiny village church in the area of Pietrosoni in the southeast of the country. It never ceases to amaze me how God knows just what we need and when we need it. This trip has been difficult for Lewis due to the Parkinson's meds and his stimulators not being in sync like they should. He struggles to balance the meds and the long periods of inactivity as we travel many miles from one village to the next.

This morning as soon as we arrived we were asked if any of us would like to share something during the service. I asked for some time to think about it - wanted to get the mind of Christ and his words - not mine. We had traveled down to this village with some folks from Bucharest. One of them spoke very good English and actually the family that was with us has family in the Reading, PA area. As the service began the young woman who spoke such good English showed us a song book in English and asked if we knew the song she was going to play on her flute. It was "Because He Lives." I said yes we knew the song and she asked us to sing it while she played. A few minutes later we were called to the front and began singing. Lewis was giving it his all (as he always does). When we got to the third verse which says, "And then one day I'll cross that river, I'll fight life's final war with pain. And then as death gives way to victory, I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know he reigns." I couldn't get past the second phrase as it is so hard to see Lew struggle so just to live and know that he is in constant pain. I shared a bit about his struggle with Parkinson's at the end of the song. Before we sat down we were asked to sing another song. We did and Lew shared a bit. Again we were asked to sing and of course we did. The entire service turned into a testimony service of God's miraculous healing and grace. At the end of the service they called Lew up front because they wanted to pray for him. He then shared his entire testimony of what God has done for him through the deep brain surgery and he wanted to give God all the glory. What a service!!

We were fed wonderful native dishes for lunch and spent some time just visiting. We have been asked to return next year.

Just as we were finishing up eating a young woman approached and asked if she could share something with Lew. She said God had given her a vision last night and she felt it the message of the vision was for Lew. She saw an airplane flying high above when it encountered great turbulence. In the midst of the turbulence a man fell from the plane and she saw a great white hand reach out of the sky and lift the man back into the plane and safety. She felt that God wanted Lew to know that God had him in the palm of his hand and all would be well. He has a work for us to do and He will lead all the way. Needless to say, this day was designed by God to encourage Lewis and me.

One more day of grocery distribution and then we will head home very late on Tuesday, arriving back in the Myerstown area sometime around 3 AM.

See you soon.

Saturday, July 2 Bucharest

Sat, 02 Jul 2011 07:09:00 +0000

We arrived back in Bucharest last evening late. It was a very long long day full of unexpected adventures - complete with gasoline being put into our diesel fueled van. If you know anything about vehicles you will immediately recognize that did not work so well. We spent over two hours trying to syphon enough gas out to add diesel fuel to get going again. Not to worry though, we were able to trade the gasoline for diesel fuel while crossing the Carpathian mountains. What a hoot!!

We were trying to get to Bran Castle before it closed for the day as a few of our team have never been there. Unfortunately we arrived four minutes too late for the castle tour.

Our time in the Suceava/Moldova area was both rewarding and challenging. Not know where we were staying added to the drama but once again God went before us and we had wonderful comfortable accomodations in a newly opened home for widows and elderly single ladies. We were treated very well.

While in this region we saw families in such dire need. We were in homes no better and in many cases much worse than the barns back home. All of this leg of the trip was plagued by rain - which of course produces mud, which produces stink, which produces mosquitoes, and the list goes on. On Wednesday we actually forded a river via horse drawn cart to visit a family with more kids than I can remember. We visited families with more than 15 children, a widow with five whose husband had been killed in a horrible factory accident just three weeks ago, a man who was burned trying to pull the aforementioned man to safety, and so much more. The highlight for all of us was a visit to the old couple Lew and I met four years ago. You may remember my telling about the blind man and his wife who were working in the field when we were there last. He is now 84 years old and as full of life and love for the Lord as ever. His little wife is such a sweetheart and we got to hear more of their life story this time around. We traveled several miles by horse drawn cart to get to them. What an adventure that was! We all felt sorry for the poor skinny horse that had to pull us.

I have been struggling for several days physically. It started with a pretty bad cold and now I am just feeling very weak. None the less GOD is GOOD all the time.

Thanks to all of you who have been visiting my mother. The reports I am hearing are very encouraging.

Blessings, Darlene

Sunday, June 26

Sun, 26 Jun 2011 17:02:00 +0000

Its Sunday evening here in Bucharest. Carol and Sharon left this morning for the good ole USA. The rest of us are here until July 5.

We all attended Pastor Nicu's church (Sebastian Filadelphia Church) this morning. I must admit I struggled harder than ever before to stay awake. It makes it much more difficult when you don't understand what is being said. I can usually pick up the main thread of what is going on but I was so tired this AM that nothing was really registering. It was good so see some familiar faces anyway.

Our hostess here where we are staying prepared a luncheon for us of Romanian soup and stuffed peppers. She is a wonderful cook and we enjoyed the meal. We tried not to fill up too much as the church we went to this afternoon also planned to feed us.

This afternoon we went to the church in Teisor. Pastor Tetelli (I am sure that's not spelled right) is an evangelist at heart and it is evident when you spend time with him in the villages. The service was very good - it was in a gypsy village with sparse accomodations but lots of spirit. At the close of the service he asked me to come up and share Lew's testimony with the congregation. At the end of that he asked Lew to show them the stimulators and then shared how much watching Lew work meant to him. He had not realized the extent of Lew's illness until the other evening while visiting with us here at our host's home. We have been invited back, not to bring groceries, just to come and fellowship with them. They served us mici - one of my favorite Romania foods.

We are now back at our host home, packing for the next leg of our journey. We will leave tomorrow to head to Suceava and the Moldova area. Most likely there will not be any internet connection there so this will probably be our last post for at least a week.

Blessings

Friday, June 24, 2011

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 19:08:00 +0000

We have been without internet access for several days now so I will try to update all on what has been happening.

We arrived in Bucharest on Wednesday and are staying with the same family we stayed with last year. Our accomodations are top notch and we are so very thankful. So far we have filled 200 bags of groceries and will purchase another 150 in the morning. We have visited several villages I have been to in the past and some new ones as well. One thing that has struck me about these poor destitute Gypsy villages is the thankfulness with which they receive our gifts of staples and how many new believers are being added to the church. It is always so great to see new converts and know that the Gospel message is going forth with much fervor.

Tomorrow we will distribute groceries to several churches here in Bucharest to be given out as the needs are presented. The afternoon will be free time for us and a time to pack for Carol and Sharon as they are scheduled to fly out early Sunday morning. The rest of us will remain here in Bucharest for Sunday and then Monday morning we are heading to Suceava and the Moldova region. We will be working with a Pentecostal Union pastor, Pastor Iliutia. We have worked with him before and I am looking forward to returning to this region.

Thank you for your prayers for my mother. The last word I had was she is doing better. Please continue to uplift her in prayer. We welcome your prayers as well.

Blessings.

Monday, June 20

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:38:00 +0000

Today began with a light drizzle falling and nice cool temps. This afternoon the sun returned and the humidity seems to be building. At least the weather has not hindered any of the work we came to do.

We had a team meeting this morning with all of the Outstretched Hands team. A time of prayer, encouraging and planning. The spirit of God was so real in the room you would have to have been dead not to feel it. We prayed for the Outstretched Hands team and they for us. Lew shared some of his testimony with the team and I was given an opportunity to share as well. God is so good to all of us!!

This afternoon we were all assigned different tasks. Carol Sanders is painting (and thoroughly enjoying it I believe), Dana and Sharon cleaned and organized a summer kitchen at the Hayes home, Lew and Allen worked on a piece of new property they have acquired and needs cleaning up. I returned to the apartment to prepare dinner for our team plus four guests. I must admit I was a bit intimidated at first when I realized I had to go shopping for food tonight and I don't really know the area to know where to shop. I made it though so tonight we will have southern fried chicken, potatoes, gravy, green beans, fried apples, and fresh tomatoes and cukes. Are you hungry yet? Hope our Romanian friends enjoy it.

Tomorrow most of us will do visitation in Chiselet. I so look forward to returning to that village and enjoying the fellowship of the believers there.

Wednesday we will head back to Bucharest and begin working with Pastor Nicu.

Keep the prayers coming.!

Sunday, June 19

Sun, 19 Jun 2011 04:53:00 +0000

Goodmorning America,

It is Sunday morning here in Romania. While most of you are still sleeping, we are up and getting breakfast, showers and ready for church.

We have had a marvelous trip thus far. Last night was so wonderful. We met with the church in Chiselet and had an outdoor service. Much like the first church service we attended in Chiselet, the singing was fantastic, the worship even better. These people are so loving. It is exciting to see how far the work here in Chiselet has come. Lew and I had been asked to share about marriage and what keeps a marriage together even after 40 years. I spoke a bit first and then turned the mike over to Lew. He shared a few thoughts and then burst into "I'm So Glad I'm a Part of the Family of God." I joined in and was amazed at the volume Lew was able to get out. There was not a dry eye in the place.

Before we shared, Brad called Amber and Dana up front and had the people spontaneously share what Amber has come to mean to them. Wow! What a time that was. I cried as did the whole team I think. Amber has been doing a tremendous work here and it is evident by the impact she has had on so many.

This morning Lew and I have been asked to share again. Tonight we will return to Soldano for a service with Reinhart. Should be another blessed day.

It has been funny to hear the Romanian men and boys reactions to Lew and his work ethics. Allen (our nephew) said it has been comical to watch the Romanians who have started out bragging about how they can work, drop out one by one and just stand and watch Lew keep going and going and going. I have been asked many times if he ever stops.

Well, gotta go and make some more omelets for the team. Talk to you later.

Blessings upon Blessings

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 11:07:00 +0000

Friday, June 17

We have just returned from a trip to Babadag. (We being Carol Sanders, Dana Bixler, Amber Bixler, Sharon Bowser and myself.) The guys (Lewis and Allen Bowser) stayed here in Calarasi to help with some projects at Outstretched Hands of Romania. We girls went to a ministry in Babadag that is a kindergarten program and church. Two young women run the kindergarten in a Turkish Muslim Gypsy neighborhood. Their work is tremendous!! We had an opportunity to do a children's program, a ladies' prayer meeting, distribute some food and visit several families. The love these people have for the two young women is astounding and they welcomed us with wide open arms as well. As we were leaving this morning to return to Babadag, we were asked to return. This is definitely a work that is God ordained and anointed and I love to be around the work HE is doing. We will definitely make this part of our itinerary in the future.

We returned to Calarasi to find Lew on his knees finishing concrete at the Hayes home. No sign of Allen but I am sure he is busy too.

Plans are to have a nice dinner this evening on the Danube. We are looking forward to that.

Please continue praying for my mother. She is at Stoneridge in Myerstown and not doing very well.

Blessings,

Darlene

Home away from Home

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 04:09:00 +0000

We have arrived after what seemed like a never ending trip. Pastor Nicu and Brad Hayes met us at the airport and help with our little surprise for Amber Bixler. Her mother came with us. Check out the video on Facebook and see just how surprised Amber was. Speechless comes to mind.

We are currently in Calarasi. Today we will attend a kindergarten graduation at the Hope Center in Caramidari and put together some humanitarian aid packets. Then we girls will travel northeast about four hours to Babadag and work with a new ministry there doing kids ministry and ladies meetings. Lew and I think Allen, will stay here in Calarasi and work on some projects Brad has. We girls will be in Babadag four days and return to Calarasi on Friday. Weekend ministry, Monday a day off I think, and then more ministry. We meet up again with Pastor Nicu on Wednesday and from there we will most likely be traveling to the border or Romania and Moldova for more ministry. It is always an adventure when you allow God to work and we are so looking forward to seeing what he has in store this year.

Off we go

Sun, 12 Jun 2011 12:08:00 +0000

Today is June 12, 2011 and we will depart in just a few hours for Romania once again. We are anticipating a wonderful, fruitful trip as we go as HIS servants. We will be ministering in Calarasi, Roseti, Chiselet, Babadag, Bucharest and many many more locations.

It has been a challenging week leading up to this (actually several weeks) but I am happy to report that GOD is still on His throne and in control. It is so wonderful to be able to put your hand in His knowing He has only your best interest at heart.

Please keep all of us in prayer. Two of the team will be returning on June 27th. The rest of us are scheduled to return to the US on July 5th.

Blessings to you all. See you next month. I will try to update this as much as possible throughout the next three weeks.