Trip to Topraisar

I spent May 5-19 assisting and visiting with the Price family (pictured above) in Topraisar, Romania. It is a small village just outside Constanta, the second largest city. I helped Mrs. Brenda in the kitchen as their family hosted 5 men from Franklin, VA, who came to run electrical wiring in a new building project. This home, when completed, will host unwed mothers who wish to keep and raise their babies. It will be an excellent tool used not only to minister to those in physical need, but also to give the Gospel and be able to raise the babies in a Christian environment.
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L: Pastor Vinson and Bro. Keith Price supervised and led the team.
R: Efrom, a young man visiting from Indiana, and Bro. Jim made sure they followed orders.

Bro. Dave (above left) and Bro. Ron (above right) worked hard to acomplish the job.

L: Bro. Will makes sure things are secure and in the right place.
R: The 5-man team ran over a mile of wire in "Tina's House" in just 2 1/2 days ... way to go!
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Mrs. Brenda holds a class for girls called "The Looking Glass Class" every Saturday morning. They get together and sing, do a Bible lesson, have a snack, play games, learn verses, do crafts, and fellowship. The class is fairly new and already God has blessed by sending 12-15 girls each week! I was able to help for 2 Saturdays with Bible lessons, a craft, a snack, and a game.

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Bro. Keith does a great job preaching to a small group in Romanian on Sundays. It is important that the Romanian people get the true Gospel message, which they do not receive from the Orthodox religion that has saturated the country. They average 15 - 20 each Sunday.

L: Mrs. Brenda plays flute and Bro. Keith plays trombone in praise to the Lord.
R: The men from VA sing Obedience to remind us that "Obedience is the very best way to show that you believe".

Sunday night was a sweet time by the campfire sharing testimonies of our lives, singing together, sharing how God has provided for our needs, eating yummy hot dogs and smores, and just sharing a good time of fellowship.
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On Wednesday morning, the Prices were awakened by the tiny "mews" of 6 new baby kitties that were born to Freckles in the night - under their bed. She was such a good mommy and even let us hold her babies!
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We were able to visit a Children's Home run by an American missionary family. They have about 12 kids who were brought there from the hospital at birth. One young lady was 2 when she came. They are able to raise the kids in a Christian environment, and it shows. It is very different from the Children's Home that we currently work in. You can tell a difference in the kids because of their surroundings. Some of the children have special needs, but Bro. Dave and Mrs. Dara have been given special provision from the Lord to care for those children as well!
Above L: Mrs. Dara introduces the children to us.
Above R: They sang I'll Fly Away and I'll Have a New Body for us.

The kids LOVED all the candy brought to them by the men from America. (Though "Mom" and "Dad" may have loved it more!)
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We visited the Black Sea in Constanta, on the east side of Romania. It was BEAUTIFUL and I couldn't resist taking off my shoes and feeling the sand squish between my toes! Mrs. Brenda and I didn't notice that we matched until we previewed this picture on our cameras!
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I departed from Bucaresti, the capital city of Romania, on May 19. It's about a 5 hour drive, so the Price's decided to make it a road trip for themselves, the young man visiting from Indiana (Efrom), and a family of special friends from their village. We went to McDonalds (of course!) in the mall, a Christian bookstore, and the airport. We tried to tour a historic building, but the timing was not to our advantage.
Above L: Rica works with Bro. Keith and attends their church with his family.
Above R: Mrs. Brenda, me, and Mariana (Rica's wife). I was amazed how God used my limited Romanian and Mariana's limited English to allow us to converse one day for about 2 hours in the garden without translation! He is good ... all the time!

Rica and Mariana's Children:
L: Gabi and Alex make the most of the car trip. They enjoyed seeing the river, bridges, and barges, among other things.
R: Corina and I enjoyed our McDonalds very much!

L: Alex and Corina really liked the revolving doors and the escalators in the mall!
R: The whole "family" enjoying lunch at the Bucaresti Mall.
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So, as you can see, I had a great time! I'm back home, now, and looking forward to Bro. George's ordination, summer camp in July, coming to America in August, and getting back to the children's ministries here in Romania!!