The Elevator - Barcelona Mission trip
An Amish boy and his father were visiting a mall. They were amazed by almost everything they saw but were especially intrigued by two shiny silver walls that could move apart and back together again. The boy asked his father, "What is this father?" The father, having never seen an elevator before, responded, "Son, I have never seen anything like this in my life. I don't know what it is." While the boy and his father were watching wide-eyed, an old lady with a cane slowly limped up to the moving walls and pressed a button. After a moment, the walls opened to reveal a small room. The lady walked into the room and the walls closed. As the boy and his father watched, the numbers above the silver walls began to light up one by one. Then, the boy and his father watched as the numbers lit again, this time in reverse. Suddenly, the silver walls opened again and out stepped a beautiful young woman. Leaning over so as not to speak too loudly, the father said to his son, "Quick, my boy! Run and get your mother."
As I was telling you some time ago, it looks like God is opening new doors for our ministry outside the borders of Romania. Several millions of Romanians have left the country searching for jobs. They moved out with their families and their faith. In a spiritually dry Western Europe, our people are starting churches and making an impact for the Kingdom.
It is amazing to see how God used the "economic persecution" of the 90's to spread our people throughout Europe and to now allow them be an influence there wherever they live. Together with Ramona and a 46-person choir, we have visited five churches (about 700 people total). We have seen the evidence of the grace of God. We have encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. Saturday and Sunday night we had evangelistic services in a Baptist church. About 300 people showed up each night.
We have also met there people who "limped up into the elevator" (Barcelona) as "old persons," found Christ there, and became "beautiful young persons." We were amazed by the huge need for training in the field of family and youth ministry. There was no free day during our one-week stay. When we didn't have church services or evangelistic services, we were having meetings with young married couples or youth workers. All of their churches are new with great potential. Even the Spanish population is showing interest in the way Romanians "do church."
We left Spain with a strong desire to get involved with and help that community of believers. We'll be in touch with them. We will send ministry resources and find ways to offer the training they need to fulfill the call of the Kingdom. God is good! We just pray to be His hands, feet, and mouth for a world gone mad. Or, to be in line with the newsletter, to be the "elevator" He can use to transform the lives He is sending to us.
