Romania was a huge blessing for numerous reasons. We had amazing, Christ-like ministry contacts. Fundatia Living Hope epitomized a church body striving to spread the joy of the Lord throughout the city of PiteÅŸti. My team, Majestic Summit, worked well with Team Heart Refinery, Missy Hollinger’s team comprised of Sammie Jo Marks, Amy Colley, Dan Loghry, Nathan Hatton, and Chase Glantz. We had fun living in community together at a government-run dormitory and doing ministry with Living Hope. I thoroughly enjoyed living in Romania and experiencing the culture, and I already miss it.
One of the amazing blessings was easy integration into the ministry. Instead of coming in as foreign missionaries, we felt like we a part of the church body from beginning to end. We don’t take for granted how much the Living Hope ministry contacts poured into us and loved on us so much.
The following is a synopsis of our awesome ministry experience in Romania:
Amazing, godly ministry contacts
Our main ministry contact was Cristi Golas, head pastor of Living Hope. He is an amazing visionary who strives to build strong, long-lasting relationships within the PiteÅŸti communities. Cristi, his lovely wife Kami, and their three young children are a beautiful example of a godly family.
Dutzi (24 yrs) and Marius (22 yrs) are a young couple who devote much time and effort into furthering the Living Hope ministry, especially pouring into the youth programs. They are such a cute couple as well!
Marte, Marian, and their beautiful little girl left Norway to help the Living Hope ministry for 6 months. They are also very dedicated to bringing evangelical Christianity to the oppressed city of PiteÅŸti.
Mama G and her daughter Maria (16 yrs) have hearts for youth ministry, especially for poor, gypsy children. Also, Mama G is a spitfire; so don’t mess with her either! (FYI: I write that out of the utmost love and respect for her).
Alin (16 yrs) and his sister, Raluca (14 yrs), by no means live a life that normal teenagers should live. They live by themselves in a tiny apartment funded by one of their older brothers. Their parents are minimally involved in their lives, yet, through all this, these kids serve the church in so many ways. They were a huge blessing to our World Race teams, and we are indebted to their service.
Vale (“Big Vale” – 29 yrs) blew my mind in how much he cared about serving us and the ministry. He is someone who epitomizes selflessness.
Vali (“Little Vali” – 20 yrs) is a behind-the-scenes support for Living Hope in between attending college classes. He is also quite good looking, and all of the teenage girls in the church youth group adore him!
Britta Palmquist (19 yrs) is an American from Minnesota who is serving the ministry for 3 months before she begins college at Moody Bible in the fall. Britta is a mature, intelligent young lady who helped us as we served Living Hope.
Serving at Fundatia Living Hope Church (a church planted by a Minnesota church)
We served in numerous ways throughout the month by planning youth group nights, assisting with church services, leading church worship, and creating youth and adult Sunday evening programs. We also took the weed- and rock-infested backyard and turned it into a nice, grass backyard.
Fundatia Living Hope Church
Cristi leading a church service
The 13 of us and some of our awesome contacts
Watering the backyard in anticipation for some green!
Prayer walks in Razboieni
Razboieni is a poor, gypsy community where Cristi focused a lot of his youth ministry efforts on. The children who live in this community have grown up in abusive environments where family alcoholism has played detrimental effects on their lives. We walked through the community a couple times during the month to pray for whatever the Holy Spirit put on our hearts during this time.
Serving the Razboieni youth ministry
Living Hope rents two school classrooms in Razboieni for youth ministry events. We played ping pong, led worship, and assisted with youth events. When the children were off school for a week in observance of Orthodox Easter, we helped create a 3-day workshop with dance lessons, praise and worship music, and English classes.
Nathan, Sammie Jo, Kate, and Alin playing worship music
Cristi singing worship songs in Romanian
Chase and I teaching English with Vale translating in Romanian
Cleaning
We definitely spent a decent amount of time cleaning the church and the Razboieni youth ministry classrooms throughout the month!
Prayer and worship mornings in Razboieni
Two mornings a week we would meet Cristi and other Living Hope ministry contacts for about an hour of prayer and worship. I really enjoyed this time we had together.
The Razboieni school
Futbol at Razboieni!
As some of you all know, sports ministry is one of my favorites! Dan, Nathan, Sammie Jo, Kate, and I joined Vale, Marius, Marion, and Alin for soccer at the Razboieni park in the late evenings (8pm to 11:30pm some nights!). It was a lot of fun to play with the youth and our ministry contacts. I still have huge bruises that are healing from being reamed in the shins a couple times. So worth it, though!
