Hello supporters, family & friends,
This month is another incredible one! I haven’t had time to write much because I’ve been staying rather plugged into what’s going on here. However, I want to give you a brief update! I will write a more reflective update in the latter of October.
We’ve currently been in Romania since the 26th of September. The first five days involved Month 3 Debrief, in The beautiful city of Brasov! This was a great time to unwind/recover and rest the soul. Being on the race, we are constantly placed in a lot of difficult situations. Therefore, rest is important and healthy for a short time. Debriefs really allow us to slow down, reflect on where God’s directing us and re-energize the soul to press forward in God’s ministry.
After five days of drinking coffee, eating delicious pastries, seeing beautiful castles and fellowshipping with a tremendous gang of believers, the team and I headed out to Petesti. Petesti is located in the South Central region of Romania and has had inhabitants since prehistoric times. However the city’s name isn’t historically recorded until the 14th century. During that time period it was used as a place of informal residency for Wallachian Princes. Wallachia, was a geographical region that quickly became a suzerainty of the Ottoman Empire from 14th century until the late 18th century. If you don’t know what a suzerainty is… It’s a sovereign state or people, that is/are subordinate to a higher authority on particular foreign affairs. Yet, it’s still a sovereign state within itself and operates on its own state affairs.
But what I found most eye catching as I was reading up on the history of the city was the “Petesti Experiment” or “Experimentul Pitesti”. The experiment took place at Pitesti Prison (1949-1952) during the early stages of the communist regime. Pitesti Prison was an island of horror. Anyone who remotely challenged the ideas of the government were sent to be violently “reeducated”. Through mental and psychical destruction, men were transformed into brainwashed atheists, full of hate and fear. One example of torture specifically for Christians was called “the baptism”. Every morning men who wouldn’t denounce there faith publicly, were plunged into a bucket filled with urine and faecal matter while those present chanted the rite of baptism. Once the prisoner was amidst drowning, he was pulled up for a short breath, then submerged once again. Persecution like that makes me realize how EASY I HAVE IT!
Today the city of Petesti is booming with automobile industry and is becoming more developed. The population is around 160,000 people and inhibits a very large community of gypsies in the southernmost portion of the city. Hence, why our ministry this month is with the gypsy community in the lively neighborhood of Razboieni. Razboiene is the poorest neighborhood in the city. Yet, since Living Hope church came into the area about 5 years ago, God’s RICH LOVE is spreading like wildfire throughout the children’s hearts. A city of horror and hate is becoming a city of LIGHT! Since our arrival here we have visited the neighborhood everyday of the week to build relationships among the children there. With the direction of the church, we have organized a program for the kids that involves us leading activities in areas of dance, crafts/art and English lessons. It’s been incredible so far! These kids come from ROUGH backgrounds and I mean rough! Therefore, it’s great to have a safe place for the kids to just come and hang out with believers.
I spoke with Pastor Christi over lunch a few days ago and he explained a lot about his vision for Razboiene. He explained that the children were the beating heart of the ministry. He also shared various testimonies of how planting God’s love in the children’s hearts is the “key” to opening the doors to the parents hearts throughout the community.
It’s a blessing to be here with these people and I’m blown away by what God is doing in the neighborhood of Razboiene!
Please pray for the children and the mothers of this community. Also pray that men would step up in the neighborhood, become leaders and take more responsibility for their actions.
Blessings be to you in Christ Jesus,
Ryan
