This week, I took a train from Cluj-Napoca to Timisoara. I spent six hours in a cabin with a friend, two music students, a young girl hoping to be a folk singer, two schoolteachers, and a blind, elderly woman. It was interesting to see these generations interact. At first, it was quiet and awkward. The lady schoolteacher was the first to open up, and started talking to the blind woman, and they exchanged stories about growing up and what it’s like to be old. The schoolteacher was Pentecostal, and the blind woman was Orthodox. Needless to say, their life experiences were completely different. But it was so interesting to hear them converse, and to hear the way they experienced life (it is so different from mine!) At one point, the blind woman started telling us that she lost her eyes 40 years ago, but that with God’s help she didn’t let it stop her from living her life. She writes poetry (which she performed for us), cooks (except pancakes, she says, because she can’t see when it is ready to be flipped), and makes socks for selling. What an incredible human being. My friend and I were talking a little bit with the other girl our age, but for the most part we sat and kept to ourselves. I was wondering at the readiness to talk to others that the older generation seems to have–the schoolteacher and the blind woman were so quick to make ties. I think the real bonding moment during that train ride, was when one of the musicians took out his Spanish guitar and started playing. It was sunset, and quiet except for the music and the sound of the train. The schoolteacher kept complimenting them, and praising God for such good, talented young people in her presence. The rest of us sat in peace, listening and smiling….except for the other schoolteacher. He seemed to be “tolerating” our company, and I was waiting for him to say something at any moment. After about an hour, he asks if he can borrow the guitar. Shocked, the musician handed it over. The schoolteacher warms up his fingers, and then continues with “She’ll be coming ’round the mountain when she comes”, in a thick, Romanian accent. Also on the set-list: “1 little, 2 little, 3 little Indians” and “My Bonnie lies over the ocean”. It was incredible. We found out that he teaches English in a little school outside of Timisoara, and often entertains them with his own guitar. We all had a story, and it was incredible to have an experience where complete strangers enjoy each other’s company. We threw aside generational differences, and lived in that moment together.

I feel that here in Romania is where I see generation gaps the most–an elderly woman walks by a little bit crouched, covered from head-to-toe in clothing that is what you typically imagine when you think of Eastern Europe, and quickly past her walks a teenage boy dressed like he is ready to go to the club (popped collar and all). They don’t understand each other, but they live in the same world. I see this every day here, and I hear it expressed on the bus, in the courtyard after church, everywhere. This is why it is a moment I will never forget.

Things that need prayer in these “countdown days”:

That God will give each team member peace and freshness of spirit.
For smooth and uninterrupted travel (can be difficult these days!)
For the churches the team will visit: the sermons to be spoken and the fellowship to be made.
For the Roma villages, that the people will be ready.
For health! It has not been uncommon in the past for a team member to fall ill, which can be frightening in a foreign country.

Thank you for staying up to date on our prayer lists! Updates on the happenings of the team’s stay in Romania will be more frequent. Prayer lists will be updated as well.

Faithfully,
Tasha Muresan

I arrived here two days ago, after a long and grueling day of delayed and cancelled flights. But once I stepped foot onto Eastern European soil, it was all worth it. I am here, and my heart is full.

When I come, I look around with a sense of familiarity amongst the drastic changes that seem to have happened over a year. This country is advancing at a rapid rate, and yet there are instances when you come face to face with those who are not benefiting from this “improvement”. A beggar on the street waved off by a preoccupied young man, Decaying buildings and skyrocketing prices of the essentials.

Amidst all these things, there is such a draw to this place. I am absorbed by the way of life and by the people. I think hope exists here, and there is great room for a movement of God. This is part of what makes Romania so beloved to me.

I am here doing an internship with a ministry for previously at-risk girls who have found family at a place called Deborah House, where they are guided through their future and given the skills and means to accomplish their goals. These girls are learning their worth in God’s eyes, and reinventing what makes them beautiful. It is an incredible opportunity, and I am excited to start on Monday.

I will also be joining the VBS team for a short while in the village of Archita. While I am here, I hope to learn more about the need in Romania and where I fit in God’s plan for the country. I hope, by the end of my two months, to acquire a handful of projects for Reach Out to Romania.

More updates soon!

Faithfully,
Tasha Muresan

This is an old Gypsy proverb referring to the value of hard work. I read it as, “You reap what you sow”. When I think about it in terms of our ministry in Romania, it gives me a sense of urgency. How will I reflect on my summer when in the winter, months after being in Romania and back to the hustle of everyday life? I hope I remember faces and names and stories, and the way God moved in the hearts of the people. I hope I can recall with confidence my part in the action–that I was open and receptive to God’s voice.

The implications regarding our contact with the village of Pusta Vale are huge. This is a more traditional Roma village, and Christianity is somewhat new. Ideas and traditions are passed down generationally, so entire generations can be influenced by one point of impact. These people have new, open hearts for God, and I believe this summer we will see incredible things.

Thank you, dear sponsors and prayer partners, for making this possible. It is truly your support that keeps us going. Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we are preparing to depart.

Thank you,
Tasha Muresan

Quickly to my mind came an image of the children in the Roma village of Archita, where I have had the privilege of serving and visiting the past two summers. I can hardly describe to you what it does to your heart when you see hundreds of children, clapping and singing VBS songs. Praise echoes in that ancient church so much that you can feel it on your skin. You can’t help but join in. This surely is what it means to physically delight in the Lord. Dancing, singing, running your heart out in duck-duck-goose, savouring weird, foreign foods like Oreos. (One child asked me how I could eat something so black. When I told him it was chocolate, he looked at me with such surprise!)

Our presence in these places of need is so treasured. When we arrive as a team to these villages, ready to fully give our time and our hearts to these people, we are a blessing to them. (And oh, the blessing that pours back!) These people who are habituated to outside ignorance, to poverty, to a routine of survival…see that they are not forgotten. They have a place in the world, and are adored by God.
We have about one month until our departure to Romania. Please keep us in your prayers, and find time to delight in the Lord today

Faithfully,
Tasha Muresan

We are attending to last-minute details, taking care of the technicalities of travel, lodging, etc. Our companions across the ocean are preparing to receive us. Excitement hangs in the air as we rush about preparing.

And we prepare our hearts. We understand the gravity of the situations we will face–the poverty, the hunger, the need. We understand the longing for God. We envision transformation and hearts turned to Christ.

We recognize our part in this, and tell our hearts to make room for God’s movement. Our hearts: vessels, emptied and poured out living water for the thirsty. This is what we pray for as we prepare.

• Pray with us, and be a part of the transformation God will bring to the villages we minister to.
• Pray for understanding–the Roma culture is so vast, mysterious, and unattainable for anyone who is an outsider. Only with God’s help will we be able to form a bond with these people. Christ is the ultimate bond.
• Pray as we prepare to physically go, answering God’s call to make disciples of all the nations. For safety, health, financial resources.

Faithfully,
Tasha Muresan
Advocate, Reach Out to Romania

It crossed the boundaries of time. From generation to generation, as people die of sickness, violence and starvation, the question is passed on like a hurting baton. The cry is all the same, “Will it ever end?”

In the sincere soul searching pursuit, individuals, families, communities and nations rose to the challenge to come up with at least their best effort to lessen the hurt.

At times there is a call for a new project. The question is where we do start?

In the community God called me to serve, I take time to go and speak with the people on the streets. In a non-invasive way, I want to gain their trust just enough so they will open to me to tell their stories.

As A Christian I feel God called me to reach out to those within walking distance from where I am. Across the street, there is a child that needs a word of encouragement, help with homework and maybe some guidance to discern between the thousands of voices that are battling for his and her mind.
We can all be very pleased with reaching out in our neighborhood and when we do that it feels good. Making a positive impact is rewarding in the life of those around us as well as the people we touch.

Not only that the issue of pain does not have time boundaries, but it is also crossing geographical boundaries.

For the last 18 years, I have been privileged to lead mission trips to Romania. In the mission work we did all these years, we touched thousands of lives. After all this time, you will think that we made progress, but when we see the overwhelming needs around us, we recognize that it looks more like we just started. We are grateful for the work done and we would like to continue it!

This year we will go back in July. We will be among the poorest of the poor. We will be working with children as well as their families and the community they belong. As we do our work, we need your prayers as well as financial support. We plan to have over 500 children in our program. As we spend time with them we would like to be able to teach them, play with them, clothe them and feed them. For all that we need your help.
Will you partner with us in our effort?

Sincerely, Rev. Paul Muresan

I would like to invite you to read his email and think of a way you will might be able to help.

I know that many of you have economic challenges, many lost jobs and suffered cut back in income, so this appeal is not to you, but you might have friends or a church who could help.

Here is Pastor Florin’s email:

Paul,
I had today a meeting with the missionaries and with the elders from the villages discussing about the situations in the fields and also on how we can improve the ministry.

There is a teenager in our church who graduated in a Christian school and she is involved in the mission in Archita. Her name is Tamara. We are blessed by God with new opportunities to tell the Gospel.

On the other side I was shocked to hear from the elders in the villages that no gypsy is having a place to work any more. All of them have lost their jobs. Because of the crisis in the economy the factories work just with 35% of the workers. The others were dismissed. The first of these people were gypsies. We studied today the Word of God and also they wanted to pray more. One of the prayers that touched my heart was: God, please help me to find a place to work to be able to give food to my family. In this situation we pray that God would help us more to be a blessing with the Bread Project. Please continue to pray for this situation and thank you for let me share with you this burden.

God bless you. Pastor Florin

God is awesome! Please continue to pray and partner with us as we are steadily touching lives across the Atlantic.
Blessings.

Our next project is sending boxes filled with clothes and blankets!

Just last week we had a young man at our church getting 23 large U-Haul boxes ready for shipping. The winter is in full blast. The villages where these boxes will be sent are situated on a high plateau where the temperature drops lower that other parts of Romania and the winter cold lingers longer.

If we are able to send these boxes in the third week of January, we estimate their arrival  by the end of February, covering the needs of clothing for about two months until it will get warmer.

Last week I received a call from a church in Orange County. The director of the pre-school at this church would like to organize their thirs year of colecting clothes and medicine for the children in Romania.

I continue to be amazed on the generosity of many people who upon hearing of our outreach to the children of Romania, are lending a heloing hand with a compassionate heart.

Our immediate need is shipping the boxes. The estimate cost for the project is $1,500.00.

If you would like to help and are able to do it, we will greately appreciate it.

Blessings,

Rev. Paul Muresan

While we extend our compassion to those across the street, to those we encounter in our day to day business, I invite you to extend yourself and help the children in Romania.

Pastor Boruga Florin, sent us a dvd with the Bread Project. You can  view it on our website.

The winter has come back in the villages around Sighisoara. Since the majority of the people are hired farmer workers, they are out of jobs and a source of income until the end of March. During these months, the family members will still be hungry, still need to be warm and still have their children go to school.

Please join us in helping provide the daily bread for about 600 people going thorough the long months of this winter!

Blessings,
Paul Muresan