Romania Update - "God at Work"

Aug 31 Update

It is 11:35 pm here in Romania. The clinic team has had two very long days. However, we have also witnessed God at work in tremendous ways.

Yesterday, we worked with an 11-member church plant to help strengthen this baby church. They currently meet in the chapel of a "foundation". Half of the building is owned by the government (which is where we held clinic); the other half houses a nursing home and cottages for children with HIV.

As I was working in the pharmacy over the lunch hour, I prepared the prescriptions for one of the church members. My translator automatically handed her a tract with her medicine. She smiled from ear-to-ear and began to tell me that in 1992, she had found an identical tract in a waste can. She thought it looked interesting; read it; believed it; and prayed the prayer. Then, "the Holy Ghost led me to a church".

Isn't our Lord awesome? It really isn't about us and what we can do, is it? This lovely sister now works in the nursing home; she is persecuted by other staff for being a "repenter". She has been asked to leave recently because she was praying with patients. Please pray that the church's efforts of goodwill in provide medications and medical care for the nursing home will continue to build a positive relationship with those non-believers.

One of the nursing home patients was fitted for eyeglasses by Don Lincoln. She began crying as she was walking out. We later learned that she had not slept well for two nights because she had heard that we were coming and she was dreaming that she might get a pair of glasses (she couldn't afford any). She just couldn't believe that her dream had actually come true! The pastor took the opportunity to talk with her for quite some time, explaining how God can accomplish anything and telling her about God's love. Please pray that this woman will soon come to a saving relationship with Christ based on this experience.

Today, we worked in a different neighborhood, again setting up our clinic in the local evangelical church. We were fortunate to have Doug Johnson, a physician on the church planting team, to join us in the clinic. The medical team saw well over 150 patients, and the eye team over 120. Physical therapy was busy the entire time--and pharmacy...I haven't counted their prescriptions yet!

It was wonderful to watch the evangelism team, among them Margaret McCrummen, talk with the patients as they waited. I had the privilege of watching from a distance as she led a Muslim woman to Christ. It was obvious from the lady's facial expressions what was happening!

Several of our team members are sick (none requiring hospitalization or aggressive care); please pray that they will recover quickly before our journey home which begins Saturday.

(Note from Don: Stress levels are increasing as the team is getting tired and the people at the new clinic site are more trying. Please lift them up in prayer often as they tackle their last day of clinic tomorrow. Thanks)

Thank you for being faithful prayer warriors,
Lauree Jones
Medical Team Leader, Constanta, Romania