Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it's off to CANADA we go!

IT has finally arrived! Marcel and I have been patiently waiting ALL summer and most of this fall for the FINAL letter from the Canadian embassy telling us that we received our visas and should bring in our passports for visa application. Well. . . .It arrived today, Thursday, October 7th, 2010. We should have everything in order by early November and be on a plane so we can see MY family over Thanksgiving. We are sooooooo happy and a bit nervous, but we know that God is in control. THANK YOU for all your prayers, love and support. Please continue to pray as we will be arriving with just 4 suitcases so we are starting from scratch in ALL areas. The adventure continues! As a good friend once said, "Kim, you are NOT normal so how do you expect to live a normal life?" Well put. Maybe Marcel wishes he had known that sooner. :)

These last few weeks will be filled with wrapping up my teaching in Ciumeghiu and English tutoring as well as giving things away, visiting people, cleaning the apartment etc. May the Lord be praised in all we do and His grace be evident as we say goodbye also to loved ones who don't see this departure as so happy. ALL for HIS glory! Kim and Marcel

Baptisms

I just wanted to share a few pictures from the 2 recent baptisms in Ciumeghiu. The Lord is working in hearts in Ciumeghiu and many are coming to Christ. 5 people have been baptized so far this year and they are hoping to have another baptism later this summer with another 2-3 people. Please pray for wisdom as Pastor Nastase disciples these baby Christians and helps them learn to walk with God daily. Also pray for work for those in Ciumeghiu. No one can find work here or even in other European countries due to the financial crisis and the rain we have had every other day for a month. Pray that we all will depend wholly on God and not get discouraged as we wait for Him to show us His plan. Kim p.s. Marcel and I go for our medical exams for the Canadian embassy on Monday, June 7. This is the last step in the process before mailing in our passports for our visas. We are hoping for an August departure.

Back in Ciumeghiu!

Since we are still in Romania and have no Canada departure date yet, Marcel and I decided it would be good for me to start up kid's classes in Ciumeghiu again. I am thrilled!!! Our first class was Tuesday, April 27 and 80 children showed up. Most of them were gathered 2 hours before class was scheduled and it's been the same for the last 2 weeks. Please pray that the Lord will work in these kids hearts especially those pre-teens who have been in class for 4 years now and need to make personal decisions to follow Jesus Christ. Also pray that Claudia will be encouraged and convinced by the Lord to continue the classes once I leave. The Lord is really working in Ciumeghiu with 5 baptized on April 25 and 3 to be baptized on May 16th. May God be praised for His mighty works! Kim

Spring is here!

Hello from Romania! The winter is FINALLY over (I think) and we are all looking forward to spring tulips and irises. Marcel and I are still plugging away at submitting documents for our visas to Canada. We have one more step (medical examinations) and I believe our passports will be taken for official stamping. Praise the Lord!! Marcel's hours keep getting longer and longer (with no pay compensation) which is really draining him, making it difficult to continue our orphan ministry. Please pray for the Lord to give him (us) strength and desire to minister to these orphans even though we see little fruit. Each Sunday is a challenge, but each Sunday God provides us the patience, wisdom and energy to serve Him.

I (Kim) have been busy taking French lessons and working with 2 missionary children: one with school and the other with the Romanian language. It's been a new challenge to learn how these kids' learn and what helps them be interested in learning new things. This last week, I had the privilege of speaking in a public high school about some American celebrations (Thanksgiving, Valentine's day and State Fairs). Picture above. It was a lot of fun and I even was able to share that Christmas is my favorite holiday because I celebrate Jesus' birth: the only person I believe can forgive your sins and take you to heaven. My friend Anca, the teacher, was thrilled also with the success of the day and we might schedule another talk later in the year. Praise the Lord for these little opportunities that remind us that we are still usable for Him. Kim

Happy New Year!

Wow, a new year has started already.

Marcel and I have both decided that 2009 was the most difficult year of our lives (with some high points, of course!) We both thank the Lord, however for bringing us through the many storms which drew us closer to each other and showing us His mighty hand working on our behalf. We also praise Him for his faithfulness as He has continued to direct us. This past summer He prompted us to start ministering to orphans. We started bringing 5-6 kids from a local government-run facility to church on Sundays and then home for dinner, a kids Bible lesson and maybe a special activity (christian films, trip to a village church, special meetings). In this picture, we joined the congregation in Gepis for their Thanksgiving service. This ministry has been much more difficult than we imagined as the group of children changes weekly, we have limited time with them and they are very hardened by their rough pasts. Please continue to pray that the Lord will give us strength and patience and that He will open their hearts to Him.

The Lord has also been directing us towards a BIG CHANGE in our lives. After much prayer, research and paperwork, we have decided to move to Montreal, Canada by this summer! Montreal is a bilingual city (English & French) in the French area of Canada (Quebec). We are hoping that Marcel will be able to finish his medical degree at one of Montreal’s eleven universities and we both will become fluent in French to prepare us for future ministry. (Marcel studied French in school and I have been working with a tutor for over 2 months so we have a good start.) We are very excited about this move and appreciate all your prayers as we trust the Lord to lead us into a whole new life once again. His faithfulness is beyond comprehension. Praise His Name! Kim & Marcel

Fall events

Moving to Oradea and away from daily insteraction with the Rom people has been very difficult, but I thank the Lord for a loving understanding husband who has not only encouraged me to participate in special events with the Rom people, but has served along side me. In September, Marcel welded this iron wood stove for the new Ciumeghiu classroom. It took many hours and lots of hard work, but the church greatly appreciated it when the cold weather rolled in overnight. This Saturday we hope to return to Ciumeghiu to help build an awning over the front entrance. In October, we were able to translate for some Americans who came to do a medical clinic in Ciumeghiu. Over 400 people were seen by a doctor and given medication to help with their illnesses. We thank the Lord for bringing these Americans and blessing the Rom community in Ciumeghiu in this way. The Lord has continued to work in the Ciumeghiu church and they hope to have another spring baptism this coming year. Thank you for your continued prayers.

Summer coming to a close!

What a wild summer! Thank you soooo much for your prayers and support. The weeks of vacation bible school went very well (the picture is of my friend Lori during VBS in Osorhei). We had a great turn out in each village and enjoyed teaching the kids about Daniel and his great faith in an even greater God. Marcel and I have also taken part in a few weddings and baptisms including the baptism of his brother Andrei (see pic). What a joy to see Andrei take this step of obedience in his walk with God. For most of July, Marcel and I worked hard to translate half of a book for Pastor Rick Reynolds so he could teach another Men's Seminary class in Tinca. We finished the work and enjoyed having Pastor Rick and his daughter Melissa with us for the last week or so. The men's class went well with Marcel translating and even finishing up the last few chapters after Pastor Rick's departure. Between 6 and 10 men attended each evening making it a great time of learning and fellowship. Praise the Lord for such a wonderful summer of ministry.

Now Marcel and I will be heading to the mountains for a few days of camping in the wilderness (no phones :) and then we will be packing up to move into Oradea closer to our church and family. We appreciate your continued prayers as we look for jobs and continue to minister with the orphan boys and homeless shelter ministries. May His name be praised in ALL we do. Kim