Romanian
orphans receiving clothing Click on each photo to enlarge the image.
Food for poor families: Click on each photo to enlarge the image.
Village Youth Program: Click on each photo to enlarge the image.
Romania Gypsy Service: Click on each photo to enlarge the image.
Romania Trip - Summer, 2011
Report Number One
Leaving Seattle on July 4 at 1 PM, I
arrived in Bucharest the following aernoon and was met by Caleb
European director Marin Tiripa. We drove from Bucharest to Braila where
our Romanian headquarters are, arriving about 9 PM.
I was greeted with the sad news that
our good friend Mr. Christi had died two days earlier from a sudden
heart attack. He was just 42 years of age, leaving behind his wife
Johanna and many good friends. Johanna is best friend and former college
roommate of Christina Tiripa. A forest engineer who worked for the
Romanian National Forests, Mr. Christi was a close friend of Caleb
Ministries. We often stayed at his modest apartment for meals,
overnights or just to use the internet, and he was always gracious. He
and his wife contributed to our purchase of Christmas Shoeboxes for the
children, helped distribute Caleb clothes and food to homeless kids in
Iasi, and were always ready to help our ministry.
Marin Tiripa was in the process of
building a home for this couple when he went to be with Jesus. Because
of his passing, the landlord claimed their government apartment, a
portion of his wages, and gave the widow 45 days to vacate. This put the
burden on Marin to complete the house construction as quickly as
possible. The house is being built high atop a hill just outside Iasi in
a new development. It was scheduled for completion in September! Mr.
Christi picked out the lot and drew plans for the home to be a place to
shepherd young believers. I told him it resembled a shepherds Pasteur
and gave him the following passage when we met last December at his lot:
Ps 80:1-7
Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, You
who lead Joseph like a flock; You who dwell between the cherubim, shine
forth! 2 Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, Stir up Your strength,
And come and save us!
3 Restore us, O God; Cause Your face
to shine, And we shall be saved!
4 O Lord God of hosts, How long will
You be angry Against the prayer of Your people? 5 You have fed them with
the bread of tears, And given them tears to drink in great measure. 6
You have made us a strife to our neighbors, And our enemies laugh among
themselves.
7 Restore us, O God of hosts; Cause
Your face to shine, And we shall be saved!
NKJV
He was most pleased with the
reference.
Wednesday (my first full day of this
journey) we drove north to Iasi (6 hour journey from Braila) for the
memorial service that evening. Marin, Christina and all 5 of their
children came with us and we camped out on the floor of Christina’s
parents’ home. The service was at Falocalia Evangelism Center with which
we are very familiar. Back in 1993-1994 we shipped medical supplies,
beds, linens, books to help establish this mission church. We brought in
the transmitter from Vienna for the then illegal “bandit Christian radio
station”, now operating with licenses 24 hours a day. The service was
dignified and well-attended but uncomfortable as it was over 90 degrees
and no air conditioning or even fans!
Christina spent the night and next
two days with the widow. Thursday was the funeral at Falocalia and then
graveside service which lasted 4 hours in the oppressive heat. Friday I
contacted officials about our mannatech glycobears as I learned the
shipment never arrived this year. We supply Downs Syndrome Children with
this supplement across Romania and I get requests everywhere I go about
it.
Friday evening Marin added two more
workers to expedite work on the house and ordered supplies to be
delivered. (This involves tracking down a supplier, hiring the trucker,
and physically leading them up the hills to the site! On top of this, as
contractor Marin is responsible for providing hot meals twice a day to
all at work. We are constantly cooking chorba soup, stuffed peppers,
cabbage salad, and bringing utensils, salt and pepper, coffee, bottled
water, and other supplies up the hillside. Note we are also watching 5
kids ranging from 2 to 11 in the process!
Late Friday night we take return
drive to Braila. Saturday is rest, laundry, cooking, internet, etc.
Sunday morning (6 am) Marin and I pick up Pastor Aurel from Chiscan
village, and head to the Danube to cross on a barge and head into the
Delta to Tulcea for church service. We arrive at 10 AM sharp. The
service is special as we dedicate the local pastor’s son (his 1st
child!) and another baby. I speak on the promises of Abraham in planting
the Tamarac Tree at Beersheba in Geneses 12, demonstrating his Faith in
Gods Promise. A lady from the church them speaks giving testimony of her
healing at our service there last November of a heart condition for
which she had been scheduled for surgery! Even her doctor came to
testify of the miracle. She and her friends provided grand refreshments
after the service. Marin and I then are taken with Aurel (District
Director here of 14 churches) to a restaurant celebration of the infant
dedications. At a pizza house, we are treated to chorba soup, chicken
patty, puree potatoes or fries, cabbage salad, and cola or orange
beverage. For 25 people this was very expensive (About $250.00 US) but
was sponsored by grandparents living in USA. We return to Braila about 1
AM Monday morning, sleep four hours, and then Marin and I head back to
Iasi with supplies, an additional carpenter, and much enthusiasm.
Brother Metica (a title, not relative) and his wife and two grown
children bought the house Marin built behind his in Braila. Nearly each
evening they come to Marin’s house to conclude the day in prayer
together. They were waiting until Marin and I got back from Tulcea so we
could pray together at 1 AM! This nightly vesper service takes about 45
minutes and is done on your knees in living room or my bedroom. It has
been going on for years before they moved next door.
We have a new family member here.
His name is Claudio and he is 16. He is nephew of Marin. Marin’s brother
Valise died last November. He has a daughter who was present through the
events. But Marin never knew his brother also had a son! Last week he
got a telephone call from a social worker advising of Claudio and his
need to contact blood relatives for medical necessity. Marin agreed to
meet Claudio. The medical ploy was just a ruse to find family as Claudio
had nowhere to live. His mother and grandmother raised him but kicked
him out at 16 which is legal here as they have not enough food or space.
Claudio came last Friday and has been with us since. Marin and I got him
a room near Braila center and have enrolled him in school, paying fees
for one semester, including meals. He seems a very nice boy, eager to
please and always helping out. He knows nothing of his dad being an
alcoholic. Caleb agreed to sponsor the school for first semester.
Tuesday Claudio went with Marin and
me to Iasi. He worked and lived at the building site and the others said
he did well.
Wednesday Marin and I left Iasi for
Suceavea and the Caleb representative there, Detective Dan. It was
severely hot with no air conditioning or fans or even cold beverages so
a village church meeting was not feasible. Instead, I gave my testimony
in the basement hall of an apartment building where Detective Dan lives.
It was good gathering and many had not heard my story before. Back at
his apartment I met his son and daughter-in-law. They lived in
California where they attended college and started their family. He is a
computer genius and lived in USA 20 years. However, he and his wife
received a prophecy they believe, that the anti-Christ will appear
through the internet. They have sworn off all computers, TVs, media,
etc. and left the USA because the youth would not heed their message.
They preach in the Suceavea area against computers and internet. Here,
they are well received as this area is very fanatical and extreme. As we
were discussing his aversion to the internet, I maintaining it is a tool
to be used with wisdom and restraint and self-control, I noticed he was
receiving e-mails and text messages on his cell phone. I asked him if he
knew those were internet based services. The room grew silent and we
decided to end in prayer. Marin and I went to a modest motel for the
evening (No air conditioning!). Returning to Iasi, we spent the day
working on the house along with a team of 10 volunteer men from
Falocalia Church who came to help start the yard leveling. My duty
became getting food to feed the unexpected crowd!
Friday we came back to Braila with
Claudio. Friday night was prayer with Brother Metica family. Saturday I
did laundry, continued trying to consult with Mannatech about
Glycobears, and visited the police! It appears when I bought gas for the
trip to Iasi, the clerk forgot to put it on the charge card. At the end
of the night the error was discovered and we received phone call to come
to the gas station next day before heading to Iasi. We did and I
presented the VISA card. The manager said he could not now take it as
required cash! (value 130.00 US but in Romanian Lei) I had to go to the
Raiffensen Bank (German) the next afternoon in Iasi and draw out the
funds from my own bank account I maintain here. It took $232.00 because
then they had to convert it to Lei (15% fee). Because I could not wait
two weeks for approval from US for my withdrawal, it became a cash
advance at 20%! I then took the lei to the station Saturday and he gave
me a receipt which then was filed at the police station showing I did
not steal the gas! Life is not simple here!
Sunday, July 17th, the entire Tiripa
family went to church in Braila together. I preached with Cornel
translating for me. When I first came to Braila, Livio translated for me
on streets. His oldest son, high school, was Lorenzo and he translated
in church. He now is in merchant marine and just a week ago I am told
evaded capture by Pirates and was given reward by the Japanese company
he sails for! His younger brother Michael then became my translator but
now he is in medical school. So up comes the youngest brother, Cornel,
studying to be airline Pilot!
Sunday evening church was cancelled
everywhere due to the heat. It is in 90’s and dangerous for public
assembly by order of the mayor.
Monday was whirlwind day! At 6 AM
Marin and I loaded 6 doors for the house in Iasi on his VW van and drove
to Iasi. We arrived around noon and worked till 4. Then we returned to
Braila about 11 pm, napped an hour, and then drove Dana (The Tiripa
nanny) to Bucharest to catch a 3:30 AM bus to Germany where she has been
offered a job. Marin and I then drove back to Braila, arriving at 7 AM
Tuesday. We napped again and were up by 10 but dragging. Marin is
working in the garden as I type. Such energy he has!
Tomorrow we again return to
Bucharest, this time to pick up Pastor Dan Johnson!
Click on each photo to enlarge the image.
Jerry Riess
& Caleb Good News Ministries
REPORT TWO
The adventure continues! I write to you Monday morning. We are safe and
comfortable back in Braila at the home of Marin& Cristina Tiripa.
Bringing you up to date will be difficult as I have not taken notes as
we traveled, being very busy, but will do best I can. First, understand,
the passenger window on Marin’s VW Sharon Minivan is broken. This means
it is mostly shut but has a top opening of from ½ inch at times to 4 or
5inches when he suddenly hits any bump. The window is scooted up shut
completely repeatedly by Marin, his brother-in-law Dan, and others, with
paper wedged into hold it, but fails at each new bump, surprising me
with the size of opening I must then endure until next stop. Travel is
expensive as gas is posted at5.50.9 to 7.99.9 at various stations but
that is in lei and is per liter, not gallon. So you multiply by 4 to get
a gallon and then divide by 3, to get approximate dollars so gas becomes
between $6.00 and $8.00 per gallon. You then add 24% TVA tax! Thus, a
fill up is $100 to $140 US. We take one to 2 fill-ups a day or even 3
when we drive late into the night.
Wednesday through various e-mails and phone calls we discovered why no
glycobears were sent this year. Two reasons: First, Mannatech replaced
them with a powder form that is dispensed by supervising medical or
social workers. Second, Romania has forbidden their distribution except
by medical personnel. To enforce this, they're taxing Mannatech for
imports not accounted for on written reports by medical personnel. This
has brought screeching halt to the program as tax is a penalty and very
high. The Romanian government requires the doctor to apply for
permission to dispense the product and then report results to it. We
have advised the medical personnel at Beclean Hospital, Falocalia in
Iasi, Open Door Clinic in Bucharest, and Petrosani Philadelphia Medical
Clinic to apply directly for the permits from Romanian Government using
our foundation identity and then as approved submit product requests to
Mannatech directly. This should get the product back for us but we have
no medical staff presently in Braila area which is a big need. We are
hopeful Mannatech will supply to us direct in USA and we can then ship
in direct for Braila needs.
Wednesday, the 20th, Pastor Dan was due in at Bucharest at 1:05 pm. At
10 AM, in 100 degrees heat, Marin and I drove to Bucharest, arriving
just at 1:00 to meet Dan. You have no way to see passengers until they
deplane, process through passport control, pick up luggage, go through
customs, and exit into the lobby through one of 4 sliding doors. We
waited 6 hours but no Dan. We waited through the next 3 flights coming
from Amsterdam, and still no Dan. At 6 pm was last flight from Amsterdam
until midnight so we decided to return to Braila and check for calls,
e-mails or information, with time to return for the midnight arrival. (I
had asked at “Airportinformation” but they kept saying “We have no
information on that passenger!!!”,even though they never asked for
passengers name or flight or arrival time. (?)Real helpful! We called
Cristina back in Braila to look at my email but she said internet was
not working so she could not check for messages. (Turned out she was
just not comfortable using my computer and internet worked fine) So we
left the airport at 6 pm, chewing a tough chicken schnitzel Marin bought
in grocery as we had not eaten since breakfast at 7 AM and that was a
small salad!
Driving back to Braila 3 hours, the weather turned to fierce lightning
storm and pouring rain! Roadways became flooded, potholes covered in
rain so hard to see in the dark, and wood splinters and logs on roadway,
presumably from lightning strikes! It was harrowing drive complicated by
concern for where Pastor Dan was!
Arriving back at Braila at 10:30 pm, I turned on my computer and on the
screen was e-mail from USA advising Dan had arrived at 5 PM at Bucharest
Airport where we had been waiting, but he was still in baggage claim
trying to sort out what happened to his luggage. His luggage did not
arrive with him, and he had to wait for the midnight flight to finally
receive his luggage. He bought an "international cell phone” with an
international number.
The number wouldn't work in Romania though we tried everything we could
to call it. Turns out he bought the phone in Amsterdam and had no
instructions in English, and, the number given was incomplete, missing a
digit and actually is 4479 245 44992 .So all we could do was grab a
sandwich and cup of coffee, gas up the van (another $100.00) and return
to Bucharest, now in fierce rain storm. (My passenger window was about 2
inches down, making for nice refreshing sprinkle as we drove)
Arriving at12:30 AM back at airport, we found Pastor Dan seated in
arrival lobby 4 seats where I had been waiting from 1 pm to 6 pm! Within
half an hour his luggage had arrived and been retrieved from the
midnight flight and we left to go back to Braila. He said his flight
from Seattle was delayed so in Amsterdam he had missed his connecting
flight and was put on a later one, arriving in Bucharest about 4:30 pm
with his non-functioning international cell phone. He got the one call
off to Lori, resulting in my e-mail, but otherwise could not get it to
work. Dutch instructions did not help! He said when he arrived and had
no luggage he filed the claim information in baggage area and so did not
exit customs area until about 6 pm, which is time we gave up and had
left for Braila!
So, now with Dan who had waited 8 hours in airport, and his luggage, we
drove back to Braila, arriving safely in pouring rain at about 4 AM. We
slept as efficiently as we could as we had to return to Iasi that day
for Marin to get paid for the work at Mr. Christi’s’ house and to pay
the workers! In perspective, Marin and I had driven to Iasi and back (12
hours) Monday, to Bucharest and back for Dana to catch her bus to
Germany (6 hours) Monday night-Tuesday morning) , to Bucharest and back
TWICE on Wednesday (6 hours) and back to Iasi Thursday 3 hours, with
just a 6hour wait at airport. This amounted to $800 in gas charges
alone!
The trip to Iasi was first chance for Pastor Dan to see Romanian life in
daylight. Streets of gypsy wagons and 18 wheel diesel truck, fast
European sports cars and Romanian Dacia cars (like Corvair, sort of),
Romanian farmers in horse drawn farm wagons, sheep and goats and cows in
the roads, vendors on the way offering a few garden cabbages or apricots
or green peppers, etc.
At Iasi we went direct to the job site to feed the workers, update
instructions and plans, and figured what was needed to buy in supplies,
etc. At a lumber supply I visited with a Moldovan man who had worked in
Louisiana seven years. He offered coffee and cold water, sat and visited
and explained the village dogs, prominent red tile roofs, Pentecostal
conservative life style, and a typical Moldovan (hospitality giving, but
cautious and suspicious of strangers). Back at the job site it was
decided Marin had some items requiring his personal attention so he took
Dan and I to his in-laws modest farmhouse (Turkeys, chickens, garden) to
rest, promising to return by 8 pm to fix dinner and settle for the
night. We rested, read, and had nice visit with neighbors and friends,
and Marin arrived back at9:00 pm, announcing we must go on, finding a
motel near the worksite for the night so we could leave from there
Friday morning. We obtained a room with three beds crowded in had the
traditional gratar dinner (choice of grilled pork, chicken or beef
patty, French fries or puree’ {mashed} potatoes, and salad of either
bowl of pickles, bowl of cabbage, bowl of sliced tomatoes, or bowl of
sliced raw onions), plus bottled water, all served in the room.
Up at 6:30,we found the “restaurant” would not open until 8, so stopped
and got tomatoes, bread and cheese for breakfast, to eat at the job
site. Marin and Dan worked while I read. About 9:30, Marin’s
brother-in-law Daniel arrived and took us to visit Hadimbu Monestary
while Marin completed his work. A typical Romanian Orthodox structure,
the old church and cloisters’ are enclosed in walls designed to protect
against Turk Ottoman invasions. In great condition, the facility still
operates as training for monks, has a museum with a bible as old as
1800, and was quite a discovery for Pastor Dan.
Returning to the job site we lunched with the workmen, enjoying chicken
chorba, eggplant (think guacamole spread on French bread) and salad of
tomatoes, onions and cucumbers. After, we left Iasi, bringing Daniel
with us on the journey. His English is even more polished than Marin’s,
giving some help in translation for Pastor Dan and me.
Heading northwest to Suceavea, our intent was to meet up with Detective
Dan, the Caleb Ministry representative in Suceavea district, so we could
go to villages with food, clothing and ministry. But at Tergu Frumose’
(Beautiful market place) we learned Detective Dan was on assignment for
the police force and would not be available. So we decided to go on to
the village of Frumosa to see Mr. Bolohan. Down the dirt drive to his
village farm, we arrived to find his wife sitting on the bench outside
the fenced yard which held the modest farm house, barn for wagon and
horse, well house, chickens and geese, and tiny winter house with root
cellar. Mr. Bolohan met Caleb in 1990! He was a peasant farmer or
sharecrop farmer, who had been severely injured when a bucket of hot tar
fell from a barn roof they were tarring, landing directly on his head.
Dressed basically as a mummy to cover his disfigurements, Mr. Bolohan
asked for help as he was not entitled to health care from the government
as a peasant. Over the years we provided numerous surgeries, plastic
surgery reconstruction, and therapy. The doctors rebuilt his eye orbit
sockets so he could focus and see, rebuilt the left ear, did numerous
skin grafts and basically made his upper torso and head functional. He
wore a cap to cover much of the burned scalp, huge glasses, and still
kept the nose and central face features covered. But he was again able
to farm and keep his family. We continued to bring in pain medicines
each journey, provided a car, and enjoyed great fellowship with this
beautiful man. We were now to learn he was sadly killed last spring. In
a tragic event, his wife told us he had been in Suceavea buying
groceries. He noticed the horse attached to the wagon behind his was
eating the bread in his wagon. He asked the two boys to stop their horse
and they refused. Instead, one boy grabbed a club and struck Mr. Bolohan
directly on his head between the eyes. He managed to get onto his wagon
and reach his farm, got the horse and wagon inside the fenced yard, and
was found by his wife leaning against the horse. He could not talk from
that time on. He died about 30 days later! The boy was arrested, tried
and sentenced to 5 years in prison. His family was ordered to pay
medical expenses and restitution and such but the widow asked no money
for herself or family. She lives in the house with the daughter who
suffers from a nervous disorder. A grand-daughter lives nearby and looks
after them, the grown son living and working overseas. We gave a gift of
funds as we visited and comforted Mrs. Bolohan and she served us cherry
compote (sour cherries in water with modest sugar). She asked that we
keep supplying the pain medicines as she's out and uses them herself,
and we agreed.
From Frumosewe journeyed through the mountains northwest to Gura
Humorului (Dancing Mouse) where we found a motel for the night, taking
two double rooms. Here I was able to get onto internet via Wi-Fi, but
America was asleep! We had a good dinner and restful night, journeying
west in the morning to Bistritsa where we called upon the Cornel
Cornelius family. Close friends since we first met in 1990, I have seen
the family grow from three children to thirteen! Cornel family live on
the tenth floor walkup apartment, always a challenge when I visit. The
good news is they have a summer garden plot just on the outskirts of
town and spend their days there in a little collection of sheds and
summer house. All thirteen children work the garden and all have jobs
from working for neighbors to housekeeping and clerking at a Luk Oil gas
station. All of the family gathered at the summer house and gleaned our
lunch from the garden, chickens and woods. Everything was prepared as we
watched, all the children participating from their area of
responsibility. Some picked cucumbers, others tomatoes, others gathered
eggs, and others cooked. Constantly they recited miracles the Lord had
provided in their lives from the bounty of this unique garden to the
healings of two of the children from deafness! They bask and thrive,
ministering to others and serving the Lord. Our meal was a feast, from
sweet potatoes and fried eggs to sausage and black berry juice or tea
and ginger root! We gifted them $100 and they rejoiced, stating they had
asked the Lord that very morning to meet the needs of one daughter away
in school and short money for rent! The older kids came from various
work areas through the afternoon and then as we left town we stopped at
a Luk Oil Station to see the eldest daughter Claudia, a clerk working
there. She was the oldest of three children at age 7 when I met this
family in 1990 and now she is 27 and oldest of 13 children. The parents
have over 100 nieces and 100 nephews. They thrive living on Faith!
Reluctantly leaving my friends, we head to Cluj and then south to Alba
Julia (White Queen), heading towards Lugos and hoping to visit the
Howertons, American missionaries. We called but since it would be 10:30
or 11 pm Saturday by the time we arrived, they said it would be too late
for a visit considering the five young children and need to get to
church by 9:15 in the morning. So we turned south towards Petrosani to
visit the Filadelphia Church now pastored by my friend Gigi and its
Caleb dental and medical clinics. However, when we called we learned
they were on vacation in Oradea! So we dined at McDonalds in Deva and
then sought a motel for the night. Most hotels were hosting weddings, it
being Saturday in July, and were booked. By midnight we found a hotel
with one room with a double bed for the four of us! Daniel and Marin
slept on the floor.
Sunday morning we turned east, heading through the scenic Carpathian
Mountains among many roadside stands and vendors. We stopped at one
mountain pass and the others had breakfast of plain cheese omelets
served with a platter of ham, cheese, and tomatoes from which to enhance
the eggs. Pastor Dan finds he likes the Romanian coffee. I had bread and
jam and butter plus the coffee.
Heading through the mountains, we arrived at Campalung de Arges. No one
was home of Rebecca's orphanage or apartment but we visited the
children’s home, still not permitted to open.
Roads grew worse as we headed east and we suffered a blow-out in a heavy
rainstorm. Despite the weather conditions, three cars stopped to assist,
as we did not have a lug wrench. Getting the tire changed, we then found
a vulcan zaire who would work on Sunday, and got the tire replaced and
the others serviced. Total tire costs were $100.00 as I replaced two
tires for safety sake.
We were back in Braila by nine pm. Marin fixed a salad and fried eggs
for dinner. After, brother Metica, his wife, grown daughter and son, and
his mother all dropped in for evening prayers. Joining were Pastor Dan,
myself, Cristina and Marin, and brother-in-law Daniel. The Lord gave us
passages from Jeremiah 16 and we prayed at length, on our knees. There
were prophecies and further passages and the discussion went on at
length. We concluded in prayer again at midnight, and went to bed. This
brings us to Monday. Pastor Dan and I are watching the children as
Marin, Cristina and Pastor Dan run errands.
Monday afternoon we loaded the van with clothing sent from Seattle and
took it to a local orphanage. The director and staff were very pleased
with our gifts as were the children. We have included this orphanage in
our Christmas Shoebox distributions and other programs. Pastor Dan had a
great time with the children. There are a brother and sister in the
orphanage who are sadly physically abused. They hug each other
repeatedly and are very withdrawn. Marin and Cristina are seeking
permission to bring them into their family for visits, hopefully to
perhaps get custody eventually. Today I signed the permits under our
Caleb Foundation to oversee the two as foster children as we hold
Romanian State licensing for this. Marin and Cristina are very upset
over the abused children so we are pushing this application. It will
require Caleb post $500 bond and we have the funds here in my Romania
account.
We then shopped for treats (cookies, juice) for the Gypsy Colony and
after gathering together the entire Tiripa family we went to the Colony
for an evening service. The room was packed as the gypsies sang
Christian songs and we prayed. Dan delivered a great message after which
I spoke on Acts Chapter 12 & 14,calling of Timothy. The leader at the
colony thanked us and sent greetings of Psalm 20 verses 1-5 for our home
ministries. We then anointed and prayed for many, including the sick and
the children. Dan was very moved and said the evening alone was worth
the trip! He is exploring ways to potentially build a church for these
gypsies.
We rose very early Tuesday in order to drive Daniel back to Iasi in time
for his work at 7AM. Leaving Braila about 3:15 in the morning, we
stopped briefly for coffee and then pushed on, arriving at the railway
terminal where Daniel works about 7:30am. Visiting his work place, we
then drove to the house construction, stopping to buy food for our
breakfast and the workmen at the Carrefour (a French version of super
Wal-Mart). Dan had an attempt at using his Chase Visa card in the store
and in bank machine but it was again rejected for pin number. This is
becoming ongoing war with Visa as Dan tries the card, it is rejected,
and he calls Visa on his cell or his wife to call Visa. It is
frustrating here to have credit card that will not be accepted. He has
been fighting this battle ever since we arrived. I have had the same
problem in the past and sympathize with his frustration.
Arriving at the work site we breakfasted on rotisserie chicken, yogurt,
bread and cheese. After Marin worked for a while on the electrical
system, we left Iasi and headed for Piatra Neamt region and the town of
Negresti where Lidia Rascollives. Lydia lived in the USA many years,
retired as clerk for Michigan Court System, and returned to her native
Romania and home village of Negresti, in the poorest section of the
Country, Vaslui District. In her 80’s, she now volunteers in the
hospital cooking lunch and tea and serving the patients, many three to
abed! She is raising funds to buy roofs for six homes in poor gypsy
villages nearby, she operates our glycobears program in Vaslui County,
and she operates a daily feeding program providing hot meals to over 200
gypsy children five days a week! She is my hero. She came to Seattle to
visit Caleb Ministries after we shipped her three containers. She worked
in our warehouse loading her own containers and in 2001 I had the honor
of performing the wedding service for her granddaughter in Detroit at a
large Romanian church.
Lydia was not home but we visited the children in their lunch being
served by several high school volunteers from Timisoara, college kids
volunteering from Greece and from nearby Baptist Youth Camp. This gives
you a perspective on the size of influence Lydia has in this community.
We gifted $150 to Lydia as we left and Caleb gives monthly to her
program through the internet.
Leaving Negresti and Betiste village, we lunched at a roadside hotel,
declining the offer to dine with the children as we do not want to eat
their supplies.
From Vaslui District we drove back into Piatra Neamt area and on to
remote village of Neamt near Petrisan. Down several long dirt and gravel
roads, we arrived at the peasant village of my good friend Arhile
Vasile. I first met him in 1990 when he had three children and lived in
modest 2 room block house with no windows. Now he has 11 children, two
who died. I performed their funerals. Vasile’s oldest son went to Greece
to work but came back after three years broken physically and
spiritually. From his earnings he has built a house in front of his
fathers. The family lives by poaching in the State Forest but now the
grown children send some support. Three are in Portugal, one in Italy, 2
in Russia, one married and one betrothed. Vasile is very special man.
His village has first Caleb Church we paid for and it has been big honor
to preach there. He always prays for me and my family, I believe daily!
We had good visit and I anointed each family member and we had season of
prayer. It was wonderful visit. He tried to give me a “mushroom carving”
to bring home but it was bigger than my suitcase!
The drive back to Braila brought us home at 11 PM. Today, Wednesday,
Marin is getting tires replaced and fuel injector corrected on his VW
for which I gave him $200as both were damaged on our trip. It will be
three days until parts arrive but we will limp along until then.
The VW van works fine but has lost some power. It barely made it up the
hill to the construction site last trip.
It is now Wednesday afternoon and we will go to Galati this afternoon
and evening.
Click on each photo to enlarge the image.
Jerry Riess
& Caleb Good News Ministries
REPORT NUMBER THREE
Wednesday evening we went north to the town of
Galati about 30 miles north where the Sirus River joins the Danube
River. We visited the Family Nic Lefter. I have met them before. A very
fine Romanian family with 11 children. The three eldest live in Spain.
One boy is Downs Syndrome. The family always invite me over as they are
grateful for Caleb gifts including Glycobears and clothing. This evening
they sang songs for us and then took us to a house prayer meeting. The
home is on site of a 700 member church that once thrived during Ceaucesceau as an underground church but now has gone away by attrition.
This group of about30 comes to pray for its return. It was very intense
prayer and prophecy. I shared briefly from Jeremiah 3. After several
songs, a prophetess had the following message for me:
Prepare…He needs you…and Longs to bring you home, for your soul speaks
to Him…but first I still have work for you….your fruit is sweet…when you
finally come to me your family and those who love you will yearn to be
with you here for eternity. You must prepare and be ready…
It was very comforting message and not alarming. It contradicts the one
I received three years ago saying I have 30 years left on earth but
either way it is a beautiful prophecy.
Friday morning Marin took me to visit the gravesite of his brother
Vasile so we could have a quiet time there, my first visit since his
burial in November. We stopped at another construction job site and
after returned to his house to pick up Dan.
Going to Billa Store, we bought about $120 in groceries ranging from
meats and flour to cookies and cooking oil. We then took them to a lady
living in a Caleb Ministry safe house nearby in the village of Unirea.
She and her five children have been in our farmhouse three years, hiding
from her violent husband. She runs the farm using a horse, cow and pigs
we provided. They were very grateful for the gift of food and for the
visit. It is about 8 miles into Braila on very poor roads but she
manages to get all the kids to school using horse and wagon, farm the
land, raise pigs, cow and chickens and ducks! All the kids are doing
well in school. We left her $100 to help out.
In the afternoon we visited the old section of the city where Nakutsa
now has a small apartment with his Downs Syndrome daughter Estera, now
13 years old. He is rebuilding the place but has to be careful as he has
Hepatitis C. They were thrilled for our visit and we again gave him
$100. He asked we pray for them and anoint their new home. They had
lived with Pastor Streghor where he was handyman the last 17 years but
had to move when his ex-wife Rica returned to the family.
From there, we went to Church in Braila for Thursday Evening service.
Dan and I both preached and anointed the people in prayer.
Friday we visited the Danube boardwalk with the Tiripa children while
Cristina took Elisa(8) for her doctor appointment. Somewhat like the
Seattle Center, the boardwalk has slides, pizza, view of Danube,
swimming pool and other attractions.
We ventured out to see sister Mura who lives alone outside town. Her
husband of many years, Paprika, suffered a stroke and she had cared for
him the last 12 years. He went home to the Lord last summer. The
apartment she lived in with her husband since1988 was given to their
only son under Romanian custom and she now resides in what was a small
summer house of two rooms. She was very pleased we took time to visit
and as we prayed for her. Widowed just last year, she makes a modest
living by doing repairs on clothes with a Caleb sewing machine.
Marin then took us to Lacu Sarat to a park and retirement area where I
met our friend the pastor who helped Marin when he lived on the streets.
The Pastor is 88 years old and a beautiful person. We had wonderful
visit. From there, we went to Johanna's home where she served a big
dinner including mixed grill her husband Livio did of pork, chicken and
little’s (Sausages). It was a good restful day.
Sunday was very busy as we left at 6:30 to pick up Pastor Streghor
(Marin’s stepfather) and Brother Aurel, the District Supervisor of the
11 churches in the Delta region and 14 in Braila region, mostly all
Caleb churches. With Cristina as our translator, we took the two
children hardest to manage, Stephen and Elisa, and went across the
Danube River on the barge-ferry to Macin. There, Marin bought bread,
cheese, Salami, Ham, and bottled water, and we enjoyed breakfast
sandwiches as we went further east in the Delta Region to the small
village of Nicolaie Balesacu, named for a Romanian Poet. This gave
Pastor Dan and me opportunity to preach in the typical village setting.
It was a wonderful service on a sunny morning. I was grateful Pastor
Streghor and Brother Aurel arranged it for us. As we started back we
received a cell phone call from a neighboring village church that they
had encountered problems and requested our help. Driving there, it was
the newest Caleb Church structure, one I dedicated just last November.
The pastor and elders were upset because they reserved the village
center for an evangelism service that evening, including baptisms in the
public square. They had just been informed by the authorities (a
policeman from the village) that the Orthodox objected to the public
event including any preaching! They would be allowed to sing and baptize
but not to give a message in the town square. The Pastor asked that we
stop at his church and pray with them for this problem, which we did. I
suggested he have those being baptized give their testimonies which can
serve as a preaching or message just as suitably and he said he would.
The Orthodox still is a major governmental force in Romania and controls
lots of what goes on in that area of the world!
We stopped for lunch at a restaurant and then ventured back across the
Danube to Braila where we shopped for dinner. Marin asked my preference
and I chose his home-made pizza as I know it is his kid’s favorite and
it was our last evening with them. They rarely have it as ingredients
are expensive but since we were buying it posed no difficulty. The
groceries ran $53.00 US but provided dinner for 12!
At 5 pm it was time to go to Chiscan Church for our last service. Marin
stayed back to prepare the pizza with the kids so Cristina drove Pastor
Dan and Brother Aurel with myself to the neighboring church. It was a
great service and Dan gave a good message, now getting the hang of using
a translator very well. After the service at about 8 pm, Brother Aurel
insisted we dine with his wife and three Presbyters at the church before
leaving. Romanian custom is the church hosts visiting pastors after the
service. They served home-made pizza, coke or orange pop or water, and
pastries. By the time we returned to the house, we were full and Marin's
pizza was served as breakfast Monday! In the evening Pastor Streghor and
his wife came to say their goodbyes, bringing us gifts of honey from
their farm. It was their first visit ever to Marin’s new home and he and
Cristina and the children were very pleased as was I.
Packing and giving our goodbyes to the family, Marin drove us to
Bucharest Monday afternoon. We visited Geisen, the gypsy village of Ani,
and her orphanage project. Her sister was most pleased to see us but the
house is in disarray as much is being done to change it even though it
was never really finished. They have enclosed second and third levels
with windows and walls, added a room at the back and front, and are
installing a large bathroom on the main floor, having removed the
previous one. We declined offers to stay as everyone seemed busy and we
didn’t want to disturb the work. I spoke with Ani who was in Bucharest.
She said the authorities required they redo all the plumbing in the
house. I mentioned her husband had called for information on our
shipping a container for them 4 weeks before and she said yes but they
have no money for shipping at all. They still have no orphans in the
house but are doing programs with children in the village when they can.
We encouraged their work and then left, finding a modest motel for the
night. Tuesday it was off to the Ontepi Airport and flight to Amsterdam
and then Seattle. On the way to the Airport we stopped to visit Ruth
Crisjankowski and gift her $100.00 for her needs. She is in her 90s,
lives in shared housing and is in ill health. In 1992-93 she hosted Ina
Aust and other missionaries in Bucharest. She was a force against the
dictatorship and for Christ, having been imprisoned by Ceaucesceau for
her faith. WE always try to visit with her hen we can.
In Amsterdam they had bumped me from the flight which was overbooked,
but eventually I was permitted on as the second standby passenger of
three who got on. My luggage did not.
I believe Pastor Dan enjoyed the mission trip very much and hopes to go
again. We compressed much into the twelve days, showing about one-third
of the country to Dan Johnson and introducing him to a variety of Caleb
projects I am certain give him a better understanding of our Romania
work. He wants to return and expressed a desire to go to the Philippines
as well!