May 2016
Transcription
May 2016
RomaniaUpdate Maurice&JoAnnSikes PEF IoanAlexandru,nr.25 Codlea,Brașov,Romania505100 May2016 PaulMacIntyrePhotography CâmpinaYouthConference Iwrotetoyou inourlast lettertopray fortheyouth conferencein Câmpina.It wentvery well.About 50youth showedup (youthheremeansbetweentheagesof13and 29).Theycamefromseveralchurches, includingaGypsychurch.Igavetwomessages: howtheGospelisnotjustfornon-Christians, butforusasChristianstoo.Ialsospokeabout howtohaveadevotionaltimewithGodevery day.Theirresponsewasverypositive.A numberofthemmadeavowtoreadtheBible andprayeverydayforatleast5minutes.As always,theworshipatthechurchwas awesome! Icouldnot geta panorama pictureofthe youth,but thiswasa portionof them. EasterinRomania Centuries ago,the churchin theEast decidedto stickwith theJulian calendar andits reckoningof whenEasteroccurs.Becauseofthisthe EasternChurchcelebratesEasteratadifferent timefromtheWesternChurch.Thisyearit occurredinMay.JoAnnmetawomaninher smallgroupwhohasasonwhowouldtest positiveontheAutismSpectrumDisorder. Romaniadoesnothavealotofresourcesfor childrenlikethis.Sinceweraisedtwosuch sons,JoAnnhasbeenabletogiveheralotof help.WedecidedtoinvitethemforEaster.Jo Anncookedfoodsthatwouldnotcauseallergic reactionsinherson.Itwasagreatinspiration andencouragementtotheseparents.Wealso introducedthemtoanEasterEggHunt.The kidslovedit! ThreeGenerations Onedayafterchurchagroupofthemembers said,“Let’sgoforahike!”Iwaseagertogo(Jo Anncouldnotduetoherknee).Wehikedthe mountainbehindourhouse.Thoughitdoes notlookthatbigfromthevalley,itis.Infact,it wasthesteepesthikeIhaveeverexperienced. Bythetimewegottothetop,Iwasdrenched fromexertion.Aswestoodonthe mountaintopandtookinbreathtakingviewsof theworldaroundus,Inoticed:therewere threegenerationsofChristiansinthegroup. Thefirstgenerationhadbeeninfluentialin leadingthe2ndgenerationtoChrist.Thenthe 2ndgenerationwasinfluentialinleadingthe3rd generationtoChrist.Ilovethispicturethat capturesthattruth. MakeDisciples WhichleadstoanimportanttruthGod remindedmeofrecently.Thegrowthand healthofthisstrugglingchurchinBrasovhas takenupalotofmythoughttimeandenergy. OnedayasIwaswashingthedishes(yes,guys, Iwashthedishes),Iwasmeditatingon Matthew28:18-20:“Asyouaregoing,make disciples…”(that’showitiswritteninthe Greek).TheHolySpiritremindedmeofwhat JesussaidinMatthew16:18:“UponthisrockI willbuildMychurch,andthegatesofhellshall notprevailagainstit.”Godremindedmewhat Hehascommandedmetodo:myjobistomake disciples.Hisjobistobuildthechurch.Ihad toconfess,“GodIhavebeentryingtobuild YourchurchwhenIshouldfocusonmaking disciples.”WhenIsharedthiswithJoAnnshe responded,“Finally!Nowyouwon’tworryso muchaboutthechurchandstartgettingagood night’ssleep.”J WhattoPrayFor 1. Brașovchurch–ChristwouldbuildHis churchthroughthem. 2. Ourrelationshipswithpeoplewhoarenot followersofChrist. 3. Oursmallgroup–ourfirstmeetingis tonight.Cipriandtheotherswhoare startingthisgrouphavelaidagood foundationforthesuccessofthegroup. Everyonewillbeinvitingsomeonewhois notafollowerofChrist. 4. JoAnn–sheisintheU.S.rightnow,helping ourchildrenandgrandchildren.Sheis verymuchneededbythem.Alsosheis gettingfurthertestsforherauto-immune issueandnormalR&R(replaceand repair!). DidYouKnow: Didyouknowthatdifferentlanguageshave differentexpressionstomeanthesamething? Forexample:didyouknowthat“Sanatoșitun” –literally,ahealthycannon;means„haleand hearty,”or„strongasabull?” Didyouknowthat„Carnedetun”–literally meanscannonmeat,i.e.howtheywould executesomeoffenders,i.e.deadmeat,i.e. cannonfodder?Thattheexpression„Kickthe bucket”isexpressedas„adacolțul”(heturned thecorner)? Willworkforpasta! Didyouknowthatlearninganewlanguagecan resultinsomefunnymisunderstandings,and sometimesratherembarrassingmistakes?Jo Annwastextingawomanaboutcleaningour house.JoAnnreadherresponse:„Potsăcurată acasatapentruPaște,”as„Icancleanyour houseforpasta.”Whatshereallysaidwas„I cancleanyourhouseforEaster.”JoAnn thoughtitstrangethatsomeonewouldwant paymentinpasta! Lastweekoursmallgrouphadadiscussion aboutJohnChrysostom(theycallhimJohnthe golden-mouthbecausehewassuchagreat preacher),theArchbishopofConstantinople andanimportantearlychurchfather.The Romanianscallhim,„IoanGuradeaur”(yowangooradea-oor).ThatiswhatImeantto say.InsteadIsaid„IoanGaurădeaur”(yo-wan gowruhdea-oor,youhavetorollther’s).They startedlaughinghysterically,withtears runningdowntheircheeks.Gurameans mouth.Gaurămeanshole.Whenusedwitha personitdefinitelydoesnotmeantheirmouth. Apparentlyheismoreholythanwethought! Thislanguagereallyhumblesme! Maurice & Jo Ann Sikes [email protected] U.S. Phone: 321-257-9812 WanttoInvestinourmissionhere? OnlineGiving: Gotowww.pefministry.org/“Donate Now”/“MauriceSikesMinistry” Theold-fashionedway: PEF 1005thStreet,Suite330 BristolTN37620 Memoline:Sikes