Hello to our Home Team! 

We are so sorry for the delay in getting our website updated over the past few days.  We have been on the run as well as everyone sharing the ONE computer.  So we will attempt to get caught up today!

 On Sunday we began our day together in prayer, as we have every day.  What a unifying experience for us as a team.  We loaded the van and car and raced off to church at the Sighi Church of the Nazarene.  We were greeted by some of our favorite people: Roberta, Magda Cheney, Magda Balaban, Dorothy and her students.  We again joined in worship and praise with our Romanians brothers and sisters singing in both Romanian and English.  It is a little taste of what heaven will sound like!  After a little time of praise, testimonies and prayer requests, Rod greeted the people on behalf of Auburn Church of the Nazarene and the team.  Roberta brought a stirring message from the Word on putting our trust in God as well as inviting us to agree with the Romanian Believers in a day of prayer on Friday, June 10th.

 After church and lunch, most of the team went up to the Citadel for a personally guided tour by one of the Romanian Studies at Veritas, Stevie. 

She is now completing her studies at Brasov, but returned to Sighi to visit with Dorothy.  Our tour began in the main piazza (plaza/market place) near the House of the Rock. We circled the Citadel visiting the ancient gates, housing and defense towers of the old city.  We ended up at the Church on the Hill, one of the oldest Luthern churches in Romania.  Dorothy had made arrangements with the caretaker of the church for us to get a private but complete tour.  We toured from balcony to crypts in the basements.  What an amazing time to be in such a quiet and old church.  The ceiling framework was incredibly beautiful as well as all the preserved artwork.  Most of the team braved the dark tour down to the crypts!

In the middle of our tour up the hill to the Church on the Hill, a MASSIVE thunder and rainstorm rolled in.  We took shelter under large leaf trees and then in the covered gate of the old cemetery.  That was an experience in its self.  We made the final run up the hill to the church as the caretaker hurried to open the gates and doors to the church for us.  The balcony tour was extra special as it is closed to the public.  This gave us a wonderful point of view for the whole sanctuary area as well as giving us the opportunity to ride out the storm. 

The windows of the church noted the date of the building to be in the mid-1200’s.  It is awe-inspiring to be in such old buildings! On our way down the stairs from the church, we counted the steps.  There are 176 steps up to the church.  The people used to pray up the entire stairway on their knees, pausing at each landing for specific prayers.  Can you imagine!

 Norman rescued us from a walk in the pouring down rain back to the house, where we shared a light supper before returning to the evening service at the Church of the Nazarene.  Again a wonderful time of praise and prayer in both English and Romanian.  After the praise and prayer time, the service was turned over to the team.  Doc shared his testimony, and why the medical team returns to Sighi year after year.  He says his hope in the future when he retires is to live part of the year in Sighi and continue medical ministry to the people around Sighi.   Chris sang again for us.  What a beautiful voice!  Then Norman made Doug come and share from his heart too! 

Laurie gave a testimony on what the trip has meant to her.  Norman preached that night…WOW!  In his best Irish voice, he brought forth the Word of God to challenge us to bring balance to our lives and let Jesus make the difference.

 Home again to Norman and Linda’s!  Off to bed to get ready for Monday!  And what a day it will be…at least Norman and Linda promised it would be a glorious day.

In His Love,
Romania 2005 Team

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