Ministry Newsletter Archives

November 2008

Dear Family and Friends,

Your prayers have been felt and are still needed. Our lives lately have felt like a rollercoaster...up, down, sideways, backwards...WHEW! Whatever happened to the simple train rides -flat on the ground and chugging forward? Yet we press on...

Update on the Family Center: Andrei and I have gone through one of the toughest trials of our married and missionary life these past 8 months. The events that have taken place during this time have forced Andrei and me to look closely at every aspect of our ministry. We have prayed, changed and made so many decisions seeking God's will. The one thing that we don't want to do...is force something into fruition.

We do not have peace about the purchase of a Family Center house at this time. I know this probably sounds shocking because it shocked me. Every step forward we are taking doors seem to be slamming in our face. First, the funding has been labored and is still not confirmed. Second, the children that we so much desired to take into the Family Center are "unavailable." Their father is said to not agree with the children leaving the orphanage. Without his consent we cannot do anything. This breaks our heart and I know the children are going to be very disappointed...I am dreading the moment we have to tell them.

Also we cannot find any help, let alone Christian help. To make things worse we are without a church. The Orphanage that we work with is a Christian organization. I cannot consciously take children out of an environment which they have the opportunity to go to church every Sunday into a situation where there is no current church. We understand the importance of fellowship with believers, especially since we are feeling the lack of it and it is so painful and lonely.

It is not only us who are having these problems. Very close friends and fellow missionaries, George' and Rebekah in Brasov, were recently forced to close their Family center this last week for similar problems. They were unable to find adequate help and funding. We are praying for them because I know this is a very hard time for them.

As you can see we do not have the ability to start a Center at this time. We pray that things may change one day and this dream will become a reality for us. As for now, we are focusing on my dear friend's functioning Family Center "Isaiah's House" run by Kelly Stark. We are hoping to help her with repairs on her home and any help she needs with providing a safe and Godly environment for her children in placement. Andrei will soon be helping but up new walls in her home and removing mold from them as well.

The Girlies! Our little Aryana is growing up so fast! Speaking of fast...she is running all over the place. I am praising the Lord for the gift of walking...it has made my job a whole lot easier having at least one baby walking and a little more independent. She is a wonderful helper with Elena. She gets diapers and throws them away (she is also known to throw other random things in the trash...got to keep an eye on her). She spends most of her time looking through her books and "reading" them to us. Her favorite big sister activity is stealing Elena's pacifier and poking her belly button while mommy is trying to change her diaper. Ary also celebrated her first birthday on October 4th!! YEA! We had a little scare with the birthday cake and its candle (a.k.a the rocket) but all in all everything went well.

Elena is getting ready to turn 6 months old!!! TIME FLYS! At 4 1/2 months old she mastered the skill of sitting up all by herself (you go girl) and just recently her first tooth has popped threw her gums! I am so proud of the improvements she has made. I keep thinking of the first day we brought her home with her scrawny legs and dark blotchy skin. Thank you everyone who donated formula, clothing, creams, "passies" and diapers!!! We have used everything that has been sent to us. Her newest "skill" is crawling...yep, she is getting into everything...but too cool, right!?!? Sooooo proud! We call her "speedy" these days. ?

About 3 weeks ago we meet with Child Protections about Elena's placement. They came to our apartment and approved her living situation (whew!). And we received her official placement papers this week! THANK YOU JESUS! Keep praying that we will then be accepted to bring Elena with us to America for a visit sometime in December.

Dear "Family"... Over the past few months our support has dwindled. We are slowly moving into debt as a ministry. We have lost some support from our "large" donors. Andrei and I have been countering the lost support with our own personal savings but we are unable to continue this pattern. Out of the 250 newsletters we send out every month we only have 10 individuals supporting us monthly. I am asking you all to pray about how you can help us remain in Romania and continue our work here. Just recently we had to pay a year's rent for our apartment to begin our paperwork for Elena. Andrei and I had to sell our car to afford the almost 5,000 dollars needed. We are also having a hard time driving to Betania because we are unable to afford the gasoline to get there. I hate writing asking for support but one missionary friend told me one day... "Your supporters will not know if you don't tell them." You are our family out here and so I humbly come to you in that manner.

I have much more to share but I don't want my letters to go on and on....and on! So I will keep some little nuggets for later. :-) We are praying for everyone in this time of financial crisis and the change of leadership in America! May God bless you and keep you, Amen!

With love,
Andrei, Kelle, Aryana and "Speedy"

Praise Reports:

  • We found a wonderful two car garage to rent!
  • Paperwork was approved for Elena's placement!
  • Babies are healthy and thriving!
  • It's not snowing yet!!!!!! Whew!

Prayer Requests:

  • Prayer for funds for airplane tickets to America...the family is growing!!!
  • Pray for guidance as a ministry and patience.
  • Pray for Elena to be approved by the US Embassy to come and visit America and our supporters!
  • Prayer for us to find a local church.