RECENT NEWSLETTER

2 Corinthians 9: 12
This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.

THANKS.

Our thanks go to the following churches, all of whom we visited during our recent U.K. visit. All of these generous fellowships donated either towards J.A.R.S.' funds or to our own personal support, and we thank God for them all:

Hope Church, Sunderland, and friends; Hallgarth Mission, Sunderland; Heaton moor Evangelical Church, Stockport; Hill Lane Baptist Church, Burnley; Bethesda Free Church, South Shields.

We would also like to thank those individuals who gave financial gifts to J.A.R.S. and ourselves. We haven't named these, as we believe they would rather be anonymous, but they may be assured of our heartfelt thanks.

Thanks are also due to those who have given various practical items to be distributed amongst the needy people here in Romania. Blankets and teddies, lovingly knitted and crocheted, were amongst the goodies donated recently. All are much appreciated, and will be given out to those who need them as soon as possible.

TRI-MONTHLY ISSUES.

As mentioned last time, this and our next issue of J.A.R.S. news will be tri- not bi-monthly, due to our visit to Blighty. This one will cover May - July and the next one August - October. We hope this doesn't cause any problems for anyone!!

CAMPS NEWS.

Contrary to our previous letters, we are not running the usual children's camps this year. Misu and Livia have decided (after much prayer and discussion) to begin renovation work on the mountain site at Brodina, as they need to receive authorisation to run camps at the site - until now, they have got by without this, but due to various recent events it is now crucial that they make some drastic alterations to the site to bring it up to scratch and obtain the necessary permission.

This is a big project, with a completely new additional dormitory block being built on site, together with major renovation of the existing kitchen facilities.

Misu estimates the total cost of this work (probably to be carried out over the next two summers) will be around 11,000 Euro - a large undertaking, and impossible without God's help.

However, already there is good news! Having decided to toe the line as regards the authorisation for the camps (about four weeks ago at the time of writing), the following has taken place:

They have been assured of all the materials for the main building work when they need them, and can pay when they can (!), also someone who has supplied wood in the past for previous building work at Brodina has rung Misu (!) and said if he needs any wood for anything, get it now and pay when he can, as this man is off to Germany for six months!!!!

The tiles for all the bathrooms have been supplied from France, together with a jack hammer (brought last November after a dubious yes from Misu) and a huge generator which is essential to the project.

Do you reckon God is in this???!!!

Cascaid, an organisation run by Dickie Twort, who runs the annual conferences for Hannah, has promised 5,500 Euro in July, and with 1,100 Euro from J.A.R.S., they already have more than half the estimated cost of the renovation work!!

On our return from the U.K., Ian will get involved with the practical work which needs to be done while the weather is good. At the top of the mountain, winter is even longer than down here in the lowlands, so the building season is short and we need to progress as much as possible while we can.

Please pray for the ongoing work and finance for this project - this is an excellent start, and we want to see God's provision continuing as the project gets under way and moves on to its successful conclusion.

ENGLISH WEEKEND.

This took place as scheduled the first weekend in May, a week before we left for the U.K.

Our second attempt at such an event, this time the programme was much more relaxed than the Weekend we ran in October 2008 - and much more interactive.

The twenty-two young people, aged seventeen and eighteen, really enjoyed the activities and games, and showed a great interest when we shared with them our testimony of how God has led us thus far in our lives. Surprisingly, they were also keen to hear and see more of our first visits to Romania, back in 1991, so we plan to repeat that part of the presentation at the next Weekend, which we hope will take place this autumn. The theme we have discussed for this event is the life of Corrie ten Boom.

It was good to spend time with these young people from one of the local high schools, getting to know them better and also talking to their teacher Loredana, who herself attended several camps run by Hannah when she was in her teens.

Please pray for all who took part, and that we will follow this up not only with another English Weekend, but with a more regular club-type meeting, in which an interest has been shown.

UPDATE.

The above was written before we left for Blighty, and we can now report that the building work has progressed well since then. Most of the main work (i.e. outside work) has been completed - we now await finance for the windows and doors before the plumbing, electrics and finishing can begin.

U.K. VISIT.

Our annual visit to the U.K. took place as planned during May and June. As always, our schedule was hectic, trying to fit in as many people and places as possible in the time allotted. It was really great to see so many of you around the north of the country, and we are sorry we couldn't manage to catch up with you all. Our "grand tour" took in Stockport, Lancaster, Colne area, Blackpool, Wakefield and York, all in the space of three weeks, and we did a shorter visit to Teesside which included our annual J.A.R.S.' Trustee's meeting. In addition to all this, we visited family and friends in the North East, Ian took part in a seven-mile run, and the truck passed an M.O.T. with only a minor amount of work by Ian needed to help it through!!

We wish to thank all those churches and individuals who blessed us in so many ways, whether with hospitality (we slept in seven different bedrooms over the seven weeks!!), encouragement, prayer, financial gifts to our own support and J.A.R.S.', treats or outings..... all of it is much appreciated, and we thank God for all of you.

Although a very tiring time in many ways, we recognise the necessity for it, and are certain that God has used these weeks both for our own good and hopefully for that of those with whom we spent time.

5,500 miles were clocked up on the truck, and we were given a small trailer to enable us to bring back personal stuff as well as some aid we had collected along the way - a Godsend indeed, although sadly it is need of some repair after its journey across the Romanian mountain roads..... it got us and our boxes safely home, though, having performed perfectly right across the more orthodox roads of the rest of Europe.

"HOME CHURCH" NEWS.

Whilst in Colne, we spoke at New Life Christian Centre, the church who will be backing us up as a "base church" in the U.K. Plans are underway to form a support group made up of church members, which will be a kind of go-between between ourselves and the church at large. Since we attended New Life (for around twelve years, until we moved area in 2001), many new people have joined the church, some having become leaders, so it is necessary to bring these people up to date with who we are and what God is doing with us over here in Romania.

We are very encouraged by the progress in the pipeline, and it was good to meet with Tony, the pastor, and another member of the leadership one evening during our visit.

Please pray for this relationship, that God will enhance it, and that it will be mutually beneficial as it develops and evolves in the months and years to come.

SPEAKER AVAILABLE.

One of J.A.R.S.' trustees, Rev. David Grieve, has volunteered to undertake speaking engagements on our behalf (as well as that of J.A.R.S.) during the rest of each year while we are working in Romania.

This is a great blessing to us, as we are aware of the need to keep everyone updated, and this is impossible as things stand, with one visit a year to the UK.

If you would like to contact David with a view to a talk for your church or group, here are his details: davidgrieve@cix.compulink.co.uk. Telephone 07812735552.

Also contact him if you would like to buy a copy of his latest BOOK, a report of his visit to Romania (including to us!!!) last September.

Tales of Transylvanian Travels: £8.50 + 60p P & P

MORE FLOODING CAUSES DESOLATION FOR MANY.

Flood damage in our area.

Our return to Romania after our U.K. visit coincided with the clearing-up operation after heavy rain and landslides caused major flooding in many areas. Our own village was affected, with many homes flooded out, although thankfully no-one was badly hurt. Elsewhere, however, many lost their houses and several people their lives as a repeat of the flooding of summer 2008 was experienced in Dorohoi, and families in the Gypsy village of Voievodeasa were badly affected, with up to a metre of water washing inside their homes.

Please pray that we can help where we can, and we ask your prayers for those who have lost loved ones and property.

GYPSY CHURCH NEWS.

The weekend before we left for England, whilst we were running the English Weekend, a baptism took place at the church in Voievodeasa. Fourteen people of various ages were baptised, and people came from miles around to witness this special event. We praise God for His wonderful salvation, and ask your prayers for these souls who have publicly witnessed to His saving grace.

After the service, Margareta, wife of the pastor of the church, told us of the need for a P.A. system to be installed at the church. The crowds who came to take part in the baptismal service were too numerous to fit into the building (opened last November) and unable to hear what was going on inside. Whilst in England, Ian unearthed an amplifier he had been given some years ago, which we have brought back together with two microphones we bought in a charity shop(!!). Now all we need are speakers powerful enough to complete the system. If you can help, please contact Ian at J.A.R.S. email address.

TEACHING IN THE BLOOD?

As well as teaching English to local young people and adults over the past three years, Sue has been challenged to start up story times for children, to be held at Hannah's building in Radauti. This idea came up during the English Weekend, and would be a good way to attract children (probably two groups, aged 4 - 6 and 7 - 10) and share stories of all kinds on a regular basis. Whilst in England, Sue bought several story books from charity shops as a start (although in English, they can be translated, and the pictures are fine), as well as other useful items such as craft and colouring equipment.

The voucher kindly donated by BOYES STORES helped greatly towards these purchases, and we really appreciate this gift of £25 worth of Boyes' goods.

Please pray with us for plenty of children to come along to hear the stories, and that it will be an opportunity to share the love of God with them.

In October, Sue will also start teaching English again, this time it seems with three groups, one a beginners' group of at least eight students, last year's no-longer beginners (numbering eight also) and last year's advanced class (five or six teenagers).

God has been showing Sue recently that the talent He has given her for teaching and speaking in public can be extended to include many different activities.... watch this space for more events taking place in future!!