Monday: Lessons in Life

 Today, we began with a meeting finalizing plans for the Roma (Gypsy) Children's Camps beginning tomorrow.  

The funeral of Mrs. Magdola Vass was in the afternoon.   The services with graveside was about two hours.   Attila Toth led the worship service and spoke from 2 Corinthians 5.  Floyd spoke using Proverbs 31:10ff.   Mrs. Vass was truly a committed follower of Christ.   Her dignity, grace, and strength were always evident.   She was a true model for the people of Reghin.  A local Romanian pastor also spoke an evangelisitic message.   No pictures were made during this part of the service.   The family except Mr. Vass stood for the entire worship around the coffin and continued standing for graveside.   The choir from Tirgu Mures Baptist Church sang many times during the service and after the message at graveside while the grave was prepared.

The graveside was a new experience for Paul Crook and Katie McClung.  They had not been to funeral where the person was buried while the family watched.   Sandor Kelemen, pastor of Tirgu Mures Baptist Church, preached at graveside.   Attila gave the final words of committal.  Sandor Rusu, Gornesti Church elder, led in the closing prayer.   Then, the men of the burial crew started their work.   After the burial there was a time of fellowship and visiting with family and friends. 

We left the funeral and travel to Apalina to visit with Miklos, who is doing the construction of the second floor at Apalina.   Please pray for his son who was diagnoised with a tumor of the liver just yesterday.   His son is helping with the construction.  

At this point I must get ready and leave for camp.  I will get back as soon as I can to the blog.  Thank you in advance for your prayers. 

The father and son are a special picture of the impact of caring to change lives.   David, the blond boy is a neighbor of Zalanyos family (Zozo and Ishti).  David’s glasses broke.   He needs them in order to see.  Zozo heard about this and brought the glasses with him to the USA in April.  A local Lenscrafters optician fixed the glasses with new lenses and adjusting them.   The family was so excited to have the glasses.  They invited Bonnie, Zozo, Ishti, and me over for dinner.  This gave us the opportunity to share the gospel with them and establish a strong relationship.   David is so happy with the new glasses.

Bonnie and I worshipped at the Gornesti Gypsy Mission Center for the first time since it was completed.   It was an exciting time for us.