Preparations Near Completion!

In 44 short hours, our team of three will leave Arkansas bound for Cluj-Napoca, Romania. In addition to myself, the group includes Justin Taylor of North Little Rock, Arkansas and Curtis Sawrie of Mt. Vernon, Arkansas.

The three of us spent some time together this past Saturday discussing the work that we will be doing in Cluj. The excitement is really building! The church in Cluj is preparing for a busy week and we are grateful for their efforts. Claudiu Murtaza, the Romanian brother who leads the work in Cluj, informs me that the advance work - advertising and such - is well underway. We're praying that God will bless these efforts in accordance with His will.

I want to pass along heartfelt congratulations to Claudiu and his new bride, Anca. They were married in his hometown of Craiova, Romania on Saturday, July 12. They are making their home in Cluj where Claudiu will continue his work with the church.

Justin will be making his second trip to Romania. He and his wife, Emily, served as part of an Operation Outreach team in Moreni, Romania during the summer of 2006. They have since welcomed a baby boy, Cooper, into their home and Emily will be staying home to care for Cooper. Justin and Emily are members of the Levy congregation in North Little Rock where they worship with their parents. Justin's father, Nathan Taylor, serves as one of the elders at Levy.

Curtis will be making his first trip to Romania. His family - wife, Kimberly, and two young sons, Byron and Harmon - worship with the Mars Hill congregation near Vilonia, Arkansas.

I am deeply grateful for the dedication of these two men. I'm equally grateful to their wives for making a sacrifice in letting their husbands be a part of this work. I know, full well, how big a job it is for a mother to be left at home to care for children while the husband and father is away in the mission field. My own wife, Lisa, has done so nearly 20 times, beginning in 1997 when our girls were 11 and 7. For the second time in our 24 years together I will miss Lisa's birthday because of the mission field. I cannot thank her enough for her willingness to allow me to do this work. Thanks, ladies, for your part in our work!

Between now and our Friday morning departure, the Knight family will gather to help Dad and Mom celebrate 50 years of marriage! They were married on July 24, 1958 in their hometown of Bay, Arkansas. We are thrilled that God has blessed us with the opportunity to be a part of their family.

SPECIAL PRAYER SERVICE TONIGHT: You are all invited to join us at the Vilonia church for a period of prayer dedicated to this upcoming Operation Outreach work in Cluj. Services will begin at 7:00 p.m.

To those of you who have supported us in this (and past) efforts, we say Thank You! I will update this blog daily and keep you apprised of our work and travel. God bless you all!

Marty Knight