A Journey Completed (August 5)

The weary U.S. portion of this Operation Outreach team arrived home at 8:00 (CT) on Tuesday evening. All were safe, sound, properly loaded down with luggage, and thankful to see our families.

Once again, thanks for your prayers, notes of encouragement, and kind thoughts.

Until the next O2 effort...

Marty

Closing Thoughts (August 4)

The three of us arrived safely in Rome last evening and have enjoyed some much-needed rest and relaxation. We arrived at the Leonardo di Vinci Airport aboard an Alitalia flight from Bucharest. Having stopped in Rome many times, it was really confusing to me when we arrived at a different terminal. We began following the signs to the baggage claim area and found that our luggage was in a different terminal - the one which I am accustomed to seeing upon arriving from Bucharest. There was only one issue - we had not gone through passport control! We just walked right out into glorious Rome without so much as an official glance at our passports! We must have stopped 6 to 8 officials and all of them said, "No problem!" I suppose we will find out if they were right when we try to leave in the morning. Say a quick prayer for us about this issue!

I want to close out the weblog account of this trip with a few thoughts regarding the need for this type of work in Cluj and many other places.

Most of you who read this account are members of churches of Christ in the United States. You likely worship regularly in a building that was constructed some time ago. On average, your home congregation is 40-70 years old. You are probably part of the second, third, or fourth generation of Christians who have worshipped regularly at your respective church home. I'm reminded of this passage:

“When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” - Deuteronomy 6:10-12

Those of you who are second, third, or fourth generation members of your respective congregations are taking advantage of "wells that you did not dig." You're living in a "house that you did not build." That's OK! I believe that is exactly what God planned.

But, realize this fact - Moses told the Israelites not to forget the Lord who brought them out of Egypt. Neither should we forget the Lord who blessed our forefathers in the U.S. with the blessings that resulted in our current home congregations.

You have brothers and sisters in other places who are currently digging their own wells with help from God. They are planting the vineyards from which their children and grandchildren will harvest spiritual fruit. Here is the important part that I want you to consider: the work that we did this week in Cluj and similar efforts that happen all over the world are HELPING THEM BUILD THESE CHURCHES!

This week we had the opportunity to work with a newlywed couple of three weeks. They are both faithful children of God. I pray that the efforts they are currently expending with the church in Cluj will bear fruit in Murtaza children and grandchildren who are faithful Christians. Another Christian home will be formed this coming Saturday (August 9) and I pray that the Vintilla home will be blessed as well. Yet a third Christian home - the Motreanu family - will become a reality in October. God be praised that these homes are being formed!

Prior to leaving the U.S., all three of us had people ask, "Why are you going to Romania?" Each of us were asked why we weren't focusing on the "home front." It's a common occurrence to be asked that question. By the way, I am CONFIDENT that all three of us ARE focusing on the home front.

However, we all three recognize that now, more than ever, the church in Cluj, the church in other parts of Romania, and the church all over the world needs the help of brothers and sisters. They need the support and encouragement that comes from spending time together. I suppose you could put it this way: THE "WELL-DIGGERS" NEED OUR HELP!

So, that is what we have done. We have spent time encouraging our brothers and sisters. We have taught a number of excellent prospects who have never heard the true Gospel of Christ. We have built new relationships. We have shown those who were skeptical of Christians that we are "regular people" and not a bunch of "weirdos." (An actual statement that was made to us!)

We have all three grown immeasurably over the past 10 days. We're better men for having spent this time together in Cluj with our Romanian brothers and sisters. And we give ALL the glory to GOD! He is an awesome God!

We will be back in the U.S. in a little more than 24 hours and we are very anxious to be there. It has been a fantastic opportunity for which we are grateful to a living and powerful God.

Yours in Christ,

Marty

Saturday in Cluj (August 2)

We finished our studies this morning with a 2-hour lesson with Valer, a wonderful man whom we met at one of the seminar sessions this week. He is a sincere student of the Bible and is seriously considering the gospel. We're thankful for our time with him.

After we completed that study, Claudiu arranged for van to pick us up and take us for a 40-kilometer drive into the mountains outside Cluj. Justin and Curtis wanted to visit the camp location in the village of Somesul Rece. We also stopped in the town of Gilau and enjoyed some soft drinks at a resort on the lake. It was a fabulous way to end our daily work.

Curtis and Justin will deliver the Bible class lesson and sermon (respectively) tomorrow and we will leave shortly thereafter for the airport. Given our busy schedules tomorrow, this will be my last post to the blog from Romania. Our time here has been a genuine blessing to the three of us. We pray that it has been profitable for those to whom we have ministered this week. We're thankful for some many things: the opportunity to be here; those of you who have sacrificed to help us make this trip; to Claudiu and Anca for enabling our efforts; the brothers and sisters in Cluj who have been supportive; and to God for his goodness! We will arrive home (Little Rock) at 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday evening. Until then...

Marty

Photos from Thursday and Friday

Claudiu - ready for the professional bowling tour!

A beautiful Friday evening in the Cluj city center.

Dinner on Friday evening.

Some of the attendees at the Friday seminar.

Thursday and Friday in Cluj (7/31 and 8/1)

We've had two very productive days here in Cluj, so much so that I did not get a chance to do an update last evening. We concluded the nightly seminars on Friday evening. We are thrilled to have made a number of new contacts as a result of these sessions. Of course, that met our primary objective of increasing the visibility of the church here in Cluj.

I am very encouraged by a student who came to the building on Friday afternoon. He is a very serious student of the Bible and has been searching for the "church of the New Testament" for some time. He and his wife recently moved into a house at #11 Ilie Macelaru Street - directly across the street from the church! He told the teachers that he walked out of his house today and noticed the banner that was hanging in the church courtyard advertising the daily Bible studies.

Claudiu has worked with teams of Bible teachers consistently since 2003. He has done literally hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of Bible studies. He told me this afternoon that this discussion was the most impressive Bible study he had ever participated in.

We also studied with a man whom we met at the Thursday night seminar and we're excited about his openness to God's word.

Following services tonight (Friday), a group of 6 Christians and 4 visitors enjoyed a meal together. Several of us then made our way to the local bowling alley for a very fun hour at the lanes. A great time was had by all!

So, as the work here winds down, we are thrilled at the opportunities that God has provided.

We've been blessed with good health, stunningly beautiful weather, and work to do in His service. Following scheduled studies in the morning we will enjoy a few hours of sightseeing around Cluj and, Lord willing, a good night's rest before worshipping with the church on Sunday.

Thanks for your notes of encouragement!

Until Saturday...

Marty