The title of this entry was borrowed from a much more famous Arkansas native who, after being born and raised in the Ozark Mountains, became our governor in the late 1950's and served a record 6 terms. But, the thought is certainly appropriate for a group of 38 of us who gathered in Somesul Rece for a period of retreat and renewal. What a fantastic weekend!
The site for this event is very familiar to the Romanian Christians. It has been used for years as the site for the summer camp and so many of them have fond memories of being there as teenagers. The tiny little village is nestled in the heart of the mountains just outside Cluj. I will post some pictures in another blog entry, but suffice to say that it is difficult to find the proper words to describe the beauty of this setting.
The first thing we noticed after stepping from the van was the smell of burning maple coming from the chimney and the crispness of the cool air. The rustic buildings within the compound are beautiful and fit the surroundings as if God had put them there. A small river, the primary contributory to the Somes River that flows through Cluj, runs behind the camp. The ice-cold water reminded me of the Spring River in northern Arkansas near where my maternal grandfather was born.
The only thing more beautiful than the surroundings was the fellowship that existed among the Christians who were gathered there. Claudiu, Ted, and I had selected the theme "Living for Christ" and the lessons were aligned with that subject.
Al delivered a beautiful lesson entitled "The Benefits of Living for Christ" during the Thursday night worship period. Since we did have several attending from Cluj who are not yet Christians, I spoke on the subject "How Do I Begin Living for Christ?" on Friday morning. Vasile Iuhos, the Romanian preacher from the city of Oradea, spoke at mid-day on Friday on the topic "Living for Christ Through Fervent Prayer." Claudiu finished the day with the lesson "Living for Christ Through Holy Living."
Ady Lupascu, the Romanian preacher from Constanta, was scheduled to speak on the subject "Living for Christ Through Servanthood" on Saturday morning; however Ady fell ill with the flu on Wednesday and could not attend. We were fortunate that Lee Skelton, an American missionary working in the city of Sibiu, stepped in and did a fine job on short notice. Marius Motreanu, a Romanian Christian from Pitesti, provided our closing thoughts on Saturday.
On Friday afternoon the men and women separated for an hour of prayer. Curtis provided some thoughts prior to the men beginning our session. Sister Sorina Vintilla, a Christian from the city of Pitesti, led the ladies in a brief devotional prior to their prayer time.
Several of the Romanians led us in periods of beautiful singing throughout the weekend. Four sisters from the cities of Oradea and Bucharest provided some outstanding meals. Their tireless efforts were, without a doubt, the finest example of Christian service that we saw all weekend. Our deepest thanks go out to these fine ladies!
We closed Friday - and some brought in Saturday - with a BIG campfire. The cold night air, mixed with the voices of Christians praising God, was a memory that I will not soon forget.
Many old friendships were renewed and new relationships were forged and strengthened over the weekend. The purpose in hosting this event was two-fold. First and foremost, we had intentionally invited a number of people from Cluj who are considering becoming Christians. So, from that respect, this was an opportunity for evangelism. What better way to help them understand the benefits of becoming a Christian than by showing them firsthand the fellowship that we enjoy in Him! Second, we wanted to provide an opportunity for these brothers and sisters to be renewed. Many of them work in places where they have little direct support and encouragement. I'm sure that everyone reading this blog understands the importance of time away to charge the spiritual batteries. I hope that this weekend provided that opportunity for everyone involved.
I don't want to close without saying thanks to those of you back in the States who provide the opportunity for Al, Curtis and I to be here. Without you our participation this weekend would not have been possible! I know that God was praised for three straight days and we give all glory to HIM!
As I mentioned earlier, I will post a few pictures in another blog entry. I hope that you all enjoy a day of worship in whatever place you call home.
Until tomorrow....
Marty
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