Like most of the rest of the developed world, we have had the news on (CNN) most of the time that we are home since the attack. In the days after the attack many Romanians called to express their condolences and feelings of sympathy to us as Americans. It was good for us to be able to go to the clinic and work on projects like installing the cupboards and countertops, cleaning, setting up the exam tables and desks in the exam rooms, unpacking the computers, etc., since that temporarily took our minds off the tragedy. We are nevertheless reminded about how short the time is and how so many still do not have the hope or assurance of eternal life.
In contrast to all of the world's troubles being so obviously center stage, our clinic project has had a very good month. The dedication was last Saturday, September 22, and it was wonderful! Chuck and Cindy Lindquist arrived Thursday on their way back from visiting World Mission Prayer League's missionaries in Kenya. Chuck is the Executive Director of World Mission Prayer League and also on the board of Open Door Medical Ministries. When we left the clinic Wednesday evening, the day before they arrived, we both had the same thought, "Today it looks like a clinic (finally)!" Friday, we took the day off and drove to Peles, a beautiful palace built in the late 1800's by Romanian's first king, King Carol.
About 70 or 80 people came for the dedication Saturday morning. It was a beautiful early fall day. Six continents and at least 10 countries were represented. After a welcome and "thank you's" to all those who have helped with the project up to this point, we had a time of prayer, splitting into 2 groups and praying in front of the various rooms and for the various ministries of the clinic as we went. Then we had a time of fellowship and snacks. Chuck also preached at BEL Fellowship on Sunday and then spent much of Monday getting tickets reissued for their flight home on Tuesday, their Monday flight having been canceled.
We haven't run out off work to do before the clinic is finally open to see patients. The final inspection process before obtaining the "aviz de functionare" or final permission to open will probably take several months. We are estimating 4 months. In the meantime, while we wait for the bureaucracy to slowly perform its part, we will be unpacking stored supplies and equipment and arranging them in the proper cupboards, exam rooms, etc. Much of the donated equipment needs to be approved by another Romanian bureaucratic entity, attesting that it comes up to Romanian standards. We have no idea how much lack of cooperation or resistance we will encounter in this process, but we can start seeing patients and teaching many of the principles of Family Medicine even before the lab equipment is approved. We will soon also start interviewing potential employees for the clinic. During the two weeks before the clinic dedication we saw only emergencies and urgent medical problems, so now we're back to seeing patients with more chronic problems as well.
In addition to the dedication, we had more really good news this past month. Friday, 2 days ago, we received our invitations to come to the Ministry of Justice on October 16 to take the oath for Romanian citizenship (19 months after our interviews and 22 months after we submitted our applications). Then we can go to the Ministry of Health and ask again for "dreptul de libera practica," the license to practice medicine officially. I (Milt) also received my test results for the Family Practice recertification board exam that I took in Minnesota 2 days before returning to Romania in July. Linda took her test most recently in 1998. Both of our scores were very good -- good enough that I am hoping that the Ministry of Health will accept these scores and not require us to take another test in Romanian for specialist status in Family Medicine. Most everybody else thinks that I'm just an eternal optimist and that this would be too good to be true.
We wish we could thank each of you personally for all the prayers and financial support that have brought us this far. We continue to ask for your prayer and financial support. It is obviously more than coincidence that the funds have always been enough, just enough, and just in time, for the next step of the construction process, and the approvals have also been just in time. If the approvals had come earlier, the funding wouldn't have been there. This continues to be the case. There are still a few more things that need to done in order for the clinic to be fully operational (sidewalks, front gate and fence, parking lot, alarm system(+/-), xerox machine, CBC lab machine), and we still have the ongoing expenses for the guards and other employees, and the utilities. But at least we can soon start the process for the "aviz de functionare." We are just waiting for a paper to be signed that everything is done according to the approved original plans.
It is also a great privilege for us to be in a country where we can openly pray for others including all of our fellow Americans and loved ones. Also, we must not forget those who do not have freedom of religion, including those aid workers and national coworkers in Afghanistan who are being tried for the great crime of telling others about Jesus as well as the missionary couple who are still being held by terrorists in the Philippines. Jesus in His discourse about the end times in Matthew 24 stated, "because of the increase in wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved." Each of us can do very little about the calamities which continue to happen around us, but each of us can guard our love and our faith. It is our fervent prayer that we and all who call Jesus "Lord" will continue to stand firm to the end, both in love and in faith, and that none will be deceived. And that we all will be able to share that love and faith with others in ways that will result in even more coming to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Remember, "God wins!"
We thank you again for your faithful support and participation with us in our ministry here in Bucharest!