"I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name." (Revelation 3:8).
We have heard these words many, many times since we first decided to move to Romania. We were reminded of them again recently when we received some difficult news. Campus Crusade was looking forward to a visit by a major supporter, who came to Bucharest 2 weeks ago. The day after the visit, the country director of Campus Crusade in Romania came to tell us that the supporter had decided to fully support Campus Crusade's building project (100%!) if it is a separate building. In other words, we had just lost our partner for building the upper floor of the building, and now we will have to find some means of financing the other half of the building.
We were and are distressed not only because of the additional financial challenge, but also because we really appreciate Campus Crusade and their mission here in Romania, and thought that sharing the building would reinforce each other's ability to be witnesses for Jesus Christ. Apparently the donor's concern is that 2 organizations co-owning the same building sooner or later may lead to problems. We proposed that Campus Crusade own the entire building and that we take out a long term lease on our portion. Even though the donor wasn't very interested in this idea, our proposal might be reconsidered if Campus Crusade finds no good building opportunities in the next month or so.
We also met with the architect again, this time about the basement/foundation plans, something that could have been solved in a single day 3 months ago, if he and the engineer in Braila had just sat down together and done it. Initially we were frustrated. But now we see that God, Who always has a much bigger picture than we do, is continuing to look out for us. We now realize that if we had obtained the "Autorizatie de Constructie" as soon as we had wanted, we would have been stuck with a window plan for the upper floor that would complicate designing the floor plan for office/rental space, etc. Once the "A.C." (building permit) is granted, one cannot modify the outside appearance of the building. One can modify the interior design however, except for weight bearing walls. "Plan B," for now, seems to be to find the means to complete the structure, but leaving the upper floor as a shell until renter(s) can be found for it. The plan has always been that we would see Westerners at near Western rates, and use that income to finance the clinic's overhead. Having a source of rental income would strengthen the financial viability of the clinic as well as allowing for expansion in the future and even more ministry to the poor.
The second part of the verse states, "... you have kept my word, and have not denied my name." We came to Romania hoping to find something to do as doctors, but even if that never had happened, we still felt a burning desire to tell others about the living Jesus Christ who is coming again. And we have never doubted that God wants us to be in Romania. The day after our "not so good news" we started a 5 day course about the "Good News," Evangelism Explosion, a practical, Bible-based way to share the Gospel. This included going out in teams to Herastrau Park for "on the job training" (OJT). The course was in English, but the experience was so encouraging and inspiring that we both now want to take the Romanian version as well. EE helped bring things back into proper perspective. Even the best doctors can help a patient stay alive only a few more years usually, whereas having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior gives one eternal life, forever (present tense!).
And most people somehow survive in spite of really bad doctors, although one 8 year old missionary kid had a close call last week. The boy was playing in the woods with some teenagers. The big kids tried to move a large dead tree trunk, somehow dropping it right on the middle of the 8 year old's back. They managed to get it off, and had the good sense to not move him but to call the parents. The doctor in the local hospital insisted on having the boy sit up!--even though x-rays showed fractures of 2 vertebrae! The boy wasn't paralyzed, and the parents drove him in their van (laying down) to Bucharest where we helped them obtain an MRI that showed that the fractures would not lead to paralysis. Praise God!
Our last letter asked for prayer for Linda's asthma. It got better a couple days later, but then about 1 1/2 weeks ago it got worse again, especially with a cough. It seems that working on the land/building site bothers her, but even just going outside sets her back. Air pollution and/or pollen and mold seem to be exceptionally bad this summer and fall. Hopefully, Linda's asthma will improve again, now that our work on the land is done. Please keep praying for Linda's asthma to improve, and for our continued good health and safety.
Life here isn't just all work and no play. We visited the Traistarus and took Flori and Marius ("Mimi") to the equivalent of a carnival. They really loved the kiddy rides, and we loved taking them. Also a retired Lutheran missionary to Japan and her Japanese husband visited us on their tour of Eastern Europe. They later wrote us about three close calls with thieves on trains (one in Romania). Except for that, it was a delightful visit.
We thank you for your prayers, your financial support, and also letters and e-mails. We do not lose heart. God is faithful!
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13.)