Romania Update from Val Taylor

Greetings from Satu-Mare!

Can’t believe it’s nearly September!

From today 135 days to shop for Christmas. I am writing this the 11th of August. So many things seem to change it’s hard to keep up sometimes. Will be able to share more when I’m back. After Joseph’s brother smashing the house he collected everything together and it’s just wonderful how things work for good. In the beginning we wanted Joseph to build on his property but he wanted his brother to have well out of what he salvaged. He’s extended his sitting room and is building a kitchen so its great. We went to his home to celebrate his youngest son’s birthday. The effort that went into everything. I think they must have pooled glasses, plates & food. Amazing and good to see the children playing and having fun. A great time but they didn’t eat. Very humbling were we are now. All our children have birth certificates and we got them free; not a penny to pay.

On the 4th of August we went to Joseph’s for a meeting at 11am. He was so clean - trousers and shirt. He collected the little flock. we sang, prayed, Diana gave a word. They learn the songs so well and some are Hungarian not Romanian. Were a right bunch, but were all growing on the same vine, and the joy of the Lord is so evident. This is truly answered prayer. It has been needed for so long. Some don’t get to church - some only Sunday morning. I said to Remus we wouldn’t feed a new baby once a week - they need fellowship.

Then we went shopping. They are much wiser than we were when we used to do it and they have the joy of choosing. On Sunday Joseph, Melinda and their daughter Melinder were in church and we sang the song we learn’t. Everyone was crying. I didn’t think it was that bad! - no people are really starting to see what is happening among the gypsies in the church.
We have a man Marchel and his wife Monica. They have just come to the Lord. He is the cousin of one of the brothers and we have been praying for Marchel as he had a drink problem. Praise God they are like the morning dew.

There are still many things to be sorted out in the church building.But the pressure of the access been taken off is wonderful. You can see and feel the release. We have so much to praise God for. Our sadness is for the black beautiful alsation who has guarded the church for years and had to be put to sleep. She has not been well for a while, but just got worse very quickly. They couldn’t operate because she was old.

Our next plan is to build some toilets. You really don’t need to read the details. I will tell you a real experience.We’re also looking at some showers, but don’t know yet how that will work. There is no hot water, but that would be ok in the summer. But we have to look at drainage. We do have an idea, thanks to Mark, Nick and Anthony.

To go to school the children are given a pencil and a work book, after that it’s buy your own. We have some bright children. They must have a chance as they grow in God. They have the ability to turn the tide.They just need the chance; they have a right. Please pray please:
1 For the children - the hope of the future
2 Lasting ministry for adults and children
3 Husbands of the wives in church to be saved.
4.Awana Club, the children’s work in the church
5. We now have three husbands out of work
6.Vassillica is very sick
7. The little girl’s eye
8. All churches evangelism in November. It’s to do with Luis Palau, evangelist.
9 Remus mum has Alzheimer’s
10 A releasing from the past

Praise God for Marrianna the lady with liver problems. She has had an operation and is fine. I hope to be in Bridlington between the 6th and 8th of October. I fly into London in September. I’m going to my daughter and her husband and family before they go back to America. God has done some amazing things to make this possible. Then I will go to Hereford to see my son. I thought this would save travel time and money. Maybe wisdom does come with old age - no comment Dr Clarke. And then hope fully some quality time with you. I will be going to Glasgow, but intend to stay till the beginning of January. I have a few arrangements to make for 2010. God bless you all looking forward to recharging batteries.
Love Val

ROMANIA - VISIT TO SATU MARE and VAL TAYLOR

ROMANIA - VISIT TO SATU MARE and VAL TAYLOR

Mark Robson, Nick Briggs and I had the pleasure of visiting our church missionary, Val Taylor, in north west Romania. Remus and Diana Oanta and Claudia Hotea once again offered their hospitality and Val assisted in feeding us well.

Val remains focussed on the plight of the Gypsy community at Ordoreu and it was a joy to witness the fruits of her patient work, in partnership with Emanuel Baptist Church, within that underprivileged gypsy community. It was also good to be present at the very time that the complicated legal securing of access to the church was established, thanks to significant financial donations from several sources including Christ Church (I have photographic proof of the legal papers and the land which has been purchased). Remus was active in co-coordinating practical work by local contractors, one church member and his son and our own Mark and Nick.

There were some frustrations, communication/language difficulties and concerns, as is to be expected in mission work but one of the highlights for me was to play my violin alongside a local professional cor-anglais player, Andrea, as part of the church services and this resulted in us all going to see her play with the Satu Mare Orchestra in a high quality classical concert (a new and memorable experience for Mark and Val). I was also able to network with 5 local doctors, both family doctors and hospital doctors and I pray that this will bear fruit in a future medical partnership with Christian doctors from the UK.

We finished off our time in Romania with a visit to the University city of Cluj-Napoca, sleeping in our hire car (a Vauxhall Corsa) prior to our early morning flight home - none of us will forget that night!!

Finally, I would like to recommend continued support of Val as our missionary. Contributions can be made through Stuart Anderson, Christ Church Treasurer, EITHER to Val personally for use at her discretion, OR for the Feeding/housing/support programme for the gypsies OR to the Emanuel Baptist Church. Please continue to pray for Val and for the possibility of further partnership between our churches.

Anthony Clarke

Vall Taylor's Latest From Romania

Val Taylor writes...

Well it was good to see Anthony, Nick and Mark, it just went so quickly. I’m sure they will have things to share… so just a brief update.

The eleventh hour brought great things. Our first gift came from Womens’ Weekly for the access followed with more help from Christ Church members, and also gifts from other places. We have the access opened. Recorded I understand there are other legal papers to be done, but the gate is open. We have a new address. The factory owner has said why didn’t we do this four years ago… what a change of heart. Much work was going on while the lads were here. I’m sure they will tell you we have the start of a toilet for those who need wheelchair entrance.

The work with our friends Joseph has had a few set backs but great he continues to grow. Many came while our lads were there. Anthony did us proud in music and a young person Andrea. Don’t know what instrument she played but was good and I was amazed the way they played together. It was a real blessing.

The house we are building now has the frame for the roof. We were given some windows, the family are happy in the house we bought or helped to buy ,Josephs set back... his wife miscarried and the hospital needed paying. He had to borrow the money and the man wants it back. He has a chance to sell his house and it will leave him with about 60 pounds. He will have to leave the village and go and live somewhere else and take his children out of school. It is so cruel to think of the position these dear people are in and many are in this place with no help or compassion. They borrow a pound say and the cost almost doubles daily and may have to go somewhere else to borrow more. So one pound could end up being 100 pounds and you cant do anything. Someone else will buy Joseph’s house so he can stay indefinitely.

His children will continue in school. He will take care of the house. He asked how long could he stay till he goes to heaven and as long as his children need a home.
Please pray,
· for the work for these men, the best way to go to help them
· a little girls eye to be healed,
· a change in the government corruption to be exposed
· a fair deal for the poor
· a change in medical help There seems so much.
· for my time here and the way forward,
· new life in the church
· a healing for the people
· a new mind set to come out of the past
· and trust God for change.
· Marianna with liver problems.

The list is endless. Well I did say I would be brief. Good job I didn't have a lot to say. Miss you all. Again thank you. Seems so little to say but what you are doing is good Kingdom building.

God bless you
Val