Transylvanian Adventure

Transylvania stirs up many thoughts, most of which have to do with a fictional, bloodthirsty count who is allergic to garlic and roams the dark night with bats swirling above. This is not the Transylvania that I experienced earlier this week.

Reality in the Transylvania region of central Romania is survival, especially for the downtrodden Gypsy immigrants. Life is difficult for Gypsy families enduring the long and cold winter months that see light for only a few hours a day. The only means to heat their shanties is with turn-of-the-century wood burning ovens. Sadly, deforestation is becoming an issue due to the necessity to cut down trees for the ovens.

One of European Initiative’s core values is to bless the poor. It is in our hearts to begin each year helping some of the poorest of the poor in Europe. I have just returned from leading an 11-person team of Germans and Americans to Romania. Our goal was simple, yet direct: to show the love of Jesus Christ in word and in deed to the impoverished Gypsy people. This was our fourth consecutive year to minister in the region and to connect with City on a Hill Church. Thanks to generous EI partners in the USA, we were able to give away hundreds of brand new coats, winter shoes, toys, and blankets to people who have never received a new article of anything in their entire lives!

In many ways our trip felt like a spiritual special ops operation. It began with a caravan of vehicles driving from Bucharest, over narrow mountain roads and into Transylvania.  We arrived at Apata, a miniscule village in the valley, with boxes overflowing with new coats, shoes and toys. I couldn’t help but be overwhelmingly grateful to those whose generosity made this outreach possible.

Friday morning the team awoke with renewed supernatural strength for the task at hand. We felt that God’s plan was for us to meet the spiritual needs of the Gypsies first, and give the clothing items later. We travelled to the village of Ormenis where we went shanty to shanty, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. During this time of ministry the Lord truly gave the team a spirit of power and love. By God’s grace 32 Gypsies gave their lives to the Lord that first day, and many more received prayer!! Exhausted but encouraged we returned to our lodging, expectant for the next day’s activities.

The operation for Saturday was an extensive one as we planned to go back to the same large village of Ormenis and return to the houses where we had evangelized the day before. With temperatures well below freezing and snow coming down like a blanket, we went house to house giving thousands of items away over the span of 6 intense hours! Many bodies and souls were warmed as we went. One young Gypsy mother named Bianca told me, “I do not have words to say how I feel for me and my children.” As I listened intently to her shaky voice and looked at her tear-filled eyes she said, “Thank you for coming to us and please tell your giving friends thank you for thinking of us.” God smiles at His body at work and He smiled upon the people of Ormenis this past weekend.

God’s life-changing power resulted in 80 Gypsies giving their lives to Jesus Christ over the entire outreach!!! Hundreds more were impacted by the outreaches, and countless seeds were sown. I know that I speak for the entire team when I say it was an honor to deliver God’s love to those in need.