Romania

Flight #94 touched down at 9:06 a.m., four minutes ahead of schedule at Vienna’s International airport. It had been a long night, flying eastbound from Washington’s Dulles airport where we departed at 6:20 p.m. the night before.

We passed through Immigration and Customs without any difficulty and headed for the car rental office. The vehicle was a new 2003 Skoda (Czech–built) with a VW turbo–charged diesel engine. Diesel is cheaper than benzene (gas) in Europe and you get about a third more mileage.

Bill felt it was important for Steve to drive this trip. He needs to know the roads of E. Europe, border–crossing formalities and European driving techniques. He didn’t argue and did an excellent job!

From the airport we headed toward the Hungarian border, reaching Hegyeshalom at 11:47. By 1:15 p.m. we were on the outskirts of Budapest. It was late afternoon when we pulled up in front of the Pelikan Hotel in Szolnok. We were tired and with a 9–hour jetlag ready for bed.

Greatly refreshed by a solid night’s sleep and energized by an Hungarian omelet, we set off the next morning for Romania. We arrived mid–afternoon on Friday and went directly to Dr. Nick Gheorghita’s house in Oradea. He and Cornelia received us warmly and gave us something to eat. Later we went to see Dr. Adrian Ban (Adi), ITMI’s Romanian representative. His wife, Ema, is Dr. Nick’s daughter. Later on Adi took us to the Emanuel University of Oradea, where we were to stay for the weekend.

Dr. Adrian and Ema Ban and Family

We changed clothes and went to the Emanuel Baptist Church for their Good Friday evening service. Christians in Romania follow the Orthodox calendar and this year their Easter was one week after our Easter. The Church was filled. Bill preached the first sermon and Dr. Paul Negrut followed with a powerful closing message.

Saturday was a very full day. Adi and Ema had arranged for a relative to stay with their three sons for the day. That freed them up to have the entire day to discuss the future of ITMI in Romania with the new Director, Steve Evers, and maintain some form of continuity with the past (Bill). The venue was a private room in a local hotel where we had breakfast and spent most of the day.

Without a doubt Romania is a key country in Europe and is a launching pad for ministry outreach into the Balkans, the Middle East and Russia. We considered strategic places, countries and geographical areas of concern. Adi is very enthusiastic about Short–Term teams coming to Romania for specific ministry.

We discussed translating Bill’s book, “Going Through” into Romanian. There’s a market there and in the U.S. for a Romanian version. Ema and Adi offered to translate it for us. Bill would like this to be part of his legacy to a country he dearly loves and for all profits from sales of the Romanian version be used for Christian ministry in Romania.

During the afternoon we discussed the need of a car for the Ban family. It is very difficult to get to EUO – the opposite side of town – and function as a family with three small boys, without transportation. Sometimes he can borrow a car, but often not. Adi has an earned doctorate from Trinity Seminary in Deerfield, IL. He teaches at EUO and is assistant to the Rector. His monthly salary is $100. ITMI and some friends in the US supplement that a bit. Please remember this need while you’re driving.

Later in the afternoon we visited Bethesda Medical Center, in Oradea which you helped ITMI to build, then walked and talked by the river (about Adi’s medical needs and his son Eduard’s bone/calcium deficiency problems) until it was time to go home, where Ema had dinner waiting for us.

The Bans plan to come to the U.S. this summer. (June 11 is Dr. Nick’s 70th birthday.) They are having some difficulty getting a visa. Please pray about this. Bill suggested that while in the U.S., Adi have some ‘home meetings’ in the Chicago area. Adi is an excellent speaker and has a great story to tell. If you are interested please contact ITMI.

“Christos a inviat!” Christ is Risen. Easter Sunday in Romania. We picked up Dr. Nick at his home and after a quick breakfast drove about an hour and ten minutes to the small village of Tulca near Arad. There is a large, new and beautiful Baptist Church there that was absolutely packed. They gave us a tremendous reception!

Bill’s message was from Luke 24, “Five things Jesus opened.” Afterwards we had lunch with the Pastor, then returned to Oradea.

In the evening Bill preached at Emanuel Baptist Church, from John 20:19–31, “Behind Closed Doors for fear.”

Next morning we were up early, packed and the car loaded by 07:45. After breakfast we set off with Dr. Nick for the southern villages. It was afternoon when we arrived in Caransebes. Alina met us at home and took us to the church where Mitruts was preaching. It was a youth service, and they were celebrating the engagement of a young couple there. Afterwards we went to the bride’s home for “a little something to eat” – it was a banquet!

Alina and her needy friend

Our visit to Caransebes was one of the main reasons for this short trip. Alina took us to one of the families she serves with her Romanian Poor Fund, (funded through ITMI almost exclusively by two Christian brothers in Tempe). Steve had the funds from ITMI and gave them to Alina. He took a bunch of pictures, asked a lot of questions, and understands the situation in Caransebes quite well.

We were expected for lunch at Casa Dorca in Prilipet. It was about 1 p.m. when we arrived. The children were out front waiting for us and we received a royal welcome. We toured the new 3–story facility ITMI has helped to build. They are not quite finished and the very large gift we took will go a long way toward completion of the interior work. This was a major reason for this trip, providing funds for summer building. Over lunch with Pastor Ioan Vrancuta, President of Casa Dorca, we discussed future plans for the orphanage.

Casa Dorca - Prilipet Orphanage

Steve had purchased some candy and small toys suitable for either girls or boys and the kids were delighted. There are 28 children ranging in age from 6 to 18 at Casa Dorca. The new building will almost double the capacity. Mid–afternoon we reluctantly said farewell to Pastor Vrancuta and the precious children we’ve come to love.

We cut cross–country into Hungary for the night. Steve skillfully negotiated the twisting, pot–holed road over a mountain pass. He downshifted at exactly the right time, overtook slower vehicles with proper caution and took advantage of every opportunity as we headed west toward the frontier. We gained an hour when we crossed into Hungary, but it was still 9 p.m. when got to the Hotel in Kecskemet. It was our longest and hardest day, but we accomplished the mission.