Mid-September Update

I know it's been only 2 weeks since my last blog post, but since so much has happened in these 2 weeks, I'm posting once again.

Update: Jon Scott

Praying around Jon's hospital bed in Bucharest
(Photo: Margaret Scott)

In my last update, I mentioned that Jon Scott was coming to Romania to teach  a course on church leadership. Jon and Margaret Scott served as Nazarene missionaries to Romania from 1992-2000, opening the work of the Church of the Nazarene here.

Shortly after Jon arrived  in Bucharest, church members there took him to the hospital, where it was discovered that he had two subdural hematomas and had to undergo neurosurgery on Sunday morning. Margaret flew to Romania from the US and arrived Monday morning. On Wednesday, a day after being released from ICU, a second crisis occurred: emboli were discovered in his heart. During this time, the church in the USA/Canada, Africa, and Eurasia regions united in prayer for Jon. After almost 2 weeks in the hospital, Jon was released and we praise God that he is now doing much better.

The Nazarene missionary team from the 1990s reunited in 2017:
Roberta Bustin, Margaret Scott, Jon Scott, Dorothy Tarrant

I went to Bucharest for a few days last week to visit the Scotts, just after Jon was released from the hospital. I've only met the Scotts a few times, and this is their first visit back to Romania since they were reassigned as missionaries to Africa in 2000. Words cannot express how much I enjoyed spending time with them, as they shared about the early days of Nazarene ministry in Romania and introduced me to key people from other denominations who were instrumental in the early days. I believe that knowing the past better helps us as we plan ministry for the future. We can't simply duplicate the past, but we can certainly learn from it!

Jon is feeling so much better that he was able to preach this morning at the Blessing Church of the Nazarene in Bucharest. Here's his message:

EuNC Students in Romania

Update: Theological Education 

Jon's operation obviously pushed back the scheduled sessions for the church leadership course. However, I met with the students in Sighisoara to go over the course syllabus and explain reading and written assignments that they can be working on now. I also introduced them to the Supervised Ministry Practicum in which they will participate this semester. Although this is an official requirement of European Nazarene College, it is also an opportunity for each student to receive guidance in their area of ministry, as well as to learn how to better evaluate themselves as ministers. 

The time I spent with students also included an orientation to the EuNC library that I've been working on setting up for over a year. The orientation included how to find books in the online catalog, how to locate them on the shelves, etc. I was very pleased to see the enthusiasm students showed as they realized the resources available to them.

EuNC Library in Sighisoara

Update: Herndon Family

In my last update, I introduced you to the Herndon family, who had just moved to Romania. Since that update, they have found an apartment in Brașov, their kids have started school, and they are waiting for their shipment to come from Greece with their belongings. I've gotten to spend time with them on 3 occasions in the past 2 weeks and look forward to working with them.

Update: Sighisoara Church Construction 

For the past few years, the Sighisoara Church has been undergoing a construction project. Most of the interior work has been finished for the past 2 years. This past week, the exterior of the building was painted, bringing us a huge step closer to the finishing the project. You can view photos from the entire construction process in my Facebook album.

Fresh coat of paint on the Sighisoara church

Update: Romanian Studies Program

On Friday, after visiting with the Scotts in Bucharest, Dorothy Tarrant returned "home" to Scotland to live near family. Dorothy has served in Romania since 1993, when she came to supervise American college students through the Romanian Studies Program. For the past 2 years, Casey Bloom, a Nazarene volunteer missionary, has been supervising students. Two students just arrived, who are spending the fall semester in Sighisoara. They will be working in various programs at Veritas and at the Tigmandru church.

Two American college students are spending the semester
in Sighisoara with the Romanian Studies Program.
Casey Bloom (right) is the RSP's on-site coordinator.

Veritas Open House

While I was in Bucharest visiting the Scotts last week, there were 2 events going on here:

Veritas Open House

On Thursday, Veritas held its annual open house. Over 500 children from various schools in the community participated in the activities, which included crafts, games, and face-painting. The proceeds from the sale of baked goods and other items will help disadvantaged children to go to school. Click here to view photos from the day. 

VBS in Tigmandru

The Tigmandru Church of the Nazarene held a Vacation Bible School on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of last week, culminating with a trip to the zoo and playground on Saturday. Since this was the first week of school in Romania, the program was held in the late afternoons. The church's youth group helped lead the various aspects of the VBS. Each day's activities included Bible stories and songs, games, crafts, and a hot meal. Each child who participated received a small package of school supplies on Friday.

VBS in the Tigmandru church

The church leaders took a LOT of photos from these 4 days. You can view pictures from the week on the Tigmandru Church's Facebook page. (After viewing the first photo, click to the left to go in chronological order.)

You may recall that earlier this year, we set up child sponsorship in Tigmandru. The normal weekly program (Tuesday & Friday afternoons) includes a Bible lesson, activities, and a hot meal. With the start of the new school year, the program will be expanded to include other activities, including after-school tutoring with homework. Click here to read more about the Tigmandru children's program.

Thank you for your continued prayers for all of the people and ministries mentioned in this update.