July 17th 2008
Dear Praying Friends
Mustard Seed Prayer Update July 17th 2008
PRAYER CHANGES THINGS – I believe that in Mustard Seed we have seen an
amazing answer to our prayers in the last month. In just 14 months since
launching our appeal, we have raised all the money we need to build the home
for needy pensioners in Cefa, Romania. In the present
economic climate this is quite incredible and I believe it is an answer to
prayer. A number of volunteers have worked very very hard to raise funds but
the bulk of the money has come from donors who wish to remain anonymous. PRAISE
GOD.
This means that our plans and time-table are:
Mid September / early October the Romanian
company will build the home using the wooden materials they have already
prepared. It will be erected on the foundations which have already been laid by
Alex Stroie and a group of Romanians from the village.
Over
the next few months the finishing off – plumbing, electrical work, etc will
need to be completed before the house will be ready to receive the first
pensioners. We hope it will be ready late in 2008 or early 2009.
We still need to raise the first year’s running costs – approximately
1000 € per month, but in view of rising costs and the falling rate of the £ we
are aiming at £1000 per month. So please remember this in prayer.
We also need to raise funds to set up one or two or more businesses in Romania to fund the
running costs of the home so this will not be an on-going drain on our
resources. Please remember this need in your prayers.
Please give thanks with us to God for the provision of the funds for
building and ask Him for help and favour as we seek to raise more funding for
12 months’ running costs and to set up some businesses in Romania to support the home.
We also give thanks for the safe return of GEORGE & SUE after
delivering aid to Romania in June. More of
that later.
We have had encouraging feedback about some of the prayer requests made
in the last prayer update:
- Nelu felt his
exams went well.
- Nelu and
Cristina were able to take a number of needy young people on a camp – in Jersey we provided
funding for about seven and they found other sponsors also.
- Alex Stroie
found a sponsor to pay the costs of the food for the summer camp.
There are some pointers for prayer from Romania:
- ADI MATIS of
Speranta Familiei is searching for a new job as he has had to leave
Speranta Familiei. From his recent email we gather that rising costs and
dwindling funding from sponsors meant that Speranta had to close down
several of their projects and could no longer afford to employ Adi. Please
remember Adi in prayer in this matter, also his wife Gloria and infant son
Philip.
- KATHY
LANGSTON has not managed to complete the adoption process for her 2 foster
daughters CODI and ANDREA. She explains that adoption can be a very
lengthy process especially if no bribe is paid. She hopes it will be
completed in the autumn.
- KEN &
FLORENCE HOLMES are due to travel to UK to see
supporters and family and for an extended holiday (not returning to Romania till the
autumn). Ken was involved in a car accident which extensively damaged
their vehicle, though thankfully he was unhurt – in their last email they
asked for prayer for wisdom, guidance and provision as the vehicle they
had planned to travel in could no longer be used.
- Remember ALEX
& RODY STROIE as they travel to USA from
mid-August to mid-September part of the time will be visiting sponsors in United
States and part of the time
visiting Alex’s sister who lives in USA. (The building
at Cefa will not begin until Alex’s return). Pray for them as a family for
a good holiday and real refreshment. In Mustard Seed we thank God for Alex
and how much he does.
- Continue to
remember FLORI and her need for a kidney transplant.
- Continue to
pray for the provision of a ground floor apartment for the Sylaghi family
(father is an amputee).
In Jersey pray for us for wisdom:
- Appointing
new trustee for Mustard Seed Jersey: After a number of years, due to
greater responsibility at his church David Edwards has decided to resign
as trustee. Pray for David and his wife Salana and thank God for his
input.
- The cost of
fuel is increasing greatly with each trip and we want to be wise stewards
of the resources entrusted to us by the Lord. The cost of fuel and tolls
alone for the June trip was £1,700 – that is an increase of approximately
£300 from the April trip. It has nearly reached the stage that the
over-all cost of transport is greater than the cost of buying the goods
second hand in Romania. But the
Romanian trusts emphasise that the quality of the goods we send is far
higher than anything they can buy in-country.
Our next trip is planned for late September / early October taking more
materials and equipment for the pensioners home, as well as clothing, bedding,
etc. Our final trip of the year will be in December God willing when we take
general aid and Christmas shoeboxes.
Please continue to bless us with your prayers, and be encouraged that
prayer really does change things.
In His service
Rose Helie
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