Gypsy Smith School Class of March, 2014

They came from various places across the country of Romania to study.  They have different roles in their churches as pastors, deacons, youth leaders, and elders but they share the desire to learn more about God's Word and how to be better leaders.  This is our largest class yet - 30!  Thanks Larry DeLand from OK and Ken Myers from NC for teaching this week.  Pray for them as this week unfolds.

Gypsy Smith School - March 2014

Being a pastor is a rewarding vocation but it's not an easy one.  The Roma pastors and lay leaders that attend the Gypsy Smith School (GSS) are also bi-vocational and many lack a formal education. However this doesn't slow their desire to learn and grow as pastors.  The Gypsy Smith Leadership Training School was designed to fulfill this need.  Four times a year the leaders travel to Bucharest to attend a week long session on Bible studies, practical church leadership training, worship planning, and other topics.  The March session is being held this week.  Will you pray for a fruitful study of God's Word for these leaders?

Dreams Do Come True

We called him "Little Laci" when he first started his studies several years ago at the Gandhi High School in Pecs, Hungary.  He was eager to learn English and wanted to practice often.  While at the school with a population of mostly Roma students, Laci was encouraged by one of his teachers to follow his dreams.  He'll tell you that up until this time he had never dreamed he could actually pursue being a graphic artist.  It just seemed impossible for a Roma boy from a small village.  But dreams do come true...

Laci studied hard and was accepted into an international studies school in Italy where he blossomed among the multi cultural students.  Still believing in the seeds planted by his Gandhi teacher he applied to an art school in the US.  Thanks to the love and support of former Gandhi School volunteers from the US, Laci, you can see from the picture we had to drop the "Little", is a freshman at a college in FL.  It's evident that he loves it as he animatedly talks about a class on the various size, shapes, and styles of fonts!  When we recently crossed paths with him he excitedly told us about living his dream and how so many had helped it to come true.

We are thankful God placed us in the right place, at the right time to be a part of helping Laci's dreams come true.  What about you?  How can you help someone's dream come true today?

Celebrating Love at the Ruth School

Valentine's Day is not a big holiday in Romania.  However, it's a great excuse to talk about love, the different kinds of love, and most importantly God's love for us.  The walls of the lunch room were decorated with red hearts and streamers.  Lunch is usually a small bowl of hearty, warm food and a couple of slices of bread.  On this special day beside each shiny silver bowl was a cupcake with red sprinkles!  An extra special treat!  The students were asked, "What do you love about the Ruth School?"  The answers varied from food to chapel to my friends. They laughed and gobbled down the cake full of the knowledge that they are loved.  Thank you for supporting the Ruth School.

Making New Friends

This is my new friend, Joke (JO-ka).  We bonded while washing hundreds of silver bowls, sorting clothes, and various other things at the Ruth School.  Joka is from The Netherlands and came with her husband, Pier, while he was teaching at the Gypsy Smith School.  She had asked us to use her in any way possible while he taught and we did!  Joka has a servant's heart and I'm glad we got to spend the week together.  Meeting wonderful people like Joka is one of the great perks of my job and I love it!
"Make New Friends But Keep the Old
One is Silver and the Other's Gold."

"Sail On... Lessons Learned"

“Cast up your sails
And let the wind blow
Jesus will never
Let your ship lose control

Sail on…”

(Imperials, 1977)

Building miniature sail boats turned into a week of learning life lessons for the 8^th grade class at the Ruth School recently.  Led by master sailor and builder, Fred Clifford, member of a team from Knollwood Baptist Church in Winston Salem, NC, the students learned the basic parts of boats, how to use a compass, and why boats float.  They also heard the story of Jesus calming the storm and calling Peter to walk on water.  They learned to start a project, finish it, and feel good about their work.  They learned to work together and the joy of being rewarded for a job well done.  The week of lessons culminated in a lunch trip for cheeseburgers and an afternoon of sailing their boats on the lake at the local park.  The students basked in the special attention and heard the message, through the building of sailboats, you are loved.  “Sail on…”

"They are not Thieves, They are Men"

This is a re-share from the CBF Romany Ministry Blog.  A 'must' read to help understand Romany ministry...

A story about Shane and Dianne McNary was recently published on the Fuller Seminary website.  It's a moving and very informative article about poverty, weddings, and the "G-word."  Go to www.fuller.edu or click the image below for the direct link to the article: