We had a wonderful time in the U.S. for our annual 3 month furlough. We met our youngest granddaughter, Claudia for the first time in person. It was much better than just seeing her on
Skype. We actually got to hold her and love on her as well as the other 5 granddaughters we have. It was good to be home. We spent Christmas with our family and enjoyed it very much. We are grateful for the time allowed to go home on furlough and see family and friends and spend time with our supporters also. Thank you for allowing us this privilege. It was a busy time but we accomplished a lot during this time.
We have been back in Romania for a week. We arrived on Feb. 29. When we arrived it was cold and still had snow on the ground. Finally the snow has melted but it is still cold. The Romanians tell us it was a rough winter for them.
Jeff & Anna
Phillips, and Coleman their son, came with us this year. They are new missionaries with Global Outreach International. They will be living here and working in
Vinga. They will begin language lessons in April and focus the first year on
learning the language and culture. They have completed the first step of their visa application. They are now waiting on approval from the Baptist Union, which will take about 3 weeks, then
they can complete the rest of the process.
They seem to be adjusting well. Jeff is learning to drive and deal with the city traffic in
Arad and
Timisoara. They are beginning to get familiar with some of the places here. Anna had a lesson in making homemade biscuits yesterday afternoon. She did very well and caught on very easily.
Vinga Baptist Church made them feel very welcome last Sunday and we attended both services there.
Please pray for them as they settle in and get accustomed to everything.
This picture above was taken at the reception following Jeff & Ann's commissioning service at their home church, First Baptist Church of Donalsonville, GA on Sunday evening, February 26, 2012. It was a wonderful service.
Today, Nov. 27, was our last Sunday before going home for the winter. We took the children in the Sunday School class their Christmas bags. They were surprised and pleased. Liji is pictured with the children. She and Catalina work together teaching the children in Sunday School.
Maria (in the middle) was just a baby when we first came to Vinga. Now she is 8 years old. Her baby dedication was the first one we attended in Romania. Next to her in black is her younger brother.
This little girl can't wait to see what's inside. She is new to the church. We have seen Abel and Dani (on either side of her) grow up and I taught them in Sunday School. Dani's little sister Lydia is growing up fast. She will be 3 this winter.
Below, Buddy shared with the church our goodbyes and assured them of our prayers while we will be gone. We will return in March of 2012.
The sisters in the church from Vinga Baptist and Osana Baptist wanted to do a project for the people in a nursing home. We decided on a bag of fruit and snacks. Enough was purchased for each person to receive one. Also, I had 15 blankets that were given to us by a church in Dothan, and we took them in addition to the fruit bags. There were 15 of us who went to visit, sing with , pray for and just encourage the patients in the nursing home. The ladies sung with us and many of them had tears as we sung. They appreciated the opportunity to have someone come and sing and pray with them. Bibles were taken and given to the ones who didn't have one. As you can see the lady in the picture below received a Bible, along with her fruit and blanket.
This lady also received a Bible.
This precious lady below is 103 years young!! She had a sweet smile as she posed for a picture with her new blanket.
This lady touched me. I watched her as we sung and she sung with us and tearing were running down here face. She was also very proud of her new blanket.
The group singing for the ladies.
One of the sisters from Osana church is sharing a few words of encouragement to this patient.
This lady was happy to receive a Bible and she began to read it. Pray for the Lord to speak to her heart through His word!
Our group is sharing another song with the patients.
This was our first opportunity to visit a nursing home in Arad. The people there are lonely just as they are in the U.S. This time of year they receive more visitors but we need to be aware these people need visits all throughout the year, not just holidays.
