This is Lacramioara. This passed week we were able to bless her family with a ton of wood for heating up the room where they live. A tone, lasts about a month and costs 110 USD.
There were other families as well that benefited from help with wood this winter.
God is good! Here are some updates about what we have been doing:
Spero Designs
Traveling through these difficult times, I thought it will be very hard and maybe we will have to face closing down the workshop, but glory to God, the things went from not so good to better and better, and it all started with the "masks". The workshop went from about 25 percent self support to about 65 percent self support, sometimes over the 65 and I believe by Gods grace with good work and patience we will reach the 100 percent in the future, just like a normal business should do.
As I have mentioned before, last October we employed Mirela, the third lady and we increased the working hours from 4 hours a day to 8 hours a day. We have grown in knowledge on making a big variety of clothing, from winter cloths to summer clothes from small sizes to big sizes and a wide variety of models of cloths.
We could not have achieved all these without your faithful support over the years. Thank you for playing an important part in creating one more job and providing a job for three families, and also providing a christian working atmosphere, where we are friends, laughing together, learning together, praying together and reading 4 Bible verses daily together. It feels like a place of work where you go with pleasure.
Please pray that we will continue to grow and have more orders, to provide more jobs and that the women will acknowledge Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior.
Maruntei Village ministry
After 2 moths of being in hospital Dana is back home. So wonderful to see our dear sister back in church with us and smiling. I wish I can say she is back to normal but that is not the case yet. She is often under a lot of fear in her chest, she says, and she is taking strong medication. I believe there is a great spiritual battle in her life. Lately I offered to support her in memorizing more of the Scripture. I believe that by putting the Word of God in one’s life and mind and heart, healing and deliverance can happen. She can now confidently recite Psalm 23 and is working on memorizing Isaiah 53. After this, other Scriptures will follow. Also I helped her learn how to transform Bible verses into personal prayers. I often hear her say that she believes that when she will be baptized she will experience complete healing. Getting baptized is a big desire of hers but there is a big stumbling block. She is not legally married to her partner- they live together but not as husband and wife.
Please pray for Dana' s healing and for her to get legally married, her partner is not ready for that yet.
For Nicoleta's (34th) and my (44th) birthdays, we went out together for some cake and a nice chat.
Children ministry
We resumed our weekly meeting after the Christmas holidays, we are just a few lessens away from finishing the study called “A trip into the digital world.” It's a very good Bible-based study about how to use internet platforms without getting into bad things or in danger. We also try to visit one child at home per week, in order to build relationships with the child's family.
Please pray for the salvation of the children and their families.
Women’s ministry
We are having regular weekly meetings for Bible study, we are now on Mark chapter 3. The women that come are genuinely interested in learning more and are lately thinking about baptism but they all have some personal family stumbling blocks. Please pray that the Lord will remove the stumbling blocks and they will also get baptized. Also please pray that others will join our Bible study group. Altogether there are 6 of us, 2 missionaries (Nicoleta and Florina) and 4 women from the village (Daniela, Dana, Flori, Ana).
Street Evangelism
Tavi and Mark are trying to go on the street weekly (wether permitting), they are out there praying for people and talking to people about the Lord. Sometimes David joins them.
Please pray that the Lord will bring those ready to hear the Word to meet Tavi and Mark.
Soup kitchen
We are working on starting a soup kitchen next week for the poor people in Maruntei. We will involve Daniela and Ana from the Bible study group to cook the meals, and then the meals will be taken to people at home. Please pray that the Lord will use this project for his Glory and for spreading the love of God and His word, and also pray for continued support for the project.
Ministry in Mărunței.
We meet in a container somewhere on the edge of the village. We have been praying for a piece of land and a more central location for the ministry. We found this land, right in the center. All being well we plan to purchase the land in the coming weeks. The Lord provided the finances, around 4,000 dollars. Please join us in praying for the funds in order to start work on clearing the place, and build something that can accommodate the ministry needs. It's an important step for the ministry. We are very excited and looking forward to what the Lord has in store. Praise the Lord!!!!
On another Evangelistic day out, in another village, I lead 7 people (all women) to pray and give their life to the Lord. Please pray that they will stand on their decision.
Mark, Florina, David and Ruben are doing well. Sometimes with small health problems or dentistry needs but generally speaking doing well. David and Ruben are back to school but we are considering taking them out and try and work with a homeschooling program. We need wisdom and Godly guidance if this is the right step to take.
Please pray for Dean, Mark's younger brother, who had an open heart surgery and had 4 bypasses done.
Thank you very much for supporting us to carry on the work of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Love in Christ!
Florina Darvell, PIEI-Romania Missionary