A Glimmer of Hope in the Eyes of an Old Man!

One day while distributing food to poor families, I met Pandele on the street. He was going to buy bread from the store. I stopped to speak with him as he seemed dejected and walked with a slow pace. I thanked God for this old man who radiated joy when I offered him a bag of food. He told me that he did not have enough money to buy necessary food from one month to the next. This bag of food was very important to him. I asked him if I could visit him from time to time, and he agreed.

A week later I visited Pandele in his home. He was very happy to see me again, and I was able to offer him more help. He lives in a house where it is almost raining in because of an old, deteriorated roof and whose ceiling and walls are ready to collaspe. I honestly do not know how long the house will last if someone does not come to his aid.

It is a great joy that I can be helpful to him. He appreciates and rejoices when he sees me. Pray that I may be able to offer more than just social assistance. Pray that I can help him realise that he needs salvation. May the Lord be glorified in all things!

Be blessed!

Florin Sfetcu – PIEI Missionary

RELIGION OR FAITH?

This month I had to find a solution to some financial difficulty. There were more expenses than usual; I had to pay the house and car tax, so I was left with little money until the next donation and I had to look for a way to earn some money.

It so happened that someone needed a worker for a few days to put tiles in a kitchen, so I took this opportunity. I did not know what the Lord was preparing for me, but the place where I had to work was a monastery five kilometers from our town. On this occasion I met the abbot Teofil and the priest Arsenie.

God had a plan for these people, and a friendship was forged between us. I had the opportunity to talk to them about all sorts of things. We talked about what's going on around the world because of the pandemic, about the wickedness of many people they had working for them, and about the fact that you can't trust anyone anymore. I thank God that from these discussions, I was able to ask them a few questions like; Why do you think people have sinful behavior and what can be done to change it? They believed that for certain people, they will not be able to change.

I started talking to them about the way I was 16 years ago. They couldn't believe what I was telling them, since they had a good impression of me from day one. From there I began to preach the gospel to them, to show them that there is a great difference between a religious man and one who is faithful to God. I told them that God has a solution for all people, not just the wicked and untrustworthy. I kept telling them that people need to know the TRUTH, they need GOD more than ever, showing them that I am one of those people for whom faith in God has produced a great change.

Please pray with us for these two people, we do not know how God will work. in them I kindly ask you to pray for me, we will visit them with the family. Pray that God will give us the wisdom and skill to know how to speak to these people so that they will be touched by the gospel.

Thank you for all you do for your mission work here, for your prayers and support.

Be blessed!

Florin Sfetcu, PIEI-Romania Missionary

TEAMWORK BRINGS SATISFACTION AND ENCOURAGEMENT

At the beginning of this year, at the suggestion of our sister Florina Darvel, together with several missionary brothers from the PIEI organization, we considered that it would be good for us to help each other in terms of mission work. The first activity of this kind took place in Beciu community, and we thank God for surprising us once again with His wonderful way of working. Considering that it is still winter, we did not expect to meet such a large number of people. I was glad that the brothers who helped us in the ministry were encouraged by the way the whole activity went, and by the open people they met to preach the gospel to them. During this time of talking to people and preaching the gospel, there were three women to whom God touched their hearts and who surrendered their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ.

We are pleased that God has confirmed to us through the way He has worked that teamwork is very important. We pray for the next activity of this kind, for our unity and for the wisdom and skill in knowing how to approach people with whom we will come into contact from now on.

I know we support each other in prayer and I want to thank you for everything you do for us.

Be blessed!

Florin Sfetcu, PIEI-Romania Missionary

God's Providence to Reach Families

God blessed with greater intensity into the hearts of the people of Beciu. This has been a difficult year around the world, yet God has been, does, and will remain in control of all things. 

Although we did not hope for too many evangelistic opportunities due to the pandemic, the Lord gave us success in many projects. For example, this is the fourth year in which all children in school and kindergarten received gifts around the holidays. God is the One who allows us to bring joy to the hearts of children. We are not the ones who make things come together. God does. All glory, all honor, and all glory belong to Him alone!

Because of the pandemic, the gifts could not be given to children in school and kindergarten. We set up two gift places, and the children came to these two places. What was completely different from previous years is that most children came with their parents. Thus we were able to give an evangelistic message to parents as well! I know that the Lord has touched many parents' hearts, and that many people have changed the distorted view the village priest has spread about us. 

Pray with us that the Lord will bless us and our efforts in 2021. Pray that in His mercy He would grant salvation to those who have not yet accepted Him as Lord and Savior. God bless you who pray for us and the work here. 

In all things He is to be praised!

PIEI-Missionary Florin Sfetcu

Teaching Our Children

As parents, we pray to the lord to give us wisdom and skills to know how to teach to our children to behave in such a way that they would love God and others. Through these pandemic times, God has given us the opportunity to invest more into the children.

For all things we must learn to give thanks to God and follow which direction he is leading us towards.

We thank God for the team we consider to be part of our family, people who encourage us, who have gotten involved by supporting us. Thank you for allowing the Lord to help through you.

I personally love each one of you, but I was most impressed by brother Cornel Stef, a man who could have lived quietly with what God has given him, but has chosen to be thankful through mission work. A brother who has chosen to be with me and many others like me, valuable servants in the eyes of people, but precious before God.

God reward you for all the work, for the fact that you have chosen to provide support from America to Romania and to be with us. Thank you for your prayers, we bless you in the name of the lord Jesus ​​Christ!

We wish you happy holidays with God!

Florin Sfetcu, PIEI-Romania Missionary

A HAND EXTENDED TO THE NEEDY

In the mission work it is necessary to do more than preach the gospel, as very few people would be willing to listen to us if we did not take the time to show them that we really care about them. I have met people who just wanted to be heard, people in trouble, people who want to share their suffering with someone, and no one is willing to listen to them. Each person has their own problems, they don't want to deal with others. We thank God for teaching us to be like Him, for teaching us to be guided by the Holy Spirit, and for being attentive to our fellow men.

We thank God for the brothers and sisters who help us socially, so when we go to visit people we can give them something. We have noticed that when we show people that we care about them, they are willing to make time for us. May God be praised for putting us in touch with people open to mission work, simple people but with loving hearts. A hand extended to a man, a child, a widow, an old man, attracts the attention not only of the person in question but also of those around him. People listen to and observe us, and with the help of the Lord we become more and more loved, more trustworthy, a LIGHT that expands and fulfills its purpose. GLORY TO THE LORD!

Thank you for the prayers and more. Please keep praying for us!
Be blessed!

Florin Sfetcu, PIEI-Romania Missionary

God Will Never Abandon You

The other day I was visited by four children from two families, children I met on the street and whose situation I already knew.

Two children you see are Bianca and Andrei, two children who have seven other brothers but who were taken by the social services due to the fact that their parents are alcoholics. Many times, with this family we have to find a strategy to help them, we have to think about helping at least these two children left without support. This time we thought of calling the children to our home and in this way we can be useful to them.

Ionuț and Alexandra were abandoned by their mother about a year ago. I now take care of their grandparents who raise them and take care of them. Alexandra is pretty quiet, she's missing her mother.

What we want is to get as close as possible to these children, to be able to be a support for them and to teach them that there is someone who loves them unconditionally, more than their parents could have loved them. When they grow up to remember that they are loved by God.

We need your prayers further, pray that God will give us wisdom and skill to know how to behave in such situations, to know how to make ourselves loved by such children. We thank you for everything you do to make the mission work here work, thank you for the prayers and love you embrace with us.

God bless you!

Florin Sfetcu, PIEI-Romania Missionary

MAN'S PLANS CAN BE CONFUSED BUT NEVER GOD'S PLANS!

Some time ago I made a project for children in Beciu. The project included backpacks and school supplies for disadvantaged children. I was quite discouraged when we started talking about this project, I knew that this year was quite difficult for all people. Although we prayed to the Lord that He would take care of these children, my optimism was quite low. However, my only hope in such situations was only with God, only He could make the impossible possible. I thank God and we are grateful to Him for not delaying to respond and amaze us. Even before the start of the new school year, I had a set of 100 backpacks full of everything a child needs for school. This project had an extraordinary impact, the children's parents did not know how to thank us, they were amazed by the way we got involved in helping them.

There were parents who wrote to us to express their gratitude for the bags we received. Some of the parents wrote to tell us that their children slept with their backpacks in bed, they were so happy. We thank OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN for the wonderful way he works, for every blessing he receives. To Him be all the honor and all the glory, He makes the impossible possible. We pray to the Lord that He will search the hearts of children and their parents and open more hearts to His glory!

Thank you very much for knowing that you are praying for us and we invite you to continue to support us in our prayers. May God bless you and take care of you in all aspects of life!

Florin Sfetcu, PIEI-Romania Missionary

THE PROTECTION OF THE LORD IS OVER THOSE WHO TRUST IN HIM!

When you realize from where the Lord has taken you, you can only praise and thank Him for how He cares for you in every circumstance of life!

During the past weeks I made several trips by car. One day while driving I heard an annoying noise in the car. Realizing that something needed checking, I finally decided to take the car to service. When the mechanics put my car on the lift, the mechanics who checked it were amazed at what they saw. They told me that it was a miracle that nothing had happened to me, and that I could have died at any time because of the car's problems.

God is the One who has always taken care of me and my family, I have no doubt that He has taken care of me this time as well. This is why I always have reasons to praise God! This is why I say that when you realize from where God has saved you, you can't help rejoicing, you can't help thanking Him, and praising the One who gives you His protection every moment. Glorified and blessed be His Name!

Florin Sfetcu - PIEI- Missionary

THE JOY OF MAKING OTHERS HAPPY

We have been blessed by God, and we in turn want to give away what we have received!

This woman's name is Ioana. She is grandmother of nine grandchildren. One day some of her grandchildren came to buy tomatoes from us. I was amazed to see her holding a five lei banknote she handed me for the tomatoes she wanted to buy. I thought: these people live on child allowance and social assistance; they are quite poor and yet they never come to ask for something without paying for it. At the same time I thought about myself: I only have four children, not nine children and yet it’s difficult for us to manage from one month to the next. We make sacrifices, serving in the mission, and cultivating the land with vegetables, melons etc. so that we can cover all our necessary expenses. My heart does not allow me to take money from people like Ioana. On the contrary, I readily help them however I can. They came to buy 4.5 pounds of tomatoes and went home happy because we did not take their money. However, they received more than they expected. Leaving for home everyone had their own bag: one left with potatoes, another with melons, another with tomatoes, and another with bell peppers.

We thank God for blessing us so that we can also give to others from what we have received. God bless you and we know you are praying for us. We remember times when we had no support and the way you got involved.

May God bless and reward you!

Florin Sfetcu - PIEI Missionary

THE GOOD SEED

During this rather sad period due to the pandemic, there are few people on the streets. The only places where you can meet a larger number of people are at the stores.

Last week I went with the "Good Seed" project, which is a project good for making friends with people. It includes 3-4 envelopes with vegetable seeds and a devotional calendar. For three years with the arrival of Spring, we offer such packages with seeds to our neighbors. People are happy with these little gifts, and they take the time to exchange a few words with us.

I am grateful to God for the way he works even in this time of crisis. People have more desire to talk, and it is a good opportunity to preach the Gospel to them. I meet people who can’t get enough talking. I talked to them for more than two hours. I tell them about God, about what’s happening in the whole world because of this pandemic and because of sin.

Some people admit that they are guilty, that they have sins, but they need time to be convinced they need to accept Jesus. We pray for these people. I ask you to support us in prayer and God to work.

Be blessed!

FEAR MAKES A MAN REFLECT ON THE WAY HE LIVES

Although my prayer was: God shake these people whom I telling about You and don’t want to understand, I did not think that God would shake the world in this way. I never thought that during my life I would live days like these, where fear has spread more than the Coronavirus. Fear dominates in the hearts of many people. Even in Beciu there are people whose faces are full of fear, to whom we have often preached the Gospel and who remained unchanged.

Recently I met two men to whom I have spoken countless times about the love of God and who remained indifferent, but this time everything was different. They were interested in knowing more about what was going on. I have often told people that things would go from bad to worse because of the wickedness of people and the sins they committ. They didn’t believe me. Now they have come to believe, to believe that God exists and that the Bible is true.

Yesterday, March 26, I went to buy milk from someone in the village. A boy who respects his grandparents and parents, a boy who always heeded the advice of his elders and who chose not to disappoint his parents, leaving his religion, and the traditions in which he grew up. I had to go home quickly, but I couldn't.

He stopped me to talk about the One I believe in, and he put all kinds of questions to me. This boy did not agree to talk about God with repentance, because He lived with the impression that we want to make people leave their religion. He even asked me if he could repent and remain orthodox at the same time. I told him he could take that step, but only if he kept the Scriptures. He told me that he had never read the Bible, but now he does since he has lots of time . I gave him a Bible. Wherever I go I usually have at least two Bibles, calendars, and Christian literature with me.

I think now is the time for us Protestant Christians to act more. Even if it’s more difficult to get out of the house, because we have restrictions, and we are scared of this virus.
We think about our children and it is not easy. We fear that maybe we will be infected and in this way they will get sick, too. If I happen to go to the Lord, isn't that what we all want? Never, no matter how great the risk, will I never give up preaching the GOSPEL.

Pray for us, and for all who take this risk that the Lord will give us victory. I know I have to be careful. I know the risk is great, but as much as possible, I have to preach the GOSPEL.
Be blessed!

Florin Sfetcu - PIEI Missionary

TRIALS

When you are healthy and all is well, you are the happiest. I thank God for not being in a hospital until I was 44. Until then I hadn’t experienced surgery, serious illness, etc. But I have been fighting a terrible cold for about five days now. I have a fever, chills, dizziness, and coughing and feeling that my lungs are ruptured. So far I haven’t taken any medicines and I hope to heal without them. We really need your prayers, and we thank all those who pray for us.

We thank God for the wonderful way He works in these places. This month I had the joy of sharing the Gospel with several people, but one of them was reached more deeply than others. Shame is great obstacle for people here to repent: the shame by neighbors, relatives, family, etc. Many people, though they received the Word, don’t come to church meetings for this reason.

We know that we are CHILDREN of an Almighty Father, not slaves of the evil one. Our Almighty Father in heaven can break any chain of shame.

Please continue to support us in your prayers, and God bless you!

Florin Sfetcu - PIEI Missionary

HOPE IN DESPAIR

We thank God for His caring. This month we have been able to bring joy to the hearts of many people. One of these people is a seventy year old widowed woman who we could help with firewood. This woman is called Paula, has no revenue, lives on social assistance and is rarely helped by her two children. The children are married and rarely remember their mother, who is left alone. We thought of Paula because we knew her situation very well and we knew she didn't have the opportunity to buy firewood. In addition, one year ago she became one of our sisters in the Lord and it was a great joy to support her from this point of view.

Another family that we could support, is another widowed woman of about two months. A family with whom we have been living for a long time because of the shortcomings they face. This widow is named Flori, and she has two children, Mihai and Adrian. I didn't tell them anything before I got to them, I wanted to surprise them. They were extremely happy, Flori told me that they had firewood for only two or three days and she was quite worried about this. Following the loss of their father, Mihai and Adrian have suffered a lot and even now, every time I meet them, they do not hesitate to talk to me about their father. Mihai is fourteen years old, and Adrian is ten. I am sure it is not easy for them to deal with the pain of their father's death, which is why we try to be even closer.

Please pray for this family and for us to know how to talk with them and how to be close to them, so that they may know and accept the love of God.

Be blessed!

Florin Sfetcu - PIEI Missionary

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THE MONTH OF SURPRISES

This month, like all the other months of the year, was full of surprises. We were especially glad because in this year’s holidays the Lord helped us abundantly. Through contributions from several churches and brothers in Christ, we gave presents to all children in school and kindergarten. A team of students from Ocna Mureș not only caroled at our house, but we also joined them caroling in the school and kindergarten, town hall, and at a few families’ houses.

Thank you for your prayers and for all your involvement. We wish you a new year full of blessings and joys!

Florin Sfetcu - PIEI Missionary

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FROZEN HEARTS

These days I find that no matter how old you are or how cold it is outside, if you are hungry, you will go out to get your food.

Recently God put in my heart to preach the Gospel where people gather to buy food at the market. Although it was very cold for hardworking people and householders, the cold could not prevent them from coming to sell their products and those who wanted to buy what they needed. The time spent in the market was blessed. I met people to whom I could speak and give New Testaments and Christian literature. I also met a woman who who I would soon visit in her home.

After being at the market I wanted to visit needy families. I prayed to the Lord to show me who to visit. Shortly I understood one of the families I would visit was this woman's family. During the visits I was joined by a team of students from Timisoara. Coming into the home of this woman's family I learn of two children as well. I realized that this family needed help, both socially and spiritually. We thank God that we were able to help a little in both needs.

After about forty minutes with this family, I left sad and troubled that people are so closed-minded. As if with the coming of winter, it also froze their hearts and minds to understand their need of God, and to understand it's more important to nourish your soul than your body.

I believe that only our prayers raised to God can thaw the hearts and minds of these people and many like them.

God bless you!

Florin Sfetcu - PIEI Missionary

THERE IS HOPE

In October, together with another brother in Christ, we decided to go through the country to promote the mission work in Oltenia. This time we chose that Bucovina area and, with the help of the Lord, we managed to reach where we set out. I was impressed by the beauty of the Bucovina region, a territory blessed by God.
I have visited several villages, such as Suceea, Pâmpului Câmpului, Ipotești, Vicov and Dumbraveni. In Dumbraveni we stayed for five days at a special family who helped us a lot. We met with several brothers and we were received in five churches to present the need for the mission work in Oltenia. It is true that many of the servants I spoke with are also involved in all kinds of work, but some of them take this as an excuse only to not get involved in Oltenia.

One of the barriers that impede certain brothers would be the distance between Moldova and Oltenia, we are too far. I know that Oltenia is an area that many servants flee because of the rejection from here. Maybe it is true that it is difficult but not impossible and I have experienced this personally.

It was great to see God work, the doors that were once closed now are opened. There is hope, because when someone wants, God gives them the ability to.
I left Bucovina with enthusiasm, even though I was confronted with disappointment, because I also met welcoming brothers, willing to listen and willing to get involved and to come to our help

.
We thank God for having His resources everywhere, but they must be exploited, it requires work, passion, dedication. As always we thank you for prayers, God bless you and reward you!

Florin Sfetcu - PIEI Missionary

GOD HAS HIS TIME

As each of us has all kinds of happenings that often take us by surprise, so do I, I was taken by surprise at the wonderful way the Lord worked in an elderly family.
I started to visit a family of old people between the ages of 70 and 80. Basically, this family was visited by me, from 2016 to 2018. For two years I did everything I knew to make these people aware that they need God, but everything was in vain. From 2018 until August this year I stopped visiting them. At the end of August, I thought about going to see what they were doing. When they saw me, they started to cry, telling them that although they had seven children, none of them visited them, giving them the time and attention I gave them.

I stayed with them for about three hours, during which time I listened carefully to all the stories they had.
When I was preparing to leave, they stopped telling me that they wanted to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives. I was amazed, because I was not expecting, in fact, I thought that these old people would never make this decision.

I thank God for the wonderful way He works and touches the hearts of men. He has His time and all things happen, not when we want to, but at His appointed time. He, only He, is the one who changes sorrow into joy.

We thank you for all that you have done for us and the work here, thank you for your prayers and we ask you to continue to pray for us. God bless you!

Florin Sfetcu - PIEI Missionary

THERE IS NO ONE LIKE OUR GOD

I think that the most important thing in mission work is to see God working with you. One of our major needs at the mission point is that of missionary partners; people of God, involved with us in the missionary work. I haven't found anyone to come with us here yet, but I know one thing: God has been, is and will be with us everywhere.

God has taken care to send brothers from different areas of our country and even from USA, to help us in the mission field. Of course, for a short period of time, maximum five days, but the impact these people have had in our community has been amazing. If today we enjoy six people who returned to the Lord, it is because of the most valuable partner: God! He researched the hearts of these people and today we could enjoy what he has done and continue to do in our lives.

In August, we were helped by a beloved brother from England, whom God put on his heart to organize a summer camp for five days. Again, here I saw the arm of the Lord at work. For the children in this village, this camp was a great blessing. Holy Spirit worked in the hearts of the children, and they acknowledged that they were wrong about their parents and the society in which they live. They had the opportunity to be involved in different biblical scenes and to play the role of several biblical characters. They painted, sang and played different games. It was a five-day period that the children will certainly not forget.

We pray for them and their parents! May the Lord search for them and bring them to His path. Thank you for your prayers, for continuing to pray and God bless you!

Florin Sfetcu - PIEI Missionary

GOD LISTENS TO PRAYERS

We have a wonderful God who always look up to us and is always ready to come to our help.

In March, I participated in an event of the Pentecostal church in Valeni, Olt County. Event organized especially for women on the occasion of March 8th. One of my responsibilities was to transport the sisters from Beciu to the event. The distance between the two localities is about 60 km and in order not to return home during the event, I preferred to wait for the sisters in front of the building.

In the yard of the church building there is also the pastor's house and someone invited all the men who were there to the house. When I entered the house, there were other brothers, including two brothers from Cluj Napoca. I told them a lot and we had a fellowship that we had not planned but God had planned. Now, I thank God for the special brothers whom I meet there; people of God living for His kingdom. Among other things, we talked about the way the mission work in Beciu, how things have evolved and evolved and about the needs of the mission here. I spoke to them about evangelical events and the difficulty of finding people willing to come and put their shoulder to the preaching of the gospel. Many preachers today want to be paid to come and do such events, and I understand them. It seems normal to me to pay people at least their travel expenses, but we do not always have this possibility.

We have learned to do the mission work with the things and possibilities we have, we do not complain as long as the Lord is with us. We give thanks to God because He has sent in these places brothers willing to pay their expenses. He should and will reward such servants. The brothers from Cluj Napoca that I met in Valeni at one point decided to pray for the work in Beciu and for our family. They said, "Florin, pray that God will give us the opportunity to help you in the ministry” .

At the end of June, I was called by the Pastor from Valeni, who informed me that in the middle of July, the brothers from Cluj Napoca will be comming in Beciu for a period of three days where they will do street evangelism, evangelistic events, plus the children ministry, and they came. So we enjoyed the wonderful way in which God answers the prayers raised to Him and the beautiful way in which He comes in help of those who have chosen to work for His glory.

We thank you, because we know you are praying for us, and we ask you to do this further.

May God bless you!

Florin Sfetcu - PIEI Missionary