Mission trip to Romania

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“We are certain that everything that happened is God’s work. Our joy is still so great, and we can hardly believe that these wonderful moments really happened here in Văleni. We didn’t deserve it at all and never will.”

God's wonderful providence

Even before we had considered going to Romania, God had already begun His work. During the past year, one of the organizers received a prophetic message that he would be moving to Speyer and that this trip would take place. And so it happened. Shortly before Christmas, he moved many kilometers from Landesberg to Speyer to begin an apprenticeship. Through conversations with young people who wanted to be active in missionary work in Romania, the decision matured to travel to the country a few weeks later.

In total, our group of 14 people covered approximately 5,000 km over six days. We visited five congregations and conducted seven church services. The spontaneous youth service remains a particularly memorable experience. In addition to our ministry, we also distributed donations to orphanages and families in need within the community.

Bethesda Pond

Towards evening, we set off from Germany on our journey. Around midday, we arrived at our first stop in Arad. A children's home, which was just being completed, served as our overnight accommodation. After a short break, we visited two orphanages in the afternoon and early evening with an evangelist who worked there. The visit to the orphanages immediately brought back memories of the Pool of Bethesda. Here were people who were helpless, sick, and in need of care. Frail people who had long since lived their lives and whose faces bore the marks of loneliness. The sight and the encounters deeply moved our hearts.

We decided to serve people through music and song. It was a special experience to witness how sacred music can touch and uplift people's hearts.

Letting the spirit guide you

The next day we learned another spiritual lesson. We traveled to Petrosani to hold a church service. We quickly realized how difficult it was to fully plan a service in advance and execute it exactly as planned. The preacher was decided shortly before the service began. Rehearsed musical pieces and songs were then performed when they seemed appropriate to the topic of the sermon or the testimony.

This style of worship was unfamiliar to us. But it meant each of us had to be "ready at all times"—ready to preach, to give an introduction to a hymn, or even to share a testimony of Jesus' great deeds. It was wonderful to see how the Holy Spirit himself shaped the service; how the sermons addressed the same theme, and how every element of the service aimed in a specific direction. This service taught us to allow ourselves to be led by the Spirit in the days that followed. This became one of our main thoughts and a constant topic of conversation during our mission trip.

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them” (Matthew 18:20). We experienced this Bible passage in a special way the next day. We visited families in need in the area surrounding the city of Petrosani. These were people who were still struggling for the Holy Spirit. We also met parents who had their unbelieving children prayed for, and a large family who were especially dependent on God's care.

We often wondered what situations awaited us when we walked through the front door. What words did the families need, what songs would be appropriate? And once again we realized how dependent we were on the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It was something special to experience these simple communities. Sometimes we arrived "unannounced," and yet they were so blessed.

We not only experienced the confirmation of God's word, but also witnessed the poverty of the people in Romania. The Holy Spirit moved us to give a large portion of the donations to these needy members of our congregation.

Grace upon grace

It is always a blessing when the Lord blesses a church service. And we experienced this in a special way on the fourth and fifth days. After our stay in Petrosani, we traveled to Văleni. There we stayed with our host family for the longest period of time.

When we arrived in the evening, we held a church service that lasted a total of 5 1/2 hours. For us, the time flew by. We realized that God's Spirit was especially at work during that time. Many young people repented. It was a blessing that the Lord used us and that we experienced the streams of blessing and were ourselves edified.

In subsequent discussions with the local youth, it quickly became clear that they have the same problem as we do in Germany: social media.

So, on the last day, shortly before departure, we decided to discuss this problem with the young people. I wondered if that would work, since only one person in our group spoke Romanian. How would a meaningful and in-depth conversation be possible?

The beginning of the conversation seemed to confirm my doubts, but I too was proven wrong that evening. It was interesting to observe how the conversation gradually shifted and turned to the topic of "sanctification." Finally, several young people shared their problems and asked to be prayed for. It was simply wonderful to witness how God was working in the hearts of these young people and moving them to confess their sins.

It is a joy to serve God.

Looking back, those six days in Romania were a very intense time. We all became more aware of what spiritual work truly means and how difficult it is in practice. But despite all the effort, the lack of sleep, and the hard work, we repeatedly realized: Serving God is a joy and a privilege.

 

Philipp Diwold
Municipality of Speyer

More information about the project and the opportunity to donate:

https://cdh-stephanus.org/rumaenien/