Romania - Project hope
Reflections on our 10th Anniversary Visit by Angela Willard
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I am always excited to be going to Romania, but this time I felt the trip would be extra special. Our purpose was to celebrate ten years at the Project Hope building and to pray for direction for the next ten years. God did not disappoint! Nor did He want us to celebrate only ten years but the seventeen years of our involvement in Podari. Right from the start of our visit we were meeting up with the Christians we worshipped with and supported in those early years, several of whom are now church leaders and others who gave their lives to the Lord during the evangelistic times.
On our first day we were invited to the local Vineyard church for a time of worship teaching and ministry. For the last two days they had been holding an outreach in the city park together with a team from Germany. All those who had responded were invited to the church meeting in a room at the hotel. A lovely family who had been led to the Lord attended. What a blessing that time was - three nationalities worshipping together.
On Saturday afternoon we waited expectantly to see who would respond to our invitation to celebrate ten years of Project Hope with a service followed by a barbecue. What a wonderful time and, praise God, several people were reconciled after difficulties of the past had split the original Podari church.
On Sunday we were invited to join another of the small churches. It was another powerful time with God. Mario again led the worship with the guitar he had been given by one of the English team fourteen years previously when he expressed a desire to be a worship leader. Later that afternoon the usual service at Project Hope was held. During that Vali, who is fourteen and has been coming there since we bought the property, gave his life to Jesus.
Our last day was equally special. We thought we would walk up to the "HOLLYWOOD", (actually PODARI) which has appeared since our last visit, in order to pray over the village. On our way we met, spoke to and prayed for many people from the first few visits to Podari. There is a big group of gypsies who we have been in contact with for many years. At their request we sang worship songs and prayed for healing.
On this visit I was struck by the abundance of fruit, vegetables and even wild flowers. In over 30 visits to Podari I have never seen such abundance and quality. I felt God was saying to me "Look at what I have achieved in the spiritual as well as the physical". It was wonderful to see how the new and young Christians of seventeen years ago have progressed in their walk with the Lord. There was even a sweet corn seed that had germinated in a crack in the path next to Costică and Gabi's room bearing several corn cobs. A sign, maybe, that God can bring fruit from the driest of lives and places.
Costică and Gabi asked me to pass on their thanks for the generous gift from the fellowship and for our continued support for Project Hope.
Angela Willard
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