Yes, we have all thought of helping the people of Ukraine in one way or another! People mobilized beautifully and gathered food, blankets, medicine and other similar things!

I initially wanted to go to Ukraine for a short time to help. But my wife, Oana, is pregnant and she was not feeling well at the time. I had to carry her in my arms up three floors and to take care of her!

The only way I could serve the Ukrainian refugees was through prayer. I continued to pray for Ukraine until one day refugees began to arrive and spend a few days in Craiova. I helped with transportation and food, and after serving the first group of refugees, I realized that God was calling me to do more!

I started spending time with them, talking and playing with the children. Someone in the group had the courage to tell me that I had a ‘good heart’ and I told him that Jesus lives in my heart and that all that is good is from Him!!! He nodded in agreement.

As I was serving them, I understood that the war in Ukraine has a devastating impact on the children! When I went to the train station to take another group of women from Ukraine, one of the children, Ivan, started to cry and ran to the train to return home!

I was afraid and the Holy Spirit helped me see that this war that is taking place on a physical level is also happening on an emotional level in children. Ivan was emotionally devastated, so I decided to spend as much time with him as possible to provide the necessary empathy and ‘temporary emotional recovery’.

I put all these thoughts in the light of Scripture and understood a few things:

• News of war and war will come, I must not be frightened, but serve according to the measure given by God.
• Share the gospel through words and serving, to help fulfill the great commission in (Matthew 24:14).

THANK YOU FOR PRAYing!

• People’s emotional states were broken by the war, so God had to create the context for them to hear the gospel. For example, people were very encouraged to see that someone was taking care of them (transportation, food, warmth, smiles) and they were open to what I was telling them.
• While helping refugees in Craiova and Timișoara with transportation, I was protected from danger. For example, while we were driving refugees to Timișoara, a truck made a reckless move and almost hit us.

The war in Ukraine gives us the opportunity to care for those who need help, and to share the gospel so people are saved.

Thank you very much for joining me as God has guided you and will guide you!

The fact that you are with me in the Great Commission is a blessing from God! Thank 

you!!!

It is so encouraging for me to see that even though I take the Gospel to the people and am confronted with all sorts of interior battles and external challenges, the Holy Spirit leads me to think and trust in the sovereignty of God’s grace and power. My prayer before going to speak with the people is: Lord Jesus, please penetrate the hearts of the people while I speak and share the Gospel with them!

Street Evangelism

I was finishing with evangelizing in the market and at the same time, I was also talking with a group of youth with whom I was working with. We wanted to go to another area.

However, while we were on the street, the Lord directed my gaze towards 2 youth, who were sitting down. He showed me the profound absence of the Savior in their lives. At that exact moment, one of my colleagues went up to them and talked with them about the Lord Jesus. While they were speaking about the Lord, I was praying with joy for them. I was so joyful for the wonderful way the Holy Spirit worked. Prior to this experience, I met a priest on the street, and I wanted to tell him the Gospel, however he invited my friends into the Orthodox Church. It wasn’t a constructive discussion, but one with different opinions. We were a bit sad, but we continued to pray for the people to have open hearts. The Lord offered us people who had open hearts, for us to share the Gospel with them! 

Discipleship with the group

One of the things that surprised me about the people who come to group was their perseverance. During the summer, I thought about us taking a break, because people go on vacations and want to be more relaxed. I wasn’t able to put this thought into practice, because I saw how they wanted to persevere to come to the group for social interaction and to study from the Bible. One of these people who perseveres to come and study is Mrs. Ana. During a difficult time in her life, I was alongside her, together with a friend. Since then, she has not been absent from the group or church.

She tells me that she cannot stay home, when we are at our group for Bible study. From these experiences from service, I cannot see anything else except for the sovereignty and grace of the Lord Jesus which is poured out over the ministry that I do for Him. “For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose.” (Philippians 2:13)

Prayer Requests:

• For the Lord Jesus to prepare the hearts of the people that will be approached and told about the Gospel
• For the Lord Jesus to convict the hearts of the people that are being discipled and for them to walk towards the next step in their life of faith.
• For the Lord Jesus to bless my new family with everything that is needed.

Street Evangelism