Well just wanted to let you know that my departure date for Romania has changed to one week later.  I recently found out that my grandmother is supposed to have another surgery on September 8th.  We had tried to get the surgery moved up because of my departure date, but it was not possible.  If I had wanted to change my flight to a later date it would have cost me $250, so I made the decision to return to Romania as I had originally planned, September 2nd  Well on Saturday I received a call from the airline telling me they had overbooked my flight and they were looking for people to change their flights.  With the consideration of my grandma’s surgery and also being able to spend more time with my older sister Cindy, I made the decision to leave the evening of my grandma’s surgery.  Just wanted to let you know of the change.  Please pray for my grandmother and also pray for traveling mercies.

Thank you so much for your prayers regarding Nicoleta.  She is doing much better.  Thank the Lord! Actually she has been discharged from the hospital and is back staying with her mother.  I am concerned about the environment she is in.  Her family has no interest in God and doesn’t have a good influence.  Please continue to pray for her.  God is able to speak to her heart.  Thank you again for your prayers.  God has heard the prayers of His people!

Nicoleta and Adela

Please pray for Nicoleta, one of the orphan girls we have been working with for the past seven years.  She has been in  serious accident.  The car she was traveling in was hit by a train (right outside the village of Batar)  I don’t know many of the details, but I do know that she was sitting in the back, behind the driver’s seat and she was the worst injured out of all the passengers.  It seems she has a fractured pelvis and suffered a head injury.  I spoke to Nicoleta just for a moment today and she says she is in a lot of pain, but is doing okay. I told her that we would be praying for her.

Since the beginning of the summer Nico has been staying with her mother and I’m not sure all that she has been getting into.  For quite some time we have been concerned about Nico and the company she has been keeping.  But we thank the Lord that the accident wasn’t more serious and that no one was killed.  It could have been much worse.  Please pray that Nico’s healing will be quick and without complications, but more importantly pray for Nicoleta’s spiritual health.  May this accident be a way of bringing her to Jesus.   I will keep you updated on her condition.  Thank you in advance for your prayers.

Well, after having been on the road for several weeks, it was so good to be finally driving to East Stroudsburg, PA (where I call home in the states).  My grandmother lives just up the road from my parents house, so I decided to stop by there first.  I was pleasantly surprised to find that some of my grandma’s family was visiting.  We kind of had a mini-reunion.

Here are a few pictures of our short visit.

A mother/daughter pose

My Aunt Julie, her daughter Jennifer,My mom and me, Cousin Crystal with her daughter Ashley

My aunt Julie, my grandma and my mom

Gram also was visited by her younger sister.

Gram who will be 92 in December and her sister (my great aunt) Eleanor who will be 91 in September.   They look pretty good for their ages.

I have just a few more weeks in the states (I leave Sept. 2nd) and most of my remaining deputation services are closer to home.  That way I will be able to spend some time with my family.  If I didn’t get a chance to visit or call you since being home I am sorry.  I have been extremely busy, but don’t think that I haven’t thought about you since being home.  I wasn’t able to get back to all my churches this time around, Lord willing I will catch you next time.  God bless you all!

Another breathtaking part of the country where I was scheduled to speak was Lake Placid, NY.  My time in Lake Placid was a double blessing because not only did I get to see some great scenery, but I was also able to spend a few days visiting with the Saxtons (H.I.M. Regional director for Eastern Europe/Russia).

Dr. and Mrs. Saxton showed me around the this former Olympic town situated in the midst of the Adirondacks.  This too is an absolutely beautiful picture of God’s creation.

The Church I spoke at in Lake Placid.

A beautiful church in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains.

It was so good to be with the Saxtons.  I always enjoy spending time with them.  Thank you Bro. and Sis. Saxton for being wonderful host.  It was good to be with you again.  God bless you!