Sunday 24th May
 Baptist church. Prayers, introductions, songs by us and by a girls choir.
A virtuoso performance by Tibi at a keyboard and his wife Adriana singing. James played his saxophone.
Clive spoke on Rom 12:2, Cor 3:12-4:7 and 2Pet 3:14. He left us with four questions to take away:
1. Do I really want to change, or am I content to remain as I am?
2. How important is it for me to be like Jesus?
3. What needs changing in me? Will I settle for anything less than Christ being formed in me?
4. What steps am I willing to take, and going to take, to achieve this?
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Angus Drummond
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Evening service. Angus Drummond spoke on the Father's Love. The key verse is Zephaniah 3:17. He handed round a paper heart to each member of the congregation, marked "ISUS TE IUBESTE" (Jesus loves you).
We sang "Amazing Grace" accompanied by James' saxophone. At the end the team offered prayer service at the foot of the steps. A young man wanted prayer for the health of his mother, brother and sister. A young lady had a pain in her left hip, two years after a surgical operation. Pamela laid a hand on it and I on hers while she prayed.
I prayed for a man with diabetes.
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An inmate of a local hospital who had fallen off a chair and had mental problems and dizzy spells came to Clive for prayer. Florenta was convinced he was "possessed". They tried unsuccessfully to drive it out, then she called to me for help. He needed a shave, was perspiring all over his face, and was less than coherent in speech. I prayed for healing. Clive asked if he wanted to call Jesus into his life. He did, so I led him in a simplified wording of the prayer of salvation. He found it hard to remember many words at a time, but finished the prayer.
Ann recognized a big man in a red coat who brought a man to church. The latter was led by her and Angus to give his life to the Lord.
Monday 25th May
Teams for door-to-door in Balaçi (Balatch):
A Clive, Mike, Wendy, Florenta, Viorel
B Margaret, Grace, Ann
C Angus, James, Pamela
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Viorel led Team A a long way north along the main road. Clive said he always does this, and never works the side roads. We found an old unshaven man (Marin) standing at his gate holding a stick. He was alone and had pains in his legs. Clive had him sit down on a bench. I told him about Jesus' offer of life eternal. Would be like me to lead him in a prayer to invite Jesus into his life? Yes he would. And did!
His neighbour then rushed up in a great state of excitement, to "protect" the poor fellow from this harassment, and chased us away, pulling Marin back into his gate. Then we met the mayor, who crossed the road to meet Viorel and had a long chat, Viorel doing his job of keeping in touch with the people.
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Prayers by Ann's team in Balatch
for an old lady
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After lunch. The same groups. Viorel drove us to the home of Annika, an old Christian lady (90 in August) whose husband had died suddenly of heart trouble 17 years ago. He kept bees. They sold honey for a living. She kept the business going with the help of two of her four sons. Her greatest wish had been that one of her sons would come to Christ - and now two had done so.
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Old lady with girl in yellow
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Her husband had been known for his integrity. Government agents had tricked him into illegal acts when he served as a kind of banker for the state, but he refused and quit. She described how any godlike behaviour used to be persecuted - an agent sat in at committee meetings to observe and report on such behaviour, whether by Christians or others.
We felt that Balaçi was still depressed - people visited less and did not talk on the streets as before.
As we left Annika's, nightingales were singing behind the house (at 4pm) and a golden oriole called from the top of a walnut tree.
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At the church meeting we were encouraged to see so many of those we met this morning turn up for the service. A lady born with only one leg was helped here by another whom she barely knew.
Mariana and Tibi brought their keyboard and sang. (Later, Clive and I prayed for her maxillary glands and his nasal polyps which had been surgically removed and had regrown. Also for their marriage - she is only 19).
Clive spoke again on our need to become more Christ-like and to tell others about Jesus (2Cor 3:12 to 4:7).
"Ministry time" produced no response - people chatted together but none came forward for prayer. Such is the fear lingering among newcomers.
Ann reported one reconversion.
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