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Blessed is he who considers the poor; the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. Psalm 41:1
The missionary’s car sputtered as it struggled up a hill. It was spring, and the winter snows had already melted in the northern Romanian mountains.
“Sorry. It seems there is too much weight in the car,” Romanian-born Nicu Hagiu said apologetically. “Maybe you can walk—it’s only a mile.”
Unfazed, Nicu’s wife Silvana, John Maury, and two short-term missionaries hiked into the village. Gypsy children, adorned in ragged but colorful clothing, ran out to greet them. John and his wife, Charity, had spent three years sharing the truth of God’s Word in this mountain village. Eight months earlier, CC leaders had asked them to pray about moving their ministry to the city of Cluj. The Maurys had then turned the village ministry over to Nicu and Silvana.
The Gypsy children were happy to see John again, though the homecoming was somewhat spoiled as villagers argued about new drainage ditches. Nicu and John listened to the concerns between the combative factions while Silvana gathered the children for Sunday school. Thirty youngsters crammed into the square, brick-and-mortar building—their body heat quickly making up for the absence of electricity. Praises to the Lord reverberated through the village as the kids sang the songs they had memorized, doing different movements with each verse. The children proudly stood and recited Scriptures. Silvana shared stories from the Bible while outside noises competed for the children’s attention. Silvana made application from the teachings to their lives. The children stood and prayed for their concerns—many asking God to help their parents stop drinking, fighting, and stealing.
You can find the complete article in the Fall 2008 issue of Calvary Chapel Magazine, which will ship soon. To subscribe click here.
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