“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” – Philippians 1:3-5
Dear Family and Friends,
This time of year is always a season in which we as a family are very grateful for the ways that we have seen God’s hand at work in our lives throughout the years – in His providence for us, His hand on the lives of our children, and His continuing to use us as fellow workers in His kingdom here in Romania.
We are grateful as well to have family and friends such as you to work alongside us as well, and we would like to take this opportunity to share with you some praises and some prayer requests. It is encouraging to see that God is still at work all around us; people still desire to hear the Word of God, and He is still speaking and calling them to Himself.
We have been working for the last four years with a pastor from our local area. Pastor Nelu oversees several churches, and so we go where he has need of us on any particular Sunday. The principle churches that we work together to serve are in the villages of Dalci and Zlagna, and we usually go to those churches two to three times per month. When we are not in one of those churches, there are other ones that we serve in, such as in the village of Hobita and also Ostrov, where we have some wonderful missionary friends from the area who lead the church. Our families have children of similar ages, so it has been a joy and a blessing to be able to help their family a little bit, but also to have the opportunity for the kids to make friends, and for the fellowship as well.
These churches that we have been serving in are small rural churches; some have only a few believers each, and others have a little larger congregation. But they all need people to be there and serve, encourage, teach, pray and fellowship together with them – and that is what we are called to do. Often, our family will lead an entire service including prayer, hymns, Bible study, singing music (including Elijah on guitar and Ammi on ukulele when they are around), and sharing from the Word. Something that always touches our hearts in these village churches is the level of gratefulness among the people; no matter their situation or trial they may be in, they hunger for God’s Word, and they love to be together with other believers!
We were also blessed to be able to be a part of a Christian camp this year, run by some friends of ours in another city. Several of us worked in the kitchen at the camp, while our youngest ones (Nehemiah, Jonathan and Timothy) got to participate in the camp. Then later in the summer Joseph, Ammi, and Elijah all went and served at several different week long camps on their own in various places with different people. Joseph and Elijah had the opportunity to go to a short term (3 months) Bible school here in Romania this fall, the same school Ammi was able to attend fall of last year. It is exciting as parents to see our children wanting to study the Word of God more, and happily going to serve when they have opportunity.
Because of God’s mighty hand, since March of 2021 we have had the privilege of living in our own home. Every day is a blessing and a reminder of the amazing providence of God, and the gracious generosity of so many people like you and Bridgeport Chapel. We have finished a lot of the interior work, including most of the downstairs flooring (the bedroom level and attic area have been finished for a while now). We hope to complete the remaining room and bathroom on the ground level before too long. Outside we have worked on completing a fence, parking area, and building retaining walls among other projects. It has been a joy over the last three plus years to host different people and families and friends as often as we can.
Prayer Requests:
Prayer is the most important thing that you can be involved in for us. We know there are many of you who have been faithful in your prayers for our family and ministry. Thank you; and remember that prayer moves the hand that moves the world!
Here are some current prayer requests that you can bring before the Lord:
>> We ask for prayer for Pastor Nelu, the pastor we are now working with: he is strugling with some health issues; pray that God would give him health, strength and encouragement. Pray also that God will bring more workers for His Kingdom.
>> Please continue to pray for our family, as we continue to seek God’s guidance and wisdom for ministry. We are praying that God will continue to use this time of working together with other pastors and missionary families in various churches as great opportunities to encourage, share the Word of God, and build the Kingdom of God. Pray that we would be open to new ministry opportunities as they arise.
>> We would also ask prayer for our children. The older ones especially (Joseph, almost 22; Ammishaddai, nearly 20; Elijah, nearly 19) are at a point in their lives where they contemplating the future, trying to understand what God has in store for them. Your prayers for them would be greatly appreciated.
>> Finally, we ask you to keep the believers in Romania in your prayers; pray for continued desire to know God and His Word more, for encouragement, and for the blessing of fellowship.
May our God and Savior continue to bless you, keep you, and make His face shine upon you. May He give each of us the grace to live a life of gratefulness! Looking forward to seeing Him face to face, in eternity together,
Andrew & Geta Roby and kids:
Joseph, Ammishaddai, Elijah, Jeremiah, Nehemiah, Jonathan, Timothy
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