A Change of Plans

Three months ago, I was in Romania, waiting for God to open the door for me to finally get into Odesa and serve there. I see even now some of the good things that God brought out of that waiting time that I didn't see at the time. Well, I'm back in Romania and waiting again for God to open the door for me to return to Odesa. Like before, I don't see all the reasons for God causing me to take this brief trip outside of Odesa, but I'm confident in His good plan.

As I mentioned in my last update, my 90-day period in Ukraine ended the first week of February, and I was praying for the paperwork for my visa to be finished before that time so I wouldn't have to wait outside of Ukraine for the process to be finished. Unfortunately, because of issues with the papers, the process isn't finished yet, and there was no way for the immigration office to extend my 90-day period without my visa. So on February 4th, I traveled to Timisoara, Romania, to wait the 3 or 4 weeks until the visa would be ready. When the paperwork is ready, I'll be able to receive a 1-year visa and return to the ministry in Odesa. By God's grace, Bro. Tim Tyler and the church here in Timisoara (one of my supporting churches) have invited me back until my visa is ready.

In spite of the sadness in leaving Odesa, it has been a joy to connect with good friends at the church here in Romania. The fellowship has been an encouragement to me, and I hope I've been able to encourage others as well. It has also been good for me that I've been able to jump into ministry. For example, I arrived on a Wednesday, and I preached Thursday night for the Ukrainians, led a teen meeting and devotional for teens on Friday, taught the lesson for the children's club on Saturday, and gave a ministry update on Sunday. I'm praying that God would continue to open up opportunities for me to help and serve here while I'm waiting to go back to Odesa. I've been here two weeks already, and the time has been restful, productive, and instructive for me.

But I do miss Odesa very much. Just before I left (rather unexpectedly), I was getting more comfortable with sharing the gospel in the evenings before distributing food, and I was making plans for new activities with the teens and ways to improve our Sunday School lessons and fellowship together. I've been continuing to pray for the ministries, for the individuals, and for Pastor Mark while he directs the church, especially since there have been several major bombings while I've been gone, and many are without power. I'd ask that you pray with me. Here are some specific prayer requests:

• That the approval for my visa would come soon and allow me to return to Odesa

• That God would protect the members of the church in Odesa from the recent, serious attacks

• That God would open opportunities for me to minister, share the gospel, and encourage the church here in Timisoara

• That God would continue to grow in Christ or save those touched through the ministries in Odesa, specifically the teenagers in the church and those who hear the gospel through the food distribution ministry

As always, I value your prayers because I believe that prayer makes a difference. I need prayer just as much here in Timisoara as I did in Odesa. But in all things, I'm thankful that this change of plans was really only ever a change of my plans. God's plans don't change. And they are good plans.