Prayer still works - you might think, but oh how I know!

So Tuesday and Wednesday have come and gone - REALLY?!?!?!?!? Time flies when you're having fun! So here's the scoop on our last couple of days. Yesterday our team split and one group went to a village called Damuc and the other to Bicaz Ardelean. Today we were in a village call Damuc and also one called Bodesti. Since Monday we've seen over 700 patients and 100 children. We've been able to share the gospel with every single one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 700+ people hearing the REAL DEAL about Jesus in 3 days. 44 people prayed with somebody one on one to receive Christ, not to mention numerous others that were during a group time! If that doesn't get you excited then you need to stop reading and take a look in the mirror. People need Jesus and He's using us to do it here - what's He using you for there???

Yesterday Mama Sharon had the priviledge to talk to a real shepherd - which she has desperately wanted to do for a year. While I'd love to tell you about it, it would take entirely too long to type - not to mention I think Jim should give up a sermon for her to be able to share it :) It was just that powerful, period. I've read and heard the 23rd Psalm since I was a little girl but I didn't really get it, until last night. She says she wants to stay the rest of the week - but I think she'd go home happy today!

So for me today was another big God moment. For the last two days I've been with a different translator. Things have been good, but different. I've worked so well with Irina that at times I've come to depend on her too much. If you heard my testimony last year you'd know that she is an awesome woman with an unbelievable faith - so it was easy to turn to her when I was at a loss for words. Today I was at a loss for words - I had prayed SEVERAL times during the day that God would make it work, that He would give me the words to say, and that the children would understand. At one point this afternoon I was in the room with 21 children and realized that only one was saved and the other 20 were from homes that did not have Christian families. Most were Orthodox. It was at that very moment that we started discussing salvation and how easy it is to accept Christ. Then the reality set in of how serious of a situation I was in, and how critical it was that these children left with a clear understanding of God's love. I froze. I was completely stuck and believe it or not, COMPLETELY SPEECHLESS. Then all of a sudden the words came, not from me, but no doubt from the Holy Spirit. If by some chance you were praying for me about 8:00 this morning - thank you, thank you, thank you!!! The fear that passed over for just a minute left just as quickly and was replaced with a feeling of peace. It was pretty cool to say the least :) Then we started talked about prayer. They didn't know how to pray, much less what to pray. It was a very real moment for me - reminding me of how sad it is here - and how desperately these children need to be taught. Prayer - something we so often take for granted, something we don't do nearly enough of, and yet the one thing that could make a difference for them. So, we began teaching them how to pray. If they got nothing else, hopefully they left with a sense of what praying was all about. If they start talking to God they will be taking a step towards a relationship with Him, which is what He wants with all of us. Truth 2 in Experiencing God "He pursues a love relationship with you."

We had several children today that were getting scolded by siblings/parents because they knew we were Christians and they didn't want them there. The kids stayed anyway :):):) Did I do a little dance when they stayed despite what they were being told - YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT!! Normally I don't condone children going against the wishes of their parents, but today I was all for it. Evidently what they saw in us impressed them more than what they saw in their families so they chose to stay. Ever seen God working in the hearts of children?? It's a pretty incredible thing.