Staying Busy Before And During Quarantine

Sweet friends,

We pray our letter finds you well, and that it will encourage you to see how God continues to work around the world. Our hope is to get your mind distracted a tad from the world-wide crises

we're all in. 

 As you take a glimpse at the ministry that has taken place for the last few months, picture yourself   

 photoshopped right beside us, because you are truly part of what we do. 

Sometimes we do our Sunday services in a more creative way: sitting around the tables and taking communion in smaller groups; reverse Sunday, where order of events go backwards; African worship, testimonial Sundays; interview-type message.

If you'd like to watch our Biblical Parenting video done by Bill and Naty together Click Here.

Men in our church meet every Saturday morning for breakfast and prayer. 

Because of ministry responsibilities, only Naty was able to attend the annual IBC meeting in Naples, Italy. 

Several times a year we are part of the event held by Light Into Europe, serving the blind and deaf in Romania. Bill does the official meal prayer, although it's not a Christian event. We connect and create relationships for the Kingdom. 

In the fall Naty initiated a DISCIPLESHIP course for 5 months. Last session had to be cancelled because of the COVID-19. 

Thanksgiving event in our church is always a big hit. Among the mashed potatoes and turkey, we have great Chinese, Romanian and other international cuisine. The meal is always followed by Scottish Dancing. Great way to keep our weight in check. Lots of non-believers get to be part of this. 

Christmas is another wonderful evangelistic opportunity. Our kids program is creative.

We get to share the Gospel with our guests. 

We make it to Moldova periodically to help with ministry opportunities there. 

Naty and an IBC team from Italy served in Moldova for a week of evangelism. We shared the Gospel in homes and churches, with young and old. We distributed food packages, and wood supplies for the winter. 

At the beginning of the trip, Naty got the chance to share the gospel with the owner of a car-washer, at the end of week, he attended this baptism service taking place in Naty's dad's church. Praise Jesus.

At our International Church saying goodbye to families, and individuals on a regular bases is normal. Even at that, it never becomes easier. We are constantly replacing Sunday School directors, elders, worship team members and more.  (In the picture we have a dear family leaving: an elder, and our Sunday School director)

The Nigerian Ambassador to Romania had to go not long ago. We miss this strong prayer-warrior. 

As much as we hate the people we're constantly losing due to transitions, we love connecting with new people. This passed fall we saw and increase among the Nepalese culture. They often come to Romania to work in Assisted-Living Homes, and many of them speak better Romanian than English. So, we started each Sunday after the service we have the Nepalese group meet for Worship and Prayer in their own language. 

Our church had the privilege to shoot a scene in Richard Wurmbrand's movie (a Romanian Christian martyr), filmed by John and Judy Grooters for the Voice of the Martyrs. 

Our family joined as well. The scene focused on the day Richard Wurmbrand came to Christ in this exact Anglican church from Bucharest. The reason the movie director wanted to have believers there was because it's a scene of a Prayer Night. He wanted to have real believers have an actual night of prayer (except we were dressed in somebody's clothes from the 30's and lots of cameras were on.)

Mina, Naty, Emil (Richard Wurmbrand), Bill

The movie opportunity inspired Naty and her parents to dress up like country people did back then. NOT PART OF THE MOVIE. (Naty, Andrei and Lidia - her parents)

For the last few years, the women in our church did their retreat in the winter about 3 hours away from Bucharest. 

The women had an amazing time studying about Our Thieves Of Joy: worry, comparison, fear, anxiety etc.

They had lots of studying the Word, prayer, singing, crafting, laughing... and of course intense sledding. 

Our Valentine's dinner was smaller than usually due to the beginning stage of Coronavirus spreading in China. We had last-minute cancelations. In spite of that, we had an amazing time of laughter and great Italian food. All women won a fancy bouquet of flowers... and Naty won a skillet. At least, we didn't go home empty-handed. 

                                                            In February we celebrated Naty's birthday.

 

   ... Then Bill's birthday 

                        

                                                               ...Then Mina's birthday in March, the day schools closed due to the COVID-19.

For a few days, Mina's blood sugar readings were so high and hard to bring down, that we had to get out of the house to run it low. By God's grace, after a week of biking her ketones were back to normal.

We had to make a choice, to take her to the local hospital and risk to get infected with other stuff, or bike on our own on the empty streets.

Stores quickly emptied out. The panic of TOILET PAPER, and the non-perishable foods left the store shelves naked. Six weeks later, we have toilet paper but still no flour. 

Yes, church buildings are closed, meetings are canceled, but we are more busy than before. We had to adjust to new ways of reaching out: Bill is now preparing his message, recording it, and editing it... then we send links to our tech person.

Our weekly Bible studies take place on Zoom. We are creative the way we do an ice-breakers, worship, studying, and prayer.

Our Sunday mornings look like this: We host Zoom for those who don't have access to Facebook. First we have Sunday School that Naty started doing and posting on YouTube as well, then we have worship recorded at the house of our Worship Director, then Bill's sermon (usually), followed by our Prayer Time on Zoom (where we can take communion too).

Naty makes the videos for Sunday School in English and Romanian to help out the churches in Romania and Moldova too. The girls are a great help in singing along, setting up/ tearing down for the video.

WATCH HERE... and give me the honor and SUBSCRIBE.

Finally, we want to THANK YOU for your continued partnership in the work of the gospel in Romania and Moldova. Over the last 20 years, we consider ourselves some of the most blessed people on the planet to have friends in ministry like you. You've not only enabled the ministry financially, but your friendship has encouraged us each step of the way. During these trying times in which we live, the sacrifices that you continue to make financially are greatly appreciated. We pray that God will continue to bless each of you richly, and meet your every need.  

Grateful Hearts

Kids Camp in Republic of Moldova

This year God provided once again all the resources needed for SUMMER CAMPS. 

Although, the number of people leaving Moldova increases daily, due to poverty, God blessed us with over 150 kids to share the Gospel with. 90% of these kids are unchurched. 

A great percentage of adults who start attending church, is a result of these little ones.

We fed the little ones breakfast, and lunch, and sent them home with a snack

Naty did the main teaching on the Armour of God

Children were fed breakfast, lunch and were sent home with a snack. The parents of a lot of these kids have gone abroad to make money. So, many of them lack parental love and care.

This year we were not able to use the communist campground to hold our YOUNG ADULT CAMP. So, we pitched our tents in the forest. We had around 100 young people. 75% unbelievers.

Bill did the main teaching that week. A lot of Naty's cousins from the USA came to assist with worship and more.

In spite of the dance between heat and rain, God worked in a surreal way.


40 young adults came to Christ. Some wanted to be on the spot. So, with a little creativity and some refreshingly-cold water 6 of them were baptised.

We've never had this before in all 20 years of camping ministry.

ESL kids doing craft

Every Wednesday Naty works with 10 kids teaching them English. These amazing children from the  ESL Club are invited to participate in various church activities.

So, some joined us for the Vacation Bible School we had at our church.

Vacation Bible School

The VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL was lead by a team from Canada came and worked with our children. The theme was 'You've been slimed' by sin and Jesus is the answer.

Our church organized a WOMEN'S NIGHT OUT at a Romanian restaurant. We had great conversations to reconnect.

As you notice, no kids allowed.

Mina and Bella are so excited to see baby Heidi. They think she's a toy.

We have A NEW NIECE, here in Romania. Naty has two brothers. Vali lives in the States and has 3 little girls. And Pavel lives in Bucharest, and he had his first baby this summer. Meet baby Heidi. Our girls think she's a toy.

Misha and Angelica have been our friends and co-workers in the ministry from day one. This summer we celebrated with them their daughter's WEDDING.

We started the beginning of the school year with a welcome back activity, a CHURCH PICNIC.
We do events like this every year to give new-comers a chance to get to know you in a more casual setting. We had eggs, pancakes and other treats.

Bill shared briefly a WELCOME and a word of encouragement as we got together.

GLOBAL OUTREACH, our awesome Mission Agency came and visited with us again this year. This is one way they show care to their missionaries. It was a joy to be with them.

Naty is also serving on the WOMEN'S MINISTRY for the IBC Convention. They are working on future conferences in Europe for women throughout the International Churches.

This is the Women's Ministry Team for the Convention, representing 6 different nationalities.

Every year ARFO (Romania Without Orphans Alliance) organizes a summit to train, inform, educate, and encourage families, organizations and government entities in regards to orphans in Romania. We were able to participate this year, and connect more with people to help our case.

This is Sarah. She was crucial in our meeting Mina and Bella.

Please continue to PRAY for the judge to release a paper that we've been waiting for the last 15 months, for the adoption to make progress.

And please pray for the girls not to lose hope.

Bill and Naty traveled to the States for a very short trip in August because of a unique situation.

After Bill's heart-attack, he was challenged by a family friend with this question "What would have happened to Naty and the girls had God not saved your life?"

With that in mind, this same loving friend has graciously offered the Tully's a $200,000 challenge for them to match, to raise funds for them to BUILD A HOME in Romania.

While in the States we traveled and met with friends, family and churches to let them know about this opportunity. Families and possibly churches are showing interest in supporting this. We have this challenge available to us for the next 18-24 months. Please help us spread the word!!!