Missionary Update: Tim & Krista Hahne
Post Date: 2012-07-02 15:53:59
Hallelujahs from the Hahnes and Good News of God`s Work in Romania
May 25, 2012 - Hello again from the Hahnes! We wanted to write and let you know what God has been doing here in Ramnicu Valcea lately and at the same time to let you know that it`s time for another short visit in the States for rest and refreshment. On the top of our agenda we will have an 8-month-old grandson to meet for the very first time and a couple of darling granddaughters who are way overdue for snuggles! I have a Gospel Coalition conference for women to attend in Florida together with our Romanian colleague, Anca, who will be in the States at the same time, and we hope to be well-taught there and inspired in regard to future women`s ministry. Plus it`s always wonderful to Tim and me to worship in English at long last! And of course Tim will be hoping for some good waves. ;-)
God willing, we will be arriving in California June 12 and staying till July 18 (staying with our kids), so if anyone or group wants to schedule time with us, just let us know! (It doesn?t have to be a meal.) We look forward to sharing with you on a deeper level. Also, if anyone has a vehicle to lend to us for a week or more of our stay it would be humongously appreciated. Orange County is not a place that it`s fun to be without a car! (Just make sure your insurance company knows we will be using it so it is covered.)
Now that that news is out of the way, on to news of what is going on here. First of all, we were greatly encouraged by John Piper`s visit to Romania earlier this month. Tim and I spent 3 days at Piper`s `God is the Gospel` conference in Bucuresti (3 hours from Valcea) together with a couple of ladies from our area and then Tim returned to Bucuresti with our car packed full of people from our church for the last night of Piper`s stay.
We were especially grateful for how Piper`s message, `Don`t Waste Your Life` impacted a prodigal, Paul, a young man from the early `orphan ministry` days of our church. Paul had been running from God for years and had recently repented. God is so good to answer prayer.
Another praise: Tim had great joy on Palm Sunday when after the service, Luminia, a young Gypsy mother, said she wanted to give her life to Christ. She said she`d known God was calling her since she was sixteen, but had always made excuses. Now, though, she said she couldn`t resist his call any longer. Since then she has been so excited to come to church and hear the Word of God. She says that when Tim preaches, she feels like crying, and it`s obvious that hearing God`s voice through His Word is such a new thing to her. She also asked me if I could meet with her weekly to read the Bible together. She is so hungry to know God more and to grow.
More: God has added one more man to the church! (Remember, we`ve been praying for 10 godly men!) Mihai and Dana have been coming regularly for 4 months and it`s awesome to have them worshipping and praying with us. More please, Lord?
Also, in regard to the sense of isolation Tim struggles with routinely, God has moved him and Mike, the one other American missionary in our church, to meet regularly for coffee and fellowship. Both of them have found those meetings encouraging and we can see that God is using even coffee and sweet rolls for his glory!
Speaking of sweets, I am still meeting weekly with teen Gypsy girls in our church to bake the refreshments for Sunday fellowship time. Lately though, wanting to see God do more in their lives, I decided to add a time in God`s Word to our baking sessions. Once the goodies are safely in the oven and the table de-stickified, we sit down and read the Bible and talk about what we read. It`s a little slow-going, as these girls have never really been encouraged to think deeply about anything (education is not encouraged in their culture), let alone the Bible, but it`s a start. And I do thank God that they have a heart to serve the church through baking.
Children`s ministry and elderly ministry are ongoing. Results go up and down, but there are moments of incredible sweetness, when you see flashes of hope in tired eyes. Helpers continue to be few in both ministries, but ministry goes on and God`s Word is going out.
As for evangelism: For a few weeks Tim had the joy of a partner/translator in street evangelism (I am no longer able to go because of my Interstitial Cystitis). He and Alina had an awesome time in the town center, sharing Christ with young people who asked great questions. But Alina left for England in mid-May and though Tim planned to go witnessing solo, since then the weather has been rainy or he`s been sick.
Those are some highlights from the past few months. Please keep praying that:
- God will cover the church with his protection and nurture it while we are gone. The pulpit is almost covered, but there are other needs still to be met, especially in children`s ministry. Pray that God will move in the hearts of the body to be united and not fragmented while we are gone. Pray for the members we regularly transport to church to be hungry enough to find other ways to come, even if it is harder.
- Pray for Mihai and Paul, that God would knit Mihai into the body and stir him up to use his gifts for service and that Paul would grow in the knowledge of God`s will, to stand strong under temptation and to be encouraged in the Gospel.
- For God to use our time in the States for his glory and our good, putting together any meetings He wants us to have and providing transportation, support, spiritual encouragement and rich family times.
- For grace, good memories and efficiency in preparing for furlough and please pray for travel mercies, especially for me (Krista) as Interstitial Cystitis makes travel very stressful for me. Pray that I will make wise decisions regarding diet, etc., that will help keep my symptoms to a minimum while traveling.
Thank you so much for praying for us! We look forward to seeing you soon! Rejoicing in Him, Krista and Tim Hahne
For anyone who wants to partner with us in ministry, checks may be sent to Inspiration Christian Fellowship at 20485 Regal Oak Dr., Yorba Linda, CA. 92686. Be sure to put Tim Hahne/Romania on memo line.
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