June 2019

Robert arrived safely in Romania the last week of June, and is now working hard to prepare for the 5 camps this summer, that begin in just a couple of weeks! Randy has his ups and downs, and I am continuing to seek answers and a plan for the future with the help of his specialists. He is doing much better than the blood tests seem to say which continues to baffle the doctors. The only information we can get about Randy's lungs are that he has an unknown lung nodule of unknown origin and that his body is compensating for respiratory acidosis. Basically, we are on a rollercoaster, one that has been a long ride for the last 3 years Our consolation in all this is knowing that our Father in heaven knows what we do not, and continues to put in our hearts a great desire to serve the Romanian people and share the life-saving Gospel with them. We know that God has saved Randy so many times, and probably much more than we even know. All of this has been for our good and His glory.


In my trip to Romania with Gerri, God hit me hard with Emanuel's story (see below previously posted)- one of our students that I wrote about that had a stroke while I was there and had poor care in the national hospital-and also ended with His miracle for Emanuel, as we sat at their table in their home on our last day in Romania and saw the previous Emanuel who had been unable to move his right side, now walking, eating and talking! We recounted God's amazing grace! God showed me in a very real way that sin causes sickness and death in this world, but God gives us hope, because He has overcome the world! He saved Emanuel, even in Romania, and if Randy goes back, He can save Randy there, as well.

I haven't forgotten the other miracles during my visit, to name just a few - miraculously getting our van through inspection in one day immediately before we left; again miraculously granting me my visa without all the necessary paperwork from Bucharest arriving before I left; granting us energy, courage, and help from our previous students to deep clean all the cabins, camp kitchen, the entire house (9 rooms & 3 bathrooms); surviving spider bites and getting necessary medication; finding help and getting the grass mowed; getting the water turned on after removing the giant cement lid over the well; and the van starting after sitting outside all winter! These along with God's provisions for continued maintenance projects assured me that God isn't finished with us at the camp.

Even more importantly, God was gracious to allow me to see the great work Robert has to help in our home sending Romanian church and village church, and with many of our students that are requesting his advice in their lives and new marriages. There is a great work Robert will do this summer, and we are more than privileged to be able to be your representatives there. I was so encouraged when I left knowing that God is in this, and I am clinging to that as tightly as I can while I sit, and wait, here in North Carolina, to see what God has in store for us while I care for Randy. We can't see the next step sometimes, even though we try to guess.

Right now all we really know is that Robert has a ticket to come back on Oct. 4, and we hope that maybe the doctors will clear Randy for a trial trip this fall so we can all be at the camp serving together. Maybe God will allow this and maybe He won't, but this I do know- He loves us, and what He plans will be for our good and His glory.

 Your patience, love and encouragement while we ride this rollercoaster together is essential and necessary for us.



Last week, Robert was able to start on the camp bathrooms. In 2017, he had to cut all the lines and winterize the camp in less than 12 hours from the time I called him to hurry back because they had called family in for Randy and didn't think he was going to make it through that night. Since that time, the camp bathrooms have not had water or hot water plumbed in. Over the last 2 year the floors in the bathrooms settled and dropped so he removed everything from the boys' side and poured concrete with his small concrete mixer. About halfway through, his mixer motor burned up, but God was so gracious and he was able to purchase another one and get back to work within an hour! That was quite a miracle in our remote area. Since that time, Robert has also been able to repair and pour a new sidewalk outside the dining hall, and pour new lids for the camp well, fix some electrical problems, keep the grass cut, gather supplies for plumbing, and reconnect with some of the students. Camp starts in 2 weeks, so please pray as he still has much to do. God has been gracious and given Robert strength to work.

We share these things to bring glory to our Father with the hope that it will encourage others to see that God blesses obedience even in the hard times. He has much to do before the camp starts on July 20, but loves what he is doing. It's just that the separation is difficult for us. God has His reasons for this and we cling to His promises for a brighter day.

 We covet your prayers for the above mentioned projects, especially with our students, the churches and the camp, and also for us and Randy concerning plans for the future. May God bless you and give you strength to continue to serve our Father. Here are some highlight pictures of our trip.

 

 

May 2019

Jody and Gerri LaRose went to Romania during this time specifically to be an encouragement to the girls, Dia and Cristina, graduating from Betania Baptist Christian high school. The trip was amazing with miracles everyday!

The first day that they arrived, Jody received a message from a previous student that her brother had a stroke in the nearby city and was in the hospital. She, Gerri, and another previous student visited him the next day. This was her update that she sent out after her visit.

I was humbled and reminded of all the blessings in the midst of these difficult times with Randy’s health. I entered the room of 8 broken-down beds in this small room that smelled of urine. Six of the eight beds were occupied by patients that presumably had either strokes or other neurological issues. There were no nurses in sight, as some of the patients cried for help. Our student was by far the youngest at just over 30 years old. I listened to his little sister tell of how they left her brother for 2 hours in the ambulance before treating him. Emanuel stirred and rolled over. He was conscious and coherent but still could not speak very well or move the left side of his body. Born with physical limitations, Emanuel has always been active physically and mentally with his own computer business. His usual laid back and humorous demeanor was replaced with flecks of fear flashing in his eyes, as he spoke of how he was ok, but this was so hard on his mother and sister. His mother and I have been dear friends for 20 years. As she stood at the end of bed, our eyes met and no words were necessary. We embraced and held on. 

A flood of memories of all the blessings that God has given us in the States with Randy ran through my mind- compassionate nurses, clean hospitals, private rooms, caring staff, supportive friends, churches, and family. I’m so thankful God sent Randy to the States for these medical procedures. I was reminded today, that things can always be worse.