AssemblyBoard

Some of you know that I have been working with Missions in Romania for the past 6 years. The one that I am closest to is the Inasmuch Childrens Home (www.inasmuch.ro) (inasmuch@b.astral.ro) We are currently collecting Items to send in a 40' container. To give you an idea of the volume of this (2560 cubic feet.) Imagine the box that a 17"computer monitor would come in, it will take 1000 of these. Right now I have about 20% of what will be needed.
    You can call me or have me call you if you have any questions. Email me personally and I wll call you or give you info on calling me.
    I am inserting a previous letter here to explain what you can do to help.

Dear Friends,
  In the past I have done several coat collections and have been able to send over 400 of them along with many other winter clothes and shoes. These go to the orphans and the poorest of the poor in Romania.
I have never sent a container of goods but have sent my boxes to others putting a container together .
It has been my hearts desire to send a 40' container from St. Louis, Missouri . We have some donated warehouse space to store collected things and are now asking for you to send or bring donated items.
(instructions and a list of items will be at the end of this message) We could also use some more warehouse space if anyone has some space in their basement , garage or shed that they can donate for our use. Even a small amount can be very helpful. I am hoping to get a container to the Inasmuch childrens home by this winter. I think it is a reachable goal. When we approach the amount of things needed to fill a container we will do a fund raiser to get the $5000 needed to ship it. Now is the time to start collecting and storing.
        Here are some ideas.
1 box up items you no longer need, tell you friends and neighbors too.
2 do a coat drive at your local church (you will be amazed at what you get)
3 adopt a resale shop in your neighborhood. (they have much they cannot use that is very usable to us
      and they are very willing to donate it) just stop in on a certain day each week and pick up what they    have for you.
4 make arrangements at a local school to pick up unclaimed things when the school year is over. Or with local businesses where people may leave coats and hats and don't return to claim them.
5 go to garage sales and tell the host that you will come at the end of the day and pick up what they don't sell. (when you tell them what you are doing with it, many people will give you what you want on the spot.)
 
      If you have any other ideas please share them with me. This is an extremely rewarding ministry
that will cost you very little money or time to do. JUST TRY IT AND GOD WILL BLESS YOU
I just returned from Romania and saw some of the orphans wearing coats and jackets that I had sent them. Jesus said that when you do this for the LEAST of these , you do it unto me. He will remember you labor of love.
 
      Instructions)
1) only send good things , no junk pleeeze
   coats and clothes repaired and clean ,  Stuffed animals and dolls are a big hit with children
   packages of new underwear or socks are much needed. Baby clothes are greatly needed.
2) wheel chairs are needed by many, sets of bunk beds are needed at the orphanage (no mattresses unless new) Computers and accessories P1 and newer are needed
3) make sure all boxes are stuffed tight and full, (space is valuable)
4) Put your name and complete phone number on the box and a brief description of what is in it and say it is for Inasmuch children's home
5) send it to me Steve Harris  2255 E. Humes ,  Florissant, MO. 63033 or bring it by or call me for info on
dropping it off at a storage facility.
         
    It is that easy. Look us up on the web at www.inasmuch.ro  and God bless you mightily, Steve Harris

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
    I just wanted to update you on the progress of the
Romanian orphan out reach. In the previous post I stated that we have 20% of what is needed to fill the container. The good news is that we now have 40% in storage. The bad news is that these goods will not reach Romania this winter. I am hoping for enough to send well before next winter so they can be useable at the outset of their long cold winter. The other bad news is that I have had no response, from anyone in the old GA assemblies on this website, of interest or burden to help. Verne Carty is the lone exception. That is a disappointment to me. Remember God is pleased with those who visit the prisoner , feed the hungry, and clothe the ones who have need . matt25
    We can argue doctrine on this website until the
Lord returns and miss out on one of  the most rewarding of Christian endeavors. If you don't have a burden for this , please meet the needs of some ministry that  goes out to THE LEAST OF THESE.
Knowing this that  your labor is not in vain.
    I have not hidden my email address from anyone and will give my phone number to anyone who asks me for it.
So come on and jump on board .  Let's get this crate filled.
                                          cu drag si pace,  steve harris
see or website  www.inasmuch.ro
my new email address is hemustincrease@sbcglobal.net

The good news is that we are at 50% now. The bad news is that we are only at 50% after
10 months. I need to fill this container by August to get it delivered for next winter. My email address has changed to   hemustincrease@sbcglobal.net 
drop me a line or send a package        cu drag       steve harris

Good news, we are at 70% on the container, with a commitment from a major airline to donate 200 blankets. Other than that , things have slowed down and I need some more boxes soon. Otherwise I will start begging again. 
                                                cu drag si pace,  steve   :)

   Great News! The clothing and consumer goods to fill a 40 foot container has reached 100%.
I am hoping to ship it from St.Louis so that it will get there before October. It takes 6-8 weeks in transit. We will be putting enough clothing on this container to clothe and give blankets to well more that 1000 people. Our orphanage will be well supplied , another will be supplied , many street kids will be clothed, and 1 or 2 Romi (gypsy) villages, will get much relief. There are thousands of coats blankets and gloves and hats. Sweat shirts, sweaters, jeans, and other clothes are beyond my ability to estimate. I can only say they are in the several thousands. Many boxes of
medicine and vitamins and disposable diapers are going also. ( we must use the disposable diapers at our orphanage ).
   Now for the dreaded part. I hate asking people for money. It will take roughly $6000 to ship this
container. If you want to have a part in this, please send a contribution to
                 Milk and Honey Ministries , 5450 E.45th St. N , Wichita, Kansas, 67220
  I have sent $300 to kick off the campaign , that is 5%. If we get 95 people to send $60 (1%),
we will be there. Send any amount you are able and the work will get done. If you want a tax deductible receipt , just ask for one, and be sure to designate the gift to the container to Romania project.
                                                                          Thanks in advance 2 cor.9:9,
                                                                           cu drag (Romaneste for with Love)
                                                                               Steve Harris
Ps how about a few replies here to encourage me. I am the only one who posts here. How about a few Questions.

Thanks and bigtime kudos to  Joe Sperling for joining the 1% club

     OK, Steve:  Who gave you permission to use a photo of me in your posts?

W.a. ;)

It has been raining for weeks in Romania and there are many new homeless people due to the flooding in many areas . It is feared that 50% of the wheat harvest will be lost and diseases will claim many lives in the coming months. Pray for the Inasmuch Childrens Home as we  care  for many in the surronding villages that have been flooded. Ronan Cossette's  son Daniel and daughter Christine are currently volunteer workers at the girls orphanage. God bless them.
                                                                                  cu drag, steve

Dear Al,
   The guy looked old and beat up and appeared to be sort of a curmudgeon. That is why  picked him , sorry I didn't know it was your picture. I guess  have an affinity for the downtrodden. By the way  heard a song by you (wierd al) called A GENIOUS IN FRANCE
It is hilarious.  cu drag, steve

Hi Steve!

  I encourage all readers here to try and throw in with some help and send Steve some $'s to get this container to Romania before the winter hits.

  This is an opportunity for us to use this forum for more than just "talk", where we can make a positive difference in these lives in the name of Christ.

   Pray that this becomes an opportunity to spread the Gospel and that God blesses those involved in this ministry.

      PS:  Al, how did Steve get that photo of you? ;)

                                                       God Bless,  Mark C.

---

1st, about the photo:  I don't know how Steve got hold of it, but it is from our wedding portfolio.  This particular cameo was cropped from the larger shot of me watching, eyes aglow, as Cathy is lugged toward me, kicking and screaming, down the aisle.  I am not offended by Steve's allusions to my looking beat up and downtrodden, definitely apt adjectives, as it had taken several fellas from Cathy's family considerable effort to get me to the altar.  Come to think of it, this portrait may have been cropped from the photo where they allowed me a breather before forcing me into my tux!?

---

Now, to be serious:  For those who tuned in late, please go back to the beginning of this thread to understand the greatness of the needs being addressed here, and the nature of the help being requested.

If you have any questions about what you can do or how to do it, you can post them here or PM steve directly on this site.

And please PRAY for this ministry...

God bless us all,
al

For anyone who would like to view the recent flooding in Romania go to.
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/shownh.php3?img_id=12978
www.daily-news.ro

the following article is very insightfus as to the devastation and aid that is coming in.
I post this to underscore the need to send this container soon because winter comes early in Romania and lasts a long time and has a vicious bite to it.
                                                                cu drag, steve harris
Foreign aid for flood victims pours in
As the waters recede and the damage done by the recent devastating floods becomes more and more visible, people start rebuilding their lives with foreign help. Besides the local authorities and companies that sent money and food, several countries and international organizations have already provided aid for the flooded areas.

The World Bank has announced it will offer 33 million dollars for the reconstruction projects. Another 18 million dollars will be provided by the government. The money will be used for flood control measures.

The Slovak Interior Ministry is preparing humanitarian aid it will send to Romania, which was severely hit last week by floods.
Slovakia will send clothes, blankets, drugs and other supplies, the ministry said, without giving a specific date on when the aid would leave Slovakia for Romania.

The Orthodox Church has also launched a charity campaign and all the money collected will be used for rebuilding homes and schools. "We have already collected 200,000 euros and the money will be sent to the affected counties in Moldova. Our charity campaign will last for three months," said the church spokesman, Constantin Stoica.

The army started to deliver the relief donated during another charity campaign. Six trucks loaded with food, water, medicines and blankets arrived yesterday in Braila County. Several private companies also offered to help with the reconstruction.

The government decided yesterday to allocate 50 million lei (14 million euros) for infrastructure reconstruction, most of the reconstruction contracts having been already signed with several private construction companies. "The prefects are compelled to check if the funds are used as they should be," said Minister of Interior Vasile Blaga.

According to Minister of Transportation Gheorghe Dobre, the rebuilding of the entire road network will take at least a year and a half. "The temporary reconstruction of the roads will be finished as soon as possible. For this type of works, we will use state budget money. For completing the main reconstruction works, we have asked the international financial organization to help us," added Dobre.

The death toll in the floods reached 22 yesterday after another victim was found in the village of Surata, Vrancea County. Several localities are still completely cut off and chances are they won't be linked to the national road system earlier than six months.

Denisa Maruntoiu

good news bad news.
   To date Milk and Honey Ministries has collected has collected $2,180 for the container shipping. That is the good news. We still have a long way to go to get the $6000 we need.
However I am believing that God will honor those who have done the leg work in getting the 1000 boxes of winter clothes to send. I met a brother last weekend who will be able to get  good used wheelchairs for me in the future . This is an answer  to prayer as I have been wanting  to send some for the many handicapped that we minister to.  I was given 3 baby beds to ship and these will go as a priority item. Other good news is that a brother who I have known for sometime  told me that he works for a company that repairs the very containers that we intend  to use. He may get me a better price on a used and refurbished container. The bad news is that my warehouse is still full and I want desperately to get this container to Romania by onset of winter.
   If you are able, please donate at this time. Send  checks to
                                                               Milk and Honey 
                                                               5450 E.45th St.N
                                                               Wichita Ks. 67220
 PLEASE designate for the container  to Romania project and note if you want a tax deductible receipt.   cu drag , steve

O.K Folks. I know a lot of you have harbored  fond hopes of being a missionary but unfortunately circumstances and the Lord's leading have not permitted it. What with the kids, the job, the mortgage payment and all those other obligations that one simply cannot ignore.
Well, even if you cannot travel to a distant land to have an impact for the gospel, there are other ways to make a difference and never set foot off your well-manicured lawns.
But seriously folks, what Steve has been doing for those Romanian kids is nothing short of AWESOME!'
I want to sound a trumpet for participation by all you would be missionary souls. I waited too late to take my stuff and the container got full so I am gong to have to send him some shekels to help with the shipping (shucks!  ;D).
Just think of it!
One of these glorious days some Romanian orphan is going to walk up to you in glory and say "Thank You!"
So simply soon send the sumptuous checks will ya??!!
The address has been previously given on this thread. And...thank you! :)
Verne

p.s.  Marcia this does not count being a PSA previously stipulated to and all :)  :)  :)
See ya in six weeks!

   First , thanks to Verne for the kudos and the promise of shekels to come. Gee, I hope we can find a place to get  those shekels exchanged into dollars to pay the shipper. The latest count is $2,600 with about $400 in commitments ( not counting Verne's  shekels) from ones who I know will come up with a donation. So that is 50% of what is needed.
   Some people are still sending boxes of clothing to me. Please hold them for now as my warehouse is full. I have 600 square feet filled with boxes up to 7 ft. high. I will gladly accept them when the current stockpile is shipped.
    A hearty thanks to all who have helped.  cu drag, steve

Sept.6 and the new total is $3155. That is a good deal short of what is needed and now  with many giving  to the hurricane  disaster  relief ( and that should be everyone's priority)
it may be difficult  to raise  the remaining money. If anyone has a desire to give to this project and has yet  to do it , please do it now. I will be looking into some possibilities with corporate donors but this is new  to me and I don't have any idea as to what will come of it. I do know that winter  will soon be upon the Romanians and would like very much to ship soon. Flooding has been severe in parts of the country and goods of this kind are greatly needed.           cu drag, steve

Steve, are you an x-geftakys group member?

yes Hopon, from 78 to 91 with the saints  in St.  Louis, Mo. Still love them all and was
treated well by all after my wife and I left. I know that everyone  that left  did not have that exprience but  we did . Leaving was the hardest decision I made in my life but I am thankful that I got out early. It still hurt  to see the assembly break up because  so many were hurt so deeply. Please send me a personal email sometime. cu drag, steve

Below is a message from the Bates who are long time missionaries to Romania. The trial is about the local crybabies trying to shut down the 2 homes for mothers and their children. These are
ones with no place to go except the street. Barbelesti is a gypsy  village with an amazing history of being a place of violence and where no one would want  to be stranded. Then came the Jesus film , it was showed many times over a week and began a tremendous transfomation in the community.  I preached in their assembly (PB) and was greatly encouraged by their warmth and reception.
The latest on the container shipping is that we are hoping for one soon although we  are still shopping  for a better deal and are still short of money. I am sure that  the village  of Barbelesti will greet  the clothing  they receive with much thanksgiving. Ron and Sue's letter  starts now.
                                                                                                cu drag, steve harris
Our trial day was delayed for another month but everything looks in our favor. Pray!
It's started raining again. Oh, me! Hundreds of homes have been lost in Barbulesti. They have absolutely nothing. It is so tragic! The government will not help at all.
The water plant has proved to be a big blessing at this time. People from Ciorogarla have come to get water, because their wells are contaminated. The mayor is very pleased that we are able to offer this help to this community during this time of crisis.
Thanks to all of you for the big blessing you've been through the years. Love from Sue and Ron
       

For all of you who follow this thread and to those who have helped God bless you
I am sending a copy of a message that I sent  to ones living in the St.Louis vicinity . This is just  to let you know what we are doing. Many of you helped us in this project with money or goods. Pray for us and that the container  would make a speedy journey to Romania.
Also Ron and Sue Bates will need $505 dollars to ship this container  from Bucharest  to Ciorogarla. This is the only portion of the cost that has not been paid for and I am asking  for a volunteer  to meet  this need. If you are willing  to do this call me and I will tell you how to get  the money  to them.
 
Dear Friends and prieteni,
    We are loading  the container  for Romania on Saturday the 19 th. That is this coming Saturday. Meet at AD lift truck at 10 am  5434 Natural Bridge 63120  between Goodfellow and
Union blvd. Please do not bring small children ( under 13 years old) Please tell me if you plan to come , call me 314 838 7619 or 314 853 6816. If it looks like rain in the afternoon , we may begin earlier. This Container will have about 2700 cubic feet of winter clothing for Orphanages and the poorest communities you could imagine.
                                                   be there , cu drag , Steve Harris


prieteni is Romaneste  for friends and cu drag is with love

   Today we got about  30 volunteers to load the container. Everything went well and we all had a wonderful time of fellowship. Last week I  was notified that I could have a container  that was 1 foot higher  than standard so we had 280 cubic  feet of extra space  and we  fell short  about that much. We are working on getting more goods to complete the container before Tuesday when it will begin its journey by rail to New Jersey ( any of you in the St. Louis area  who have anything to give , please call me). I will be posting a schedule later of the time of arrival in Romania. It will ride a cargo ship to the port of Constanta on the Black Sea at the mouth of the Danube River, and then by rail to customs in Bucharest. Any mission minded of you may go to help distribute these goods if you would  like to .  Contact me  for info concerning  volunteer work with the Inasmuch Childrens Home.
   A big heap of kudos go to Rudy and Gus Dodorico whose help was invaluable ot me. Also Verne Carty  and Joe Sperling big  contributors to the effort. Many others of you sent items to fill the container. Today was a day that I have waited  for with great anticipation. When it arrives at  the mission in Ciorogarla I will be one very happy man :).
   I can't  thank you enough , those of you who helped. That which you did for the least of these You did unto Him.  God bless all of you,    steve harris

   

At last count  the container had over 650 boxes and 53
barrels all with winter clothing and some consumer
goods. Total cubic feet was about 2760. The ETA IN
BUCURESTI is Jan.7. I had hoped to get this done
earlier but there will be much winter left when it
does get there. God  bless all who helped in this
effort and remember to pray for Ron and Sue Bates and
all at  the Inasmuch Foundation.   mai taziu , steve harris

http://www.inasmuch.ro/video/inasmuch_video.html
Dear Friends,
    Please look at the above video. The message in the attachment is one that Sue sent to many . She also sent a private message to me and outlined the gravity of the situation that has been brought on by the sudden shortfall in donations. If you have a burden ot help, now is a good time to do it. Please  send donations to Christian Missions in Many Lands.   CMML, PO Box13, Spring Lake, NJ. 07762  Make checks payable to CMML and send a note to designate for Ron and Sue Bates. You will receive a receipt , and you will receive treasure in heaven. I have become friends with most of the ones you see in this video and can attest  to their great need.

 Dear Friends of the widows and orphans,                      
   When we came to Romania 15 years ago, open doors abounded.  People were hungry for anything other than the godless false religion called communism. Even though they promised the people "every thing in common" like the book of Acts, but by force and without God, every religion fails. Lies, betrayal, brain-washing, fear, threats, deprivation were a way of life.
 They destroyed the Braille Bibles from the poor, helpless blind. They put orphans, the handicapped, and the mentally ill, in prison-like institutions in order to hide them from society.  The "new man of communism" certainly had no place for those God exalted.  Our God even made the test of our faith, not to be mere words, but our love and care for those the world despises.
 If you really want to be an effective witness, you must become involved in humanity.  They will SEE our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven.
 He has allowed us to print the Bible in Braille for Romania and the Republic of Moldova (which is still a communist country).
 The orphans captured the hearts and minds of people all over the world.  But few realize that those that were rejected by society and were left to fight for survival in the hell-holes called "Children's Homes" were cruelly and mercilessly cast out of the only home they ever knew to fight again for survival on the streets in the best way they could.  Stealing, lying, prostitution, pedophilia, poverty, prison were their only options, or so they thought. But God cared for them even though the world did not.  
  God has privileged us to have three homes for these rejected orphan girls, street kids who want to leave the streets, and mothers and their children who had to live on the street.  They were given a safe place to live in Jesus’ Name.  In all we have taken over 300 out of Satan's cruel clutches. Many were able to find a place in society, some went back to the streets, and 44 orphan girls are still with us. They live in a beautiful home. Some are working and some are so handicapped, they can never be reintegrated into society.  All suffer physical and emotional scars from their past life in the horrid orphanages.   Some of our girls were snatched from the very hands of the pimps and brought to our homes.  
 Such Kingdom work as this infuriates the devil and his wicked servants.  He wants us all to bow to His lying temptations and bear his rotten fruit... misery, unhappiness, deceit,, abuse (especially of children and those that God gives special attention), divided families, hatred, wars, and everything evil and against God.  
 Our life here in Romania has changed immeasurably since getting more involved in broken humanity.  We have been blessed much more than we could ever help them.  For example, there is a great open door among the gypsies.  God has stirred their hearts to hunger for knowledge of Him.  Praise God for that.  Ron’s major emphasis is teaching and preaching in their villages.
All this could not have happened without the prayers and friendship and physical help from God's people. We get no help from the government - everything is channeled through the hands and hearts of wonderful Saints of God. God chose it to be this way....not only for our blessing, but that He will be glorified through His people who act and react differently than the world.
Because of hurricane Katrina, many people were touched by that need (and rightfully so), but overseas ministries often have suffered. We believe that this will be only temporary.  These handicapped girls don't understand the world's many crises and tragedies, only their present vulnerability and dependence on you and me, by God's grace, to supply their every need.  So far, He has, but now times are very difficult.
  Many have asked about the urgent needs. Winter is upon us and we need to buy wood, radiators for Bolintin, heating system for one home in Ciorogirla, replace plumbing, paper for printing the Bible in Braille, divide the bedrooms into separate, rooms, carpet, three washing machines and two dryers, two computers for their classes, etc.
 We have some stories called "Children of the Night" on our website.  www.inasmuch.ro  We have a video of the work at www.inasmuch.ro. This is a perfect tool for evangelism and to soften hardened hearts through the lives of these girls.  If God, without limit, loves these cast-off "Ragamuffin dolls"...... He certainly loves us, who are without any merit.
 If you would like a copy, you can download it if you have a high speed connection (or go to an Internet Café) or write and we will send a copy.
 May God richly bless and keep us all until we see Him face to face and begin to more fully know what a God of love we really serve.                 Shalom,Ron and Sue Bates
 Thank you, God for restoring the health of Ron and me... the trials are so great.  If you throw a rock at the devil (by doing good) he will dump a truck-load on your head.    Never give up doing good!  We will be rewarded for giving even a cup of cold water in the Name of our Lord.


 

hey , how about some coment on the video for those of you who visited our site.
                       Dumnezeu sa va binecuvantaze,  steve harris
             means God bless you

On January 8 , the container with 2700 cubic  feet of winter clothing  will arrive in Bucharest. We are looking  for short  term mission workers  to help in the distribution to some of the gypsy  villages and to other orphanages as there will be much more than we can use at our  3 homes. Volunteers only need a passport and a willing heart. My phone # is on this thread so call me if you have an interest . When I travel there it usually costs me about 750 for airfare and about 300 for 2 weeks expenses. 
                                                  cu drag, steve harris
                               

Below is a letter that I sent  to friends in my address book. The chapels mentioned are in the St.Louis area. If you would like to see the photos you must send me a personal email and I will send them to you.
Dear Friends,
   Here are some photos of our Container to Romania project. It shows some of our helpers and equipment and warehouse. When viewed from the bottom to top , you can see how the warehouse filled over time.( actually it  filled much more  than this before we emptied it) We had many contributors but a special thanks is in order  for Emmaus Bible Chapel, Fenton Crossing Bible Chapel,  Milk and Honey Ministries, and the Sunrise Christian Academy of Wichita Kansas.
  The photos in the attachments are of the container as it was almost finished loading and the loading crew (God bless them). The other 2 photos are of Ron and Sue Bates at the Bolintin home for girls and one of me with a dear  friend at a Romi village chapel. Incidently that young lady named Mihaela is a worker  for the Inasmuch ministry today.
  Now  for the good news and prayer  request. The container has arrived early  in Constanta but  there are paperwork glitches to overcome. I personally think that  someone is foot dragging to get  a bribe. This is common in Romania. So pray that these obstacles will be overcome. Also I had put out a call for laborers  to go and help distribute  the clothing and have had  no response. I realize that  this is a difficult  time to travel half way around  the world but there is still opportunity  for anyone who wants to help and it is not  that expensive. On another note, the contributions  to Inasmuch have fallen off greatly since hurricane Katrina. They are  having a difficult  time right now making ends meet. PLEASE consider a gift at  this time. Look at our  streaming  video at our website www.inasmuch.ro it will take 10 minutes to watch.
   God bless all of you  and thanks again for all your help. Perhaps we  will do the whole thing  again for next year.

As a former church treasurer used to thinking about getting the biggest bang for the buck, the one grand could possibly be used by the workers already there to hire some local help with the distribution.This could also possibly present an added opportunity to share the gospel. Just thinking out loud...
Verne

Verne,
   you are 100% correct and we will be using our paid workers to do the work. Much will also be picked up by those locals in need and the church  in Barbelesti will come for much of the clothing (their community was devastated by autumn flooding).
   The biggest advantage  to getting short  term Missionaries to go and help is that  they come home changed and continue to support  the work there. They are blessed when they give a coat and shoes to a homeless person who lives in and underground canal, and they are able to give them a Good News tract and tell them Dumnezeu sa va binecuvantaze (God Bless you). Those who receive the goods are touched that an American would leave their comforts to travel to such a poor place and go down in a sewer to give them a coat and some food and share the gospel with them. It is indeed a powerful event for them both.
    Besides all this I believe the next great missionary to Romania will be one who took a short visit  there and went back to labor  full time.  Maybe even you, think about it,
                                         blessings to all, especially Verne who helped greatly in this project,   steve harris

Dear Friends si prieteni,
   The Container arrived in Constanta and the saints were given the royal run around. After about $900 in(extra legal fees) bribes the container  was released but we had to truck it away from the port. So the distribution is underway or possibly even finished. I am hoping  for some photos to share. The container had 70 drums (50 gallon) and about 700 boxes , most of them very large.
Many will be blessed and thank you all who joined in.
  Sadly I am not encouraged about  doing this again. We will have to rethink the whole process because the Romanian customs are really getting nasty and could have made big trouble  for us.
  below is a letter from Martin Mallett I hope you will read. I believe Martin is the most effective evangelist in all Romania  and oddly enough is a friend of Charles Solomon.
                                 God is good all the time, steve
Ps. the Romanian spelling  for Bucharest is Bucuresti

Praise the Lord, thank all of you for your prayers and support. Some of the helps that were sent last week on the container from the States Steve Harris through Milk and Honey Ministry will be going to the poor Gypsy Church. Below is a picture  taken last night, (Wed. Jan. the 11th.) in Bucuresti, Romania. 12 Gypsy pastors from different parts of the country near the capital Bucuresti were in this meeting. Some of them are in the picture behind me. I am kneeling in the in front. Some of these people lost everything they owned in the floods and some even lost the lives of their family members..
I Thank the Lord for His love He has put in your heart for Him, His work, and His will, and for me the least of is servants to carry out His Word and work He has given me to do here in Romania, and now focusing on Moldova the Eastern side in Romania ( or the right side of the ship) where there is a Spiritual awakening among the Gypsies people.   Jn. 21:6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship,and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
Love in Christ, Martin Mallette 
I will be in the States from Jan.14th through Feb. the 6th if it is possible I would love to come up your way and share with you all some of what the Lord is here in Romania!
I will be with Pastor Mitch Ayers in Gatlinburg TN.on the 15th, then Randy Lantz near and with Robin Horner in Tri-City TN, then with Rob Linsted in Kansas on the 29th. Then in Bro. Paul Kersey in Cal. On the 6th.Feb. I will be returning to Romania.
 

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Dear Friends si prieteni,
   The contents of the container have been distributed. We loaded over 14,000 pounds of winter clothing in it and it reached many at a very desperate time. Most of the goods were given to the communities of Hiertur and Dumbraven. Many were blessed and the fledgling assemblies in these places were greatly encouraged. What we sent may mean that some children will go to school and that some people  will not freeze to death in the harsh Romanian winter (this is very common). There is no way we can measure the impact but I can tell you that many were comforted and God has given us all a ministry of comfort (2 Cor.1). Blessings to all . I have it in my heart to return to Romania in April, God Willing, I will keep you posted. On a personal note; my wife's cancer is still in remission after 18 months, so that is looking  very good. My son Paul has to have 4 fully impacted wisdom teeth surgically removed on 2/21, we will be praying  for his comfort and recovery. One of our workers in the Romanian braille printing ministry has multiple health problems ( bad kidney, hepatitus from a kidney removal operation) and now has had a dibilitating stroke at 40. Her name is Mariana Oprisanu and she is very discouraged and needs our prayers. So make a little time for her when you pray. 
                       Dumnezeu sa va binecuvantaze,  steve harris

My dear  friend Martin Malette is in the Orange County area at  this time . If you live near any of the places where  he will be speaking , you should do everything  you can to get  to hear  him. I have mentioned him in a previous post as the one who distributed the 14,000 pounds of winter clothing  that was just  sent  from the States. Martin is a true servant and you will not be disappointed if you go to hear him. Martin also translated Tom Maddux' tract "good news" into Romaneste and we passed out several thaousand (at least 4) in my trips there.  love to all, steve harris
Here is what we know about his itinerary:
 
   He will be speaking and sharing about his work in Romania at Westminster Bible Chapel on Sunday Feb. 5th at 10:45am.  We have a time of worship & remembrance of the Lord's supper at 9:30am and  believers are welcome to join us. Our address is 7631 13th St. Westminster CA .... we are west of Beach Blvd. between Westminster Ave. and Hazard which are between the 22fry and the 405fry.  There may be several other 'local' places for meetings during the week.  Call Paul Kersey (714) 895-9605 for any other information needed.
 
        Martin will be speaking the following Sunday Feb. 12th in Torrance at South Bay Bible Chapel in the morning at 11am and at Ave. 54 Chapel in Glendale in the evening at 6pm.  The midweek meetings are still in the works with opportunities open if you know of any interested.  I have several personal contacts with Romanian Gypsies living here in So. California but have not completed communications and arrangements as yet.  Martin leaves on Feb. 13th.
 

Dear Friends
    I am forwarding brother Martin's letter to you. I am also taking this opportunity to tell you that I am going  to visit Martin and the assemblies in Romania on March 29. I will be there 2 week. If any would like to send a gift  to Ron and Sue or Martin , please get it to me by Mar. 27. Pray for Martin and for me.
 Dear Bro. Steve, I am trying to control my emotions.
   Yesterday, Sunday morning I went to a big Gypsy village which is about 3 hours away from here to preach. I preached at Brother Viorel's funeral, a 22 year old Gypsy brother, who had been married and left behind a wife and a baby. He was a leader of the young people at one of the Churches that I am a part of. He was killed in a highway accident. It killed him and also in the other car it killed two of the most popular singing Stars in Romania. Three or four of the major TV station were covering the story. But all they showed on the TV was the past life of this women singer named Laura Stoica and the Drummer of her band that she was living with and pregnant by. The News reporters were covering the story of the multitude weeping for the lost of these two Idols of theirs. I was shocked that they didn't say anything about the young man that was killed. I wondered if anyone cared enough about him or his family or past life to even tell the Public his name. After all he died too, he must have a family, a mama and daddy. I kept asking myself, who or would anyone weep over this young man, and who cares. At this time I did not know that this young man was Brother Viorel Duia. I was planning my Sunday morning trip and message. Bro. Calin called and asked me to preach at a funeral and then he told me who it was. I said in shock, this was this poor Gypsy boy that I was so grieved over and who's family I was praying for.  So Sunday morning at 5:30 am we left. Brother Dan Vernescu and I left the Capital, Bucuresti to be there at the Sunday morning Church service where the funeral was to be held. When we arrived, they were still having their Vigil service for the dead (the people in Romania practice the night watch custom of keeping the open casket and the body in their home) until they burry them. It was held at his house, the Duia family's home.  As I enter the house I heard his family inside around his body, weeping, screaming and wailing like you can not even imagine. His 16 years old wife, his mother, Daddy, brothers, sisters, and the people packed inside the house. I then knew who was weeping over this boy and that The Lord Jesus cared. I then remember the scripture, "Jesus wept" and I wept also, and Christ in me was weeping. I can not describe it, or even explain to you what happen to me inside my spirit, it was like a groan!
“When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled.
I went outside his home and stood out on the steps and preached over the sound system the Gospel. The house was situated on a hill with muddy roads running everywhere, beside, around, below his house were roads. The freak winter storm that no one expected was so bitter that the snow was blowing so hard you could not open your eyes all the way. There were rain, ice and snow that was running like a muddy river right down the roads to the lower one. As I stood and preached the glorious Gospel to about 900 people with the storm raging on the outside, but it seemed like a bigger storm was raging on the inside of the hearts of the people that were listening. The snow storm outside was blowing so hard that it was blowing side ways, hitting us on the sides of our faces and bodies. After the preaching they brought the body in the opened casket from inside the house . About 8 men carried his casket (a little cheap Pine box). They carried the body out to the street where a farm tractor and a flat hay wagon covered with clear plastic was waiting in the front of the house. (This was a little different than the beautiful Mercedes van that I saw on TV carrying the Singing Stars!) After the Brothers placed the casket on the hay wagon, they carried the body with his weeping and scream family riding with him through this community to the grave yard about a mile away. Everyone (900-1,000 people) walked behind the tractor. All of this rain, ice and water was running like a creek down the road. It ran over and into my loafer shoes and covered my socks. I even got wet up my suit pants legs 4 inches at the bottoms, with mud also. My shoes were filled because we walked shoulder to shoulder with all the people and I had to step where they did. Almost every one was soaking wet and frozen. This took about 3 hours, from 1 pm. until 3 pm. After this two other brothers and I were invited to eat and get warm and dry out at a home on the street there. They built a fire in the heater and while we were eating a meal the wife and daughters of Brother Sorin were still baking for us. As we started to go out of the warm room where we ate, we saw that all of our shoes were cleaned by the sisters. These dear gypsy people are so kind, humble and clean, they break your heart with their hospitality. At 63:0 we had the night service and two of us preached. I have never in my whole life been in a meeting or the presence of the Lord like in that meeting. It was like the Holy Spirit breathed on us during preaching and the whole meeting. Before the end of the church service and before any invitation could be given by any man, The Holy Spirit started drawing the lost people forward to receive the Lord. Maybe about 20 or 30 out of about 900 people that were there in the meeting.
Well Bro. Steve you are one of the first ones I am sharing this with. This may give you an idea of what the Lord is doing here as an awakening among the Gypsies is taken place in the little spot on other side of this spinning Planet. Thank you again for your prayers and support.  Martin

In 18 hours I leave  for my 6th visit  to Romania. Pray  for me as I will be going to some difficult and dangerous places. At 55 I can no longer rely on my brazillian jui jitsu skills to  bail me out of trouble ;D. I suppose I will just have to rely on your prayers to  keep God's eye upon me. I will be back on the 13th and enjoy some bass fishing  with my sons.   love to all, steve

Have a great time Steve and I will be praying for God's covering and keeping during your trip.
Noting at all wrong with keeping the jui jitsu skills sharp - just as long as we remember that the weapons of our warfare are not physical....! :)
Verne

    I am sorry that I have been back home  for so long and have not posted
about my 13 days in Romania. When I returned my wife told me that while I was
away she had discovered another tumor. She didn't want to burden me with the news
while I was away. After 18 months we thought we had beaten the cancer but it has
now reared it's ugly head again. She had the cancer  removed and is now recovering.
Her left arm is weak and in much pain. She will get PT on it in another week. Trials
notwithstanding we are upbeat about  the future and her ability to be rid of this disease.
Pray for her , some of you may remember her as Jean Kause from the Chicago assembly.
Oh, by the way pray for me too. For the Inasmuch Childrens Home pray often as they are in
need of much guidance and material support. Faithful and trustworthy workers are their
greatest need . A missionary couple to take over the day to day operations is essential.
Mai taziu (means more later in Romanian) Love you all, steve