Romanian Missions
		C. P. 209 O.F. 13 Brasov, Romania 2200 Pastor: Odis Bryan Missionary: Robert Blume Alto Missionary Baptist Church Alto, TX 75925 WWW.ALTOMBC.ORG/ROMANIA.HTM blumerobert@rdslink.ro			The Blumes, Robert, Kriss, Caleb, Grace
	February 2003 HOPE FOR THE HOPELESS When you work with people it is important to understand how they think and feel. I have found that most Romanians feel hopeless. Humanly speaking, their situation is hopeless. Before communism, most of the people here were almost slaves. They worked hard for landowners who paid them little or nothing. They had no hope for getting out of the situation that they were born in. Then came hollow promises of communism. The people were told that from now on they would be working for themselves. For the first time they had some hope for themselves and their children. In the beginning things were better. They got rid of oppressive landowners; however, in reality they had traded one master for another. This new master told them that everything belonged to the people but only certain people were qualified to supervise the work and consequently the profit. This led to corruption, control, poverty, and hopelessness. The end result of Communism was far worse then of their previous life.
	Now, 13 years after the collapse of Communism in Romania, things are not much better for most of the people. About 7% of the population has gained total control. They are rich, controlling most all the land, while the common people work for almost nothing without hope. Most people are trying to get out of Romania. My job, my calling, is to try to convince these people to put their trust in God and to have hope in Christ Jesus and not this corrupt world system. I believe that this is the only hope for Romania or any other country. The problem is that they were lied to so many times that they are now conditioned not to trust anyone, not even God. Please pray for these people that God will be able to break though to their scarred, hardened hearts and help them to understand that He is the only true hope (1 Peter 1:21).			Old meets new – Romanian farmers hauling hay the old fashioned way, while talking on a cell phone.
CHURCHES – ALL DOING FINE Persani - I would like to share a story of hope with you that happened this past month in our gypsy church in Persani. We have a young woman that is very faithful. She has three small children all under the age of 4, one with a mental handicap. However, many times her husband has come to church drunk and caused a disturbance, so that I have had to physically remove him. Bro Daniel has been witnessing to this man about his sinful condition before God, and God has been working in his life. One day while drunk (his usual state), this man fell down a 60-foot water well. His neighbors pulled him out almost unhurt. Then one night while walking home, drunk again, a semi-truck hit him knocking him several yards into a ditch. This time he was hospitalized but with very minor injuries. After that, he came to church sober. The man told Daniel that now God had his attention. He accepted Christ as his Savior and has been attending church with his family. Please keep him and his family in your prayers. Satan will surely keep trying to control him and get him to return to the bottle. But greater is He that is in us then he that is in the world (1 John 4:4). Ghimbav reports that they continue to have good numbers attending. Bro Mihia also reported that he is very proud of his teenagers. He said that they seem to understand that service to God is not just attending church but loving and serving our Lord with all our hearts, minds, and souls (Matthew 22:37). Dumbravita had two saved this month, a man and his wife. This couple is now being discipled and are waiting for baptism.
Sister Brenda in from of the Ladies Home in Codlea.			LADIES HOME We have four ladies right now with their children. Sister Brenda has returned, praise the Lord. We have two men from our churches in the United States, Bro Linard Dowling and Bro Larry Chandler, that will be here on March 18-31 to finish the wiring and sheet rock for four more rooms. This will give us the much-needed space so that we can reach more ladies. Please pray for this ministry that God can save these souls and turn their lives around for His glory and honor (Revelation 19:1).