P
usta Vale is a Gypsy village located in north western Romania. Te re- gion borders Hungary and Ukraine and is called Transylvania. Pusta Vale has about 2,500 inhabitants
and only one church. Today, at that church, a Va- cation Bible School is being conducted by a VSM team. Kids in their brightly colored dress have come from homes on this very long one street town. Te children are enjoying animated Bible stories with puppets, working with various types of craſts, enjoying drinks with cookies, and play- ing games led by American girls. Te time with them will conclude with a simple presentation of the Gospel. Mothers dressed in their attractive Gypsy attire are standing in the street intently watching their children. Te “Rockin’ Romanians” VSM (Volunteer
Student Missions) team served in this way for 10 days. Tey gave their testimonies, shared Bible lessons, taught craſts, played games, and gave out drinks and cookies in seven Gypsy villages. Tey loved on, laughed with, and cried over little children leſt behind waving and calling out in English, “We love you.” Five teenage girls and
say that they could number as many as 2.5 mil- lion. Tey are a very needy people. Tey suffer discrimination and isolation, with much lower standards of living, education, health care, and employment. No matter where they go in Romania or other European countries they face deep-seated prejudice. Maybe because of these facts the Romas are the most spiritually respon- sive ethnicity to the Gospel in the country. Case in point: Pusta Vale. An elderly deacon in the Baptist church in
a small city called Simleu was burdened for this community. He began to make regular trips teaching the Bible in homes. Teir numbers grew and Larry Barker (BMA missionary in Romania) was asked to help them build facilities. Te day of the dedication the new building was full, and most were visitors. Last Sunday, it was packed with Gypsies, the women sat on the right and the men on the leſt. Tey truly worshiped the Lord. Members of this church have a burden to reach another Gypsy village (Kievski) where they have started Bible studies. Christian Romani now has a bold vision to reach their own people. Te pastor, Samuel, a Romanian, has a great love for them and is leading them in outreach. Te BMA ministry to the Gypsies in Ro-
their team leader had their eyes opened, they were touched, and their hearts were broken. Te people to which they ministered are a part of the Romani (Gypsy) community. Some
20 theGLEANER n September/October 2011
mania is directed by Bogdan and Daniela Bilav. (Read “Remembering the Forgotten”, Gleaner, September-October 2009, pages 16-19.) Tis young couple truly has a calling to and a heart for these neglected people. Tey work in about eight different villages and have plans to reach many more. Teir ministry is simple. Tey meet the educational, physical, and spiritual needs of the inhabitance of these villages. Te teaching is done aſter regular school hours. Kids who have been pushed to the back of the classroom and not permitted to ask questions are tutored in a compassionate and loving way. Children whose parents are not able to provide the proper clothes are given what they need. All of them are inter- ested in hearing the stories from the Bible and are thrilled to know that Jesus loves them. You can experience the same life-changing
mission that this VSM team did by going on a VSM mission trip. For more information, go to
www.BMAAMissions.org.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32