{"id":6944,"date":"2020-01-02T12:51:06","date_gmt":"2020-01-02T18:51:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/friendsmission.com\/?p=6944"},"modified":"2020-01-02T12:56:41","modified_gmt":"2020-01-02T18:56:41","slug":"january-2020-prayer-letter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/friendsmission.com\/en\/prayer\/january-2020-prayer-letter\/","title":{"rendered":"January 2020 Prayer Letter"},"content":{"rendered":"

From Voicu and Ana Marian\u00a0 | \u00a0Serving in Romania<\/strong><\/h4>\n

We immigrated to the US from communist Romania in the late 70s, in search of \u201cthe good life.\u201d In our atheistic view, that meant abundance of things and the freedom to do what we wanted. Upon arriving in Ohio, we came in contact with God\u2019s people through the Evangelical Friends Church. They embodied the love of Jesus and gave us a taste of \u201cthe blessed life.\u201d In the year 2000 we returned to our people with a new passion: to proclaim the gospel to the lost.<\/p>\n

Starting out in the city of Sibiu, we ministered to orphaned and abandoned girls, and some of those became Christians and part of our family. Though no longer children, they continue to bring a special spark to our holidays.<\/p>\n

God enlarged our vision into teaching children in the public school. Through English and Woodworking classes we met some great kids, gained favor with their parents and soon started to do Christian camps. These were followed by weekly youth meetings, and over the years many confessed Jesus as Savior. We continue to work in the villages of Orlat and Gura Raului.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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In the Acorn Shop<\/strong>, Voicu teaches woodworking to junior high boys. More than woodworking, they learn how to become real men, according to the Bible. As we\u2019ve done many times in the past, this year for Thanksgiving<\/strong> we invited students for a special meal and celebration. The American history account was used as platform for a better lesson: Gratitude as a Way of Life. And this Christmas season<\/strong> we read about the birth of Jesus with several of our students, and sang, \u201cO Come Let Us Adore Him.\u201d<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve witnessed great changes, especially since Romania became part of the EU in 2007. With open borders and boundless digital access, in flooded \u201cthe good life,\u201d and with it, plenty of evil. Having come to know these children, we\u2019ve grown to love them deeply. Their life stories have become part of ours, and it\u2019s quite painful to see some harden their hearts when they become adults. The Lord reminds us that our purpose here is not to change people, but to live for Him. \u201cJesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.\u201d (Heb.13:8)<\/strong> He remains faithful and he deserves all the glory<\/u>!<\/p>\n

\"\"A recent picture, for those who\u2019ve never met the Marians: Ana and Voicu, with son John (Sibiu, Romania) and daughter Christina (Columbus, OH).<\/p>\n

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Please Pray\u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n