Romania

In his recent report, I.N. Network Romania church planter Ioan Pop shared an account of what the Lord did in the life of one family that was recently baptized in the church from Bicaz.

"On 20^th September we had a baptism and at this baptism only one man, Teodor, was scheduled to be baptized. He is the nurse of this village. He wanted to be baptized in the summer, but his wife, Mariana, told him to postpone it for autumn so that they can be baptized together. So they postponed it. She went to work for a while in Italy and came back at the beginning of September. We settled the date for 20^th September. During the period until baptism there were brothers and sisters who encouraged her to get baptized. Her husband decided to take the step whether or not she decided the same. We, as a church, had been praying for her since her husband started to come to church in spring.

"On the Sunday when the baptism was scheduled, we bought flowers for her and we prepared white clothes. Before the service, when we took the pictures, I asked her if she wanted to be baptized and her answer was "no". The worship started. The songs and the message were under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Before entering the water with Teodor, I asked Mariana one more time if she wanted to follow her husband into the water. The answer was again "no". I got into the water and Teodor was baptized. After he got out, I felt like asking one more time if there is someone else who wants to be baptized today, specifying that there were prepared white clothes for another two men and for one woman. In that moment, Mariana raised her hand saying "Me, me, me". It was a special moment, all the people were in tears. Because Teodor is much known in the village, many non-Christian came to the church that Sunday to see him.

"The next day they were celebrating 7 years of marriage so we have decided to surprise them. Together with several families from the church, we visited them. It was a very joyous surprise for them and they told us that they never before had so many people in their house. We were glad to see them full of joy and we are thankful for the way the Lord worked in their lives and filled their hearts with joy and peace. Many people from the village tell that Mariana is unrecognizable.

"We pray that He continue to make His work in them and through them and we give Him praise for the way He keeps on changing lives and fills us with wonder for the great things He is doing."