"Hopes For Others" Newsletter....

May 5, 2003

Luke 21:3-4---And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

 Dear Friends,

  As always, I want to begin by thanking you for your prayers and your support. God has been so good to us & continues to allow us, with your help, to have the privilege of serving others. We never cease to be amazed at His goodness and His provisions.

  For those of you who may not be aware of just what Hopes for Others does, I would like to take a moment to share this with you. As you read this though, please know that it is not us, but the Lord who makes it all possible. Like all of you, we are only His servants. The Lord has simply allowed us the privilege of having a part in ministering to people in many different areas.

  As most of you know, as the Lord makes it possible, we ship 40-foot containers of food, clothing, and medical supplies to Romania. These containers are unloaded at our headquarters in Arad, and from there distributed to areas in need throughout Romania.

   We also have a feeding program in Arad in which we feed about 50 people 2 meals per day, 6 days a week.

   We have a Christian Kindergarten in which there are about 90 children. To the credit of the teachers, the children who have completed this kindergarten are usually ahead of children from public kindergartens.

   Since the Osinach family, from Baton Rouge, La, has come to work with us in Arad, we now have outreach ministries in Nursing Homes, Bible Club for the street children and Bible Club in Kekici, the poorest area in Arad. They are also having a first aid ministry to street children and people living in some of the worse conditions imaginable.

  As many of you know, we now have a clinic under construction. This past week, they poured the concrete for the second floor. In only the past year, the cost of concrete has risen 30 %. At this time, we have the funds to complete the main structure on the second floor. Please pray with us that the Lord will send the funds for the rest of the construction as it is needed.

  Some of you are aware that we have been praying about a farm for 2 or 3 years now. The Lord has recently started making this a reality and we are now purchasing land. On the farm, we will raise beef, pork, produce, corn, and perhaps soybeans. This will be such a blessing in many ways and allow us to help minister the needs of more people.

   I truly wish each of you could see all that you are a part of with your prayers and support. During my trip to Romania, in March, I had the opportunity one evening of meeting a precious, sweet servant of our Lord. I think Sister Ada is about 83 years old. She sat there with me, in our kitchen, and told me of how she would smuggle Bibles in different areas of Romania when it was under Communism and so many Christians were being persecuted. She told me of how she and her husband (who went to be with the Lord a few years ago) would minister to street children in Eastern Romania, in the city Iasi. As she talked, you could see and feel the love of Jesus radiating from her. Wherever she would go, she would tell people about the love of Jesus. What a blessing she was! However, the greatest blessing was yet to come. As she went through the gate, and started down the street, Patricia told me that we feed her each day. I was overwhelmed that God would allow us the blessing of serving such a special servant of His! And all of you are a part of that blessing. (As I am writing this, I just received and email telling me that she felt the Lord wanted her back in Iasi to work with the street children. She has already left to go back. Years ago Sister Ada gave her home to this ministry and is known as “The mother of the motherless”.)

   Thank you for joining us in the privilege of serving others. Please continue to pray that we will be open to His will and leadership, and that He will be honored and glorified in all that is accomplished.

                                                    In His Service,
                                       Johnny, Sissie, Jackie, & Children