Eglise Du Christ Pentecostale in Orangers – Thank you letter
With thanksgiving in my heart and great appreciation to our Lord Jesus Christ who guided us and sustains us to finish and fulfill what has been started in Haiti years ago. Even though invitations were sent to all of those who participated in any way to the church building project, only eight of us were available to have the privilege and opportunity to participate to the dedication and the first convention of Eglise Du Christ Pentecostale (Pentecostal Church of Christ) in Orangers near Jacmel, Haiti. We take Jesus’ commission very seriously. “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:18-20
We read in the book of Acts that the disciples of Jesus Christ acted as they received guidance and leading from the Holy Spirit. This is true today as it was at that time because God is the same; yesterday, today and forever. In our first trip to Haiti in May 2009, I was moved by the Holy Spirit to go to Haiti even though I did not know anyone there. I answered a desperate call (that was made by Pastor Joseph Jasmin), to do something which God had already planned in the spiritual realm. I answered to this call after I sought the Will of the Lord and I understood that He wanted us to go there. Haiti is located in the Canary Islands and is one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere. The main religion of this country is voodoo (a religion of witchcraft and demonic worship).
Mission History in Haiti
The first intention of the Romanian Pentecostal community to do a mission in Haiti was in the year 2000 with a small group of brothers in Christ from California. After their few trips to Haiti since 2000, they realized that could not continue because they could not find any faithful or serious people among the Haitians to direct any missionary/charity projects proposed. God spoke to one of those brothers to purchase a property in Haiti in order to direct and fulfill the missionary purpose but they did not move on because they got discouraged. When one of the brothers heard that I had my first mission trip in Haiti, he told me that in order to have efficiency in the missionary work in Haiti; we need to have a property. In January 12th, 2010, Haiti was shocked from the foundation by a very strong earthquake. Many thousands died at that moment and for weeks (even for months), the deaths continued. The city of Port au Prince was one of the mostly devastated. Churches were also destroyed and this tragedy determined the Romanian Pentecostal community from the USA to have another mission to help and encourage those that lived in a very difficult condition. Members from churches in Chicago: Golgotha, Gethsemane and Elim; from Seattle: First Romanian Church; and from Portland: Betezda Romanian Church, departed on May 2010 in a mission to Haiti. The money that was raised from the Romanian Community at that time was used to buy bibles and food for those affected by the earthquake. The group decided to also purchase a land for a future church and proposed this to Pastor Jasmin from Gonaives and Pastor Médit from Jacmel. Our time to mission there was short and so we told them that we would pay for the land that is ready to be purchased. Among the places that we visited, pastor Médit knew about a land for sale in the Orangers area where he had a vision for a church that he had already started to lead in a rented building. We arrived at the site on Friday night and had available only Saturday to complete this transaction.
We also had scheduled the following: A seminar in the morning with the Christian workers from the area to officiate a baptism in the water, to purchase and distribute food for those that lived in the tents and also an evening church service. Saturday is a day that most official locations are closed for transactions but we prayed and we put a sign that if the notary from their City Hall would come to register the transaction, we would proceed and understand that it is God’s will because on Sunday, we were scheduled to be in Port au Prince for church services. God orchestrated this in such a way that the transaction was finalized at about 10 p.m. The land owner signed the contract to sell the land in the name of the church and also Blessed Hope International Mission who later became a legal non-profit organization registered in Haiti. Among the eight people that we baptized in the water that day were members converted from the Catholic Church. Catholic priests were very angry because their members converted to the Pentecostal church and so they spoke to the owner of the building where the Pentecostal church was renting space to worship God so that he would kick them out. In the month of June 2010, Pastor Médit Sanon called us very discouraged and frustrated and told us that they don’t have a place to worship anymore. A sister from the church (that lived in the area) opened her yard for the church to continue their services under a tree covered by a tarp to shield them from the weather. At the Pentecostal Convention in Atlanta, GA in 2010, I proposed to some pastors that I met there to go and help brothers from Haiti. Brothers from Nashville, TN, Texas, California, Indiana and Chicago organized themselves to start the construction of the foundation of the church at the end of September 2010. Many other groups from Romanian Pentecostal churches from Bethany Church in Chicago, Happy Valley in Phoenix, AZ, Texas and California continued the work in the months of November and December 2010. Outside the construction of the church, twenty-three orphaned children were adopted which are sponsored by many churches and families from the United States. In the year of 2011, churches from Detroit, California, Tennessee, Texas, North Carolina, Atlanta, Florida, Arkansas and Chicago contributed financially and physically to finalize the church building. Among the construction project, we also work through evangelization to develop new spiritual lives among Haitians. It is a joy to present and to work for Christ in other nations. We believe that God gave us this opportunity to work among Haitians not only to improve their lifestyle (which was severely affected by the recent quake and from their poverty) but also to encourage and to equip them for the service and spiritual growth. 
A Vision Fulfilled
God directed us from Port au Prince to Gonaives and to Jacmel where I met Pastor Médit Sanon. God gave him a vision to start a church in a very poor area outside the city of Jacmel in the Orangers area (a mountainous and distressed area). When God guides someone to a cause, He provides for that cause. He will cause what has been established in the spiritual realm to happen in the natural realm. Pastor Médit Sanon founded a church on March 8th, 2009 of only seven members. God blessed them and multiplied them every week in that rented place next to the Catholic Church who soon became a little concerned because some of the members moved to the new Christian church. When I met Pastor Médit Sanon, I felt the Godly connection with him and I sensed in my heart that the Lord has a purpose for that area. I saw the Love of God and the love for his people in this pastor and that encouraged me to maintain communication. God’s providence protects His people in such a way that during the earthquake that also affected Jacmel, Pastor Medit Sanon’s house did not even have one crack. His neighbor’s newly built house collapsed like a mushroom. When I heard of this, I was even more committed to the work of Jacmel. God’s invisible hand orchestrated everything to be more than we imagined. Later when we already got involved in the construction project, I see their devotion to God like the people in the Old Testament. After the basement was constructed and they were holding the divine services, I saw all the church members one morning fasting with sackcloth’s on them. Even though this is not required of the New Testament faith in Jesus Christ, some people (when they desperately seek God), they practice fasting in sackcloth. God does not despise a humble heart but he always shows Himself strong to those that their hearts are fully committed to Him.
First Pentecostal Convention in Jacmel
The echo of the completion of this church building spread to many churches in Haiti. Pastor Médit learned from the Romanian Pentecostal community about an opportunity to mobilize the churches from the area in Jacmel to meet together and to have fellowship and teaching seminars. Over two hundred Christian workers and spiritual leaders came to this new building on July 18th – 21st to be empowered, refreshed and on fire with the power of God. Quality time of worshipping, teaching and prayer has been spent every day in the morning and afternoon. On Friday night, the power of God moved so mightily that no one wanted to end the service. People were healed, saved and restored. The girls on our team spent time with the children teaching them and showing them love. They also prepared bags of rice and beans for the poor people. Food and drinks were provided for everyone each day of the convention. A new season in the spiritual realm began for the Jacmel area. We give all the glory and praise to the Lord. The theme of the convention was from Matthew 16:18: “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Golgotha Church from Chicago provided seventy-five shirts with this verse imprinted on it. The physical church has been completed and now the spiritual lives will be a priority to be built according to 2 Peter 1:3-4. “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
Water Baptism in the Ocean
To those that the gospel has been preached and they believed it, accepted to be baptized in water.“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:9-10
This is the command that Jesus Christ gave to us. “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Mark 16:15-16
Whenever we go around the world, we see people who are hungry for the Truth. When presented with the Gospel, the Holy Spirit moves in their hearts and they receive the Good News with great joy. Four people that received Jesus with great joy accepted to be baptized on Saturday, July 21st 2012.
Church Dedication and Ministry Ordination
The long awaited day of the dedication finally came and over four hundred people surrounded the church building early on Sunday morning, July 22nd waiting for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. We want to thank the Lord who mobilized us for such a great work which would not be possible without all the teams that generously participated financially and physically worked. Accomplishing Kingdom purpose requires a team united in spirit and in mission. The Bible shows us numerous examples of ministry being teamwork: Jesus and His disciples, Apostle Paul and his team and the epistles that he wrote exhorting the body of Christ to lock arms together. This church building is a sign of God’s confirmations and mobilizations in the mission field. We are together stronger than we are apart. No one is more important than the other. This is the way I believe the Kingdom of God should operate. Pastor Medit and the whole Pentecostal board of the church, together with us, are all extremely excited to be in the newly constructed building here in Orangers, Jacmel.
The Lord spoke to Pastor Médit years ago about this work. Today, it is amazing to see His word fulfilled in the natural realm. That day was a day of celebration for what the Lord did to the community in Orangers. We can say (like the Prophet Samuel), “Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.”1 Samuel 7:12I preached at the dedication ceremony about the house of God and Pastor James from Massachusetts (born in Haiti), preached at ordination. On that day, seven deacons and two evangelists were ordained. I believe we will see a mighty move of the Holy Spirit in this area.
Our Return
Together with us on this mission, we had a missionary (Florin Codreanu) who came in the month of April to work with Pastor Joseph Jasmin in Gonaives. This young missionary was recovered from the streets in Romania years ago by God’s Family Mission in Buzau, RO. He received the Lord and his life was restored from ten years of living in tunnels and other misery places. He is a miracle of God regeneration and recreation. After such a great and busy week full of work and excitement, we returned Sunday afternoon to Port au Prince. The girls departed from the children with tears. On our way to Port au Prince, Pastor Médit told us about a church named Shalom who grew very fast with an attendance of 50,000 members in one service. This church is built on a hill outside Port au Prince and has benches made out of cement blocks with metal sheets held by 2x4s to protect people from weather. There is a huge improvement made on a hill to accommodate the 50,000 people and has over 200,000 people that surrendered their life to Jesus Christ in two years celebrating this month.
I was completely moved to tears when I saw that because that reminded me about a prophetic message that we received from the Lord when our team visited Haiti in April 2010. I remember we were ministering to Soldiers for Christ Church in Port au Prince and the Lord spoke to our team about Haiti having a season where the harvest will be accelerated. Two years ago, all of us sensed the fields of the harvest were ripe more than ever in Haiti. There was a special time for Haiti after the earthquake and we felt that the fruit was at a perfect ripeness. We cannot wait for another day like that because the fruit can be lost. So we all sensed this window of opportunity and we want to maximize that opportunity and allow the Lord to use us to reap that very ripe harvest. Some of us proposed to remain in Haiti for a longer time. My brother-in-law Viorel from Portland even said “Let’s go to Florida for a good meal and come back to Haiti”. Although we saw that the window of opportunity of ripe harvest, we were very limited of the language barrier and accommodation but God who brings that season prepares and calls His servants accordingly. Such servant is André Muscadin who He is using to reap the harvest before it’s too late and I was rejoicing when I saw (in the present) of what God did in only two years. Pastor André’s wife told us how someone was paid to assassinate him but the Lord showed him from the pulpit that someone had a gun and intended to do some evil. He asked him to come and repent but he was ashamed because there were 50,000 people at the service. The man who held the gun came to him on Monday (the next day) morning and confessed to him that he was the one with the gun. He testified that he could not see pastor André at the pulpit but instead only light.“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” Genesis 50:20
Final Words
Although the devil did everything he could to stop this project from happening, the Lord has been faithful and now, all of you who have prayed for all of us and financially and physically helped towards this project can now rejoice to see it done. I believe this project was a prophetic sign to this nation and not only a sign – but also a divine affirmation. We cannot help describe enough but there is an extraordinary spiritual significance that is far deeper than we even realize. God has a plan for this nation of Haiti (which was darkened by voodoo and other evils) and we (you and us) have a strategic part to play. God faithfully meets us when we show obedience to go and preach and work. Our words and actions are nothing without the Holy Spirit of God. Once we open our mouth to share the old message of Jesus Christ and eternity, God breathes life into our words as they penetrate the hearts of those that listen.
Rev. Constantin Lupancu together with the Blessed Hope International Mission Team
This mission trip was amazing because we have an amazing God who is and does things beyond our understanding as we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us and as we obey Him. God put our team together in such a way that was puzzling and we observed the Hand of God which orchestrated everything. Since the beginning of this year, I’ve seen the hand of God move mightily in the local church and internationally. The year of 2012 has a prophetic meaning. This means that this year should be a motivation for us to sincerely depend on God evermore. Biblically, the number 12 represents divine authority and appointment, governmental foundation and perfection, and shows fulfillment. Below are a few examples with bible references that confirm the affirmation that we are in a year of fulfillment, answered prayers and divine guidance.
There were the twelve stones lifted up by Moses when God made the covenant with His people.“And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.” Exodus 24:4Joshua setup twelve stones as a memorial after he crossed the river Jordan.“And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, as the LORD spake unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them down there. And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day.” Joshua 4:8-9At the age of twelve Jesus first entered the Temple in Jerusalem.“And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast” Luke 2:42The twelve apostles of Jesus which represent the twelve tribes of Israel.“And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.” Matthew 10:1The healing of the woman with the issue of blood for twelve years.“And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.” Luke 8:43-44The healing of the twelve years old daughter of Jairus.“And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought him that he would come into his house: For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him.” Luke 8:41-42The twelve legions of Angels.“Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?” Matthew 26:53The New Jerusalem has 12 gates of pearls, 12 angels at the gates and the names of the 12 tribes of Israel over the gates. The wall of the city has 12 foundations of precious stones; in them are the names of the 12 apostles. [Revelations 21]
The Lord Jesus showed a brother from Romania, which prayed for our church during the severe storm we passed through, that I was going to another continent with a people of a different race and color to accomplish one of His purpose. I was disturbed because of the declaration a day beforehand Sunday night at the pulpit. My main priority was serving in the local church which believes that the Lord would now bring transformation, revival and change. We as believers are servants of Jesus throughout our life purchased by Him to do His will and purpose. We need to surrender our own will and do His will every day regardless.“You were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:20“You were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for by Christ]; then do not yield yourselves up to become [in your own estimation] slaves to men [but consider yourselves slaves to Christ].” 1 Corinthians 7:23Our mind needs to be renewed by the Holy Spirit of God in order to understand His will that is good, pleasant and perfect.“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2On the same day, I spoke with brother Ghetana Ghetana, born in Ethiopia but now lives in the US. He told me that he is returning to his country for the first time in 31 years due to the time of persecution that hit the country during the collapse and reign of Emperor Haile Selassie of the Solomonic Dynasty that traced its origins to the Queen of Sheba. Mihai Zinici from Phoenix, AZ and Pavel Duma from Seattle, WA called me and invited me to come to a mission trip to Uganda where a Christian radio station built by a Romanian community will be inaugurated and dedicated to the Glory of God. I immediately understood and felt that this was God’s plan and connected with the Blessed Hope International Mission team. After I purchased the tickets for Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda & Ethiopia, Brother Constantin Antemie from California called me and described a dream that a pastor had for him. In the dream, pastor Draginas saw him surrounded by black people in the country of Burundi and he was working on a bee hive. Telling him that I already purchased a ticket to Africa, he got very encouraged and asked me to buy a ticket for him too even though I told him it would not be possible to go to Burundi due to the fact that there was a civil war for 14 years and it was very dangerous. The entire team gathered together through a divine appointment. God always has a better plan which surprises us and motivates us to follow him like the disciples from the book of Acts. The book of Acts does not end with an ‘Amen’ as other books do since God designed it that way for us to see that it should continue with us until the Return of Jesus Christ.
Seeking His Power for Mission Works
We need to surrender all to Him because God’s eyes and hand are upon them that seek him diligently.“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.” 2 Chronicles 16:9Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Psalms 33:18-19 “For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him. For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.” Ezra 7:9-10“This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.” Ezra 7:6“ And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.” Ezra 7:-28“And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen;..” Ezra 8:18“Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance. For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was entreated of us.” Ezra 8:21-23“Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way.” Ezra 8:31
In the Mission Field – Kenya
After the preparation mentioned above was done (seeking the Lord through prayer to fulfill His purpose), we arrived in Nairobi (my 1st time that I’ve been in Nairobi was six years ago), we had a few contacts in Kenya that we met six years ago. I notified them of my itinerary via e-mail of the proposed mission trip. I first contacted a man that I met six years ago and then contacted Evangelist Peter Kamau and then Joseph (a prison Chaplain) about my intention to come to Africa. I prayed for the Lord’s guidance that whosoever answers first is the one that the Lord has in mind for this mission trip. Evangelist Peter Kamau responded immediately and after him, Generic Mainga (a contact in Kenya even though I met him for a short time six years ago). Both groups came to the airport and picked us up. We were offered to be accommodated for a time at Peter Kamau’s home in Nairobi. Peter offered everything he had for the purpose of the Gospel even his time to accompany us to Uganda. He told us that he knows a bishop in Burundi and was available to accompany us even though we did not have plans for Burundi due to the political status mentioned. Kenya has economically & spiritually flourished greatly since I was there last. At first, I visited Faith Mountain Ministry in Nairobi which is a group of youth students that gathered on that Saturday in a facility of a college campus. I blessed them with the Word of God and encouraged them to be strong in faith.
Sunday morning at 8 am, Chaplain Joseph made arrangements to visit and preach in Nairobi West Prison. I purchased soap as a gift to the inmates and preached the Word of God that transforms lives. Fourteen inmates surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ that morning. Evangelist Peter Kamau prayed for them and since we were short on benches, I donated enough money to the prison system to purchase ten additional benches. Generic Mainga’s team (John, Charlie and Generic) picked me up with their car after the prison service and I went to minister to the villages around Nairobi and had the privilege to deliver four messages to the church villages in Mlolongo, Nguluni, Koma, Machakos. I came home almost exhausted but still rejoicing in the Lord for His source of strength & energy. And because of His power that refreshed me, I rested in Him!“Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. The youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:28-31
The next day, I proposed to go again with Mainga’s team to other meetings, but the Lord stopped this through a sign that the city arrested Mainga’s car in Nairobi and a fine had to be paid. I then told him to park in the city’s paid parking. While we were making copies of the material for the seminar to be presented to a church interested in prison ministry, a manager of the lot parked his car in the alley blocking Mainga’s car all day. I noticed that the Lord did this to show me that this group was not honest and that I need to completely separate from them because they are not people of integrity. They are seeking to take advantage of a mission’s name not for the purpose of God. I hired a cab which drove me to a church where I held one of the greatest and most anointed seminary that I’ve ever done in the history of BHIM. To God be the Glory and Honor. The next day, I went with Peter Kamau to visit the Maasai tribe and met with their chief. We had a revival meeting that night in a very poor area. The Holy Spirit of God moved mightily and many people were blessed that night.
Rwandan was among the African countries that had tension between two groups. Tutsi – who had controlled power for many centuries and the majority of Hutu peoples who had come to power in the rebellion of 1959–62 and overthrown the Tutsi monarchy. This tension created genocide in 1994 with a death toll of 20% of the country’s population. Despite the political situation, the church of Jesus Christ has grown in this country.In Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, our contact Pastor Joshua Mathasu could not come because he was in a mission trip to Belgium but he sent his associate, Pastor Michel Rwakazina (originally from Sudan) who brought us from the airport to the church called Remera Kigali International Prayer Mountain Complex which is an evangelical restoration church. Pastor Joseph had a vision to purchase 12 acres of land and he started building the foundation of a temple called Hall of Glory, a school, a shopping center, a prayer garden, a parking lot and a guest house. This is a vision that only God can fulfill in a country where people are making very little money. The pastor organized this project building on top of the hill a house of prayer with rooms where people that have a passion for God can go there and remain in fast and prayer as much as the Lord guides them to do. In the bottom of the hill, he created a garden of prayer where people come and seek the Lord. As we toured the site of the construction project, we saw groups of people praising God and shouting the name of the Lord for the victory in their lives and also in project that is progressing. When we arrived there, I believed that the Lord heard their prayer and so our team helped them purchase materials of a good amount of money. We praised the Lord together for what He is doing in this country affected by wars, political tension, poverty and diseases including HIV. Only the Lord can heal this when His people first seek His kingdom and righteousness.“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14We also visited the HIV human center which was built by two sisters from the USA. Here, a lot of children and women affected are being taken care of.
In the Mission Field – Uganda
Pastor Aloysius Kiiza from Uganda lifted up Jesus’ Global Ministries came to Kigali one night and picked us up together with Pavel Duma from Seattle who just arrived that night to go for the dedication of the Christian radio station and Kabale, Uganda. We know a lot of people go to countries in Africa in perils of diamonds, gold and silver but we went for souls. We were so excited to meet in Kabale, Uganda. A lot of Romanian people from Portland, WA, Europe and Romania and even representatives from the Hope Mission located in Canada were present in Kabale. We were accommodated in a beautiful resort surrounded by lakes and forests which is called Switzerland of Africa and Uganda. Saturday, together with the local pastors, we drove to the forest to reach a tribe that twelve years ago came down from the wild life to the society. The gospel of Jesus Christ was preached and a lot of people changed and broke the generational course of their history through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. On that Saturday, February 26th, eight people were baptized in the river in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Even though it was a rainy day, people still crowded around to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This tribe is called Batwa of the Ru Bugir and Lifted Up Jesus Ministry opened up a church called Batwa Church. The Hope Mission from Canada helped them to build it. The whole team blessed the children with food and sweets. As a body of Christ, the Lord has given a mandate to bring our generation from every tribe to the redemptive purpose of God. We are living in a great time of transformation and reformation. Many tribes around the world are discovering their lost identities and are beginning to walk to the Glory of the true image of God – a supernatural life through the power of the Holy Spirit. The time has come now for the church of Jesus Christ to influence and direct the trend of events on the earth and shape the history and destinies of nations. In Kabale, Apostle Aloysius Kiiza – a man of prayer with the fire of the Holy Spirit in his bones, was anointed to release people’s visions and calling. One of his visions was to have a radio station to spread the Word of God to all of Eastern Africa. Through a divine connection, he met Pavel Duma in the USA (a representative of the Hope Mission) who mobilized Romanians from around the world to come and materialize the radio station which is called Hope Radio which was launched on Sunday, February 29th. Thousands of people came to celebrate the inauguration of the Christian radio station. That night, I received inspiration for a sermon regarding Isaiah 55 ‘All Nations called to the Living Water’. God, the great communicator, wants to extend his knowledge of His Word to all nations. In the last day, the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Glory of God like the oceans are full of water.“For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” Habakkuk 2:14“They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.”Isaiah 11:9The Hope Christian Radio Station has been launched, a water well has been dedicated, a wire mesh machine has been devoted to the church community and the ground has been broken for the new school building. All these things for Glory of God and the purpose to restore the current generation. We visited the school that is run by the church – about 700 children attend it. We gave them sweets and encouraged them to accomplish great things. That same day at noon we headed back towards Rwanda with a plan to visit 
Burundi.
Burundi was not on our agenda to visit during this time due to the civil war that just ended a few years ago but the war is still in the hearts and minds of most people. God had a different plan and wanted us to visit Bujumbura (Burundi’s capital). When Jesus wanted to bless Samaria, He went to Sychar even though it was not his way to through there.“He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee. And he must needs go through Samaria. Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.” John 4:3-5Similarly, as we had no plans for Burundi, God’s divine purpose led us there in order to bless the ministry in Burundi. This was shown in a dream to a pastor in California even after I purchased the tickets for the other 4 countries in Africa. Even though it was very difficult to go there due to a lot of obstacles, oppositions and discouragement from different people, I sensed in my spirit a strong need to go there because the Lord has something to do. I did not want to give up despite the opposition and purchased round trip airfare tickets. Evangelist Peter Kamau from Kenya came with us for this purpose because he knew Pastor Mutokambali A. Stanislas from Eglise Horeb Temple in Bujumbura, Burundi. Within the next few hours, we departed to Bujumbura and pastor Mutokambali waited for us and hosted us at his home. The next day he began the day with a special program called Morning Glory which members of the church come early in the morning to seek God’s glory and be filled with it. Because Burundi had 14 years of civil war, a lot of people are devastated and it’s only due to God’s glorious presence that healed them from the inside out.“Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:17-18Early that same day, I gave a few exhortations for prayer and the spirit of God fell mightily and the spirit of prayer and repentance was felt by the people for about two hours. I knew the Lord had something special that day because of the breakthrough. God opened the gates of heaven and poured out His glory. We planned many things that day but only what was designed on His agenda happened. It was one of the most important reconciliation between the bishops and leaders from one church. It so happened that four years ago a Romanian pastor from Romania had a vision to build a church building in the heart of Africa. The Lord guided him through certain events to come to Burundi where he started the project. God gives people visions and purpose for people to accomplish His will but we need to be aware that there is an enemy which is real and Jesus came to destroy the work of the devil.“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10The project was started with prayer and anointing and a lot of churches helped towards this project but the enemy brought anger, bitterness and division among the bishops and leaders. When God’s principles are not respected, God allows certain things to go wrong which in turn brings us to a turning point of repentance, deliverance and reconciliations which make it possible for peace and prosperity to return. This was the purpose that we came for and He compelled and guided us to come so that through us, restoration was made possible again.“Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it. Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness: I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.” Isaiah 46:10-13After we visited the church site which was abandoned last year, we came together to pastor Mutokambali’s home. Confession and reconciliations among the leaders have been restored. The Holy Spirit moved mightily and everyone bowed down in tears asking for repentance. After two hours of the pastors discussing the issue that created the anger and division, their hearts were released from the impurity that got into them and caused God’s hand to be against them and the work could not continue and the church divided. Now, since the relation and communication was restored, we prayed that the building will continue to be built for the Glory of God and 
won’t be a shame but a glorious celebration and inauguration of a church in the area of a lot of people – especially children suffering from the consequences of the years of war. We give all the Glory and Praises to the Lord which reconciled us from our mess with the Holy Father.“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” Matthew 5:9
With joy in our hearts, we returned to the airport and pastor Butsco drove us as VIP.
Ethiopia was a monarchy for most of its history, and the Ethiopian dynasty traces its roots to the 2nd century BC. Ethiopia is also one of the oldest sites of human existence known to scientists today, having yielded some of humanity's oldest traces. Ethiopia has close historical ties with all three of the world's major Abrahamic religions. It was one of the first areas of the world to have officially adopted Christianity as the state religion, in the 4th century. Coptic Orthodox Christians make up 60% of the country's population. Many believe that the Gospel had entered Ethiopia even earlier, with the royal official described as being baptized by Philip the Evangelist in chapter eight of the Acts of the Apostles.“And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.” Acts 8:26–39Ethiopia has many references in the bible.“Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.” Psalms 68:31Pastor Henok Teshome from Evangelical waited for us and hosted us in a hotel in Debre Zeit not far from Addis Ababa and on March 4th, we met Ghetana Ghetana with his group of ministers and together we had a meeting. We planned many things to accomplish in a short time which was visiting orphanages, water wells, churches and other charitable work throughout Ethiopia. Brother Constantin Antemie wished that before doing anything else, we should meet a Romanian missionary in southern Ethiopia about 450 kilometers from the place we were in. I talked to Luminita and told her even though the time we had remaining was short, we would make it a priority to meet her, see her mission and bless her. We rented a car and Pastor Henok drove us towards Gedole near Arba Minch – a very desolated and deserted road. About half way there, Constantin Antemie asked Pastor Henok for us to call Luminita again. To our big surprise she answered that she had gone three hours ago to a government meeting. To our disappointment, we turned around and believed that God had a better plan in mind. Since we were very close to a town called Butajira and brought a lot of bread to the people that lived in huts. When I bought the bread I thought that we need to also share with them the Bread of Life. I asked pastor Henok if he knew any pastor in the town. He knew an evangelist and called him right away. In a few minutes he was right by our car and told us that they had a scheduled service tonight. After he showed us a very poorly constructed building of plastic and metal sheets, he brought us to a bigger church that was supposed to have a service that evening also. I asked evangelist Temoderos Kebede to bring us to deliver the bread to the huts. On the way to the huts, he said here is a prison of about 550 inmates. I told him that I am also involved in prison ministry and would like to minister to them but I had no approval from the Justice Minister. He told us that it was not a problem. He knows the guards and social worker there and they would be happy if someone comes and brings the Gospel to the inmates. I went right away to the prison and the guards and social worker were there and told us that we can the next day in the morning and start the service. That night, we returned to the church had a great service. A lot of people were delivered from the oppression of the devil and blessed with the Word of God. What a divine guidance! Bless the Lord when things don’t seem to go according to your plans and do not complain because He wants to bless many people through you. We wanted to bless one missionary and God led us to bless a multitude. The next day, we bought soap and bibles for the inmates and went to the prison as we setup with the director of prisons and the social worker. The social worker gave us a tour of the prison department and the inmates came to the prison yard and we ministered to them and handed them the goods. What a blessed day when God moved mightily in their hearts as holy changes, transformations and desires sprung up in them. Many of them surrendered their life to Jesus Christ and asked for forgiveness of their sins in the name of Jesus Christ. We share the Word of God and believe as Isaiah says: “For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10-11Our team did their part in preaching and we left the results to the Lord. He will continue to work in them with His good purpose. In the book of Isaiah, God said concerning his chosen people Israel, that he would give nations for them. Ethiopia was one of the countries that the Lord promised to give Israel but now He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, for the whole world to be saved. What a great promise all the nations of the world have.“For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee” Isaiah 43:3
On the way back to Addis Ababa, we were stopped by a herd of camels guided by an evil man that came to us with a sword and asked for money. I sensed that this man can do damage to the car and asked the pastor to give him some money at which the pastor said that this man belongs to a tribe of murderers with evil intentions. He gave 100 of local money and the man moved the herd of camels out of the way. We arrived to the airport after a night’s rest in the Queen of Sheba hotel which reminded us of how the Queen of Sheba heard of the wisdom of King Solomon and went to see him. One greater than Solomon is with us that we can show His wisdom and wonderful purpose that He has for the human being all over the world. God orchestrates a plan of Salvation throughout the bible like a puzzle and we see more and more as His purpose comes true as it approaches its end. The strength of a man is displayed by how many people he helped in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ – that who may not be in the position to repay the kindness. The apostle Paul has told us that when all other experiences and virtues of humanity have been left behind, Faith, Hope and Love remain – but the greatest of those is Love. We need to be challenged, to search for the ultimate love and happiness and never settle for anything less. May God make us worthy and able to carry the torch of His passion and inspiration everywhere we go. We give God all the Glory and Honor for the way He guided us and motivated us to return to the book of Acts. Amen.
As the year of 2011 comes to an end, we reflect at what the Lord did through our vessels. We can ask the question ‘How faithful we were with what the Lord had entrusted us?’ Before the end of the year, the Lord opened the door to bless many churches, ministers and children in Indonesia, Vietnam and Cambodia. The Christmas and New Year’s season is a time of giving and sharing the joy of the Lord and so we all wished to share this with other people and other believers in remote regions of our planet so that they can enjoy a warm and peaceful season in the Love of God. Therefore, together with the Hope Mission from Australia, we had the privilege to have a mission trip for the purpose of evangelism and charity in three countries of Asia. The teams consisted of the following:
All of us met in Jakarta, Indonesia and from there we flew to the Kalimantan Barat Jungle located on the west side of the Kalimantan Island in Indonesia. Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world where Islam is the main religion in Indonesia. Only 5% of Indonesians are Protestants and 3% are Roman Catholics. Christians are facing a lot of oppositions from the Muslim people and sometimes are martyrized. Christians in Indonesia live in fear. Hope Mission has started the work with children, youth, pastors and teachers on this island in about 18 villages. Locally, the Gloria Foundation is doing a great work in spreading the gospel and helping the Dayak tribe which was formerly a cannibal tribe on the Kalimantan Island.
The people living in these villages work only to survive by cultivating rice, collecting rubber paste from trees and others by farming palm trees. They earn about $4 a day which makes their lives very hard to survive. Children are very ignored, hungry, sick and left to care of themselves. The purpose of Hope Mission here was to encourage the church leaders to continue with the work that they had started to change the course of the new generations. For this purpose, they established schools to promote Christian and moral values and so the children may break the curse they inherited. Because of the church’s involvement and education a new generation of blessings is being raised up in a lot of villages. The Gloria Foundation is showing the villagers a practical example in working and creating jobs like chicken, fish and palm farming. Pastor Natanael Costea is doing a great work together with Gloria Foundation in sponsoring the schools and other projects. During this short trip, we visited villages
children with little gifts that Anna Lupancu prepared at home with the gifts she received from 46 youth in Chicago during her Gift Raising that she had setup as she planned for the mission trip. In the village of Purasak, Adriana Coroama, a Romanian missionary is presently working as an English teacher and hygiene teacher. She is a very devoted missionary which learned the Dayak language in only 10 months. She came there diagnosed with cancer but the Lord healed her completely. She also followed us throughout the entire mission trip.
During our mission trip in Indonesia, we lived at the headquarters of the Gloria Foundation and traveled from there to the other villages. We were happily welcomed by each village. The children from the villages sang with enthusiasm and passion which touched the entire team. Almost every child received a uniform and candy. After the service in each village, the pastors welcomed us in their poor home and offered us their best meals.
On Sunday, the 11
Vietnam is among one of the few communist countries. This is a country that was affected by the Vietnam War between North and South Vietnam (where the north won) and the whole country remained ruled by a communist government. In the recent years, small businesses have been established and approved by the government and grew very fast but in the rural area, people are very poor. The churches in Vietnam categorizes of two parts. Traditional churches with history of functionality which are approved and controlled by the government. Ethnic churches which function in people’s homes and are not approved and controlled by the government. These are illegal and are underground and have a lot of opposition from the government. A lot of underground churches were demolished and sometimes the leaders were imprisoned for three months for the preaching the gospel illegally. Pastor Natanael Costea was the first from the West to visit these underground churches. Some of them were in the isolated Mekong Delta. We started the ministry in Ho Chi Minh City formerly known as Saigon. We held a pastoral conference in a restaurant where due to the special celebration meeting about 46 pastors attended. The topics of the seminary were leadership, serving the Lord with devotion and power. The conference was from the morning until late evening. All the participants were blessed with a gift and paid expensed for transportation from the village where they came. Hope Mission is planning to do a project to equip the new generations of Christian workers. This center can be undercover as a small restaurant. This is one of the greatest needs for the new generation.
On Tuesday the 13th, the missionary team visited the church of Pastor David Nam which was the leader of the movement. For the following day, the mission team became very interested in visiting remote villages in Mekong Delta which is rich in fish and the soil is fertile. Nearby Can Tho City is a famous flooding market where agricultures bring their crops and all the transactions are done from one boat to another. In all of the Mekong Delta, there are over 70 underground churches and we visited some of them. We accessed each village by a small boat and we traveled mostly at night so we could not attracted attention as a big group of westerners. First night after a trip of six hours with the bus and one more hour with boat, we arrived to the first church in the Delta. Here the church of about 100 members was waiting for us. We shared the word of God and gifts. Next day, we visited another three churches all over crowded and very open to the gospel. We encouraged them to be strong in the Lord and to invest in a generation of workers which will continue in spreading the Gospel. This was the first time where such a large team visited these churches. Even the presence of the team transmitted the message that God loves knows, loves and uses them for His purpose. One man surrendered his life to Jesus and we prayed for him and gave him a Holy Bible. During our tour in the Mekong Delta, James, a young Vietnamese college graduate, decided to receive the baptism in water. He surrendered his life to Jesus four months ago and was filled with the Holy Spirit. His baptism was done without the attention of a lot of people and only our team and Pastor David witnessed the baptism. Most importantly he did the baptism before the Lord and fulfilled the commandment of Jesus:
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Mark 16:15-16
“The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.”1 Peter 3:21-22
In another service in a village of a remote area in the Mekong Delta another man also surrendered his life to Jesus Christ. We prayed for him and gave him the Holy Bible. The people from all the villages we visited responded with joy and proclaimed that it was such a great blessing for them. In one of the villages over one hundred children were waiting for us. This village is very poor with a lot of abandoned and orphaned children of which an elderly family took in some of them in their home and is taking care of them. Other Christian families are doing the same and raised them with a big sacrifice. Another day we visited a site named Cu Chi Tunnel from the time of the Vietnam War. We learned from them what the horrors of their war were. Lots of people lived underground during those times and fought for their lives and obtained their freedom from the south and their reunification of the country in April 30, 1975.
Khmer Rouge asked all Cambodians to believe, obey and respect only Angkar Padevat, which was to be everyone’s “mother and father”. One day we visited the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum which was formerly a high school in Phnom Penh known as Tuol Sleng. It was converted into a prison called S-21. More than 14,000 men, women and children passed through the gates of S-21 before being executed by the Khmer Rouge, their bodies dumped at Choeung Ek on the outskirts of town. In 1979, with the help from Vietnam, the country was liberated from the dictator Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge regime and is now enjoying peace and slow economic progress. Keeping the memory of the atrocities committed on Cambodia soil alive is the key to build a new strong and just society. Those that lived through that oppressed regime were severely traumatized by their experience.
From this historical platform, the country is rebuilding by a generation which desire to learn and make improvements. In the countryside, however, life is very difficult and people only earn enough to survive. Because of this, a lot of people moved to the city but the life in the city is very expensive. A lot of people are homeless and a lot of children are on the streets stealing and doing all kinds of immoral activities. Thousands of children are on the streets of the capital city, Phnom Penh. Because of these sad situations, a missionary from Malaysia by the name of pastor Bala, mobilized a family to start a small orphanage in Cambodia ten years ago. Now they have a facility where over a hundred children have food, shelter and school in the village of Ta Khmau. Here they also established a grammar school and a church in this facility. Pastor Bala came from a Hindu family and he was a Hindu priest before he was Christian. The Lord transformed his life and he has a passion for children ministry established in schools, kindergartens and churches. We encouraged the children to seek the Lord and have an encounter in the presence of Jesus who can change them and break the curses of their generation. We explained to them the importance and reason of the Christmas Holiday which is to focus on Jesus Christ who is the gift from God given to the world.“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” 1 John 3:16
Another objective we met was to visit the center o
