In my latest newsletter I included a personal account of the Prayer Mission in Romania from one of the team members. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to include the whole article, so here it is in all its glory. The writer, Alex Heavyside (Wales) hasn’t done much writing before, but I think you’ll agree, she has a gift!
“On Saturday 8th September, greetings accomplished, a ‘fairly’ normal group of people boarded Wizz Air flight W6742 from Luton to Bucharest. Having found seats they quietly and respectfully watched the cabin crew perform their obligatory safety demo. A week later the same people boarded the return flight fending off all comers in order to sit near each other, loudly applauding the safety demo and resisting extreme tiredness in order to make the most of the remaining time they had together.
What happened to them? These are the reflections of one member of that team.
Never having been on a prayer mission my good friend Julie and I ‘found’ ourselves stepping well outside our comfort zone to join a week long prayer mission to South East Romania. “Outside your comfort zone? Not a problem; it’s fine,” we are reassured by Marilyn Wagstaff, the mission prayer leader, “Let’s do some damage!” Of course she is right: God is not in the business of tripping us up when we step out and trust Him and those to whom He gives the authority and anointing to lead us. Many times was this demonstrated during the week.
Alex & Julie in action
The Lord most certainly has given authority and anointing to Marilyn who faithfully led us out in spiritual warfare and intercession right to the end of the week, even when there was more than a little tiredness felt by all.
The ‘Bedworth’ ladies (Marilyn, Elaine, Georgina, & Judith – NLI prayer missions coordinator & unfortunate person who had overall responsibility for all practical aspects of the trip) ‘prophets’ from Birmingham (Ian & Jan) wise, insightful, and good people of Burnley (Jon & Marilyn) together with the Cardiff contingent (Julie & Alex) set out with the desire to see God’s kingdom in S. E. East Romania advance in the heavens and on the earth.
Jan & Ian
Jon & Marilyn
Three wise persons (no sex discrimination here!) joined us at Bucharest airport having travelled afar, (very) from New Zealand (Peter, Miriam, & Alfred) along with three Romanian team members (now dear friends) without whom the whole thing would not have been possible – our outstanding translator and liaison person Iulia, and our ever cheerful and tireless drivers over hundreds of miles to scores of destinations, Iulia’s husband Mitica and his brother Veo: Thanks a million times over guys.
Mitica, Peter, Miriam & Iulia
So with the team complete we started our journey to Constanta having eaten at Ikea. Yes, Ikea! This is not a typing error. How surreal is this? You get off a plane in Eastern Europe, prepare yourself for the challenge of unfamiliar food, and then find you have the choice of Swedish meatballs or salmon for tea!
Sunday was spent feeling very much at home in the company of the Good News Church (BBV) church Constanta, worshiping and being refreshed ready for the start of the business that we came for. Oh yes, we also had to be ‘orientated’ but it wasn’t too painful!
Monday morning, equipped for the day by our daily devotional, we set out to visit places where a church plant had been started. Our only ‘weapons’ being the ones that God put in our hands. Some were given authority to bind up spiritual powers; some, authority to declare scriptures; some, powerful imagery that was spoken into lives; sometimes we anointed with oil; some, praying for the sick; some, a spiritual song or melody.
Ministry in Old Constanta with Church Planter Matthew (2nd from left)
Seeking to use these things we focused on places, spiritual powers and the people who God has moved to carry out His work in those areas. We met many wonderful, strong, hard working, yet gentle and humble Romanian people. All the places we visited were different. God moved greatly in both the Constanta area, and the Galati area where we were based in the second part of the week.
By the end of the week, much had been learned. The laughter of friendships forged and strengthened, alternating with the tears of compassion felt for homeless people (from children to the elderly), flood victims, the sick, and prostitutes.
It was an exceptional time in my journey with God, as sadly my Dad had died three weeks before the mission having been ill for some months. Through the prayers of my church and friends, and reassurance from the Lord that He was taking care of my relatives, I felt His healing, His peace and an assurance that by His Spirit He would use me on the trip if I allowed Him to. I know that He gently used a vulnerable time in my life to touch others. God worked through me in a particular way at a particular time. Likewise I’m certain He used each of the unique circumstances and gifting of everyone on the trip as we responded to the urging of God’s Spirit. I will never be in those exact circumstances again. I’m so glad and thankful that God gave me this opportunity to serve Him.
So it was a sad time when we had to leave our new friends from New Zealand and Romania and return to the UK. But we left enriched by what God had done and blessed with new friends. I just hope that the Wizz Air flight attendants did not take too long to recover from the interesting bartering techniques they encountered for the in-flight sales………….!”
Bedtime devotions!
If you want to know more about how to become part of an exciting prayer adventure in Romania or Slovakia in 2008, please contact me at…
judith.linnell@nlieurope.com
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Julie in Roath park
Alex, Julie & me
Alex, Julie & me
Porthcawl ‘Grand’ Pavilion
Castell Caerfili
Porthcawl ‘Grand’ Pavilion
Castell Caerfili
Caerfili – looking all ‘arty’
Caerfili – looking all ‘arty’
Uncategorized | Judith | 
October 23, 2007 10:06 am | 
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