Open Doors in Medgidia
 Beti
and I are very excited about the doors that the Lord has opened on
numerous fronts here in Medgidia. Quite a number of the city officials and
city hall employees have welcomed us to work along with them in
alleviating the illiteracy and poverty which abounds here. We have been
able to speak about the Lord and pray with quite a number of these civil
servants.
Sister Beti, visiting a poor
family in Mamuth Bay, Medgidia
Many
children here have never gone to school or have dropped out. Some children
are used by their parents to beg and scrounge garbage dumpsters for food
and recyclable like plastic bottles to sell or to be used as fuel for
cooking and heating their homes. If children are not properly clothed and
wearing shoes they are not allowed to attend school classes. Many of the
parents are uneducated. Therefore, they do not value education, hence
children are not compelled to attend. Some of the children have very
little to eat so their attention span and ability to learn is greatly
impaired. Often children have only white bread, void of nutrition, meal
after meal. These children are greatly debilitated and feel like sleeping
as this helps them deal with their hunger.
 Another
reason why some children cannot go to school, or their parents cannot get
any social assistance, is that many marriages and births are not
registered. Legally, these people do not exist. Some children are married
according to Turkish tradition as young as nine years old. In Romania the
legal marrying age is eighteen for boys and sixteen for girls. In order to
accommodate these baby marriages they use the names of relatives who are
in their majority instead of using the children's names. To some people
this will sound unbelievable, but it's true. Sorting out this mess is
truly a challenge which we are tackling head-on in co-operation with the
social services department of city hall. We have been identifying children
who have fallen through the cracks of the system or never got into the
system, its time for light at the end of a long tunnel.
On several fronts the Lord has opened doors for us to bring
long-term change and give hope to the hopeless. There is no condition
worse than to have no hope. Generation after generation these people have
lived in an increasingly more hopeless state. Jesus has come that we
"might have life and that more abundantly." The Lord has given us numerous
volunteers who are faithfully teaching the children about the Bible,
worship songs, how to pray, personal hygiene, interacting within a
multicultural group, and self realization to name a few. We have been able
to distribute a limited amount of food as well as clothing and shoes to
children and families throughout the community.
 Praise
the Lord that we are continually finding more open doors to people who are
desperate and we have the privilege of being the instruments of God's
unconditional love. Often we have been asked, "isn't it hard to reach the
Moslem people?" Our answer is that the Love of God breaks every barrier,
and everyone will eventually recognize it when they are genuinely loved.
Yes we are using material aid to alleviate suffering, but it is by the
grace and love of Christ that the hearts are opening to the eternal light,
and life.
carrying home sunflower stalks for firewood
For all who are moved by the Holy Spirit we request your
earnest prayers for the needs that are continually facing us. We have a
number of projects underway which will require substantial funds to
implement and operate. Our God shall supply all our needs and we invite
you to be partners in this ministry. We only ask that you do what He bids
you do. Should you wish to come in person to see and minister, you are
most welcome and encouraged to do so.
Love and blessings to all, your servants in the ghetto.
Hardi and Beti Maduta-Kubassek
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The
Second Baptist Church from Constanta has been planting a church in the
village of Tuzla, just south of Constanta, over the past five years.
In
September a team of construction workers from Canada came to Romania to
complete the framing, roofing, siding, and interior framing. The building
is now waiting for windows and doors and interior finishing. 
Thanks
for your prayers and generous donations for the Gradinaru family from
Tortomanu, Romania …