Paul Crisan: 2 Newsletter for August 2003,

NEWSLETTER 1

ORPHAN NEEDS: Recently 2 sisters from the girls orphanage called Zau de Campie came to our Dove House in Sangeorgiu de Padure. When they saw me they started to cry. They have been placed in an incredibly bad situation. When the European community forced Romania to close all the large orphan buildings and begin to place children in foster homes, these girls were sent to live with relatives. They told me there are 7 people living in the small one room house and they had not eaten in 3 days. I decided to let them eat at our house every day until the day center is finished in Sangeorgiu de Padure The day center, church for all and school for kids are being made for children just like these.
WORK CREWS: We have 250 young people from different parts of Europe working this summer. All of them came here to help us in 5 different projects. Four of these projects are church for all and school for kids. They are working very hard and we are seeing much accomplished.
SUMMER OF EVANGELISM: The evangelization in Brasav was wonderful as literally thousands came to the Jesus for salvation. Pray that the commitments to Christ that we saw there will be strong ones, and pray for the churches there also.
Just this month we were in a Gypsy village where no one asked me for food but hundreds of people asked for Bibles. This is a village where there is no money for food, yet they want to have a Bible and would buy one if they had the finances to do so. I cried when I saw this. To think that people are hungry for the Word of God more than for food. I know that with the right resources we can provide them with Bibles and maybe someone who reads this newsletter will buy them for us. We can purchase them here in Romania.
HEALTH NEEDS: My personal health has been greatly effected recently due to much stress and a need to care for my body in a particular way. Many know my testimony and how I was burned on 80% of my body when a kerosene lantern exploded in a church. The incident was arranged by the communist secret police. That, with much physical persecution by beatings and placing in jail, took a great toll on my body. They did not like it because I evangelized and was involved in a network for underground distribution of Bibles.
A few short years after that I was exiled to America but my life was not easier there. Even with all the blessings in America, and as we traveled from her coast to coast preaching God's Word, all I could think in my heart and mind was of my the Christian brothers and sisters along with my relatives that remained behind.
After the revolution I came back to Romania and had huge hope for political and spiritual change. We started with big crusades and saw many thousands give their lives to Jesus. Soon after, new free churches started. I call them free churches because the new converts were free in their spirit to begin a new work for God. This is because Romania was famous for having the biggest churches of tradition in all of Eastern Europe.
At this time I was very committed, both physically and emotionally, to the orphan children here. I saw how the devil tries to keep these children under suffering and oppression. The more I tried to help the children the more fight I had with the government. I worked very hard to help improve the orphan living conditions only for the government to change the system almost every six months. Once we would try to build something they would change the law and we would have to start all over.
All the changes and fighting to make better did badly effect my body both physically and emotionally. My skin became very damaged and last month I had much pain. Recently I started treatment in Bucharest that is very expensive since I do not have insurance. I go there every other week for the treatments. A few of our friends in America know my situation and helped me with prayers and finances. Please pray with me for my health as I believe God will heal me. Already I can see an improvement in my body.
Will this stop me? No, I declare it will not. I will continue the work for which I am called by God to do…Romania. Remember the two sisters from Zau? There are hundreds of tragic stories just like theirs. I can not rest until we have made a difference in them. We may not be able to feed them all, but the one or two or ten or hundred that we do feed will be changed for our Lord and Savior. They will be given a chance to be better because we cared for them. Please pray for every child from the orphanages who are so scared for their future, not knowing what will be there for them.
With your help we will be able to continue. We will provide food to the physically hungry and give Bibles to the spiritually hungry. With your help we will be able to build better lives for the hurting and lost. For the children who weep for a simple meal. We will continue and succeed because you allowed us to be there through your giving.
Thanks to all of you for your faithfulness and prayers. May God richly bless you.

In His service together,
Paul Crisan

NEWSLETTER 2 FOR AUGUST 2003

Dear sister Janine,

I would like to share with you about the many things that are happening here in Romania at this time. I will share about the children and ministry with the churches that we are doing for the summer. Many have asked about my health and so I will explain about that too.
REVIVAL: First I want to tell you about the wonderful revival we are experiencing. It is the biggest revival I have ever known in the Gypsy
community and no one has ever witnessed revival blessing as this. Two weeks ago I was preaching in a Gypsy church as many Romanian and Hungarian young people from the village came to receive Jesus into their hearts. 40 of these youth gave their lives to Jesus that night. This is exactly what I have looked for. Now revival has spread in the Gypsy churches across the whole
country. Praise the Lord for harvest time and please pray for continued revival and for souls for our Lord's Kingdom.
CHILDREN: I thank God for our children and for the ones He has given to us to provide and care for. I must say that this has been a particularly difficult time for them and for us. Our water heater at Sangeorgiu has broken and the children have been without hot water for over three weeks. It is difficult now but we know that soon the colder weather will come. Tests show that the limestone content in the water is very high and without a water softener it will happen again soon. To replace the water heater ($1,000) and buy a softener ($1,500 Euro) for it will be more than we will be able to provide.
The girls at Zau still do not have hot water since last winter. Almost all of this was provided already but we are still $2,200 short. Help us to pray for these things so we might be able to help these children through the most difficult time of their young lives.
We have been working very hard on the school projects and "church for all" projects. Since the government decided to close down all the big orphan facilities the children have been placed in small homes. Many of these home are too small and poor to have the children. Their education was effected and this insures that poverty will remain in their families. We are working to help change that with the programs. Also we will be able to lead them to Jesus. That is why we call it a "day center for children" because help them with school and teach them about Jesus. Almost all these children are coming from the Gypsy community, which are the poorest people in Romania.
CONDITIONS: This summer has been hot and very dry. Romania seems to be the hottest in all of Europe at this time. The heat has compromised the agriculture as many lakes and rivers have become very dry. The Danube River has not been this low with water in over 160 years. Many electric plants that depend on the water flow could be shut down which will make the cost of electricity to much to pay for many. God can bring the rain that we need so badly. Please pray with me that this will soon change.
PRAY FOR PROVISION: Help me pray that we will be able to buy an apartment for the girls after 18 years old. When they come out of the orphanages they have no place to stay and rent is very expensive now. To me this is a most tragic thing and it burns my heart to just think about them. Can you imagine a girl that has food and shelter one day and the next day is placed in the street with nothing and no hope for the future? This is why my heart hurts for them. I see them cry because of fear about their future. We intend to
keep them in an apartment during a transition time, until they can be integrated into society with a job and salary. Yes, my heart weeps for them and I hear the words of our Lord say " even as you have done unto the least of these my children you have done unto me"
MY HEALTH: I want to thank everyone who supports my medical treatments. I want you to know my health has improved. Recently my doctor told me that I must stay at least for 2 weeks out of stress, problems related to stress and away from the phone. Those of you that know me know how difficult that is here. She recommended a place for me to go in Harghita County for complete rest. At this time I can not go there because of the finances. It will cost $70 per day to be there. I promised I would go there if the funding is provided.
This is hard for me to do because I feel that Jesus is coming very shortly and there is so much to do. I do realize that I must and so I am willing to do it.
September 11 is coming shortly and I want you all to know I will be praying f or you and for America and the families that lost so very much. Through all of this America remains number one in the world. I know the enemy of our soul is angry because America is the key in spreading the gospel to the entire world and God is with America. Please remember the words of Isaiah in chapter 54 verse 17. ?No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accused you. This is the heritage of the
servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me