Update: EC's in L'Viv & Iasi
Greetings from Iasi, ROMANIA. The week-long English Club (EC) we did in L'Viv, UKRAINE is over and the two-week EC here in Iasi has just begun.
Thanks so much for praying for us throughout last week. EC L'Viv was incredible. We had 3 classes with about 20 students each plus 3-4 Student Volunteers (SV's), 1-2 CRU Staff and 2 American teachers. Each American led discussion groups of 10-12 all week. Each evening there was an hour of vocabulary, idioms and general discussion about the topic followed by an hour of reading through and interacting on a related parable or miracle of Jesus. Then we had an optional hour of games for those who wanted to stay and play - one night about 40 stayed. Our goal is always to spend as much time with them as possible.
Each American had 8 one-hour tutor times with a student and a CRU SV during which we would each draw and share our life map. This afforded us the opportunity to share & explain the story of how Jesus changed our lives in a very natural context. It was the highlight of the week for me. Sasha was with me and SV Katia for tutor time on Friday. Sasha had signed up for EC, attended the interview but been rejected due to lack of space for more than 60 students. But she met with us and heard our stories, and at the end we took a photo together. We invited her to the American party which was Saturday. Sasha not only came and had a great time at the party but she brought me a gift - this drawing of Sasha & me. We had only spent an hour together but she spent several hours sketching us to show her appreciation. WOW - how humbling and such a blessing.
Please pray for these 60 new students who attended EC L'Viv that they will be open to meeting with CRU Staff & SV's during the follow up process, stay involved with CRU, and that GOD will draw many of them into a personal relationship with Jesus.
My transition from EC L'Viv to EC Iasi was quite interesting. The bus from Rzeszow, Poland to L'Viv, Ukraine on Sunday 10 March took about 4.5 hours. However, returning from L'Viv to Rzeszow Sunday 17 March took 10.5 hours. Fortunately, I arrived just in time to catch my flight from Rzeszow to Warsaw, and then to Bucharest and even got an earlier flight into Iasi. From L'Viv to Iasi took 21 hours - it was a long day but GOD was so gracious and faithful to meet every need along the way.
Our two-week EC Iasi, ROMANIA began last night (Monday 18 March) at 6:30 pm local time - 12:30 pm East Coast time. Although 131 students had signed up, 75 actually came last night to join our 4 CRU Staff and 5 Americans - 2 of whom live locally here in Iasi. Things went well and we will have 3 more nights of class this week, a weekend retreat in the mountains including two EC lessons & the American party, 4 nights of class next week concluding with the Romanian celebration next Friday. There will be lots of time with the students and lots of opportunities to teach English and share Jesus so please pray that GOD's purposes will be accomplished in the lives of each of us. Thanks!
with love and appreciation,
Steve & Shelia
for the team
PS Please pray also for our colleague Debbie who was with Steve in L'Viv last week and who is now in Romania doing a one-week EC in Cluj this week and in Timisoara next week. Thanks