As you can see from the pictures, the boys practiced their man skills by splitting more wood.  Renee and Chloe helped finish organizing the supply closet, and the others cleaned all the cabins.

Before lunch we had a special visit from Debbie's friend, Pastor Costi.  He pastors the church in Turnu Rosu, the small village we have been visiting each day.  I don't think I can begin to do justice to his incredible stories but I will do my best.  

One of the things Cesesceu banned during his years in power was the Bible.  If a person was caught with one it might just be confiscated, but if you were found distributing them it meant prison and possibly other punishments.  Pastor Costi was given his first New Testament Bible at age 17, and it changed his life forever.  He realized it was his responsibility to share the gospel found in that Bible, and also make sure others had an opportunity to own one.  As a young college student he joined a team of Bible smugglers. He would carry two suitcases to a train station, board the train, and meet someone along the road at a specific stop along the route.  They had a secret code of conversation to signify who was there to receive the Bibles.  He never knew his name, where he was going, or where he was from.  The reason for that is so if they were ever caught by the police they could never implicated any of the other Bible smugglers.  He did this at great risk to himself and his family, and has many stories of God's protection and provision during those years.  

A volunteer in 1998 with Heart of Hope Ministries felt God direct him to support a church in Turnu Rosu, so he funded the building of Pastor Costi's church.  It didn't happen easily, or quickly because the community did not want a Christian church in their city center.  Whatever they built during the day was torn down at night. It took two years to finally built it but it never received final government authorization, but he has never been bothered or asked by government officials to provide proof of the required authorization.

He has now earned the respect of people in the community by being the hands and feet of Christ.  He visits the sick, those suffering loss, prays for them, and meets their needs to the best of his ability. There are no obligations or expectations, they do not have to attend church, he simply loves them unconditionally as Christ loves His church. 

We have been inspired and amazed by the faithfulness and courage of Pastor Costi.  He was our living example of this week's theme of the fruits of the spirit.