from "draught" to "flood"

Snow and early dusk plus low temperatures was part of the challenge in loading this truck yesterday (Dez. 27).
We only had 24 hours to gear up to loading this truck. Fortunately I had most of the permits on hand. But we "lost" 2 computers trying to get the paper work done! This truck was loaded on Dec. 24th.
How often have I mentioned our prayer need for transportation of aid?
Our ware-house was getting pretty much to maximum capacity - with a high volume of donations coming in. But here it was stuck due to a critical shortage of trucks.

In Romania, the average monthly wage is anywhere from 200 - 300 US Dollars. Therefore many west European countries are investing in factories and "sweat shops" in Romania. They send the raw materials or parts to Romania where they are assembled or manufactured and then returned to Germany for quality control and marketing.
This has led to a shortage in transportation, as these companies guaranty loads going and coming. Also, there is little problems with customs, as the weekly loads in both directions are rather similar.

But at Christmas, this otherwise well greased pendula got out of synch, so a good number of Romanian trucks were grounded as there was no return load to Romania.

SO we ordered the first truck which arrived on December 24th (!!).
As the 24th is the day of church services and pagents, most folks told me they would not be able to come and help load. All the same, the LORD burdened 13 men to show, one even came directly from night shift to be the main loading man!!

We did run into a serious snag, though! Our ware-house computer (notebook) decided to die. Fortunately the battery held long enough to secure the data-base. I took the machine to the shop today, but the bad news is: the thing is beyond repair (unless I am willing to fork over 900$).

I have a back-up computer we use for various ministries - and it "died" as well. Again we were able to save the data-base a second time, before the "lights went out". Fortunately the computer itself is ok, I had to buy a replacement for the power supply.
To get the truck packed and proper paper work accomplished, I drove home and fetched my private computer - and we were able to send the truck off at 5 PM.
As this company was not able to obtain an Austrian permit, the driver has to return via Poland - Ukraine - Romania!

A half hour after faxing the contract to the first company, the company we usually work with informed me that they had 2 trucks "grounded". I could only load one.
It came on Tuesday at about 2 PM. Again the LORD provided us with 10 helpers, but also allowed a snow storm.
All the same, the truck was loaded at 6 PM - and by the time the paper work finally came through the printer, the truck could leave at 9 PM.

I was kind of amazed at the fact, that the LORD allowed us to sit on all that stuff for three months! The way things turned out, both loads will be delivered right in the middle of two flood devastated areas.
Both churches have planned an outreach to the most needy in the community.
Last week, our German partner mission, Evangeliumsmission, donated about one ton of Romanian childrens bibles and evangelistic calenders.

So, we are a little worn out - but deeply satisfied that these trucks will be in the country before the Romanian Christmas, which is in the first week of January.

Again - thank-you for your prayers!

Mark

pray for a dear friend

Today a longtime friend informed us that his 17 year old son had tried to commit suicide.
The fellow had an accident involving a industrial tree shredder losing an arm.
We all thought had was doing fine, and was trying too hard to act "normal" often wearing out his artificial arm.

For no apprent reason he shot himself in the lungs - but could be hospitalized before bleeding to death.
This was Friday. He is in a special hospital in Basel, Switzerland at this time.
His immediate condition is stabilized, but nobody is giving an prognosis what effect the self inflicted dammage will have on him.

So we ask you uphold our dear friends Klaus and Verena as they grieve over this totally unexpected shock groping with the issue: "What now?"

Pray with us that the LORD will give us the love and wisdom to be available to the LORD's working in Micha's life, as all of us are pondering what avenue of ministry we can avail ourselves for to Mica's benefit!

gearing up to new transports

The last two weeks were slave weeks! The two collection points netted close to 20'000 pounds, and I have quite a bit of furniture that needs packing.

A friend from Romania asked me to help a church near Linz, Austria, that was putting a truck together. They were shy of 10'000 poinds.
I told them I would deliver. What often happens in these cases is that on final notice someone will come through with high volume. THis is what happened here near Linz. Now they have about 8000 pounds they are hoping I could come and pick up. But we are talking 1200 miles round trip - and our ware-house is bursting at the seams now!

After a number of emails back and forth we decided the most efficient solution is that we order a truck for their mission/local church in Harghita, Romania. This church is ministering to flood victims. The needs are staggering!

As of today I have the following request:
1 x 18-wheeler (we call them 40 ton trucks) for Onesti (flood victims)
1 x 18 wheeler for a transport of everything you need to start a book store for Targoviste, where a Christian books store and meeting point is to be errected. Available left over space will be filled with house-hold items, clothing etc.
1x 18 wheeler for Harghita (flood victims)
1x 18 wheller for Sibiu area also loaded for a Bible school in northern Romania (furniture, matresses)

Then Onesti and Harghita would each appreciate 2 more 19 wheeler!

My problem?
Money? We have enough to send three trucks at this time.
Material? - We have enough to send the three trucks we can pay for at this time.
Machine - YES: I am having a real problem finding transportation!

All I can ask for is PRAYER as we are scanning the market for transportation.

I am not the only person with transportation problems!
A friend of mine found a orange grove in southern Italy that wholesells large quantities of "natural oranges" at cut rate prices.
Every year he ships them up to Austria, Switzerland and Germany where they are mostly sold through local churches on a "order and buy" basis.
The profit goes to a Christian radio station and mission that is effecitvely reaching many in mafia infested areas with the Gospel of Christ!
Now - even he is having the time of his life scrounging around for transportation of his oranges.

All the same, I want to stay away of buying my own trucks, as we would need an extra 20'000 $ annually to keep a "big one" on the road!

This way - we squeeze in the ware-house, comfort those waiting on the receiving end, and jump as soon as we can get our hands on a rig!

collection point Kandern

Yesterday we had a collection point here in Kandern.
It was very well received, and a good dozen of the members of the local church here pitched in to help with packing the boxes. We packed about 160. There is still more to pack, and I am hoping that enough will show on Monday to finish the work.
I was again impressed with Lukas (12) who did most of the loading into the truck!
Also, Andrea, the pastor's wife provided calenders and other literature which Klaus distributed among the donors. They were very well received!

Today I preach in a church about 10 miles from where I live. They intend to open a collection point in their facility next year.

A collection point offers an outreach to the community. People bring their clothes, shoes, house-hold items etc. and meet Christians. Many have questions and even some come to help with packing - offering us much time to communicate.
As you might remember, last week I was able to share the Gospel with 9 people.
Yesterday I was responsible for the entire operation, but did spend some time with about 6 people.

Now I am praying for enough help to finish all the packing on Monday as well as turn the rooms back into their original condition.

long time no hear!!

Dear friends,
this is just to let you know that I remember that I have a blog!
November saw me in Romania - and I have many pictures to prove it! The LORD greatly blessed us there, and I return back with great vision and perspectives for the at least next five years!
Then I was in Singen, a city on lake Constance (Bodensee) where we had an aid collection drive with enormous turnout. I was able to share the gospel with 9 people during the day. I spent Sunday there as well and attended two services - spoke in one of them.
Two days ago we sent another truck to Latvia!
There will be a collection drive in Kandern on Saturday - and next week we are hoping for the truck we ordered four weeks ago to deliver much needed aid to flood victims in Romania.

So - I will try very hard as often as I can to share the marvelous interventions of our LORD in the last 35 days - as well as keep you up to date with current developments.

For today our most pressing prayer need is for a truck to haul a load to Romania a.s.a.p.!

In His grip!

Mark