Leaving Philippines

Two weeks ago I left Vancouver for Palawan Island in Philippines. Before falling asleep in the long 14 hour flight, I remember praying in Bob Pierce’s famous words “Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God”. As I now write these lines from Manila’s airport on the way back to Vancouver, I can definitely return having the sense of being broken by what I have seen in Palawan: poverty, need, hospitality and faithfulness things that break the heart of God.

Along the past two weeks I had the privilege to see scarcity as I never saw before, meet people that I never met before, speak to the Palawan Association of Bible Churches, visit and encourage about 13 churches, notice suffering at levels yet new to me, speak to tribes that I never knew existed and meet a variety of pastors and deacons. All of these in a dusty awful truck (or sometimes traveling by pamboat) hovering an area of about 400 kilometers of bad, tough country road.

I have returned with a new sense of understanding my culture and God’s calling for us, those happening to live in one of the most blessed countries in the world. We are here to demonstrate God’s love in practice. They are not forgotten. We are here to minister to them, and with them to take Palawan for Christ. We invite you our donors to join with us again in this wonderful opportunity. God works, but thorough us.

Mission Insights: ready for the Philippines

In just two days I will head to Philippines, and I am looking forward to another great adventure with God. My missionary focus will be this time for tribes of Tagbanua and Palwanon in the island of Palawan.

Few insights about the Philippines: The official name of the country is actually Republic of the Philippines. It's a mountainous country made up of 7107 islands. Here there are an amazing 79 provinces. About 88 million Filipino people live here, made up of a number of ethnic groups, including Tagalog, Cebuano and Ilocano. As you might guess, the languages are varied too. There are two official languages - Filipino (which is based on Tagalog) and English. But there are many other dialects used, such as, again, Tagalog, Cebuano and Ilocano, and five others. It's not surprising that things like sugarcane, rice and coconuts grow here, but you may have seen a lot of other things in the store from the Philippines. Major industries include assembling electronics, clothing, and various chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

Our mission’s focus started more than 20 years ago and it developed to a virtual network of churches and pastors that cover most of the Palawan Island. I am looking forward to a few challenges: visiting remote tribes, meeting pastors in the lower plain and speaking at the annual Association of the Baptist Bible Churches of Palawan conference. This year’s topic is “Be a blessing”. Any ideas how can we be a blessings? Share with me on Facebook...

2010 - Time for a change... again??

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV)

It's the end of 2009 and the start of 2010 so I’m thinking about change... again! For those of you who think about resolutions, please note that I am not a big fan of them. I think that we generally don't follow them anyway. When we really resolve to do something to change our lives, it is usually at a time in our life when we are to the point that we see the need for change and we have the proper conditions. Apostle Paul was great on pressing ahead. He saw his need to change in relation to the heavenly prize.

I'm always for anything to change for better my life and relationships with the Lord. When it boils down to it, bettering ourselves as Christians involves bettering our relationships with God. We have to draw closer to Him before we can improve our Christian lives and our dedication toward people.

Sometime ago I’ve heard that when missionary Dr. David Livingstone was working in Africa, a group of friends wrote him: “We would like to send other men to you. Have you found a good road into your area yet?” Dr. Livingstone sent this message in reply: “If you have men who will only come if they know there is a good road, I don’t want them. I want men who will come if there is no road at all.”

There’s a big difference between just being interested in doing something and actually changing yourself doing it. Just being interested allows us the freedom do a thing only when our circumstances permit. However, making a commitment to change means accepting no excuses and no reservations — it means putting aside our fears and uncertainties and moving forward as Apostle Paul. Dr. Livingstone was looking for results, and this required men of commitment!

We've all got to live the Christian life just one day at a time. That in turn will cause us to have that change in our Christian life that we all so greatly need. Just live better for God, day by day, hour by hour, moment by moment and that will add up to our best for Him not only for this New Year but for our entire lives as well. With 2010 under way, let’s make some commitments! Our Lord, our families, our jobs and our churches are awaiting us!

Missionary Books

Books changing lives: ‘Building a People of Power’ by Robert Linthicum

Today my friend Gary Klassen from World Vision recalled Linthicum’s book “Building a People of Power” as one of the books that can change lives. All of a sudden I remembered reading it a couple of years ago. I definitely agree with Gary, this book is powerfully and passionately written and can shake some people out of the their established ground.

“Building a People of Power” the follow-up of Linthicum’s equally challenging book “Empowering the Poor”, provides a careful and thorough study of Biblical power and yet remains accessible for most readers. In twelve chapters Linthicum strives to call the church to follow Christ’s example in ministry by being a transformational agent in the world. This call starts first with a correct image of shalom. As he sees it, shalom is the theology of Israel and the early church: it is celebration and good management of the blessings of God; it is deliverance from suffering and oppression. Shalom goes far beyond lack of war concept to the individual-focused transformation that many churches embrace. Therefore, the church must be about transforming all of creation. And this sort of transformation requires wielding power: liberating, transformational, relational, and redemptive power.

Linthicum book is not difficult and provides scriptural and theological support for his arguments and gives readers many examples. The book is full however of philosophical and theological discussions. I found the practical and hands-on advices and tips very useful too. If you start reading it, be prepared to be challenged, inspired, and encouraged. Even more, be prepared to put Linthicum’s ideas into action.

I wholeheartedly recommend “Building a People of Power” for serious Christian practitioners. Our faith has to grow feet and hands to serve the world in need.

NEW PICTURES!

Back from Romania with a lot of new pictures. Press here to check them out!

Does suffering have any significance for Christian life?

Have you ever asked yourself about the significance of suffering in your own life? If God is good, why are we still suffering? Is there any eternal gain in my suffering?
Well there is a lot to be said... However, if you want few answers, here is one of my latest (Romanian) sermons on the significance of suffering in believer's life.

Lots of thanks to the RBC Portland technical team who recorded the event.

December news

Dear friends and family,

Greetings to all of you again from Vancouver, Canada!

We are getting close to the celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the end of 2007. If you are anything like us, you are probably astonished by the rapidity of changing of times. We are already in December and we are already very late in keeping you updated with the latest news of our family.

Experiencing the joy of Christmas we remember that the coming of Christ meant that God would became man, taking human form. However, Christ not only did that but also humbled himself until the cross for us. (Philippians 2:7) Augustin in De Trintate remarked so wonderful that "The maker of man became man that He ruler of the stars might be nourished at the breast, that He the bread might be hungry, that He the fountain might thirst, that He the light might sleep, that He the way might be wearied in the journey, that He the truth might be accused by false witnesses, that He the judge of the living and the dead might be brought to trial by a mortal judge, that He justice itself might be condemned by the unjust, that He discipline personified might be scourged with a whip, that He the foundation might be suspended on a cross, that He courage incarnate might be weak, and He security itself might be wounded, and He life itself might die."

This year we all have seen how God worked wonderfully in our lives. Starting with my Master’s graduation (George) from Regent College in May, continuing with the opening of a new vision for the English ministry in North America with Surrey Chinese Baptist Church starting with August and ending with the most recent completion of our legal status in Canada in October. All these events, adding our anniversary and all children’s birthdays are a constant reminder of God’s blessings that are not stopping for us, but rather renew every year.

Nicoleta is very involved alongside with me in the English ministry of our church. She is helping a lot with the children and Sunday school activities. Very recent she finished a prerequisite for starting the nursing school in January 2008 – her dream so far. For now she is also working.

Our children have grown up a lot. We realize this only when comparing older pictures. This year we have seen a better adaptation to the Canadian schooling system. Joshua is getting closer to his Romanian school performances. Timeea is very friendly and very much integrated with her friends from church and school. They both remember their friends in Romania and keep connected. George-Philip grew a lot too. He is the one who speaks mostly English in our family although we keep talking to him in Romanian.

Compared to the last year's situation, the present development looks more stable and settled. However we are all praying and building ‘great’ plans for future. Undoubtely there are a lot of challenges for the next year. We have not forgotten the Muslim’s muezzin call to prayer… is the wake up call of missions for the entire Christian world. We wish that we should get more involved in international mission alongside our church. Nicoleta’s deep wish is to finish the nursing’s school, and I would wish to have the opportunity to continue my studies in missiology. We subject all of these to our God’s will. May that He would work according to His will….

Please pray with us so that:

- Nicoleta will start and finish the nursing school with success.

- that the involvement of our church (Surrey Chinese Baptist Church) in external mission will grow.

- that God will open new possibilities for me to further studies in missiology.

To all of you MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

With love,

George, Nicoleta si Iosua, Timee si George-Philip DUMITRASCU

Happy Birthday, Nicoleta!

Last month, on July 19 exactly, our Nicoleta turned another corner celebrating another birthday... Her actual age remains a secret shared only by the figures of her birthday cake.

We have celebrated her birthday in family and we had a great time together. If you want more details, I can probably say that we had an ice cream cake (and yes, the rose was pink), the children were exemplary good and nice, the house was sparkling clean and the food was Greek.

For seeing more pictures with us please check the family pictures link. If you want us to enjoy your pictures as well, please do not forget to keep in touch with us and send over your pictures. We will also enjoy seeing all of you.

GRADUATION PHOTOS!

For Regent Graduation Photos please go online at http://picasaweb.google.com/gdumitrascu/GraduationAtRegent

Hope you enjoy!

George

Stones.....

I wrote last time about getting close to the real finish... well, now is done. I am finished. This last week I had my last exam, another week before that I handed in my last paper. Now... it is done. The next big event will be my graduation ceremony here in Vancouver at the Broadway Church. Few friends will hopefully join us in celebrating this big event.

In moments as these, I tend to look back and remember. It seems like these two years have passed to quick.... Regent's 'hard food' challenged everything in me. I think I rushed too fast finishing in two years this program that normally takes three years. Some of the consequences are clearly seen: stress and loss of eyesight. Children have truly missed me...i do look back sometime, and the ministry in Bacau looks so far... Albania it seems even farther.... very soon these years at Regent will take their place in the remembrance line ...

However, we can not look back without recognizing God's small and big miracles. Nicoleta's part time job that helped us to survive financially, our small townhouse with subsidized rent, difficult moments that were changed to victory in God's hands. Thank you Lord! None of these would have been ever possible without your miraculous intervention.

Hard and radical questions are haunting my mind: who am I now, what am I going to do now, and probably the most important - "were these years worth at all???" It is in this context that I remember the image of the last chapel. Curious enough, the professor who spoke brought few stone with him. His main point was that each of us collect stones: we do throw stones to each other, use them as stumbling stones, use them as remembrance stones (as Abraham did)... or use them to build a house.... Well, I guess I would like rather build that house than throw them in others. Let me think.... yeah, I could rather use them for a different type of house, the eternal one!

Well this is all about us for the moment. More news and pictures after graduation.

Blessings!
George Dumitrascu

Mission and Trinity

I am getting close on finishing the comp paper. Finally! Mission is the motor that has driven me so far, it was my hidden mountain - my own exploration worth a life time. However, arriving there I realize there is something else - a even larger mystery, the hidden treasure -the Trinity. God eternally exists as three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and each person is fully God, and there is one God. (Grudem) .

Ever since Willingen 1952 mission rediscovered its Trintarian focus: mission is not ours, it is not something that I can do for God, rather is God's and God's alone. People are being called by the triune God in the love-relationship with Him, while we Christians are joining our God in His mission. John Piper describes this as : "within the triune Godhead (Father, Son, and holy Spirit), God has been uppermost in His own affections for all eternity. Therefore, God has been supremely happy in the fellowship of the trinity." (Desiring God, p.33).

I am thrilled by dipping into Trinity: relation, perichoresis and love. However, above all, “To know this God, who both condescends to share all that we are and makes us share in all that He is in Jesus Christ, is to be lifted up in His Spirit to share in God’s own self-knowing and self-loving until we are enabled to apprehend Him in some real measure in Himself beyond anything that we are capable of in ourselves. It is to be lifted out of ourselves, as it were, into God, until we know Him and love Him and enjoy Him in His eternal Reality as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in such a way that the Trinity enters into the fundamental fabric of our thinking of Him and constitutes the basic grammar of our worship and knowledge of the One God”(Thomas F. Torrance, The Ground and Grammar of Theology, 155).

Lord, help me to understand what I can understand from Trinity... it will probably remain a mystery... but... help me....

Celebrating love, we celebrate the nativity...
Christ was born defying the darkness,
Embodying the light.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND
A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

With love,
George, Nicoleta,
Joshua, Timeea and George Jr.
DUMITRASCU

Reflections on Thomas Cranmer's "The Book of Common Prayer"

Last week I had a personal half-day retreat by reading the Thomas Cranmer’s prayers, daily and night offices enlisted in the “The Book of Common Prayer”.
One of the fist challenges that I had was to silence my heart and, as I was in the middle of different papers and projects, stretching to meet deadlines, such thing was not easy. My mind was overflowing with words and daily activities flashes, but I wanted to approach the spiritual exercise with silence, focusing on God. Gradually, as I continued to wait upon God, I came to understand that the issue of silence –ie, absence of words– is more than taking a break, or just not speaking. It was a matter of surrender, letting go the wordiness of the heart and trying to set myself in a position were I could hear my own heart and God’s very words to me.
Starting to focus on “The Book of Common Prayer”, I sought to be driven to contemplate God through the words that I was reading. I was impressed by the multitude of prayers, for every occasion and every moment of the day and the depth of feelings expressed. Many of Cranmer’s prayers were a very good reflection of my own very inner feelings. In the same time, I realized that I am learning to pray things I would probably never have thought to say on my own.
Thomas Cranmer prayed: “And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up ourselves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days”. I have reflected for while about the awareness of God’s mercy in my prayer life. Recollecting the memories of my long prayer lists did not help. This is an important place were I need to improve: awareness by giving myself to His service, in holiness, in righteousness… this is more than challenging. Yes, surprisingly written prayers are helping.
Paradoxically, written common prayers have helped in finding my own individuality and defining myself before God. This could be a paradox for all spiritual disciplines; what at first looks like a straightjacket turns out to be a set of wings.
I was also impressed by the various occasions when the Lord’s Prayer is mentioned. Reading and re-reading it, focusing on many aspects of this prayer it kindled my prayer life in another important way. It not only tought me what I should pray about, but also frees me to find my own voice in the choir of the generations of the Christians who prayed this prayer. Indeed, the Lord’s Prayer may sometimes look rigid, but it is the rigidity of a backbone; it allows me to run to God.
The retrat was done - Praise the Lord, the wonderful Father! I had a real adventure: I've discovered more of Him and more of me. Thank you, Thomas Cranmer.

One year in Canada

Dear friends and family!

Greetings and blessings from Vancouver, Canada! Few weeks ago we have celebrated one year since we arrived in Vancouver. We are looking back with mixed feelings. It was difficult yet challenging, however the year passed and we all feel a little older.

We are all fine for the moment, we praise the Lord the besides some seasonal illnesses we are adjusting well and we feel like the most difficult part has already passed. We are still foreigners in a foreign place. This feeling is even more accentuated as we are still looking for a home church. In the pas period we have preferred to involve ourselves in the Romanian churches in Vancouver Mainland area but we gave up after few serious but painful experiences. We have witnessed difficult bitter situations and church divisions that have somehow convinced us to invest ourselves in a growing ministry. For the moment, I (George) am involved mainly in planting a new church in Maple Ridge, BC and only secondarily in Romanian congregations.

As regarding Lumjie and her family, the Albanians that we were writing about six months ago, they are living now very close to our place, in the same building complex. It is a joy to meet them time to time and speak Albanian. It helps them as they are now frequently going to church and also helps us, as we plan not to forget speaking Albanian.

Nicoleta is working now in a part-time job. From her small income, she is practically supporting the entire family’s living costs. All the children are fine, Timeea is now in the third grade and Joshua in the sixth grade. This summer we spend a lot of time trying to get them read and write in Romanian—we are trying to provide an Romanian parallel education as they are tempted to forget Romanian very easily. George jr. is also speaking a mixed Romanian, is quite funny to hear him...

My studies are going further as well. I am now in the second year at Regent and due to the fact that I have done a lot of classes in the spring semester I hope to be able to finish the Master degree a year earlier that we have planned. I am looking forward to start the new semester— it definitely won’t be easy as I will have a lot of speciality classes and the final comprehensive paper coming up.

What will happen next? The short answer is just that we do not know… yet. There is a comfort in the feeling that the future is God’s. I would probably love to continue studying, however, we pray that the Lord will open us a vision so that we will be able to understand what he wants us to do. I still have on my heart ministry toward Romanians and the call to the mission field. As time passes and we are tempted to worry as there are no final answers yet, but we remember that we need to daily lay our burden to Christ. We know that in God’s time he will provide a vision for us in such a manner that we will be able to invest ourselves in something worthy and valuable for His Kingdom.

Please pray with us:
1. That the Lord will continue to work in Romanian churches in Vancouver mainland besides the obvious difficulties and splits.
2. That the Lord will provide in His time a vision for our family for ministry.
3. That the Lord will continue to provide financial resources so that we will be able to support our living costs.
4. That the Lord will bless us all with strength and courage as we continue to work and study. We need His power and His grace.


With love in Christ,
George, Nicoleta, Joshua, Timeea and George-Philip
DUMITRASCU

... so we've got introduced to Canada!

January 12, 2006

Dear friends and family,

Greetings to everyone from Vancouver, Canada. Happy New Year in 2006! May that the Lord will have mercy on us and bless us this year!
We are writing now at about five months since we have arrived in Vancouver. We are glad that the Lord has been with us so far, we have greatly enjoyed His help in everything that we have been through. Although it has been only five months, it seems like an year since we have left the ministry in Bacau, Romania and moved to Canada to continue my studies with Regent College in Vancouver. We have generally passed the cultural shock and we are continuing to adapt to the new place. The society that we encounter here seems unusual materialistic and multicultural for us, it was especially difficult to get around the city ant freeways. We have already moved a second time (when in Canada, do as Canadians do...) to another apartment, subsidized from the local government. Joshua and Timeea are doing well in English, quite integrated now in their school but missing very much Romania and their friends there. George Philip is now two years old, he speaks a lot now and all the rest of us spoils him, he is still home with us.

I have finished the first semester here at Regent and I have registered for the second one. Being student at Regent is not easy as teachers are quite demanding. I enjoy accessing few of the most famous theological libraries in Canada, a real delight but also and important help in my studies. As we have no lodging financial support we are constantly searching for jobs. Nicoleta finally got one these days; she is assisting adults in difficulties with a non-for-profit organization. We are also involved in Grace Romanian Baptist Church in Vancouver, were Theo Pope is pastoring.

One of the surprises that we have encountered here is meeting with some Albanians. For the first time after 2001, we were able to have a longer conversation in Albanian. We have managed to connect with an ex-singer from Kosovo, Lumjie and her husband and six children. We have realized that there are an important number of Albanian refugees from Kosovo and Albanian immigrants from Albania living in Vancouver. It also looks like there is no ministry aiming to the Albanians so we felt like we should continue to develop a deeper relationship with Lumjie, her family and some friend families living in Vancouver. We certainly hope that the Lord will work in their family so they all could be saved.

We expect great things from God this year! Entrusting in His hand and waiting that He should point the way that we are to move we are confident that He will do great things. Please pray with us that we would be lead by Him in this New Year 2006.

Please continue to pray:
- That in our family the Lord will continue to provide enough strength for providing to our children, for studies and for a complete integration of the children in the schooling system.
- That the Lord will continue to work with Lumjie, her family, and the ministry among other Albanians in Vancouver.
- That He will give us a vision and a hope for the future.

With love in Christ,
George, Nicoleta and Joshua, Timeea and George-Philip DUMITRAŞCU