Send Me -- Romania 2005

Send Me!

By Pamela Vaughn

I have always loved missionary stories and remember as a child sitting on the edge of my seat as stories took me to far away places. My own story began years ago when I was only 5 or 6 years old. Wearing an old nurse’s cap, I would emphatically tell anyone who would listen that I was going to be a missionary nurse one day!

Many years later I sat pleading with God for children, but soon realized this did not appear to be His plan for my life. I rededicated my heart to God and with it gave God permission to lead me anywhere, even doing missionary work. Eleven years later, I found myself on the way to Romania. How it all began is simply amazing. But you see, my God is simply amazing.

May of 2005, my husband Vic and I attended campmeeting and were invited to be a part of the Global Evangelism team. An elderly couple encouraged us to go to Romania with them for three weeks. My husband was somewhat skeptical, but we believed like Abraham and Sara, that we were to follow where God leads us. A text in Isaiah 6:8 kept coming to mind, “ . . . Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.”

We immediately began praying about this possibility. I must be honest I was a little like Gideon. I wanted a sign and within the first week I received it. By God’s providence, I encountered a gentleman from Bulgaria, a country just below Romania. I told him that I had an opportunity to be a missionary to Romania. He emphatically told me he didn’t believe there was a God due to the wars and disasters. His statement truly bothered me. Why was it I happened to have this encounter with him? I walked away troubled by his comment. I asked God, “If I am to go to Romania, then let me have another encounter with this same individual.” Thirty minutes later in the same busy restaurant, I stood face to face with him again as he wished me a nice day. I knew we were on our way to Romania.

Satan was well aware of God’s leading in our life, for as we prepared to meet our financial obligations for the trip, our refrigerator quit working. A new refrigerator was purchased for the same price as a plane ticket to Romania. As we prepared letters to send to our friends and family asking them to sponsor us on our mission trip, one of the worst natural disasters in the history of the USA hit our area, Hurricane Katrina. How could I possibly ask others to help us go to Romania when the USA needed so much help? We again fell on our knees praying God’s will be done.

The weekend before our airline fare was due, we had no extra money to pay for the tickets. We had told no one of the deadline. That very Sabbath, a church member walked up and handed us an envelope. We opened it later and found a check for $800.00. This was the exact amount needed for one ticket to Romania. God had known and provided. We knew then that Victor was on his way to Romania to preach the evangelistic seminar. The very next day someone gave $600.00 and our church $200.00. That amount paid for my plane ticket.

Little by little funds came trickling in. Victor had mandatory overtime scheduled at work, which God foresaw would be a blessing. He also had just enough vacation time to cover the three-week trip.

Then, three weeks before our scheduled departure, my mother was diagnosed with colon cancer at 86 years old. How on earth could I possible leave her at this time? I knew God had led us this far and would not allow Satan to prevail. One and a half weeks before departure, Mother had surgery to remove the tumor. Then the physicians found that she was having long pauses in her heart rhythm. She had to undergo a second surgery to place a permanent pacemaker. Was I to go or stay? Satan battled with my mind. At just the right time, Mother was placed in a special care facility. She received better care there than if she had been at home. God’s timing provided this wonderful care during her recovery and while we were in Romania.

Our next battle to overcome was leaving our two precious daughters, 8 & 10 years old. I had never left them anywhere, especially overnight. I felt God was asking me, “Do you trust me enough to watch over your little ones?” I knew He could and would give me the strength to say goodbye. I mentally rehearsed the lines, “Into Thine hands I commit my life and children. Thy will be done.”

I felt a burden for the children of Romania, especially the orphans. We invited our friends and coworkers to take an active role in our mission trip. They donated many personal items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs and other personal things. They jumped at the chance. This quickly exploded into more than 70 pounds of items. I found that people love being a part of a larger project. They found it rewarding and received personal satisfaction from taking part.

We left for Romania October 31, 2005. God had provided the funds for our tickets, hotel fee and food. We were excited. We were on a mission for God. Little did we realize that through this experience, God was changing and transforming us in a mighty way.

The people of Romania are loving and open hearted. They have a gentle way about them. Our first night at our assigned village, we were greeting warmly and made to feel very welcome. “Pace Domnului,” is a greeting used by men and women alike meaning, the Lord’s peace to you. This is somewhat equivalent to our American, “Happy Sabbath.” Our equipment worked beautifully as Victor preached the first seminar. Our translator was bright and easy to work with. The church was packed with people from Pancota and the surrounding villages.

I didn’t want the children or the elderly to be overlooked at these meetings, so they became my special project. I learned each child’s name. That in it self was a real feat. I know God aided me, for many of their names have difficult pronunciations. Each night I would give crayons and coloring sheets or other small trinkets to the children. They really enjoyed the attention. The children would crowd around me showering me with affection. I enjoyed their attention!

Although our translator was not always available, I would often sit with the elderly holding their hands and praying for them in English. They didn’t understand the words, but they understood the prayer was said for them in love. Love and kindness transcends any language. We often commented how wonderful it will be to get to heaven where we will all speak the same language as angels.

Nightly, prior to the evangelistic sermons, I would lecture briefly about selected medical topics such as, “High Blood Pressure,” “ Heart Disease,” and “Exercise.” These were well received by the local people. I was able to screen for hypertension by taking blood pressures, and a few of these had to be referred to their own physician for medical attention.

We received many invitations to meet with the people in their homes. We jumped at the chance to socialize and pray with these lovely people and get to know them on a more personal level. We should never have worried about what we would eat in Romania. Our Adventist sisters provided pastries, breads, jams, honey, and other goodies to take back to our hotel room. We were so grateful for their thoughtful gifts.

Vic began having altar calls on the fifth night of the seminar. We had been warned that with the memories of Communism in their recent past, these people would probably not respond to altar calls. As he began calling for the people to come forward, one lone woman responded. I felt the Holy Spirit impressing me to join her and put my arms around her in support and encouragement. Six more people quickly responded. I saw the tears in their eyes and my heart leaped for joy as they gave their hearts to Christ. Many have joined classes conducted by the local pastors in preparation for baptism.

Although there were victories, Satan didn’t miss a chance to cause havoc. The borrowed computer would occasionally be contrary, but I would silently bow my head and pray that God would intervene. One night, I noticed a young teenager praying beside me as I prayed. I hadn’t realized that she had perceived the situation so intuitively.

Halfway through the seminars, our translator came running up to me. She whispered that she had laryngitis and would not be able to translate. This was a real problem for she was the only one in the area suitable to translate. We immediately bowed our head and claimed Exodus 4:12, ”Go, and I will be your mouth…” She was able to translate that very night! Later in the week, Victor also lost his voice, but with the same fervent prayer, his voice boomed with power and boldness. Our God works miracles!

I must mention the time I forgot a necessary extension cord in our hotel room some 30 miles away. We needed that cord and we needed it fast. I found a back room in the church and cried desperately that God would intervene and help with my human blundering. Our translator had not yet arrived at the church to help communicate our need to the church members. As I came from the back room, I found that a young man had perceived our need and hot-wired our projector and computer to the electrical outlet. We were able to start on time. Our God is so good!

The last night of the evangelistic meeting, 121 people stood to dedicate or rededicate their lives to Christ. It was an overwhelming response. They promised to meet us by the “Tree of Life” on our first Sabbath in heaven. What a glorious day that will be.

We were not prepared for the way our hearts felt saying goodbye to these dear sisters and bother in Christ. It felt as if our hearts would break. We realized we would probably never see these dear folk again on this earth. We left a piece of our hearts and many tears in Romania.

My story could go on about God’s loving care and provisions during our trip, but now that you have heard my story, why not write your own story? Join the team of lay evangelists of ShareHim/Global Evangelism. Then, when God asks, “Whom shall I send?” You can say, “Here am I Lord, send me!”