We go tell the youth of Romania how Christ came to the world, so they, in turn, may... Come to Christ! I'm not even gonna lie – the thought of trying to remember all that happened this past month without my head going into melt-down... makes my head go into melt-down! There are the normal activities that have the normal amount of preparation, and then there were the additional blessings of camps and vacation that changed our schedules for a time. What I appreciate so much is that Rebeca is an amazing worker, a wonderful ministry partner, and a steady support as we serve, whether together or apart. And this month we did both! For seven and a half days I was working with Sorin and Mihalaela, our friends and coworkers from Brătășanca, on their day camps. I hope to get up some videos 'soon' (ha ha 😐), but we set up their brand new zip-line, built it's "launch platform" like the amateurs we are, and got to know an amazing new team of French missionaries in the process! But because of the much-later nature of this month's Blog Post and E-Newsletter (which I'm writing as we're all exhausted from traveling and yet still away from home this week, which you'll hear about next month), you don't need to hear more from me. Here's a break-down of the month:
Prayer, Praise, People Here's a snapshot of how to pray for the ministry right now:
The Month In PicturesSPOTLIGHT: Benjamin "Benji" VanzoThis month's SPOTLIGHT is on Benjamin "Benji" Vanzo, a French young man David met while working on the summer day camp in Brătășanca in 2020. It was only a week but we got along great and worked well together. What a great guy! I enjoyed playing with the youth there, doing skits and worship with him, and I was so impressed by him. Do you remember singing "In The Shallows" as the crowd surrounded us? He went back to France and planned to return to Romania for a longer time, which he did in March. Since his return, we've met up a few times (both in Brătășanca and in Gârbova), and this month we reunited and served in the Brătășanca day camps with Sorin and Mihaela again. But this time, we were joined by even more amazing people from France. I was very impressed by Benji, and the rest of the French team as well – one of which was a native of Pennsylvania! So Benji is the same funny guy from last season, a style of comfortable humility and self-aware "pride" that only adds to his wonderful sense of humor. In working on this SPOTLIGHT in person the week of camp this month, we enjoyed quite a bit of laughter. Did we tire of that? "Not yet." Something that cracked me up was how difficult it was to get him to talk about himself. Whether his talents or what he does in the ministry, it was like pulling teeth getting him to share the things I'd already seen him doing in person the first part of the week. He kept talking about the youth and the adults from the church, the community in Brătășanca where he serves. So in one of the moments when I asked him to talk about the things he did there for the church and the youth, he was characteristically quiet. So naturally, I started writing for him, "I'm incredibly talented, you guys have no idea!" Reading over my hands, he laughed and hung his head, and I told him I'd share that in the "outtakes" – or at least in my personal thoughts of him! That humility was what made it so funny when I asked him which of two pictures he wanted me to use for this SPOTLIGHT and he wrote, "I don't know which one I prefer. I'm beautiful on both of them." 🤣 But enough of my build-up stories. Tell our audience a little about yourself and how they can support your work! My name is Benjamin, I’m 20 years old and I’ve served the Lord since I was 4 years old. I live in Brătășanca now, but I’m from Marseille, France. I worked at a junior high school as a supervisor when friends from my church told me about YFC Romania. I always liked to share the gospel around me and particularly with the kids, so I felt called. I went on mission in Romania for the first time in 2020 for three months to do the summer camps and I felt in my place because I’m a big kid also. I enjoyed the relationships with the kids, and tried to be like a brother, and example, to them. So I decided to go back in Romania but for a longer time. Now I’m in Romania since March 2021 but for a year and half this time to help Sorin and Mihaela prepare games and spiritual times for the kids. Since we just finished this year’s camp, and I know the kids better, it’s more intense. I live more with them so I feel more “in the family.” In addition to working with the youth, I have been serving in the local church here. I do the music. I play the piano, and the guitar when Sorin is not here. Here in Brătășanca, the people are very happy, simple, and I like to build relationship with them. I’ve never been in Slatina, but I miss David when he is not here. Thanks so much for sharing in our SPOTLIGHT, Benji, and I miss you too! If you'd like to support Benji's work, you can go here – and don't worry if you don't speak French! Let me know if you need help and I'll walk you through it. Anyway – Benji, I had a lot of fun talking to you in person for this one, and leaving you guys behind again was difficult this year. But I'm thankful that we got to connect again, and enjoyed hearing your answers to our famous UNITY Questions! Here they are:
Have a wonderful rest of your month, and thank you for reading our E-Newsletter! If you'd like to view posts from other months this year, use these navigation buttons! |
AuthorThe Clinkscales' here share their monthly passion for reaching Youth for Christ, progress in the marathon of discipleship, and their Hope for Slatina. Archives
December 2021
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