Cherie Fresonke

AUTHOR. SPEAKER. TEACHER.

Word Weaver Transforming Lives

Expect to be Changed

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Cluj, Romania

Cluj, Romania

 

Awhile ago I was invited to Cluj, Romania for a short-term mission trip to do a Go in Peace Seminar by a friend of mine named Marcela who grew up in Romania. Since the curriculum was not in Romanian it took about a year to translate it, complete the graphic design and publish it. So after all that time and hard work I was excited to go. From the first day there God was orchestrating divine appointments for both Marcela and I.

 

Marcela (far right) and two friends at the salt mine.

Marcela (far right) and two friends at the salt mine.

 

My three favorite divine appointments were as follows: First, although Marcela and I never attempted to contact any Calvary Chapels in Romania to tell them about the upcoming Go in Peace Seminar God had other plans and He had Marcela meet the pastor’s wife from Calvary Chapel Cluj the week before I arrived. Coleen came to the seminar, along with another Calvary Chapel friend from Pathway to Joy which is about 2 hours away from Cluj. It was so wonderful to meet these two ladies who have been serving the Lord for years as missionaries in Romania. By the end of my two-week stay I felt as if I had known Coleen for years since I was blessed to be able to hang out with her for a few extra days.

The second divine appointment that totally blessed my socks off (although I was wearing sandals) was a taxi driver we had. We were on our way to the first day of the Go in Peace Seminar when we were caught in a terrible traffic jam. Although I was getting a little bit worried that we wouldn’t make it on time and that we would be late for our own event and not be there to met the women as they arrived I also knew that God is in control. So as we were stuck Marcela (who totally has the gift of evangelism) began to talk to our taxi driver. Come to find out he was a new believer and he was so blessed by what we were doing in Romania that he refused to charge us for the ride. I pray that God will richly bless him.

 

Cluj, Romania

Cluj, Romania

 

The third divine appointment happened after the seminar. One day we were walking around Cluj when we made a wrong turn and literally almost bumped into a woman who attended the seminar. Now Cluj has a population of about 300,000 people (along with another 150,000 students during the school year) so it’s not a small city. This woman was so excited to see us. She shared that after the seminar she went and visited her sister. While there she took her sister through Go in Peace! She said her sister was so blessed by what God was teaching her that she was crying. This really touched my heart. God had us make a wrong turn to encourage me to continue to go to everyone He sends me to. For the sunflowers are multiplying.

 

“. . . . You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.”

–Jeremiah 1:7

 

We had about 20-25 women at the Go in Peace Seminar with a follow-up leadership training in which 4 women attended. I’m sorry I forgot to take pictures of the women at the seminar, but below are some other photos I took while in Romania. Keith and I have been invited back and Lord willing He will make a way. I really enjoyed my time there and I do look forward to returning. Thanks for your prayers. God bless.

 

Salt Mine near Cluj.

Salt Mine near Cluj.

 

Went hiking with friends after church on Sunday.

Went hiking with friends after church on Sunday.

 

My new favorite treat. I forget what they call it. But it is bread, cooked over the flames and then rolled in cinnamon and sugar.

My new favorite treat. I forget what they call it. But it is bread, cooked over the flames and then rolled in cinnamon and sugar.

 

The Romanian countryside. We found these little ponies. The kids with us sure did love them.

The Romanian countryside. We found these little ponies. The kids with us sure did love them.

 

Marcela's Mom always saying, "Cherie eat!" I love her.

Marcela’s Mom always saying, “Cherie eat!” I love her.

Funny story: I use to stay with an elderly woman named Anna when I would go to Bulgaria in the 90’s. She loved to feed me and stuff me! When I was getting ready to go to Romania Keith said, “Don’t worry about a thing. You will have an Anna who will feed you.” I don’t think Keith has ever thought himself a prophet, but in this case he was right on. Marcela’s Mom constantly said to me, “Cherie eat.” This spread of food (in the photo above) she set out for me, Marcela and herself after I told her I had already eaten breakfast while they were gone for an appointment. She said, “But I didn’t see you eat so you must eat again!” One day as I was telling Marcela what Keith said before I left to go to Romania she started laughing and said, “Do you know that my Mom’s name is Anna?” (She has a different nickname so I didn’t realize this.) As we were laughing about this Marcela’s Mom walked into the living room with a plate of cakes and said, “Cherie eat.” I think I gained 10 pounds, but the food was great.

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