A Cini Family Visit

We had a very brief visit on Saturday from the Cini family from Romania. Who are the Cini's?? It is a very long and incredible story. I will just give you the brief version today since I have to work in half an hour! We have come to know them because of the Pearce mission trips to Romania. Greg went to Romania on the very first scouting trip when the church was trying to determine where the Lord wanted them to serve. They met several people there who were doing incredible ministry. One of the things was a church being built in the village of Tsigmandru. We learned that the church was the hearts desire of this woman, Magda Cini. The Lord set it in her heart so there was no stopping her! There is more really cool stuff to that story but maybe another day. Greg led the first team to go over, a team of teens. They met Paula Cini, Magda's daughter, at that time. I think she may have been working with the Romanian teens. When I went to Romania I stayed with the Cini family during my visit. And to keep it all in the family, when Dad returned on his second visit he also stayed with the Cini's. God is so cool! The church is the same one that Mom, Dad, Greg and I all have worked on but at different times. It is now operational and ministry is alive there everyday. Magda and her family are a critical force in that church and village.
Magda and Nelu's daughter Paula married a youth pastor from PA, another story for another time. They recently had their first child. Magda and Nelu are in the States for the first time so they can be with their new grandson. As God's timing would have it, the Pearce Mission Conference was taking place while they are visiting. Mom and Dad helped to get them up from PA so they could share at the conference. I am so glad that the folks from the church were able to hear some of her story from her mouth, to see her with their own eyes, to touch physically a part of what they have participated in with their giving and prayers. They had a wee bit of time left and drove our way so they could take the Cini's to Niagara Falls. Magda told us that years ago she had seen the movie Superman and after seeing the Falls in the movie, has had a dream to see it for herself. For a Romanian woman this is indeed a tall order, but not one too big for God! I have been to Niagara Falls countless times and I don't have that sense of awe and wonder much anymore, but it was so great to see it through her eyes. To see yet another hearts desire fulfilled. It was a wonderful, yet short visit.

I had to include this funny picture that Greg took of Dad in his usual place behind the camera.

Have a great week!