ARTICLES:
—Summer of Contrasts —LIFE Costa Rica on the Move —Lynne Murphy Memorial Fund —LIFE Romania: The Turks! SUMMER OF CONTRASTS Incredible youth camps in Europe this summer … many decisions for Christ with 291 in Romania and 25 in Montenegro. Would you believe that 96 out of 102 children in one week of camp at LIFE Romania came to Christ when I gave the invitation? It was an awesome sight to behold! It seemed that all 96 wanted to stand right next to Mr. Eric or Iulian, my translator who is the director of our mission there. They were scrunched in together so tight that if someone would have pushed from one side all of us would have fallen over. It was so, so special! As I keep saying your prayers are so important because God answers your prayers making stories like this possible. Keep praying! The contrast? Last time I wrote to you I told about my issues with high blood pressure. I was in stroke territory with numbers running 235/175 … not good, not at all. Why? Well, think about the stress of losing dear Lynne. Fortunately, a nurse from Mississippi was helping in our camp that week in Romania. She hovered over me nursing me back to health. The Romania doctor prescribed the medicine and it seems to be working great as my blood pressure is almost normal now. So, on the one hand we had many spiritual blessings with so many young people coming to Christ. Then, on the other hand I was a physical wreck. My nurse told me that it will take 4 to 5 weeks to get used to living with lower blood pressure taking that long to start feeling better. She was right! The rest of the contrast story is that when I was in Montenegro getting things ready for Camp Monty and I suffered a severe strain while walking. They say that a strain in the groin area really shuts down athletes. I don’t know how athletic I am, but, it really put a crimp in my mobility. The story is not over … a week later I was back in Romania to finish up the last two weeks of their camp season serving as the evangelist. I was hanging out with some of the young adults teaching them how to throw a frisbee. Their attempts had me chasing their tosses to the left or to the right. After the third run I felt horrific pain … again in the groin area. This time I really did it! When I do something I don’t mess around. I was screaming in pain scaring our camp counselors half to death … couldn’t take a step without this searing, burning pain. So, how am I doing 6+ weeks later? Blood pressure is doing great … the strain problem is still a problem. Four weeks ago I had a CAT scan which revealed that I have five strains, not just one. It also showed that I do not have cancer which could have been a potential cause for the burning pain. Nor, do I have diabetes which would have been another potential cause for the burning sensation. Also, no heart problems, another potential cause. So, some very good news. My barber had this same problem years ago when he was a referee at a football game. It was good to talk with someone who has experienced the same thing. From his response it appears that I have maybe 2 or 3 more months to heal and get over this problem. What a summer of contrasts! LIFE COSTA RICA ON THE MOVE Director Cris Vidaechea is coming to the States to raise his support to get the ministry in Costa Rica up and running … October 11- November 1. Pray that he will be able to raise the funds that he needs to quit his full time job with amazon.com… a giant step for him to take. If you would like to become involved please email me … check my email address at the bottom of this Update. LYNNE MURPHY MEMORIAL FUND Several people have been gracious to donate to this special fund in Lynne’s name. She loved to see needy campers attend our youth camps. She always spent time with many of them to put smiles on their faces and they often remarked how beautiful her smile was. Lynne really connected with them. Would you like to make a difference in the life of a disadvantaged, needy camper? The address and website information is below. Why don’t you put some smiles on some young faces just like Lynne used to do? I am smiling right now as I think about it … LIFE ROMANIA: THE TURKS! Years ago the Ottoman Turks occupied much of Europe for more than two centuries. They returned to Romania this summer … well, not exactly the vicious Ottoman Turks of yesteryear. However, Iulian Avramescu, our director, reports the 23 Turkish children that attended his youth camp one week were totally incorrigible … absolutely out of control. There is a small group of Turkish families living in southern Romania near the border with Bulgaria. Tough situation, refugees, the local government trying to figure out what to do with these people and how to educate the children. These kids would not sit still during the meetings, would not behave and drove the camp counselors out of their minds. When they took them to their rooms the Turkish kids were amazed to see water coming out of the wall … you and I call this a shower. They had never seen a shower in their lives! They walked in with all of their clothes and shoes on … totally amazed at the experience. The counselors helped them remove their clothes explaining how to use a shower. They were taking 7 or 8 showers a day as they marveled at this new experience. Can you believe what you are reading? These kids live in “homes” made out of cornstalks and mud with a piece of tin on the top for a roof … no floors … just dirt … no bathrooms … families of six or eight living in a tiny hut all in the same “room”. Cooking is done outside over open fires. Can you get your mind around this? Think the Lynne Murphy Memorial Fund could make a difference in such lives? I missed all of this because I was in Montenegro at Camp Monty. Iulian was sending emails each day asking for prayer because these kids were turning the camp upside down with their behavior. But, on Thursday night Iulian spoke to the campers giving an invitation to accept Christ. All 23 prayed this prayer! Iulian told me that they were so different this next day! What a difference God can make in young lives. What a wonderful story! Pray for these kids … who knows what God might do in their lives? If only one of them returns to Turkey as an evangelist … think about it and pray. Oh, did you know that the Apostle Paul was born in what is now modern day Turkey? Who would have dreamed that Saul of Tarsus would have been the one who would rock the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Why not again???? Eric Murphy Executive Director www.lifeimpactforeternity.org [email protected] or [email protected] ADDRESS FOR DONATIONS: Life Impact For Eternity 3984 Manatee Avenue East Bradenton FL 34208
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