Nate and Noah to Romania

I’ll preface this post by saying that this is perhaps the strangest update that I’ve given yet. I am currently writing this post from the United States, which was not where I anticipated being in this particular moment. It just goes to show you that things don’t always go the way you expect, which makes me thankful that the Lord sees all and directs all in the midst of our limited vision and understanding. While Noah and I find ourselves temporarily stateside, we believe that the Lord is orchestrating this time for His good purposes as we navigate the bureaucracy of obtaining the proper documentation to ensure our continued presence and effectiveness in Romania. This post will help to explain our present situation and the nature of our momentary return to the US, while also laying out our present efforts to maintain the work in Oradea from a distance while we await a resolution to our current delay in obtaining our residency permits.

To get directly to the point, Noah and I find ourselves out of Romania on account of the fact that we, despite our best efforts, did not receive the necessary documentation in time to submit our application for a residency permit. Upon entering Romania, we both had 90 days to apply for our residency permits, which we began working on within the first week of our arrival. We were both applying for a Religious Volunteer Permit, which required essentially the same documentation that we submitted last year, with the addition of a recommendation from the State Secretariat for Religious Affairs. While we gathered all the other necessary documentation well before our deadline, we did not receive word from the legal expert we were working with regarding the State’s religious recommendation, even as we made continued requests for an answer. Thankfully, we received news earlier last week that if we submitted additional documentation, namely a Religious Activities Log documenting our ministry work and activities, our recommendation could begin processing. We have since submitted the said documentation and are now waiting to receive our recommendation. Since we were unable to submit a complete application for our residency permits before our 90-day visa-free entry expired, we had to make an unplanned return to the United States in order to avoid remaining in Romania illegally. We are disappointed that this situation required us to leave our church family, our youth students, and our friends, but we are praying fervently that the State Secretariat would fulfill our recommendation request in a timely manner and that we would therefore be able to submit our permit application, opening the door for us to return to Oradea. We have also researched alternative options for our residency permits should the present option fall through. We are confident that the Lord will bring resolution to this situation in His perfect timing, and the past week has felt very promising. Though our hearts ache in the current separation, we rest in the sovereignty God, knowing that He holds all things together.

Noah and I flew out of Romania on Saturday, April 26th and have been on US soil since that time. As we continue to seek a way to return to Romania, we are focused on continuing the work in Oradea from a distance as much as we are able. Both Noah and I have been in close communication with Pastor Ted, not only for immigration matters, but also to strategize ways in which to serve SALEM from the US. We’ve also been in regular communication with our youth team, and they have brilliantly and courageously stepped up to facilitate youth in our absence. On the youth side, our focus sits primarily on the continuation of regular youth activities while operating creatively to both continue pouring into our students from America and also support our team and empower them to directly minister to and mentor our students. We are beginning a new focus on Bible study, which involves meeting with the youth team on Tuesday nights to walk through the week’s passage together. At the Thursday night youth service, I have begun video streaming into the meetings to share a quick devotional thought before the students split into Breakout Groups to dive deeper into the passage and have meaningful, intentional conversations as a small group, which is guided by the leaders. It is an exciting time as we prepare to grow in our knowledge and application of scripture, thereby understanding God more and deepening our devotion to Him! This season of deepening study comes off the back of an amazing week in which a team from Jesus Revolution made their annual visitation to Oradea to walk our students through evangelism workshops, street evangelism in the city square, and an evangelistic concert! Many young people responded at the concert, several saw the power and love of God at work in their evangelistic outreach, and some of our students experienced physical healing! It was a spectacular time, and our youth team did a wonderful job partnering with Jesus Revolution to facilitate this incredible, impactful week of activities! Noah and I are so thankful, even from afar, to be able to see the hand of God on our students, leaders, and the Body of Christ in Oradea as a whole!

Our maintenance activities are clearly on hold at this time, but we will pick them up again upon our return and will be in touch with Ted to organize plans for how to hit the ground running again once we get back. While our activities have changed dimensions, we are still deeply invested in serving SALEM Christian Center, our students, and the other ministries we have been involved with. We are thankful for the technology that allows us to do this, but we are most definitely itching to get back to all of these things in person!

As the situation continues to develop, Noah and I, along with Ted, the SALEM staff, and the Mannahouse Global staff are dedicated to continuing the work as far as we are able while maintaining flexibility and openness in the current situation. This update has been re-written several times due to changing circumstances, and at every step of the way, Pastor Ted and Pastor Walter have been a great support to Noah and I, helping us navigate each new development and plan for every potential outcome. At this time, we are feeling optimistic that we may be able to return to Romania within this month, but we are prepared should this process continue for a longer duration. Noah and I will continue to provide updates on the situation as is appropriate, and we are always happy to answer questions and hold conversations about the situation. We hope that you will pray for us and with us in this crazy season. We know God is working wonderful things even now!

Prayer points for the current moment:

Approval and fulfilment of our recommendation request: Once we receive this recommendation from the State Secretariat, we will be able to return to Romania to submit our documentation for our Residency Permits. Pray that our requests would be processed and approved quickly!

The continuation of the work in Oradea: We are thankful for the team and the technology that allows us to continue to play a role in the ministry, and while there are capable hands continuing the work in youth and in SALEM as a whole, this is a season of stretching and pressure on both ends. Pray with us that the Holy Spirit would fill us with His wisdom, grace, and strength for this time as we all continue to work outside the box to continue in ministry. What He has begun, He will be faithful to continue!

Strengthening and maintaining personal relationships: For us, our team, our students, and our church family, it has felt difficult to have just begun to build momentum after our previous time away, only to see separation once again. This has been a hard thing to process at times, especially for our students. Pray that the Lord would bring comfort and peace as we trust Him together. Pray that we would see the fullness of His mercy, faithfulness, and loving care in the midst of this difficult, confusing, and disappointing separation.

Wisdom for the time spent in the US: It is an interesting thing to again be caught between two worlds, especially so unexpectedly. Though we had not planned to be in the States in this way, Noah and I have both had wonderful chances to spend meaningful time with friends and family while stepping into serving opportunities as well. Pray that we would hold the tension of this time well, maximizing our time and staying sharp here in the US while continuing to hold focus on serving and returning to Romania.

As always, we thank you for your prayers and support. Even in the most difficult situation we’ve encountered on this journey, we know that we are wonderfully upheld by incredible brothers and sisters in the faith who help bolster and encourage our faith in the face of hardship. The mission has not changed, the vision has not waned, and we still believe that though we’ve experienced wonderful days, the greatest ones still lay ahead! The Lord’s purposes will prevail, and we cannot wait to bring the news of His great working! Thank you for taking it all on with us, and together, we will continue to see the hand of the Lord bear fruit in His good time!

Love always,

– Nate