Thursday 30th - We left Tamworth at 0430 and were merrily sailing along the A5 towards the M42 when Andy suddenly shouted out. 'Bother!..... Bother!!.....BOTHER!' The reason? He'd left his shaver in the bathroom. After a quick turn-around and a speedy return to base (Phil graciously kept quiet) and with the shaver retrieved, we set off to Luton.

All went well until we hit traffic on the M1 just after Daventry. 20 minutes later we were crawling past the burnt out shell of a Corsa, bonnet up, on the inside lane. Hopefully the occupants had escaped without injury, but their day had not had a good start.

We arrived at Luton at 0700, parked up outside Peter's house (yes we do lnow him) and he then drove us to the airport. Flight was good, especially with the luxury of extra legroom, and we were met at Debrecen airport by a smiling Sorin who then drove us across the Hungarian / Romanian border to Oradea.

After a short 45 minute rest we went to Oradea Prison to join the ACV team of eight Mentors. We went up to the meeting room and were soon joined by the eight Apprentices. We got into groups of four (2 mentors / 2 apprentices) and talked about the teaching from the previous week which had been on Nicodemus' encounter with Jesus. It was good to see everyone talking together about what it means to be born again and how this can happen. Andy spoke briefly about the cost of discipleship and then one of our menotrs, Dan, shared his testimony. Dan has spent time in Oradea prison, but has experienced the transformation that the Holy Spirit can make. The staff remember him and he knows some of the inmates. His testimony is very powerful and it was good to have him speak.

Phil and Andy had to excuse themselves early as they had a church meeting to go to at the First Hungarian Baptist Church. Andy spoke on 1 Corinthians 1:30 - Christ Jesus our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Afterwards it was good to catch up with many well-established friends within the fellowship.

On the way back to our accommodation, we stopped off at the local 24hr shop to buy a few provisions for a rather late supper.

Come dine with me!

Now we are ready for bed. Tomorrow we have a meeting with the prison staff, a youth meeting at Emanuel Baptist and another meeting at Maranatha church.

Keep praying and sleep well.

Phil & Andy

Wednesday - day before we travel. This evening Andy is taking the final teaching session (Lent Course) on the Kingdom of God at MCF Life Church, Meriden, before picking up Phil Bradish from the train station in Tamworth. Please pray that everything will be done well and in order!

Discussion time at MCF Life Church teaching course

Tomorrow is an early start to travel down to Luton to catch the 08:30 flight to Debrecen in Hungary. Extra legroom has been ordered, so it should make the flight a little more comfortable. Then it will be a short drive across the border to Oradea and after a brief rest we will be going to join the ACV team in Oradea prison for the Mentoring session at 16:30 (14:30 UK). Please pray for a good time of discussion and learning together.

After the session in the prison we will be travelling across town to join the midweek Bible study at First Hungarian Baptist Church at 18:00. Andy will be speaking at this meeting, so please pray for the Holy Spirit to inspire and direct what he says.

On Friday we will have meetings with prison staff in the morning then a youth meeting at Emanuel Baptist Church at 18:00 followed by an ACV board meeting and then at 21:00 we will be speaking at an evening meeting at Maranatha Church. Other meetings will be popping up in available spaces, so we will try and keep you in touch with what is happening.

Thanks for your interest and prayers.

Morning all.

As things stand - and there will be additions - we have the following meetings and events arranged.

9 church services / meetings; 2 ACV Mentoring sessions in Oradea Prison; Holy Week meditation on Voice of the Gospel radio station; Bible encouragement at a conference for Tomorrow Clubs; meeting with local MP; discussion with Oradea Prison staff; finalising the Mentoring Programme for presentation to Central Administraion in Bucharest; meetings with individual partners; Emanuel University; our lawyers and consultants as well as time with our ACV mentors, teachers and prayer team.

So looks like it could be quite busy. Please pray that we will keep up with what the Lord has for us to do, but also wait and listen for him to guide us, especially regarding key decisions.

Thanks.
Phil & Andy

DT IN ROMANIA - APRIL 2017

Six months on and we are making another visit to Oradea. Phil Bradish will be travelling with Andy Paine to visit our associate ministry in Romania - Path of Life Association / Asociația Cărarea Vieți. Phil and Andy will be there from Thursday 30th March - Monday 10th April. 

Phil (lhs) and Andy (hrs) with some of ACV Mentors from the 2016 course outside Oradea Prison.

Right now, another ACV Mentoring Programme is running in Oradea prison. This is the third programme that we have run and it is now in its seventh (of twenty-four) week.

News is that this course is the best one yet that we have run (but then we have had two years' of practise) and the group of Apprentices is attentive and engaged. We thank and praise the Lord that already our team of Mentors have seen some of the Apprentices respond to the gospel of Christ that underlines all our teaching programme. Please pray as we seek to help and nurture these new Christians.

Amongst those joining our ACV team this year is Mrs Gabi Roman who will be helping with the administration and organisation. Please pray for her in this important role. We are also pleased to have Cristi, a student at Emanuel University, working with us as Prayer Coordinator. Different churches and individuals are encouraged to pray for particular Mentors and Apprentices and we know that this is making a difference.

Emanuel University students outside Oradea Prison in October 2016. Cristi is the student at the end on the right.

You can catch up with ACV on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/carareavietii/