Diaspora in Wallachia
Missionary
report
by Attila
Szabó
February 2000.
Universal Prayer-Week in Ramnicu Valcea
The question of holding a universal prayer-week in Ramnicu Valcea was raised last year, too. There would have been also some volunteer theologians to fulfill this task, but unfortunately - in the lack of material support - it had to be postponed to this year.
It was four of us who set off on February the 24th at ten o'clock in the morning: Zoltn Kelemen and Tivadar Bíró 5th year reformed theologians, Márton Illyés 4th year Lutheran theological student and the writer of these lines, Attila Szabó reformed pastor.
The weather was fine, we were proceeding ideally for about 140 km, when our car stopped in Nagyszeben, between two villages. We couldn't fix it up at once, so it had to be taken to a service - but how? - we were waiting for the merciful Samaritan. He made his appearance very quickly coming on a Ford Orion, he also had a beard and spoke Romanian. He dragged our car to the nearest service, however on our parting he couldn't help making the remark: "Brothers, you wouldn't have been picked up either in Hungary, or in Germany."
We thanked for his help, soon after the mechanist repaired our car, so we could move on. Meanwhile, pastor Csaba Orbán came over to give us a hand, but until then everything was settled. We took leave of him and continued our journey towards Nagyszeben.
However, at four o'clock in the afternoon we were again let down by the car, wondering at the very same time about who would keep the sermon, which was to begin at six o'clock in the afternoon.
Thanks to God, this problem was soon solved as well, the merciful Samaritan being by this time a truck-driver who carried two of my theologian brothers to Rm. Valcea. Thus, they were able to keep the church service. Meanwhile, Zoltan Kelemen and I fixed up the car and so we could greet the flock coming out from the church just after the blessing. They were also very pleased about our arriving there successfully.
Soon after that, we went to the parish and analyzed the adventurous journey at a well-deserved supper.
Such trials are very common to a pastor, who visits Diaspora congregations. Often he has to proceed more than 150 - 200 km either in snow-drift, or on icy roads to bring the gospel to the Diaspora congregations. He thus has to reckon with the danger of car crash or snowing-ups. However, exactly these circumstances endow this otherwise so special mission with a singular feeling.
My minister companions and I held the sermons alternately on each evening. Besides the indispensable tolling of the bell, we also heard the organ, which remained unused until then because of the lack of a cantor. Much for the pleasure of the flock, our Lutheran colleague – besides his preaching charisma – gave space to his musical gift, as well.
Within the Sunday religious service we joined the Holy Communion, after which the theologians thanked for the possibility that they could be present on those special occasions and gave their best wishes to the flock, moreover, they urged them on further persistence and on maintaining of their religious unity.
Of course, the feed-back on the part of the congregation couldn't be missing, because this prayer-week was the most pro-eminent event following the visitation of the bishop.
The young people received flowers and thanks during the reception, they also had to promise that they will return some other time too.
Any kind of visit means a source of blessing in the life of a small community. Many of those who live here are susceptible to think in pessimistic terms of their fate. They are cut off from their native land, from the Transylvanian culture and they pile complaint upon complaint. To these people I send word that there is no greater misery than the poverty of faith. Let me bring up the image of Apostle Paul who was suffering in jail, but who - in the first part of the Letter to the Ephesians (the topic of the prayer-week ) - greets the diaspora-congregation with gratitude towards God: “Blessed be God, the Father of our Jesus Christ Who booned us with all goods of the soul in the heaven and in Jesus Christ”.
Sincerely yours,
Attila Szabó, pastor.
