Stunned to be in Europe!
…But here I am! …Stunned God sent me to Europe! …And stunned that He made it so powerful!
Four of us met in Frankfurt Germany, September 25, 2024. Natalie and I came from Tennessee and Jon and Tim from Bangkok. Tim’s friend, Nico, let us borrow his little VW Gulf car which was so generous of him. We drove it over 7000 km through at least 15 countries! Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France, Hungry, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Liechtenstein, Netherlands, Belgium, England UK. We fit nicely in that little car with our suitcases geometrically arranged in the trunk! Right off the bat we discovered it is extremely difficult to find water and restrooms, (WC = Water closet)! The 2 major necessities!! At a gas station we went to buy a 6-pack of 1.5Liter bottles of water - guess how much it cost? $32! It’s best to buy water from the grocery stores, however, everything was sparkling water! As for the WC’s, they are hidden and when you finally get to one, it costs 1Euro = approx $1. We didn’t yet have the right coins!
September 25: That first day we drove to Schwangau, Germany, and climbed up to the famous Neuschwansteinstraße castle. Big beautiful draft horses were pulling carts of people up the mountain to the castle. What a beautiful country and magnificient castle! (I might have loved and enjoyed the horses more than the castle)!!!!
We drove to Salzburg and prayer-walked the city, watching the surging crowds of tourists and making our way down the cobblestone pathways, past cathedrals and shops. The more we prayed for the people around us, the heavier the burden in our hearts for their salvation. God loves to answer our prayers for others, and His power is in the promises that we claimed. How tragic that most everybody is deceived by the devil - believing his lies - heading straight to destruction! I look at the people all around me and I love them so much. They don’t know the truth! What will become of them if we don’t pray and claim promises like these?
“Who will have all men saved, and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:4
“Ask of Me and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Psalm 2:8.
“Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you.” Joshua 1:3.
“The Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.” Isaiah 60:3
It was on this walk that I poured sparkling water into my small water bottle and brought it with me. Again we faced the problem of toilets - couldn’t find any. I was really desperate, so I joined a line in a shop thinking if I bought something then I could use their restroom. While waiting in line I opened my water bottle but it exploded with a horrendous bang, water flying in all directions. It was shocking to me, but the girl in front of me thought she was being bombed until she discovered what had happened. Still no WC. Finally we entered a much needed WC and the door was open to walk right in! However, to our chagrin, there were money machines on each stall door! Outside I see a lady that I had befriended earlier. She had 2 small dogs and was very friendly! She was happy to give us the correct change! What a blessing! Our prayer-walk ended at the SDA church.
1). September 27-30: Our first Faithcamp is in Mattersdorferhof, Feildkirchen Austria, The Country Life TGM school. We had wonderful fellowship with the teachers and the students there. Other churches joined us on Sabbath. Those people were astonished at how we can live by faith and let God lead in everything. They told us that next time we come they will know how inspiring it is and they will combine all the area churches to come. This is the reaction we got everywhere. The people are in a famine for the truth. They do not see what a living faith filled life looks like. People all over Europe, I feel, are starving for a real relationship with Jesus.
Leaving TGM and our faithful interpreters and friends
“All over the world men and women are looking wistfully to heaven. Prayers and tears and inquiries go up from souls longing for light, for grace, for the Holy Spirit. Many are on the verge of the kingdom, waiting only to be gathered in.” Acts of the Apostles 109.1
September 30 drove to a beautiful lake in Tarvisio on the way to Venice. Slept that night at a BnB. Four small beds in one room! I was happy though because in the morning I was able to sneak out onto a great big open porch and do my exercise routine!
We were told that only rich people live in Venice now and parking would be impossible, so we took a sky train into Venice, and began walking around praying as we went. The sights were amazing! On one side was Canal Grande with boats loaded with people, then there were little streets, alleys, cobblestones, narrow pathways between old historic buildings, gondolas slipping through small waterways, glass souvenirs, cafe’s and small shops in every cranny. Pedestrians surged all around us.
The famous gondola!
Night had fallen by the time we reached St. Mark’s Square. At one end was a huge cathedral, next to that a tall tall tower, and all around the large square were lines of big buildings.
There were orchestras playing, restaurants with people dining and drinking outside under umbrellas, and blue light rockets being thrown up into the air by men wishing to make a sale..
Our happiest, most memorable time was when we stood together in the center of that square and prayed for all the people! We pleaded with God to send angels to the people and give them a chance at eternal life. God can do things when we pray that He cannot do if we don’t pray. I don’t want to see any of these people lost and suffer the plagues and wrath of God poured out. Praying more earnestly. Joshua 1:3 the soles of our feet were there!
We took a boat back to our parked car. It was a very cold boat-ride might I add!
October 1, Tuesday we drove to Tricerro and visited a real enthusiastic missionary,Valtan Velenski, and his wife, Kelli with 2 Border collies! He reaches out to the community, by buying housing properties, selling them, making friends and spreading the Gospel everywhere.
That night we arrive at Torre Pellice the Waldensian valley! Danielle is a missionary lady there who took us into her small house. Natalie and I shared a small bed! It was cold in there. On the day we left we discovered there was a large radiator right at the foot of our bed that we could have turned on!
The next day was amazing and inspiring as Max, our tour guide showed us through the Waldensian mountains. We actually walked to a cave in the woods and climbed in where hundreds of Waldensian people lost their lives by Papal soldiers when they closed up the gaps and setting fires at the mouth of the cave. We sang “A Mighty Fortress is our God” in that cave, as I asked the Lord to please give me the courage and the love of the truth in the face of death.
Next we were taken to the College of the Barbs. This is a strip of primitive rock buildings built by the Waldenses, where young people memorized and studied the Bible. We saw the stone table where they wrote out the Scriptures and sewed portions in their clothes. They went out to spread the gospel but many of them never came back. These people suffered great hardships from the cold and poor nutrition. They slept with the animals at night to keep from freezing. I saw a rock outside upon which was carved the date: “1844.”
The Waldensian church was there also.
Max told us that Mrs E.G. White had been there and she had said that these people left the truth, conformed to the practices around them, but she said that there will be a great revival before the coming of the Lord, when they will come back as strong as before. Jon Wood was so burdened to be the one to bring a revival to this valley! This is the Chanforan monument in Angrogna, Italy. In 1532 the Waldensian people had a 6 day assembly here and made the decision to join the Reformation movement. In so doing they gave up their ancient Waldensian history, and compromised with the reformers. This weakened their spiritual experience and led to apostasy.
The SDA church here did not wish to receive us, but some of the members wanted to hear from us, so we did a zoom program to them. These people are so suppressed from knowing the truth as it is in Jesus. They were so touched and amazed at our stories and how God works miracles in our work. I was really touched by Daniell’s roommate, Angie, she was struggling with her health, because she has MS. She was so hungry for a living experience that she wanted to record my goodbye prayer. The record button on her phone did not work and she was so disappointed. It makes me so sad to see such desperate need here.
2. October 4-6 Faithcamp Geneva Switzerland: We arrived at an SDA Seminary College in Collonges France October 3. This College is in a sad condition, teaching wrong practices like mysticism etc. They do not want our group there or any other godly influence. Yet they are teaching SDA pastors! I am appauled and so sad. We did our Faithcamp just down the hill in Geneva Friday through Sunday. This is an international church they rent it from the Emmanuels. We do not need interpreters there. Lovely people once again. A few ladies were from China and said how thrilled they were to be able to attend a church service. It was the first time ever in their life that they could be in a Church!
Behind the College in Collonges, is a tall Rocky Mountain called Saleve, also called the “Balcony of Geneva.” On Friday it was wonderful to climb that 1,379 meter mountain with Tim. At the top we sat on a rocky ledge, feet dangling over the abyss below and we prayed over the 2 countries spread out before us. France is definitely against the gospel. They need our prayers!! It was cold and started to rain a little but the climb was so refreshing and meaningful to me.
Our host, Leonardo, and others said that when we were there they felt Jesus! And everything felt so calm! Surely the Lord is at work here. Before leaving they took us to the Monuments of the Reformation. Awesome.
October 7, Monday, we drove to the Swiss Alps! Our cameras were working overtime, but the freeway has high walls built up around it so that we could not take all the pictures we wanted to take. We drove through Zurich and arrived in Bogenhofen Germany by evening. That night we slept in St Peter Am Hart Castle. Yvonne was our hostess. She runs a seminary college and academy. As she toured us through the castle she told us about her plans to purchase that castle. It is a huge tourist attraction and could be a big witness for Christ, plus much of it could be used for classrooms. There is also a very historic church behind the castle! Many times it is used for weddings and other events. Yvonne has been given donations plus a discount price from the government. She believes the Lord will provide for its purchase!!
3. Bogenhofen Germany 2 day Faithcamp: We drove through the Swiss Alps on Monday, October 7. Our cameras were working overtime, but the freeway has high walls built up so that we could not take all the pictures we wanted to take. We drove through Zurich and arrived in Bogenhofen Germany by evening. That night we slept in St Peter Am Hart Castle!I was privileged to speak one hour to Academy students. I knew they were inspired. It was a great time with them. Later one of the teachers said many of the students were greatly affected and giving their hearts to the Lord. Tim Maddox did not plan to present deliverance ministry on this trip, but because of his interview with Little Light Studio two months ago, many people have flooded him with questions seeking help. He taught the seminary students. Yvonne toured us through the Castle and told us of the plans she had to purchase it and expand her school. Her whole heart is in this because it is a big tourist attraction and she would be able to witness to so many people. Adjoining this castle is Schloss Hagenau church. It is hundreds of years old and beautiful inside accept for the statutes of saints etc! Praying that God will give her the means to purchase this if it is His will.
October 9 we leave Bogenhofen. I have a test of my own personal faith at this point because a Category 5 hurricane is headed straight towards my son, Bradley in Venice Florida. Everyone in his area were asked to evacuate, but seems he never will! Our team prayed several times for God to protect him an avert the storm as is His will. I prayed non-stop and was keeping in touch with him best as I could. God performed a miracle, because that storm turned into Category 4, then 3 before it hit his area. He, his house, and his neighborhood was saved.
We drive 8 hours through Vienna and Budapest. Here we stopped and walked around the Houses of Parliament. So many historic buildings and unusual sights here. Horse drawn carts are taking people down the streets. We spent the night in Lajosmizse, Hungry. We had reservations at a hotel, but just as we all went to hand the clerk our passports, I looked at mine and lo-and-behold it was Jon’s passport! Where is mine? How did I get his? I searched everything and so did Jon and Natalie, we even took out our suitcases and rummaged all through them, praying all the time. We had presented our passports in Cologne, France and I apparently did not receive mine. It was a tense time of prayer, because if one person has a passport problem, we all have the problem and this is so early in our trip. Tim was calmly sitting in the motel lobby waiting for us and perhaps he was praying also. He finally pulled his passport out of the front pocket of his backpack, then reached on down past it …there was my passport! Mystery! The next day we drove 7 hours to Craiova, Romania.
4. October 10-13 Faithcamp în Craiova! Wow! A whole new scene! It is warmer here, which I love. These people have come out of Comunism in 1989. You could feel the coldness and serious outlook of the people here. We began by presenting for 2 hours at their school house. I really identified with these students! We ate traditional Romanian food in their cafeteria. It was good. We were given an elder’s apartment to stay in. We had our own rooms and the kitchen was loaded with food! There were 700 people at church that Sabbath and every meeting was well attended. Roxana interpreted for every meeting. She was exhausted Sabbath morning, but she said as she kept interpreting she got feeling stronger and stronger! She and I have kept in touch on WhatsApp. She asked me if I would be her neighbor in heaven! I said, “Yes of course! Forever!!” These Romanian people were very formal at first, but became more and more in love with us! They stand for prayer and never kneel down. They asked us why do we kneel? The pastor, Bolita Ovidiu told us that this is the largest SDA church in Romania. The building had begun to be built during communism, undercover. Carefully they brought in supplies at night and worked behind a screen. Finally the church was too tall to cover and the authorities came and told them on the following Monday they would destroy this church. However, communism fell that weekend and the church continued! Beautiful church and beautiful people. They were so sad for us to leave. We all were hugged and kissed on both cheeks. I was hugged so tight by so many people I thought my head might snap right off! This dear man cried when he told me he has watched my programs in the past and never dreamed he would see me in person. He has watched many Faithcamp programs and JFA programs and was so touched. Pastor Bonita Ovidiu was nervous about us at first, but grew to love us. He hated to see us go. He could not say good-bye! Tears were in his eyes. We met Brother Caostello who is a builder. He is building a 3-story large school house all by himself beside his house. He and his family are on fire for God’s work with the young people. Also we met a couple we had met in Thailand. Gia and her husband Ryan. We enjoyed several meals together at our house because we had so much food! Wonderful heart-to-heart time with these dear people.
October 14 Have to drive through parts of Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Slovania, Austria, and at last Germany. Our destination is Faithcamp in Aachen Germany. At the border of Serbia the border patrol ar gruff! They use Serial script like Russia. We stopped in Belgrade, population 1.35billion. Tim and I got out and prayer walked around the Stari Grad, the old, most ancient town in Belgrade. We slept in a BnB called Brodsky Vinogorje. It was set up like we were on a ship. Tim’s bed was in a circle like a bathtub. The breakfast was very fancy and elegant! The next day we travelled through Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. We went to Petrol near the Save river and prayed at that river dividing us from Bosnia. We also prayed in Zagreb walked around the Zagreb Cathedral and around a beautiful market, bright with fruits and vegetables.
5. October 15, there was a one-time Faithcamp meeting with some dear people in Ljubljana, Slovenia. (Try to say that! The “J” sounds like a “Y”) Now these dear people are persecuted in their church, (SDA) and threatened with disfellowship because they are not allowed to have the living word of God preached. But when they heard we were passing through, they were so eager to have us speak to them, they secretly rented a meeting hall in town, and we presented to them there. These people were thrilled. The pastor who interpreted for us had been fired because of his stand against women’s ordination. all these people were hungering and thirsting after righteousness. I’m saddened, yet I admire them greatly!
October 16 stayed in the house of Karl and Elizabeth, friends and supporters of Tim Maddox. (They gave me a delicious recipe for Cauliflower soup! I will try it)!! The next morning we drove to the Diet of Worms located in Germany in the Holy Roman Empire, where Martin Luther was summoned and refused to recant his views. The edict of Worms was a decree condemning Luther as a notorious heretic in 1521. We entered that cathedral with cold statues and ornate designs made to bewilder the senses. I renew my determination by God’s grace to stand trial as Martin Luther did so many years ago - by God’s amazing grace!! Now we are on to see the castle of Cologne. It is huge, awesome, and ornate, made to super dazzle the senses and bring all the people into its false religion. Surely all the world is wondering after the beast at this point. Our prayers are filled with emotion now to see and know that nobody around us has the truth as it is in Jesus!!
6. October 18-21 Faithcamp in Aachen, Germany. We are all divided into different homes. I get out of the car with my suitcase and meet Uschi who lives alone in an apartment. She told me that instantly she was in love with me. We are about the same size, and age. We both have 2 boys, and no husband. Hers’ passed away over a year ago. She is a strong, determined, faithful lady. I greatly admire her. She had just returned from a Neil Nedley coarse, and showed me the notebook and all the information she had received. She instantly had put into practice everything she had learned, we ate healthy, went to bed early, got up early and ran together at 6am. Our time together was phenomenal. She told me that Germany has the best bread in the world. It has over 300 different kinds of bread - very delicious. Uschi missed Sunday’s meeting and prayer-walk, so I taught her about prayer walking and we walked her area. She had many aquaintances who needed our prayers. She and I bonded for life and so did her 9 year old grandson, Ari, who made it a point to stay with us while I was there. He loved me so much.
Jon and Natalie stayed with Marco, a dentist and his family. They took us to Katschhof Square where there is a large cathedral and other important buildings. We walked through the cathedral, met Luke, a med student from the SDA church with his fiancé in there, and then prayed all together in the square! Powerful thing! Luke is very tall. He interpreted for me the last time and people laughed at the difference in our height!! Marcus took us to a Greek restaraunt and ordered everything available that was vegetarian! We were starving! Wow that was delicious! He paid for everything! Thank you so much! That was only the 3rd time we ate out on this entire trip. All of our traveling days we bought sandwich food and Natalie and I prepared sandwiches in the cramped back seat of that little car for us all! Marco also took us to the. point where 3 countries intersect: Belgium, Netherlands, and Germany
I must add here that the people in this church were so attentive and inspired. With each progressive Faithcamp we feel more of the Holy Spirit’s power for ourselves and all the people! To experience this is marvelous - words cannot describe the love and overflowing joy that heaven is pouring out. Uschi is my friend for life. We have communicated some on WhatsApp and she tells me I can stay at her house anytime. Her house is my house. A real sweetheart!! A friend for life!
7. October 24-27 Faithcamp England We said goodbye to all our beloved new friends in Aachen on October 21, and boarded a bus at 4am! This trip to UK had been organized through Tim since the beginning of our Europe trip. It only materialized recently though in answer to prayer. Again, praise the Lord that Jon had not bought our return tickets yet! Our bus ride would be on 2 different busses for a total of 14 hours. I was thrilled about it because my mother was born in London in 1923, and grew up there. The bus would actually be put on a big ferry boat and taken across the English Channel! Very exciting to me. We had to wait over an hour for the second bus to come. It was raining and bone chilling cold! I wore every stitch of warm clothing that I possessed and was still cold. But I expected the UK to be damp and cold!! Sure enough this second bus drove onto a huge ferry boat called: “The Spirit of France.” This boat holds 189 big trucks and busses and 1000 passengers! Quite an experience. When coming close to shore we could see the White Cliffs of Dover. The entire Ferry boat ride was 3 hours, then we boarded the bus again which took us to Victoria Station in London. Daren Bullock was there to pick us up. We were all very hungry, but London is a maze of traffic. After driving for a little over an hour we went to a fish and chips shop and bought vegetarian burgers and chips! We are in High Wycombe, UK. Tim slept at Daren’s house, Jon, Natalie and I stayed with his mother, Shirley. I was bonded to Shirley immediately. She had lost her husband with Altzheimer’s not too long ago, but kept herself busy helping in every way to take care of various guests and her family. Daren’s family included his wife, Sujoya, little girl Tao -3, a boy Andrea -12, a boy Steffen -16, and a girl Sioned -28. Daren and his wife have worked diligently with many people all around them.
During our time in England we had the privilege of visiting:
1. The house where Tim was born!
2. Portsmouth in the South Sea, where there is a museum and ship yard for the HMS warrior war ship of 1863, HMS Victory warship used in the Battle of Trafalgar, and the Navy’s only remaining WW2 submarine.
3. Drove past Stonehenge prehistoric stone circle burial grounds. They say it was built 5000 years ago and the circle erected about 2500BC. Its History is mysterious.
4. Windsor Castle and a nearby cathedral.
5. George Muller museum. It was soul stirring to read all about him and how he lived by faith and prayer alone. George Muller also wrote that throughout his lifetime he had prayed 50,000 prayers and seen 30,000 of them answered within 24 hours! He cared for over 10,000 orphans and built 5 very large orphanages, never asking anyone for money. Here is one of his outstanding quotes:
“The blessedness of faith is most seen under such circumstances. Faith is above circumstances. No war, no fire, no water, mercantile panic, no loss of friends, no death can touch it. It goes on its own steady course. It triumphs over all difficulties. It works most easily in the greatest difficulties. Those who really confide in God, because they know the power of His arm, and the love of His heart, as shown most in the death and resurrection of His only begotten Son, are helped, whatever their trials and difficulties may be.” written by George Muller
The UK is in desperate need of help. The devil has them in his grip. There are many new age groups telling people how to find the “new Jesus”. They allow people to keep the seventh day, just so they are NOT Seventh-Day Adventists. There is a huge Anti-Adventist pull and evil forces are arrayed against God’s work. But Daren and Sujoya work diligently encouraging, helping, teaching, studying, and praying with many people. They have invited people from many different walks of life to come to our meetings who are looking for help and finding it. They have really reached out to help Paul, a young man who used to be a demonic healer. They have studied with him a lot, and he is experiencing change in his life and coming to our meetings.
During my first presentation with this group, I spoke on hearing the voice of God. There was a young lady, Millie, there in the front with a 9 year old autistic son, Bertie. Only three months ago her husband had died suddenly, and unexpectedly leaving her estranged and angry at God. Bertie usually pays no attention in meetings but is restless and goes in and out, but his time he listened. Later he told his mother that he really felt he should stop and listen! He said: “That little old lady told many stories of how God is real, answered her prayers, and healed people. “AS OF TODAY I KNOW GOD IS REAL!” I am so touched and thankful to God who sent his Holy Spirit in great power. Another lady told me with tears that she cannot even think of me and my faith without crying. She wants that kind of faith. I assured her that she can have it, and spoke to her for some time.
The combination of all our presentations and prayers brought Jesus very near to the dear people across Europe, and caused changes in their lives. Jon Wood delivered powerful sermons and personal testimonies of God’s leading in his life. He brought the people into the very throne room of God. Very powerful. He taught prayer-walking, and explained the amazing results. Natalie sang beautifully at the end of my programs, told children’s stories and led out in children’s Sabbath School in the UK. Tim Maddox was powerfully used through all his messages especially on Deliverance from evil spirits. Scores of people have responded and been helped by his message. None of us are taking any credit for ourselves - we cannot. We stand perfectly stunned to see the results in people’s lives and the closeness and unity the 4 of us experienced together.. Each day brought more love, unity, and power from the Holy Spirit. It was very hard to say good-bye when our work in Europe ended. I felt I left part of my heart behind, but we shall carry the memory all the way to heaven! Obviously we are nothing. We know this is all God - none of us. May we say with Paul: “I die daily!”
“Lord, I give up all my own plans and purposes, all my own desires and hopes. I accept Thy will for my life. I give my all utterly to Thee, to be Thine forever. Fill me and seal me with Thy Holy Spirit. Use me as Thou wilt. Send me where Thou wilt. Work out Thy whole will in my life - at any cost, now and forever.” Written by Betty Scott Stam 1906-1934 (Now written in my Bible and included in my prayers)
“In view of the great need all about us, who can be content to hover over our own churches, neither gaining nor imparting strength. Let those who have a living connection with God go out and labor for unbelievers. We do not call for those who are half asleep to go in their present condition, but we beseech of them to awake, to lay hold of the arm of infinite strength, and then go forth, speaking the words of life. …Here is a world perishing in sin; and I beg of you, for Christ’s sake, to work along right lines.” 23LtMs, Ms 35, l908, par 39
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