Click here to view this newsletter as a PDF.
The beginning of this season of living in Romania started in 2015 when God brought us here on a two-week mission trip to Camp Falcon Rock. It was on this trip we fell in love with the people and the country and began to sense God was calling us to something more. When the Gerickes reached out to us about becoming missionaries, we were excited about joining the mission and the team and easily made the move here in November 2016. We have been blessed abundantly by so many people that have treated us like family. We love the Romanian-Hungarian way of life and will forever treasure the time that we have spent here.
After a time of prayer and discernment, we feel we are entering a new season of our life and that our time in Romania has come to a close. We have made the difficult decision to return to our home country at the beginning of December 2021. There are a number of reasons we feel this move needs to happen. We need to support our kids as they continue to navigate the difficulties of the COVID pandemic. We also need to support our aging parents (both Vern’s dad and Gloria’s mom will both be 90 in a couple of months). In the midst of discerning next steps, God provided us with clarity on the way ahead. We are excited that as we transition back to Canada we will be able to move into a home near our son and his family in southern Alberta. We are looking forward to helping them out any way we can, and Vern can hardly wait to help with the calving in March. We will be making many trips to Edmonton to visit our daughter and her family also. We feel this provision is affirmation of the season God is calling us into.
So it is with sad hearts that we say our goodbyes here in Romania and to you all as our amazing supporters. We are so thankful for the growth of Camp Falcon Rock over the past five years and for getting to play a part in this development. We are certain that this growth will continue on for many years after us. We are also thankful for the growth in our lives. God has been so good to us over these five years, and we have seen that through the generosity, the love, and the care from all of you. Thank you for committing to partner with us and to walk alongside us during this season in Romania. We are beyond thankful to each of you. We are humbled by your kindness, and we will be forever grateful.
As we return, we will continue with our missionary work until the end of May 2022. We will be on home assignment, which means we will spend time traveling to our supporting churches and networks to connect and give a final report of our time in Romania. We hope we will be able to meet up with you all during this time to say our thanks to you in person!
Your support over the past five years has been instrumental in the ministry of Camp Falcon Rock. To continue to be involved in this incredible work, we are asking you to consider redirecting your funds after May 2022. To learn about the different needs at Camp Falcon Rock, visit www.rootsinromania.com. To give toward one of these needs, here are a couple of ideas:
- Commit to pledge to the ongoing operations of Camp Falcon Rock. As with any camp or foundation, there is a constant need for partners to pledge their support to the ministry operations. If you would like to continue your monthly or annual support, you can create a recurring gift directed to the operations of the camp by clicking one of these links:
- Give a one-time donation to the camp. This will provide support to the ongoing development of the camp facility, such as the main lodge project that is currently underway:
- Pledge to support Camp Directors Tamas and Tunde Modi. These two are the reason the camp is developing and bearing fruit! They are national missionaries through our sending organization, the North American Baptist Conference. You can give monthly or annual pledges toward them as missionaries. To do this, sign up for a recurring gift here:
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email us!
Thank you for your love and care. We love you all and are grateful for you.
Vern & Gloria
A message from Paul and Tanya Gericke, Romania Co-Field Directors:
When Vern and Gloria first spoke with us back in 2015, it was evident that God was moving in their hearts for the ministry at Camp Falcon Rock. Little did we know at that time that God would move the Wagners to Romania for full-time ministry. Looking back over these past five years, it is clear that God had specifically called, equipped, and prepared the Wagners for this unique and special ministry in Romania. When the Wagners first stepped on the grounds of Camp Falcon Rock, programs had yet to begin and there was only one functional building that could host less than 20 people. Five years later, the Wagner’s fingerprints are seen throughout the property. May it be the water system, the staff houses, main lodge, cabins, sports field, or the development of the day-to-day operations – Vern and Gloria have been a key piece of the growth and development of the ministry. Beyond the physical work, Vern and Gloria have played a vital role in partnering with the local staff and have assisted in the development and training of full-time local staff members. Camp Falcon Rock is now at a place where it can host hundreds of young people throughout the summer, where year-round programs are running, and hearts and lives are being transformed by the Gospel.
The Camp Falcon Rock team is sad to have to say goodbye to the Wagners, as Vern and Gloria are not only co-workers and friends but have become family to all of us. Yet, having the opportunity to discern both the call to Romania and their transition back to Canada, we are confident that they are following the Lord’s leading. The Wagners were called to Romania for a “time such as this” and the kingdom impact that they had will not be fully understood on this side of heaven. Those of us in Romania will never forget the Wagners, and we know that the ministry and people in Romania will always be in the hearts and mind of the Wagners (we are already in discussions of when the Wagners can come back to Romania on short-term trips).
In all of this, we want to thank the Wagners for leaving everything behind to follow God’s call, we want to thank the Lord for how he worked so powerfully through the Wagners, and we want to thank all of those who faithfully partnered with the Wagners. Together, hearts and lives have been changed and the ministry will carry on for generations to come!
‘Til next time
Paul & Tanya