Voices from the Field Jason & Erin Bergman Get to know Jason & Erin

Reflections

Published on May 18, 2022

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Hello Friends and Family!

Happy spring! We hope you are all enjoying some time outside these days. We are certainly enjoying the warmer weather and the beautiful spring landscape here in Romania.

As we were driving in the car the other day, our family was reflecting on the highs and lows of our first year in Romania. It was fun to hear and remember the funny moments, memorable days, people who we have met, and things we have seen. It was good to listen to each other’s hard things, too. The things we have grieved, the people we have missed, and the struggles we have had. In all of it, God has been faithful and He has done good things in the good and in the hard. Maybe especially in the hard. It reminds me of the call and the opportunity to “rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18).

We are moving! The NAB, in partnership with Camp Falcon Rock (CFR), has purchased land in close proximity to the camp. There is a house on the property that we will be moving into in the coming months. It was a summer residence, so we have some projects to complete to make it winterized and functional for our family.

What does this mean for our family?

  • We will be a short five-minute drive to the camp.
  • A new community (we will be moving about one hour away from where we currently live).
  • A new local church.
  • A lifestyle change (city life to country life).
  • Awesome Hungarian neighbors (good friends of ours).

We were prayerful and trust the Lord has good things in all of these changes. The proximity to the camp will be such a blessing for Jason, as he will not be commuting two hours daily anymore and we will be more available for ministry happening at the camp. However, these are obviously more transitions for us, and we would appreciate prayer as we prepare for these upcoming changes.

Elsie has joined us in Romania! It was so good to have her arrive safely on April 28. She will be assisting our children in their schooling and is now with the CFR team on the ground. We have already developed a relationship with her over the past year; she is so much fun, and we love her already!

Many of you have been asking about the refugee ministry at the camp. CFR has had many refugees coming and going. Some stay for just a few days as they pass through, and others have had longer stays as they discern their next steps. Paul and Tanya have been working with many of them to organize the details to get them to where they are needing to go longer term. Our kids have become very attached to the group that has been with us since the beginning and always beg to go up to the camp to visit them. They have loved our kids so well. We have shared life with them through board games, soccer, ukulele lessons, shared conversation over meals, movie nights, church services, and hanging out. They have touched our hearts, and we feel blessed to have the opportunity to be a part of their lives for this season. We have had the privilege to celebrate a baptism, birthdays, and even a change of season from winter to spring with them! Our prayer is, no matter how long people stay at the camp along their journey, they would experience a place of refuge and feel welcomed and loved by His Spirit.

Care packages for Ukraine

The CFR team has been able to provide this kind of atmosphere because of so many hands that have touched this ministry. Through the many who have donated globally, CFR has been able to provide toiletries, clothing, and accommodations, feed them, and support them. The local staff team have been serving in the kitchen, cleaning the facilities and allowing the daily operations of the camp to run for these refugees. The churches across Romania have mobilized to meet the needs of the growing number of refugees entering the country. Many have housed them in their homes and been very generous to welcoming them here. Our CFR team has even been able to send some team members across the border into Ukraine to bring care packages and appliances to sister churches that are housing, feeding, and caring for hundreds of refugees. Thank you for all of your prayers, love, and support for this ministry and to the afflicted in this crisis. Please continue to pray for our neighboring countries and for God to be an ever-present help in suffering.

Canadian mission team from Whitecourt

It was so great to have a Canadian team come earlier in April and dig in with us. They were awesome and helped out with camp construction projects, refugee ministry, youth ministry, and projects that need to be accomplished at the house we will be moving into. We really enjoyed getting to know them and building relationships with those who already invest in CFR’s ministry through faithful prayers and financial support. So good to be able to work together on the ground in Romania! Thank you guys!

We appreciate all of you who take the time to read our updates and walk this journey with us. We have recognized over this past year that God has used you powerfully to uplift us in prayer, send encouraging messages, and just be an amazing support. We couldn’t do it without you. Thank you for helping us to navigate all of the ups and downs of our first year on the field.

We love you!

Jason, Erin, Dani, Cristian, Olin, and Keli

 

Canadian Funds

US Funds

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