The surprise reunion

Several years ago I was sitting at a dining table at the Missionary Learning Center listening to the conversation going on around me. The comment was made that if Christians were really serious about missions, they needed to have passports. Shortly after that, my husband and I were asked to go to Romania to work on a chapel building project through the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia partnership with the International Mission Board. We both got our passports; we were serious about missions! Let me share with you the special joys that our volunteer trips have allowed us to experience.

Last summer Dave and I were in Romania for our third volunteer trip. After our week with the team, we traveled to Fagaras, Romania, for a special family reunion. This amazing event was the end result of a three-year adventure. On our first trip, I had taken along a return address I had found years before on an envelope in my mother’s desk after her funeral. The address was that of mother’s cousin, Nick Taflan. Nick lived in Fagaras, Romania. My grandparents had come to America from there in the early 1900s. Nick was my grandfather’s nephew. He faithfully wrote granddad and mother and they wrote back. However, during the communist years, envelopes were opened and the contents removed. Only empty envelopes were received. The lines of communication were broken and stopped completely after the deaths of granddad and mother. I brought the address with me hoping to find information about them. I knew this was a remote possibility. However, when God purposes an event, the remotest possibility becomes possible.

A young interpreter, Danny Holhos, was working on another chapel project during the same week we were there. One of the missionaries, Melinda Russell, knew that I wanted to locate my cousins. She was working with Danny’s team and knew he was from Fagaras. She gave me his e-mail address to bring home. I e-mailed him and gave him the limited information. Imagine my surprise when he e-mailed back saying, “This is not so very difficult. Your family and mine have been friends for many years!” The connection was made. I began to correspond to Nick through the Internet with Danny interpreting. I learned that my family was Baptist. In a country that is mostly Orthodox, this made the discovery even more special.

The following summer, I returned as a nurse on a medical/dental team. We spent the night in Brasov on our way to Iasi. Fagaras is an hour from Brasov. When our team arrived at the hotel, Nick, his wife Sina, and their daughter and son-in-law welcomed me at the hotel. Such a reunion. We hugged, kissed and cried. My heart could hardly take it in. We spent the evening together. Danny came along to interpret. When we said our goodbyes, it was with the promise that when we returned, we would come to Fagaras.

Last summer we returned with the same project; my husband was with me. This time our project was in villages around Brasov. Nick came mid-week by train to check-up on us. What a joy it was to see him again. He is a most humble, sweet-spirited Christian. We promised we would be coming to his home on Saturday.

We arrived in Fagaras late Saturday evening. Nick had placed friends along the road to direct us to their house. We were given the warmest Romanian welcome; it was like coming home. On Sunday we all walked to church. They worship in a chapel built by the project that first brought us to Romania! The former IMB missionaries that established the Romanian Chapel Project, Don and Joyce McCauley, live in Fagaras and worship at this chapel. They were in church that morning. It was extra special to see them and give a testimony to the church telling them that because of the McCauley’s obedience to the Lord in establishing the Chapel Project, we were reunited with our family. Don’s eyes filled with tears as he listened to our testimony.

We had a grand time with all the family. We traveled to the lofty peaks of the Romanian Alps where there was ice and snow in June. We ate at a great restaurant where we sat outside enjoying good Romanian food and great Romanian company. I looked around the table and saw cousins that were like us. I longed to have my American cousins with us to share the wonderful moments. We laughed and talked and just thoroughly enjoyed one another’s company.

Before leaving Fagaras, I had the added joy of meeting my grandmother’s niece. Maria is a dear, older lady. She came out to meet us wearing the biggest smile. As we were about to leave, I told Maria that one day we would meet again in heaven. I asked her about the certainty of her salvation. She is Orthodox. Her certainty is based on the church and not the blood of Christ. We were able to share the plan of salvation with her; parting after prayer.

It’s been said that Jesus isn’t safe but He’s always satisfying. Traveling isn’t easy. It takes time, money, muscles and much preparation to arrive at the airport for departure and stamina to do the work. But, when He says “go,” He is going with you and the paths can lead to incredible delight. I know this for certain.
—Mary, Bethany Place Baptist Church