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A Call To Romania

Our plane arrived at Otopini Airport in Bucharest, Romania on August 14th, 2001. I could hardly believe that we were finally here. I felt like this was the beginning of something great.

Many changes had happened in my life in the last couple of months that led up to this trip to Romania. God was still reminding me of his awesome power and teaching me to understand how to wait on Him. I am embarrassed to admit that at the age of 49, I still did not understand the sovereignty of God. I was too busy with me to think about other peoples' needs.

I was going to church and being an occasional witness but not getting too involved. I didn't know then that the Lord was calling me to Romania. I had a good job in the corporate world with a very good salary. I had worked hard to obtain the position I held, but it was not satisfying — there was something missing. Over the years, my priorities had become more and more focused on my career, and less and less on God and family. I had convinced myself that my role in life was to be a leader and supply money to the church and my family, at the expense of my own personal time with God. I had a plan: work hard, retire early, and then make some time for God and my wife. I had even convinced myself that I had earned material success by being so focused and well-disciplined. Even though I knew God owned everything, I thought I had something to do with my little success.

My job often required me to fly from Seattle to Salt Lake City, Portland (Oregon) and California's bay area. On one of those flights to Salt Lake I sat in a window seat next to a missionary who told me how she got started in the mission field. When our plane landed and pulled up to the gate, I stood up to depart. My missionary friend in the aisle seat had me blocked in, so I decided to wait, and ended up being one of the last to leave the plane. This missionary said "Rick, I believe there is a call on your life and I would like to pray for you." I agreed, and she did. It was a simple prayer that ended with "God, help Rick understand how to serve you." We shook hands and said goodbye.

As I walked into the Salt Lake City Airport, the power and evidence of the Holy Spirit was very strong on me. I was broken and humbled before the Lord. I can't explain the feeling; I can only describe it as peaceful and full of strength. For more than an hour, I wandered around the airport looking for a quiet place to be alone so I could pray. As many of you know, there is no such place at a busy airport, so I walked up and down the concourse, praising God.

In a matter of weeks, I was unemployed for the first time in my life. God had reminded me of Ezekiel 22:30. The people of that time must have been very busy as well. God needs people who will pray and become intercessors for his children. "So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one." So I spent a lot of my time praying for everyone I knew, and asking God for forgiveness and direction.

"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! For His mercy endures forever." Psalms 107

This all sounded wonderful but I needed a job. I really needed to focus on me now, even more than before. But all the doors of opportunity appeared to be shut. If God was trying to get my attention, he certainly had. I felt like I had to get my mind off of me and on to Him. I had plenty of time on my hands now to get into the Word. I had received a good severance package, and I had no excuse at all for not having time to wait on the Lord for direction.

At about that time, I became aware of a couple that attended our church who were doing work with Gypsy children in Romania. I can't explain why, but I felt my heart drawn toward anything and everything about Romania. Every time I heard the word "Romania" or tried to talk about it, I became broken and sobbed deep down to my toes. I prayed "Lord, I don't know anyone in Romania — what does this have to do with me looking for a job?" I tried to reason with God; I prayed "Lord, I've learned my lesson. I'll give you the praise and honor for my accomplishments and my position; I'll do a better job at church; and I'll balance my home life better than I had in the past." Even with this great big promise, I received no job offers.

I had lunch with my pastor, Ray Jennings, hoping he would help me figure this out. I could barely talk with him without bursting into tears. He reminded me that God is good all the time. He believed my past job experience could be used for the Lord, and that everything I had done in my life was all for a purpose. Pastor Jennings asked what I felt I should do, and I told him I didn't know why but I believed I was to wait on the Lord and stand. He then offered some advice: "Put your focus on praising God and catering to your wife." Huh? What kind of advise was that? I loved my wife and she was just as worried as I was about me being unemployed. But I trusted the Pastor and I did as he instructed.

What was I becoming? I had no job. I had become a cry-baby about Romania for reasons I couldn't explain. And my pastor tells me not to worry and to take time to focus on my wife and her needs.

In spite of my worry, I read the Word every morning and God seemed to talk to me throughout this time. As I prayed and meditated on God's word, an overwhelming sense of peace came over me. I did not worry about being out of work; I worried more about pleasing God, and yes, my wife.

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:16-18

All of a sudden I realized this was not about me!

"But the hour is coming and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him." John 4:23

"I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors." John 4:38

"But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him." 1 John 2:27

While I was learning how to become a better husband and worshipper for the Lord, Viorel and Jennifer Miahi were in Romania and had found a house for sale that could be used to start an orphanage in. When they returned, I asked them to share their vision for Romania with me. Since Jennifer was 11, she had had dreams that she would someday run an orphanage. We prayed together and agreed to start a non-profit organization that would focus on helping the Gypsy children of Romania. On June 18th, we formed a Corporation called Reach A Child International. We established a mission statement and purpose, and we believe we will make a difference in the lives of Gypsy children in Romania.

Rick Scott

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August 2001