May 2021 Update from Brooke Bateman

Dear ABC family,
As you read this we will celebrate Easter weekend here in Romania. Please pray for close fellowship between the Deaf believers and a hunger to share what they know about Jesus with other Deaf believers. Things are going fairly well. To be honest I had my hardest week of homesickness during the month of April. But God carried me through with the hope of His promises and dear support from teammates of mine here, I went and spent a weekend with them. And God in His incredible grace, moved it on the hearts of local Deaf friends to invite me into their homes or for walks. I see this as His hand of love and care. The work is going well. I am continuing on with language learning. I am working with the Romania team as well as virtually with teams in the Asia Pacific, Tanzania and getting to know the team in Columbia. The teams in these regions are further along in their Bible translation work and experience where I can continue to learn from them as we long to implement Scripture Use and see life transformation here in Romania. Please pray my brain can absorb the several languages I am having to learn/use on a daily basis. I LOVE this part of my job but it’s challenging for sure and impossible without God. Pray, I can make the least amount of cultural and language mishaps as I try really hard but I know I will have my moments! I need God’s wisdom. I am working to develop a casual in-home Bible study where we are able to use what (small) portions of sign language scripture we have in Romanian sign. If the Lord wills, l would like to focus on the topic of prayer as I see this being the main point of confusion and disappointment from my sisters in Christ. They question if prayer is necessary or why God hasn’t answered specific prayers for years when the Word promises things surrounding prayer. Please continue to pray for my relationships with Claudia, Lidia, and Remus as I hope to be a light and disciple to them. Pray for me to have wisdom for what Bible stories, life experiences l could share as well as LISTENING well. Please pray for the Translation team here as one of the consultants has to take a month of leave due to the health and near-death of a father. We are all chipping in in our ways to encourage and come alongside the rest of the team as they seem to constantly be swimming upstream. God will prevail!
Thank you for your prayers and continued care.
Serving Together,
Brooke