Keith Holmes and Mary van Rheenen, CBF missionaries to Romany in Europe,
live in Holland with their two daughters Ellen and Rebecca.
Keith is from Baton Rouge, and his home church is University Baptist.

See video of Keith and Mary click below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ysdCkjrpjw
Additional updates at http://cbfgypsyministries.blogspot.com.

Follow and "Like" Romany Ministries on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/CBFRomanyMinistries

November 2011
Speaking Up in a Time of Anger

Dear Friends,

I was going to write about our car being in the shop and the Moldovan Romany
interested in business training all being in Russia. But then I read this
interview of George Soros, Hungarian-born investor and philanthropist, in
the Euobserver: "The problem of the Roma is deteriorating with the economic
situation. And the majority of the public is releasing its anger and
frustration at its own economic situation by attacking the Roma
(http://euobserver.com/851/114218)."

It brought to mind this quote from Martin Niemöller, a German pastor who
spent 7 years in Nazi concentration camps:
In Germany, they came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up
because I wasn't a Communist; And then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist; And then they came
for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew;
And then . . . they came for me . . . and by that time there was no one left
to speak up.

"They" are coming for the Gypsies right now. Recent attacks in Bulgaria,
on-going problems in Hungary, anti-Roma sentiment in France and Italy all
testify to this. Roma students at the Gandhi School in Pecs, Hungary, were
afraid of walking through a park in broad daylight--a park where far-right
groups often marched, in uniform. Intimidation can be a powerful weapon. We,
the church of Christ, have access to even greater power. Do we have the
courage and the commitment to use it? Are we willing to risk speaking up?
Some of us are called to be evangelists, some teachers, some bissionaries
(business development), some Bible translators, some pray-ers, some givers,
and some--some of us are called to be Martin Niemöller or George Soros. Is
that you?

Prayerfully,
Mary van Rheenen, Keith Holmes, Ellen & Rebecca

Thank God for:
*use of Dutch Christian's second car while our (only) car is in the shop;
*those who stand up for the poor and the "alien";
*support from the Arnhem-Centrum Baptist Church's Sunday school for our
mission trip to Moldova, June 9-16 (interested in joining?);
*Operation Mobilisation and pastor Petru Ciochina in Moldova.
*the launch of the Romany Education Network,
http://romanyeducation.blogspot.com/.

Join us in praying for:
*completing the last 6% of the audio recording of the Sinti New Testament +
complete healing of the car ;
*Local Christians everywhere to stand on the side of the poor, the "alien,"
the despised minority;
*honorable economic opportunities for Christians, Romany and non-Romany, in Moldova;
*our plans for an off-field assignment in the States next school year.

Additional updates at http://cbfgypsyministries.blogspot.com.
Contributions to the Offering for Global Missions, Cooperative Baptist
Fellowship, PO Box 101699, Atlanta, GA 30392-1699 make this work possible
(and our budgets easier to plan).
Gifts to specific projects can be sent to the same address.
Please include the project # on memo line.
Contributions can also be made through CBF's gift catalog at
http://thefellowship.info/Give/Gift-Catalog.

October 2011
On Not Throwing in the Towel

Dear Friends,

A while back I was ready to give up on micro-economic development in
Moldova. We had started about ten years ago with one partner, moved to
another, given training in the Romany village of Vulcanesti, and had three
people successfully apply for small loans. One was an utter failure, and
none resulted in businesses that still exist today.

We found yet another partner in Operation Mobilisation. They oversaw two
small loans to church members who were already engaged in business. One
bought and sold used cars . . . until the economic crisis combined with a
family crisis resulted in he  going abroad to work (with his wife and
children). The other sold shoes at the outdoor market. His business
expanded, but not enough to buy a house for his family of six. He joined his
brother in legal, more lucrative, but not really appropriate employment. He
has his house, but he and his wife have been disciplined by the local
church.

So I was ready to give up when, to my surprise, the local pastor and our
contact in Operation Mobilisation began to sound hopeful, almost
enthusiastic. Next, a born entrepreneur returned to the village with not one
but three business ideas. A couple of women began crocheting and sewing.
Three or four people from the village will attend Operation Mobilisation's
next training session, November 4-7. If these people come up with viable
business plans at the end of the session, they will receive "credits"
(loans) to begin or enhance their activities. God continues to move in
mysterious ways, His wonders to perform.

Keith experienced this recently on a more short-term project, though it hasn't
been as short-term as he would like it to be. He resumed recording the Sinti
New Testament with a group of believers in Cologne, Germany . . . by fits
and starts. One Friday he drove the hour-and-a-half over there intending to
record that day, spend the night in a hotel, and record further the next
day. Day one went fine, but day two he couldn't even get into the church
where the recording equipment was set up. The believer with the key never
showed up. He came home in disgust. Whenever he phoned the person he was
supposed to work with the following week, he only got their voice mail. When
he finally did connect, the man was obviously sick. Keith mentally threw in
the towel.

Then, that Friday the man called Keith up and said, "When are you coming
back to record some more? How about today?" That was a refreshing change.
Kieth threw his toothbrush in a bag and headed out. He returned Sunday
evening, very satisfied, with 94% of the Sinti New Testament recorded. God
is still working-in His time frame, which isn't always ours.

Waiting on the Lord,
Mary van Rheenen, Keith, Ellen & Rebecca Holmes

Thank God for:
*completing 94% of the audio recording of the Sinti New Testament;
*on-going distribution of the printed New Testament in Germany;
*Operation Mobilisation and pastor Petru Ciochina in Moldova;

Join us in praying for:
*the business training and the Romany who attend it;
*completion of the Sinti Romany recording;
*Ellen and Rebecca's plans for next year (college? Which one?)
*our plans for an off-field assignment in the States next school year.

Additional updates at http://cbfgypsyministries.blogspot.com.
Contributions to the Offering for Global Missions, Cooperative Baptist
Fellowship, PO Box 101699, Atlanta, GA 30392-1699 make this work possible
(and our budgets easier to plan).
Gifts to specific projects can be sent to the same address.
Please include the project # on memo line.
Contributions can also be made through CBF's gift catalog at
http://thefellowship.info/Give/Gift-Catalog.

September 2011
Prayer Tank on "E"

Dear Friends,

It's easy to tell when a car's gas tank is getting close to empty. Oddly
enough, I can tell when our family's "prayer tank" is getting close to E,
too. "Ah, it's time to send out the monthly prayer letter," I say to myself.
This month is no exception.

Keith has spent the last week and a half recording an audio version of the
Sinti New Testament with believers in Cologne, Germany. Since that's only
about two hours' drive from our home, he and his recording partner Arthur
Wynveen have been alternating between spending the night in a hotel there
and driving home here. This has advantages, but the irregular schedule is
also stressful--for him as well as for the rest of the family. And any
recording project with Romany is going to be irregular, anyway. Romany are
interaction- and event-oriented, not clock-oriented. So someone might need
to go visit their brother-in-law, or leave early, or show up late. The
recording is 70% complete, but it's a much more drawn-out process than the
project they did this spring with the Portuguese Bible Society. Local team
members lined up professional actors who showed up on schedule, like
clockwork, for the 6 weeks required for one New Testament project.

Add to that Arthur's permanent relocation to Portugal, and the prayer tank
on this one really needs to be refilled. We've also been praying for another
friend, Alina Ivan. Alina, a Romanian Christian, feels strongly called to
work with Romany children. She is exploring possibilities, including a move
to Vulcanesti, Moldova, to work with pastor Petru & Olesea Ciochina there.
But then there's always the troublesome matter of earning a living to
consider . . . .

Speaking of which, several Romany believers in Vulcanesti have fresh
business ideas:  buying a van to collect scrap metal, opening a small
grocery store, sewing and selling pillowcases . . . .  Operation
Mobilisation, our economic development partner in Moldova, has talked with
several of these hopeful entrepreneurs and plans to hold a training session
for them sometime this fall. Those with viable business plans will receive
small credits (loans) to start or expand their businesses. But what about
those without entrepreneurial skills? How will they keep their families fed
and warm this winter? And how will the new heater for the church get from
here to there? And . . . .

Did I mention I was running on "E"? Maybe the "e" stands for "ego" as well
as "empty." After all, God is still doing His job. He doesn't ask me to.  In
fact, He has just supplied an ingenious way to get the heater from here to
Moldova via a visiting Romanian who--well, that's another story. Look for
details next week on http://cbfgypsyministries.blogspot.com. And thank you,
again, for doing your jobs. Thank you for your prayer support.

Refueling,
Mary, Keith, Ellen & Rebecca

Thanking God for:
*A good start to the school year;
*Progress in recording the Sinti New Testament;
*Functional heating system for Bethlehem Baptist Church, Moldova;
*Partners Alina Ivan, Petru & Olesea Ciochina, Operation Mobilisation.

Prayer requests:
*Economic development which will assist believers in Vulcanesti and
Nisporeni;
*Finding and recording appropriate voices for the rest of the Sinti New
Testament;
*For the beginning of a monthly women's meeting in Vulcanesti;
*For the youth of Vulcanesti;
*On-going energy and good humor.

Additional updates at http://cbfgypsyministries.blogspot.com.
Contributions to the Offering for Global Missions, Cooperative Baptist
Fellowship, PO Box 101699, Atlanta, GA 30392-1699 make this work possible
(and our budgets easier to plan).
Gifts to specific projects can be sent to the same address.
Please include the project # on memo line.
Contributions can also be made through CBF's gift catalog at
http://thefellowship.info/Give/Gift-Catalog.

August 2011
Growing, Tending, Praying for Harvest

Dear Friends,

Does it feel like your summer is over? Ours was in full swing until we
stepped off the plane in Amsterdam. We had been eating watermelon and sweet
corn at my mother's in Iowa, sweating when we went outside, and actually
getting a bit tanned (well, some of us). We returned here to the usual
dripping Dutch weather. The rain barrel was more than full, and the quilt
felt good at night. Within a week of stepping off that plane, Keith was
already off to a meeting in Germany and planning another one to France.
Rebecca was busy making up schoolwork missed last year, and Ellen was
meeting with a job coach.

The girls' school does not officially start until Monday, August 29, for
which we are deeply grateful. Rebecca missed the entire last quarter of
school due to illness. She does not want to begin this, her last year of
high school, with too much backlog. In the Dutch system, students take
comprehensive exams in all their subjects at the end of their last year of
school, and she will have quite enough to focus on in the months ahead.
Ellen still needs to complete three of those comprehensive exams. This won't
keep her entirely occupied, though, so she is also looking for her first
job.

Keith is looking to finish a job he started before the summer:  recording
the Sinti New Testament. He and his recording partner Arthur have more than
half recorded, but this second half is the more challenging since it
involves finding a lot of different people to say a lot of different, little
parts like a high priest, a man born blind, a woman at a well. In the
meantime, he attended the Wycliffe Bible translators' Roma(ny) team meeting
in Germany this past week. This next week, he will travel to France with one
of the translators to attend a huge annual Romany (Sinti) tent meeting. Last
year they left off Jesus DVD's and other media material at this tent
meeting. This year, they will exhibit the newly published Sinti New
Testament.

Before Keith leaves, we will have a CBF Romany Team meeting . . . on-line.
This is not anyone's preferred way to meet, but it is economical, efficient,
and fairly ecological. We will meet (on-line) new team members Jon & Tanya
Parks who are preparing for a teaching assignment in Slovakia. We will also
be discussing our 2012-13 budgets and planning ways to strategically engage
supporters as well as address three or more missional communities of
practice (contact us for more details). Preparing budgets is not a lot of
fun, but the cooperative spirit in which we discuss them is encouraging.

I began this summer with a trip to Moldova. I'm ending the summer with good
news from there. Bethlehem Baptist Church has started a weekly children's
club, very well attended and received. This has been on the pastor's heart
for some time. A gift from our Dutch church for materials helped make it
possible. The pastor plans to use another gift from American supporters to
fix the heat in the church building. Hopefully they will be able to meet
there all year round now, rather than retreating to someone's home when the
weather turns cold. Also, hopefully, a few more micro-economic development
ventures will have started in the village by then. A seminar led by
Operation Mobilisation, our economic development partners in Moldova, is
planned for this autumn. Several church members have ideas with good
potential.

Is summer over? Well, maybe not yet. The sun is currently shining. There's
still time to grow, and tend, and pray for the harvest.

Prayerfully,
Mary van Rheenen, Keith Holmes, Ellen & Rebecca

Thanking God for:
*The beginning of a weekly children's program in Vulcanesti;
*The Wycliffe Bible translator's Roma team;
*Traveling mercies these past few weeks;
*Sunshine.

Prayer requests:
*Economic development which will assist believers in Vulcanesti and
Nisporeni;
*Finding and recording appropriate voices for the rest of the Sinti New
Testament;
*For the beginning of a monthly women's meeting in Vulcanesti;
*For the youth of Vulcanesti;
*A good school year for Ellen and for Rebecca.

Additional updates at http://cbfgypsyministries.blogspot.com.
Contributions to the Offering for Global Missions, Cooperative Baptist
Fellowship, PO Box 101699, Atlanta, GA 30392-1699 make this work possible
(and our budgets easier to plan).
Gifts to specific projects can be sent to the same address.
Please include the project # on memo line.
Contributions can also be made through CBF's gift catalog at
http://thefellowship.info/Give/Gift-Catalog.

Fellow Pilgrims on the Road
July 2011

Dear Friends,

"We are travelers on a journey; fellow pilgrims on the road," is a line from
one of our favorite hymns. At the moment, it seems to be literally true. I
returned from a 16-day trip to Moldova in time to get ready for an even
longer trip to the States. We will be taking a vacation with family,
visiting colleges and universities for the girls, and dropping them off for
a one-week retreat with other teenagers in our missions family. Meanwhile,
we are still processing our time in Moldova.

I met some excellent pilgrims on the road there. Zoltan Barbaras, member of
the Wycliffe Roma Team in Romania, joined us to translate, do a Romani
language survey, and promote "scripture in use." He was an invaluable member
of the team, especially during the five nights we spent in the village of
Vulcanesti itself. He could mediate with the nervous woman who watched over
the house we stayed in--very necessary for many of the things we did
aggravated her. Did you know, for instance, that you should not keep soap on
top of the well, even if it is a covered well? Also, never, ever use a basin
from the kitchen to wash out your clothes (any kind of clothes) and never,
ever, ever, ever put that basin on top of the well, even if the well is
covered. This last proved to be the final straw. We had risked contaminating
the well literally as well as ritually (what was in that basin? surely not
underwear or sox!!). What do you expect from stupid gadje who grew up with
indoor plumbing? We had to return to the place we had been staying in the
near-by town of Nisporeni. Perhaps it was just as well since Zoltan, our
interpreter and male chaperon, was leaving the next day.

Some of the pilgrims we met were not on the road . . . at that point in
time. Several believers in the village really pitched in to help lead the
afternoon Bible club program for the children. Vanya, who is studying to
become a pastor at the Moldovan Bible College, translated the daily Bible
story into Usari Romani. He and several other believers adapted the memory
verses into the local version of Usari as well as leading singing, helping
with crafts, and participating in skits related to the Bible stories of the
day. Eduard, who is reading John Calvin in his spare time, coordinated the
Friday evening program for parents. We had tried to do this before, but
never as successfully as this time.

Other travelers had been on a much longer journey. Gina Oschner flew from
Oregon to Bucharest, took the night train to the Moldovan capital, and
waited in the central park there for us--whom she had never met face-to-face
before--to pick her up. Talk about faith! Gina is a writer whose
storytelling skills really added to the women's program on Saturday
afternoon. Her rudimentary Russian also smoothed the way on more than one
occasion (Moldova is officially bi-lingual), and she cheerfully took part in
the fashion show. She wore a Romanian Roma costume; Lubia from Vulcanesti
dressed as an American pioneer; Catea provided me with Vulcanesti high
fashion; I brought a Dutch costume for Catea.

The women enjoyed the program, though I suspect the smaller group enjoyed
the prayer meeting and our home visits even more. Virginia, one of the
village leaders, and Olesea, the pastor's wife, hope to begin at least
monthly meetings for women in Vulcanesti. Olesea and her husband Petru also
plan to begin a weekly children's club with Bible lessons and some school
lessons, "so the children will at least learn to write their own names."

Fellow pilgrims Els Berghuis and Erika Oosterkamp really hope the church
will follow up with the teenaged girls, too. These women from the Baptist
Church here in Arnhem organized a 3-day girls' camp. Due to cultural
considerations, it was held--successfully--in the church building. Between
20-30 girls came each day to hear the Word, sing with local leaders, play
games, and try their hand at an applicable craft. One day they were pampered
with home-made facials followed by a high tea. The last day they walked down
the road for a cook-out in the forest. A good time, and a blessed time, was
had by all.

Some of the travelers on this journey really do not want to travel. Many,
many Moldovans regularly leave the country in search of work. Lubia and
Radj, together with their three children, were preparing to go abroad for
two years to earn enough money to move out of the house of Radj's parents
into one of their own. We continue to partner with Operation Mobilisation to
help Roma in Vuclanesti begin and grow their own businesses. We are also
praying for business partners who will invest in profitable employment
opportunities in the area. Would you happen to be that pilgrim?

Wishing you traveling mercies,
Mary van Rheenen, Keith, Ellen, & Rebecca Holmes

Thanking God for:
 *A safe journey to and from Moldova + a wonderful team there;
 *Enthusiastic participation by local believers, patience from pastor Petru
     Ciochina, full house for the children's program, the women's program, and
     the girls' camp;
 *Partnering church and the many different ways they participate in this
    ministry;
*Completion of the school year and positive options for Ellen & Rebecca next
    fall;

Prayer requests:
 *For economic development which will assist believers in Vulcanesti and
     Nisporeni;
*For the beginning of a weekly children's program and a monthly women's
    meeting in Vulcanesti;
 *For the youth of Vulcanesti;
 *For Keith's recording partner, Arthur, who is going through a time of
     transition;
 *For finding and recording appropriate voices for the rest of the Sinti New
     Testament.

Additional updates at http://cbfgypsyministries.blogspot.com.
Contributions to the Offering for Global Missions, Cooperative Baptist
Fellowship, PO Box 101699, Atlanta, GA 30392-1699 make this work possible.
Gifts to specific projects can be sent to the same address. Please include
project # on memo line.

Contributions can also be made through CBF's gift catalog at
http://thefellowship.info/Give/Gift-Catalog.

Comings and Goings
May/June 2011

Dear Friends,

Keith returned home safely from Lisbon, Portugal. The people he and Arthur
were working with there gave their recording of the Portuguese New Testament
rave reviews. Now I am preparing to take off, in the opposite direction.
June 8-24 I will be in Moldova with a small group of volunteers with a
rather big agenda. In the meantime, Ellen will finish taking her end exams
at the Dutch high school she attends, and Rebecca will continue planning
college visits this summer for the school she hopes to attend two years from
now. Oh, and the little birds in our birdhouse safely flew the coop. Comings
and goings--life seems full of them right now.

Keith plans to go again . . . just about an hour south of here . . . just
for an afternoon or evening . . . to finish recording the Sinti New
Testament. Now that they've recorded "Paul" and "Jesus," he and Arthur are
searching for "Matthew," "Mark," "Luke," and "John." They hope to find them
close by so that they can easily record while I am away. Arthur would truly
like to complete this recording before we leave on vacation (July 9).

I would truly like to complete plans for going to Moldova before June 8,
when we actually go. When we arrive, we hope to hold a training session for
local believers who will take over more responsibilities with the children's
vacation Bible school. Zoltan Barabas, Wycliffe Bible translator focusing on
Scripture-in-use, will help training in Usari, the local Romani language. So
far, the Wycliffe translators have done at least a draft of Genesis and
Galatians.

We hope to stay overnight more in the village of Vulcanesti this year,
partly to cut down on our own comings and goings and partly to have more
time to build relationships with the women and girls who are our primary
focus of ministry. In addition to home visits and prayer times with the
women, we will be working with the local church to organize a women's
celebration on Saturday, June 18. Theme: Who's image do you bear? Program:
Includes fashion show, story/skit of Esther, and reflections on what it
means to bear God's image (Genesis 1:26) as well as an invitation to let
Jesus fully develop that true image.

Then we have planned a 3-4 day camp for girls, ages 13-20 or so. The pastor
anticipates around 25 girls might participate. Our Dutch team members, Erika
& Els, are very enthusiastic about the camp. I am just showing up. The theme
is who we are in God's eyes (again with the departure from Genesis 1 & 2)
and includes a day of pampering with beauty treatments and a deluxe high
tea. Recipes you may have for homemade beauty treatments are welcomed!

In between times, I hope to visit with our partners Operation Mobilization,
Romany education, and the Moldovan Baptist Union. Please pray with us that
God will be opening the hearts of the women in the village of Vulcanesti to
trust in Him. Also pray that the villagers will allow their daughters to go
off to camp with us and their daughters will want to go. In addition,
special prayer is requested for Keith, who will be staying for a change
while I am going. Managing a household with two teenaged girls is about as
much out of his comfort zone as going to Moldova would be for many another
persons.

Wishing you traveling mercies in your own comings and goings,
Mary van Rheenen, Keith, Ellen, & Rebecca Holmes

Thanking God for:
*Successful recording of this contemporary translation of the Portuguese New Testament.
*Good options for Ellen and Rebecca in the (post-high school) near future.
*Members of our Moldova team: Els Berghuis, Erika Oosterkamp, Gina Oschner,
Zoltan Barabas, and many local believers including pastor Petru & Olesea Ciochina.
*Support from the Baptist Church in Arnhem (someone has invited Keith and
the girls over for supper 3x while I am gone!).

Prayer requests:
*For unity among those working in Moldova; for health, safety, and the Holy
Spirit's guiding for all involved as well as enthusiastic participation by local believers;
*That the children's program, women's program, and girls' camp will truly
turn hearts closer to following Jesus;
*For adequate, on-going support for pastor Petru & Olesea Ciochina;
*For extra doses of sanity and patience as Keith takes on the role of Mr. Mom.
*For finding and recording appropriate voices for the rest of the Sinti New Testament.

Additional updates at http://cbfgypsyministries.blogspot.com.
Contributions to the Offering for Global Missions, Cooperative Baptist
Fellowship, PO Box 101699, Atlanta, GA 30392-1699 make this work possible.
Gifts to specific projects can be sent to the same address. Please include
project # on memo line.
Contributions can also be made through CBF's gift catalog at
http://thefellowship.info/Give/Gift-Catalog.

It's Friday, but Sunday's Coming

April 2011
Dear Friends,

Do you ever feel like you need an Easter? Tony Campolo recounts a sermon he
heard that could be summed up as follows: "It's Friday. But Sunday's
coming." As we approach the holy week from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, I
confess it feels a bit like Friday. While Keith is recording a contemporary
translation of the Portuguese New Testament at record-breaking speeds, we
women at home are dealing with petty annoyances (broken bike chains; cryptic
letters about Dutch taxes) and long-term problems (mental health issues; the
looming question of life after high school).

Is it Friday? Keith has been in Lisbon recording with the Portuguese Bible
Society since March 31. He will return April 21 for Easter weekend, then fly
back the following Tuesday to resume recording. Recording an entire New
Testament usually takes six weeks. Some days, though, Keith and his
recording partner Arthur Wijnveen have been able to record a day-and-a-half
to two-days' worth of material. At this rate, they will be able to come home
earlier. Before they left, they were able to finish recording the part of
Jesus for the Sinti New Testament. Once they return from Portugal, they will
resume that project.

Is it Friday? The two women from the Netherlands, Els and Erika, who are
going to Moldova with me in June, are filled with enthusiasm and ideas. They
are looking forward to meeting with the women in the Roma village of
Vulcanesti and arranging a three-day camp for girls. A charity Els is
connected with has even donated funds for the camp. And a Romanian-speaking
colleague from the Wycliffe Roma Team is willing to serve as a
translator/Scripture-in-use trainer during our trip.

Is it Friday? Our daughters Ellen and Rebecca, who are scheduled to finish
their high school career in June 2012, both have good options for life after
high school. They did well on the last set of exams they took. And we have
extra support for the extra challenges we face. A friend came and fixed the
bike chain. E-mails offered hope for other long-term problems. And Keith is
coming back in a week to celebrate Easter Sunday with us.

Is it Friday? Sometimes it sure feels like Friday. Those first followers of
Jesus who ran and hid on that first Good Friday or wept as they watched him
die did not know that Sunday, Easter Sunday, was coming. We do. We can claim
the power of that resurrection. Pray with us that we will. Sunday really is
coming.

Looking towards Easter,
Mary, Keith, Ellen & Rebecca

Thanking God for:
*The Sinti New Testament and the successful recording of the part of Jesus
for the audio version of it.
*Partnership with Faith Comes by Hearing to record other New Testaments as
well, including a contemporary translation into Portuguese;
*Good progress in the Portuguese recording, good working relationship among
all involved;
*Good partners involved in Moldova.

Prayer requests:
*The Portuguese recording, those involved in making it and those who will
eventually hear it;
*That our family continue strong;
*Plans for mission trip to Moldova, June 8-24, and for the five of us who
will be going: one from Oregon, three from Arnhem, and one from Romania;
*Economic development in Moldova--community center plans in Nisporeni; work
opportunities for Romany believers in Vulcanesti;
*For wisdom and guidance for Ellen and Rebecca, in their last years of high
school, as they look at options for the future.

Additional updates at http://cbfgypsyministries.blogspot.com.
Contributions to the Offering for Global Missions, Cooperative Baptist
Fellowship, PO Box 101699, Atlanta, GA 30392-1699 make this work possible.
Gifts to specific projects can be sent to the same address. Please include
project # on memo line.
Contributions can also be made through CBF's gift catalog at
http://thefellowship.info/Give/Gift-Catalog.

.

Gypsy Bible - 25 Years in the Making

March 2011
Dear Friends,

April 8 is International Romany (Gypsy) Day. Our CBF Romany team is
celebrating this with special blogs posted each day that week, beginning on
Sunday, April 3. These can be viewed at: cbfgypsyministries.blogspot.com.
These blog entries have also been compiled into a week-long prayer guide
which may be used during that week--or at any time throughout the year. The
prayer guide can be downloaded at:http://www.gypsyministries.com/prayer2011.pdf.
It is designed to be printed out, front and back, on legal-sized paper. If you would like
to receive a hard copy per regular post, please contact us.

The month of March has felt a bit like the Month of the Sinti New Testament
for us.  The printed New Testament + Psalms was dedicated on Sunday, March
6. Many different people over a period of 25 years had contributed to this
final result: Sinti, German, Austrian; Baptist, Lutheran, Pentecostal,
Bretheren. When specially bound editions were presented to the Sinti
involved in the translation project, the platform was full--and not nearly
all of them could be present.

In the following weeks, Keith and Arthur returned to Hamlin, Germany, to
record "Mark" and "Mary." This past week they have been able to stay home
and record "Jesus" here in Arnhem. Garry Peter, a Sinti pastor who is a key
part of the Old Testament translation team, travelled here to be recorded.
We are all praying that they will be able to finish this section of
recording early next week--before the end of March.

Why? Because as part of CBF's partnership with Hosanna/Faith Comes by
Hearing, Keith and Arthur are flying to Portugal on March 31 to begin
recording the Portuguese New Testament with the Portuguese Bible Society.
Keith will be gone three weeks, home for Easter, and gone another three
weeks. Once they return, they will arrange to continue recording the Sinti
New Testament. Perhaps May will be another Sinti month? With June, when it
is my turn to travel, being a Moldova month?

Still praying,
Mary van Rheenen, Keith Holmes, Ellen & Rebecca

Praise and thanksgiving:
*Completed Sinti New Testament and opportunity to record it.
*Successful recording of the parts of Paul, Mark, and Mary.
*Cooperation and support from the church in Hamelin and our own Dutch
Baptist Church (where we are recording Jesus) in Arnhem.
*Great CBF Romany team meeting in Palermo, Italy (the food there wasn't bad,
either).

Prayer requests:
*Physical safety as Keith and Arthur travel to Lisbon, spiritual protection
as they record there;
*That our family continue strong in the face of all this travel and physical
separation;
*Plans for mission trip to Moldova, June 8-24;
*Economic development in Moldova--community center plans in Nisporeni; work
opportunities for Romany believers in Vulcanesti;
*For wisdom and guidance for Ellen and Rebecca, in their last years of high
school, as they look at options for the future.

Additional updates at http://cbfgypsyministries.blogspot.com.
Contributions to the Offering for Global Missions, Cooperative Baptist
Fellowship, PO Box 101699, Atlanta, GA 30392-1699 make this work possible.
Gifts to specific projects can be sent to the same address. Please include
project # on memo line (Romany Scripture Media, #80821; Romany Outreach,
Moldova, #85822; Romany Education, Moldova, #80827).
Contributions can also be made through CBF's gift catalog at
http://thefellowship.info/Give/Gift-Catalog.

To Hamelin, Not for the Pied Piper but Paul - February 2011

Dear friends,

Tomorrow Keith and fellow Faith Comes by Hearing recordist Arthur Wijnveen
drive three hours to Hamelin, Germany. No, they are not going to follow the
Pied Piper's path through downtown or even to visit the bakeries selling
rat- and mouse-shaped breads. They are going to begin recording the New
Testament in the Sinti Romani language. They hope to begin with the voice of
Paul. "Paul" is one of the major parts in this semi-dramatized version of
the New Testament and will take at least 70 hours' work.

Last month Keith was able to finish recording the 30-minute animated DVD of
Ruth in Western Kalderash. That has been mixed and sent to the church in
London for review. Although that was satisfying, Keith felt that the most
important part of that trip was probably linking Martin Burnell (pastor
starting outreach among Romanian Romany in Luton, England) with the
Kalderash-speaking church in London. The believers there enthusiastically
agreed to come help with music and testimonies.

Keith and Arthur have just finished two-weeks' training for recording the
New Testament. They are eager to begin and pray that this next recording
session will be as productive as Keith's last. However, they realize that,
just as in the trip to England, God's agenda might be different than theirs.
They also realize that without adequate prayer support they can expect
trouble--either in the recording and/or in the final outcome. If you feel
led to join a special prayer team for this recording project, from now
through the end of March, please let us know. We will be making specific
prayer requests and updates available.

Pray with us that the effect of this recording will be as infectious as the
Pied Piper's music and that this project will not encounter the type of
distrust, miscommunication, and general discord that the Piper experienced
with the Hamelin town council. Projects involving different cultures,
languages, and church groups provide ample opportunities for such problems.
However, if an Anglican priest and Kalderash Pentecostals can work together
joyously, there is hope for every part of the Kingdom.

Praying for heavenly harmony,
Mary van Rheenen, Keith, Ellen, Rebecca Holmes

Praise and thanksgiving:
*Martin Burnell & the outreach to Romanian Romany in England;
*Successful recording of Ruth DVD in Western Kalderash;
*Successful training session for Faith Comes by Hearing recording of New
Testament;
*Completed Sinti New Testament and opportunity to record it.

Prayer requests:
*Holy Spirit to prepare and guide recording of Sinti New Testament with
Sinti believers in Germany and the Netherlands;
*Annual CBF Romany Team meeting, March 3-8, Polermo, Italy;
*Plans for mission trip to Moldova in June;
*Economic development in Moldova--community center plans in Nisporeni; work
opportunities for Romany believers in Vulcanesti.

Additional updates at http://cbfgypsyministries.blogspot.com.
Contributions to the Offering for Global Missions, Cooperative Baptist
Fellowship, PO Box 101699, Atlanta, GA 30392-1699 make this work possible.
Gifts to specific projects can be sent to the same address. Please include
project # on memo line (Romany Scripture Media, #80821; Romany Outreach,
Moldova, #85822; Romany Education, Moldova, #80827).
Contributions can also be made through CBF's gift catalog at
http://thefellowship.info/Give/Gift-Catalog.

Stocking Up on Cheddar and Why Ruth is Important for Romany - January 2011
Dear Friends,

Though most Romany do not travel anymore, many like to. In this respect,
Keith fits right in. This evening he is taking a short flight to Luton
Airport outside London. He leaves at 9 PM and arrives at 9 PM (due to one
hour time difference). He's looking forward to it--and not only because
going to England gives him a chance to stock up on cheddar cheese. He'll be
meeting with a Baptist pastor who is starting an outreach to Romanian Romany
in Luton. Then he'll be going on to his Kalderash Romany friends in London
to begin recording the Ruth DVD in their language.

The Testament series' Ruth DVD carries important messages for Romany. The
important theme of loyalty to family resonates with most Romany culture.
Ruth provides a positive example of an outsider who becomes not only
accepted but praised (and part of God's plan of salvation as an ancestress
of Jesus). Ruth and Naomi, as main characters, also provide a positive
affirmation of women. Some Romany cultures are very patriarchal. Women leave
their families to live with their husbands'. Though women may often earn
much or most of the money, the chief men of the family still decide
important things--like how it is spent.

If you feel called to pray specifically for this project, please contact us.
We will send specific requests and updates throughout the translation and
recording. In most recording projects, a Bible translator has prepared the
script ahead of time. In this case, Keith will be working with the Kalderash
believers to translate the script while they are recording it. They have a
translation of Biblical book of Ruth to work from, but this translation
needs a lot of tweaking. The next project is already translated, and
checked.

On January 20, he and co-worker Arthur Wijnveen begin a two-week training
session with Esther Kenney of Faith Comes by Hearing. This organization
records dramatized versions of the New Testament. At the end of these two
weeks, they will begin recording the newly completed Sinti Romani New
Testament. They plan to work on this, recording with Sinti believers
primarily in Germany, through the end of March.

All of this travel and all of this recording work really puts a light in
Keith's eyes. Though I do not have quite his wanderlust, I am looking
forward to the annual trip to Moldova with several women (Dutch, American,
Romanian) to do outreach with Romany women, children, and girls. Feel free
to contact me directly if you are interested in joining this team either by
going yourself or through prayer.

The pastor of our partner church in Moldova, Petru Ciochina, recently sent a
year-end report complete with photos. I am hoping to post it on
www.gypsyministries.com shortly. If you would like to receive it directly,
we would be happy to send it to you. Many Romany there are also on the
road--in search of work. They would rather stay home. Petru is actively
seeking local opportunities for them. If you have a calling to roam in that
direction, or to advise and assist in marketing items the women have been
making, we would all welcome your input!

Wishing you all traveling mercies (whatever journey you may currently be
embarking on),
Mary van Rheenen, Keith, Ellen, Rebecca Holmes

Praise and thanksgiving:

*Martin Burnell & the outreach to Romanian Romany in England;
*The Kalderash-speaking church in London (website available);
*The Oosterkamp family who will be hosting Esther Kenney + the training
session here in the Arnhem area;
*Our extended families.

Prayer requests:
*Keith's travel to London & recording the Ruth DVD there;
*Faith Comes by Hearing training and begin recording of Sinti New Testament;
*Good spirits during these dark days of winter, especially extra energy for
Ellen and Rebecca;
*Economic development in Moldova--community center plans in Nisporeni; work
opportunities for Romany believers in Vulcanesti.

Additional updates at http://cbfgypsyministries.blogspot.com.
Contributions to the Offering for Global Missions, Cooperative Baptist
Fellowship, PO Box 101699, Atlanta, GA 30392-1699 make this work possible.
Gifts to specific projects can be sent to the same address. Please include
project # on memo line (Romany Scripture Media, #80821; Romany Outreach,
Moldova, #85822; Romany Education, Moldova, #80827; Romany Microeconomic
Development, Moldova, #80823).