By Jerry and Sylvia Taylor
“This is a true story…” is how we like to share our life experiences and knowledge as Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapists with groups in Romania and Tanzania.
We met in Junior High School, were next-door neighbors, and attended the same church. This year we will celebrate our 58th wedding anniversary. We love missions. We have taught in Thailand, Myanmar, Indonesia, Kenya, Ecuador, the USA, and other places around the world. We have sponsored children in other countries as well as with Remember the Children (RtC). RtC is one of our favorite mission organizations.
The first time we went to Romania with RtC, we spent a month traveling around the country with Andy and local pastors teaching about successful relationships, parenting, and conflict resolution. We were scheduled to present five times and wound up presenting twelve. “Please, come to our church,” was a request we did not turn down. We even had some individuals travel long distances to attend a presentation a second time in another part of the country. Andy told us, “your stories, teaching, and vulnerability are honest and revealing. This is not what people usually hear in this culture.” We visited and spoke to groups in youth offenders facilities and state-run orphanages. Sylvia is a knitting machine and had knitted slippers for each child we encountered.
The second time we went to Romania was during Christmas. It was a wonderful time of reconnection with people who are now friends on Facebook. It was like visiting people you have known for years. It was also a time for more knitted slippers, this time for children and adults. Sylvia enlisted the help of some of her knitting friends. It was a time of doing, gifting, and, as the quote says, “teach the Gospel at all times and when necessary, use words.”
In February 2020, we were in Tabora, Tanzania meeting with the orphan home families. We visited the campus where the ten houses were taking shape with walls, roofs, and foundations. We visited each family in their home. We met the children, listened to their songs, and played with balloons. During that visit, we also met with dozens of couples and individuals and taught about healthy marriages and parenting. We also taught about healthy relationships to young, unmarried men and women. Our PowerPoint presentations and accompanying stories were received well because of our vulnerability. The biggest take-a-way from the Tabora mission trip is that our teaching materials are now being used, with adaptations, by some of the village leadership.
Our trip to Tabora, Tanzania was at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our temperatures were taken at every travel point as we left one country and entered another. Our passports were double-checked to make sure we had not traveled through China. Our carry-on bags were thoroughly hand-searched. We arrived safely in the United States, and we have not tested positive for any COVID-19 related illnesses to this day.
We, along with you, are watching the progress of the Tanzania orphan home village with the updates, images, and videos sent by RtC. House of Hope in Romania is a steady influence for Christ under RtC leadership. We cannot forget the impact on the Roma population, especially with local pastors. We are excited to witness the impact RtC is having and will have on so many people, today and in the future. We hope to return to Tabora, Tanzania, and Oradea, Romania soon if we are able—at 77 and 78 we are in good health—and we love missions.