Experiencing God’s Work in Romania
A small team from Highlands—David & Drea Lyon and Eugene Citrisky—spent 10 days (April 11–21, 2025) in the Tulcea region of Romania, serving alongside our missionary partner Mihai Pungila. The trip, which took place just before Easter, was both exhausting and deeply rewarding.
We traveled throughout the region to serve in six church plants supported by Mihai—Tulcea, Nicolae Bălcescu, Peceneaga, Chilia Veche, Sinoe, and Mihai Viteazul—as well as conducting outreach in the remote village of Letea, accessible only by boat. One of the most unique aspects of this trip was the variety of ministry opportunities God opened up. With His help—and a good dose of improvisation—we were able to step into many different roles to serve the people we met.
We held four mini-VBS events, with up to 40 kids at a time, using songs, crafts, and storytelling to share the gospel and explain the meaning of Easter. Drea led three women’s outreach events using painting as a creative and relational way to share her testimony and the good news of Jesus. We also distributed baking ingredients—cocoa, raisins, Turkish delight—for women to make Cozonac, their traditional Easter bread, and gave out several Bibles.
We connected with local youth multiple times, sharing testimonies and conversations about what it means to live a God-honoring life. David and Eugene each preached nine times across the churches, acting as itinerant pastors and encouraging the congregations with gospel-centered messages.
As Easter approached, we bought and delivered groceries—flour, sugar, cornmeal, chicken, bread—to widows and families in need. Some recipients spoke Russian or Ukrainian, and Eugene was able to communicate with them in their heart language. Mihai also secured a food bank donation of about 2,000 hamburger buns and other goods, which we helped load onto boats for distribution throughout the Danube Delta.
We taught a computer and typing class to kids in Tulcea, opening doors for new learning and skills. One surprising opportunity came through a visit with a local government official in charge of the ferry system. Mihai had built a connection with him—his son works in Seattle as a software engineer—and invited us to visit as fellow Seattleites. That relationship is helping expand food distribution efforts via ferry throughout the region.
To bless Mihai and his wife, Magda, we helped improve their home. They had purchased an older house last year that needed serious repairs, and with help from others supplying materials and labor, we contributed by purchasing and installing new LED ceiling lights. We also had the opportunity to visit land Highlands helped purchase and prepare in Sulina, a town in the Danube Delta. The vision is to turn it into a summer camp for local youth. We inspected the recent grading work and the installation of water and sewer lines funded by Highlands. A beach on the Black Sea is just 2 kilometers away—making it a perfect setting for future outreach.
On the night before Easter, we joined a group of 20 local youth in a late-night “caroling” event. Just as people were returning from the Orthodox church with lit candles, we stood in Nicolae Bălcescu singing songs about the risen Christ. It was a moving public witness that left an impression on all of us—though getting up early the next morning wasn’t easy.
With remaining trip funds, we were able to purchase a much-needed audio system for the congregation in Sinoe, whose sound equipment had recently failed. David selected a quality, budget-friendly replacement that will serve them well.
Over the course of 10 days, we traveled more than 300 miles by car, boat, and on foot. Some of the locations we visited were right near the Ukrainian border, and while Romania remains safe under NATO protection, the reality of the war was present. We passed military checkpoints, heard a remote air raid siren, and even saw the aftermath of a nearby Russian drone strike.
This was a powerful trip—full of spiritual growth, practical service, and the joy of seeing God at work. Thank you, Highlands, for your prayers and support. We were honored to represent our church and serve in partnership with Mihai as he continues to bring the hope of Jesus to Romania.
In Christ,
Eugene Citrisky