Wisconsin — So many times in our lives God answers our prayers. Recently I had a time filled with God’s blessing in answered prayer.

It all started many months ago when my wife, Marie, told me that a mission trip to Romania was being planned. I thought that there wasn’t any reason for me to go because there were seven pastors going — what would they need me for? My ministry is Christian story telling using illustrations for children.

One day Steve Aust, my pastor, asked if I would be interested in helping him with the youth in Romania. I agreed to go and began praying that God would use me in a mighty way to make a difference with the youth in Romania — just the chance to work for the Lord made me so excited and happy!

We arrived on a Friday night, and had our first youth and Vacation Bible School (VBS) meeting on Saturday night. There were only about twenty kids at VBS, and twelve in the youth meeting. On Monday, the youth were leaving to go to high school in another town about two hours away. Where were we going to get more youth for the meetings?

My interpreter was a woman who taught English and Reformed Orthodox religion classes in the public school system. She asked if I would come to her school and put on my programs for the children.

For the entire week, I went every day to the public schools in town telling stories and doing my illustrations. The kids loved it so much that both children and youth came to the meetings in the evening at our church.

As many as 100 children came for VBS, and approximately 75 for the youth meetings. I kept busy working, and all the children responded to my stories and illustrations.

I can’t believe how God worked out a miracle right before my eyes! According to the Romanian Conference president, it was totally impossible to get into the public schools like that. This was truly a miracle! God is so wonderful!

Doug Burgess, Wisconsin Academy Church correspondent