2025 Vision Trip – A Story of Presence, Passion, and Possibility
How It Started
It all began with a phone call from a good friend, Deron Austin. He and his wife, Lesley, had been asked by their church, Silverdale Baptist in Chattanooga, TN, to lead a short-term mission trip in 2025. Having attended the 3Fold Missions launch dinner just a few months earlier, they called with an unexpected question: Would 3Fold consider partnering with Silverdale for a trip to Romania?
I didn’t hesitate. Yes! This had always been a dream for 3Fold, though I never imagined it would come so soon—or that God would bring it through friends knocking on our door. After a discovery meeting with Silverdale’s Missions Pastor, David Lawson, we were honored to be included in their list of global short-term mission opportunities. The next question was simple: Would anyone be interested in a trip to Transylvania?
The Team That God Built
God’s answer was clear. At the first interest meeting, several showed up to learn more. Over the following months, fifteen people committed—six women and nine men, ranging from age sixteen to eighty-three. Some had never stepped foot outside the U.S. and several others had traveled widely.
The diversity was beautiful. Some felt drawn to children’s ministry, others to construction, others to art or pastoral training. All came with open hands, willing to serve wherever needed.
If I may take a personal detour—one of those fifteen was my 83-year-old father-in-law, Ken Miller. He has become like a second father to me, and spending this time with him in Romania was a gift I’ll treasure forever. Watching him serve with quiet strength was a reminder that God calls and equips us at every age.
Led by Deron and Lesley, the team met monthly for prayer, planning, and plenty of laughter (fueled by Lesley’s locally famous desserts). Those months allowed us to build trust, align our strengths with the needs in Romania, and prepare our hearts spiritually. Deron framed our vision around four words—HELP, SHARE, GROW—which became a constant touchstone as we prepared to go.
The Journey
Traveling to Romania is no small effort. Overnight flights, time zone changes, and long layovers left us travel-weary, but anticipation of what awaited carried us through. After landing in Sibiu, we headed straight to the city’s historic square, buzzing with crowds for the International Theatre Festival. Over several wood fired pizzas, we introduced the team to our longtime friends and ministry partners—the Boica family: Pastor Sorin, his wife Mihaela, and their sons Stephy and Cezar.
Our home for the week was BioHaus, a countryside lodge nestled between Sibiu and the villages where we’d serve. With rolling hills, grazing sheep, and the Carpathian Mountains as our backdrop, it was the perfect base. Our hosts cared for us like family, serving traditional Romanian meals each night so we could debrief, laugh, and worship together taking in the beauty of the Romanian countryside.
Balancing Ministry and Culture
I’ve learned over the years that, if at all possible, vision trips should balance service with activities that allow the team to experience the local culture. We weren’t just there to complete tasks - we wanted to know the people and get a taste of the history, and beauty of Romania.
One unforgettable day took us up the world-famous Transfăgărășan Highway. Words and photos can’t capture the majesty of those mountains, the crystal streams, and the endless sheep meadows. What made it most special was bringing along four students from our after-school program in Hosman—Andrea, Raluca, Stefania, and Claudio. Though they live barely an hour away, they had never seen the mountains of their homeland up close and personal.
Watching their eyes widen at the gondola ride, hearing their laughter at the “Bee Guy” explaining his ability to make different flavors of honey with his mobile bee truck, and seeing their amazement as a bear strolled along the roadside—these are memories I’ll never forget. That day wasn’t just sightseeing. It was a blessing getting to see one of my favorite places again, and sharing in the wonder and joy for kids who rarely get such opportunities.
Ministry in Action
From Tuesday through Friday, the team spread out into four ministry groups, serving in Hosman, Fofeldea, Nocrich, and Ocna.
Construction Team
I led five hardworking men and a “floater” who joined us as needed. Partnering with Adi Boica (Sorin’s brother), we tackled major repairs at Grace Fellowship Church, which also doubles as our tutoring center. Projects included:
Installing new gutters and downspouts
Repairing and painting water-damaged walls and ceilings
Stucco and exterior painting
Fresh paint throughout the sanctuary and kitchen
Refinishing an exterior door
By week’s end, sore backs and stiff joints were rewarded with the sight of the gutters doing their job after an afternoon thunderstorm rolled through! As Adi said in disbelief, “I can’t believe how much you got done!”
Art Team
Led by Lesley and supported by our translator artist Anca Statica, the art team invited local women in each village to gather for painting, pastries, and sharing their stories and testimonies of what God is doing in their lives. Together they painted The Good Shepherd, a powerful theme for a region where flocks of sheep led and protected by shepherds is a common site among the hills.
Fifty-seven women attended throughout the week. Art was simply the icebreaker that led to human connection, encouragement, and hope. Anca noted she had never seen another visiting team use art as a ministry tool for adult women—and the impact was evident.
VBS Team
Perhaps the busiest group, the VBS team didn’t know what to expect as Pastor Sorin said it could easily be 20–60 children per site. The team was a bit nervous due to not knowing how many kids would show up and their effectiveness of delivering their message due to the language barrier. Similar to the Art team, the theme of the message focused on the parable of the Lost Sheep and how Jesus is our good shepherd who goes after the one that is lost. Getting that first day under their belt, helped break the ice and nerves and provided a reminder to “just go with the flow” and let God work. Supported by our two amazing translators, Anca and Olimpia and Pastor Sorin’s family, the team led games, crafts, songs, and was able to provide lunch that to many was their only meal of the day.
The week was a huge success - 118 kids participated over the four days! One special touch: team member Jana insisted on bringing bubbles. She said, “It’s hard to play with bubbles and not smile.” She was right. The children lit up with joy, and the simple gift of play became an expression of God’s love.
Pastor Training Team
Led by Pastor Bill Belva, this team gathered 25 local pastors that included four Ukrainian pastors displaced by war. Over three evenings, they got to know each other over a meal and had teachings on addictions, communication in relationships, and finances from a biblical perspective. One of our team members presented his personal story of how God has delivered him from a drug addiction, which was a very powerful moment. Addiction is a major issue that these pastors deal with and a reminder that God is still in the delivery and healing business. For many pastors, the practical subject matter that was discussed by Pastors Sorin and Bill was something they could immediately use with their congregants.
Why Trips Like This Matter
Each team member returned with different highlights—personal moments where God stretched, challenged, or encouraged them. That’s the beauty of these trips: while we all serve together, God writes unique stories in each heart.
For 3Fold Missions, trips like this aren’t just about the work accomplished. They’re about the relationships built, the seeds planted, and the new doors God reveals.
New Opportunities for Pathways to Hope!
This trip revealed two exciting ways to expand our after-school program in Hosman - “Pathways to Hope”
1. Art Classes with Anca Statica
Anca’s gift for art and connection with the children inspired us to invite her to lead weekly sessions. These classes would:
Make learning more fun and engaging (plus they love Anca!)
Encourage consistent attendance
Give children creative outlets that aren’t addressed by studying Math and Romanian
Need: $200/week covers Anca’s time, supplies, and required taxes.
Impact: Kids get to exercise their creativity which further develops their mental growth and keeps them engaged and interested
2. Coding & Technology with Adi Boica
Adi, who helped as a tutor in the after school program in Hosman pre-Covid, shared his vision for bringing back a computer coding and automation program. With laptops and software that he secured a couple of years ago through an EU grant, he’s ready to introduce hands-on learning that:
Keeps children engaged and attending regularly
Develops problem-solving and critical thinking skills
May encourage interest in careers in technology
Need: $345 supports one session per week - covers Adi’s and an assistants time, supplies and expenses.
Impact: Adds hands-on, fun learning experience that develops skills that can shape ttheir future far beyond the classroom.
Will you help us enhance Pathways to Hope after-school program?
While Cezar continues to faithfully lead the dailywork of Pathways to Hope, our current budget does not enable us to bring Anca or Adi alongside him. We invite you to prayerfully consider a monthly gift of $50 or $100 or increase you monthly support if you already give. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions - we’d love to connect with you.
Looking Ahead
Our first vision trip with our friends from Silverdale showed us what happens when passion and presence come together. As we prepare for another vision trip in the Summer/Fall 2026, we invite you to imagine the impact of walking alongside us. Whether by joining a future trip or by support our program expansion opportunities, your partnership maks hope tangible for children and families in Romania.
Please consider partnering with us—through prayer, giving, or even joining a future trip—to bring these opportunities to life!
If think you might be interested in a future trip, please reach out to Anthony@3fold.org or patrick@3fold.org to let us know so we can be sure to keep you in the loop for future developments.