Elder Fitzgerald

Elder Fitzgerald visited the office this past week. We enjoyed hearing of his experience in Pitesti. He and his companion were "street boarding" (teaching on the sidewalk with some posters to attract people to attend their English language class) when they were approached by a very angry Eastern Orthodox Priest. The priest demanded that they stop preaching and after becoming very agitated proceeded to punch Elder Fitzgerald in the chest. The Elders explained that they had a permit to street board and talked the Priest into going to the police station to confirm the fact. The police said the Elders were within their rights which made the Priest even more upset. He took his complaint to the local press which printed an account of the confrontation. The story received wide attention with many readers sideing with the Elders. Another priest who lived in the city but who had been removed from the ministry because he was divorced, read the story and decided to find the Elders. This priest had been searching for answers to questions which he had for a long time. In fact he had visited many churches trying to find answers but to no avail. He did not know anything about our church until he read about the incident in the newspaper and so decided to approach the Elders about attending one of their English classes thinking he would ask them about his questions some time during their class. The classes however were not to begin for several more weeks. But he was impresseded enough with his initial contact with the elders to visit the church and learn more about our teachings. He was disappointed to find that there was no one at our church building during the week but finally, after fifteen visits, he spoke with someone who led him back to the missionaries. During the time he took the discussions he became acquainted with President Doru the Bucharest District President. President Doru is a convert himself and studied for the ministry, his brother is a priest, and he convinced this good brother to pray about the things he was learning. On an appointed day they fasted together and this former priest received a spiritual witness of the truthfulness of the gospel. He and his son were baptised this January and we understand his new wife will be baptised next week. This is another of many faith promoting experiences involving those who join the church in Romania.