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Cornerstone Communications
Moldova
February 04, 2005

Dear Friends & Family,

Well, who thought I'd still be in Moldova? Not me. A lot has transpired in the last week, and I just don't want to speak of it. However, you need to know all that is going on, so that you will know how to pray for me.

Production Update

First of all, the enemy hates us. We belong to Jesus Christ, and the enemy does not like that. Moldova is very Orthodox. Second, Moldova is still very much Communist in their mindset. So, when you take a born-again Christian who loves Jesus and is from America, that's not a very good premise to start off with if you're going to visit Moldova.

The show last week, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, was met with a lot of resistance. However, we had hired the police to come and keep order. The Orthodox were out in full force, and threatened, insulted and scared many coming to see the show. The priest and his followers would yell out, "You're going to hell if you enter this hall!" "You don't love God if you go in." "You will be ex-communicated from the Orthodox church and your family if you go in." Consequently, many people left, as the Orthodox Church wields great power here. They're a stronghold of religiosity.

The irony is that just the opposite is true. If they enter, they'll FIND Jesus! They'll find THE way, the truth and the life that leads them away from hell. They'll become part of the family of God, and a child of the Kingdom. How sad. Many did brave to come in. One man told the priest, "I know you think I'm going to hell, but I just want to see what's going on, and then I'll decide." Praise the Lord for people like that! Another went outside to the priest and said, "Did you even see this show? It's not offensive at all. I was expecting to cause problems, but after I saw it, I cried."

The cast and crew pose after a production. Praise the Lord for this show!

Altogether, 60 people were saved! Praise You, Lord. The struggle was worth it. However, what a struggle. We never got enough heaters, so each night, the hall was at just below freezing, and so we all froze. Sunday night, we were finally through! I hugged all my actors goodbye, and left to Kishenau, as I'd fly to Poland at 6 a.m. Monday.

Confusion Reigns

The enemy was furious with me. We had plowed up a lot of hardened ground, and the church will begin to grow. The entire town now knows about the church, and we're believing for growth. I was up at 3:30 a.m. and went to the airport, looking forward to sleeping on the plane to Poland. I went through Customs.

The Customs agent, a woman who spoke very little English, asked how much money I had in my wallet. I said $200. She asked to see it, and I showed her. She said, "Write here" and handed me a declaration form. As I filled it out, she searched my bags, but found nothing (often, they try to find something so that they can hassle you and then get a bribe, which helps them live) . She motioned me on to check my bags. I forgot, though, that I had not written down the $1700 in cash I had in my coat. I told her, "I didn't claim the rest, and I'd like to fill out another declaration" as I reached for the old declaration. She said, "No problem… you go." I didn't think she understood me, but oh well, I'm gone.

As I got my bags together (which had been opened) , another Customs agent, a man, took me to a side room and frisked me. He found the $1700. He said (I'm guessing) "What's this?" I tried to explain. He was standing around, wanting a bribe. However, being a dumb American who doesn't come from a culture that bribes officials, I just tried to explain to him that I had told the other agent, and tried to get my $1700 out of his hands.

After the show on Sunday night, I speak to the audience, who loved the show. Altogether, 60 were saved. Quiet a miracle for this Orthodox area.

He grabbed me by the coat, and called other officials, who held me, and took my passport and ticket. They took me to the other customs agent, and she began to yell at me. They handed her the money, they seized my luggage, and took me to another area, and proceeded to write report after report about all that had transpired. I was frantic, because the time was passing, and if they didn't hurry, I'd miss my plane.

There would be no plane. This all happened at 5 a.m., and for the next 15 hours, I would be questioned, interrogated, and threatened. I tried to explain in English, Russian and Spanish, but no one tried to understand me. I was finally allowed to call my friend, Pastor Sasha. After 4 hours at the airport, I was taken to the Central Customs office, and interrogated afresh by a new man.

I noticed another man just pacing in the hall. He got the official's attention, and the official strongly advised me to hire a lawyer. This is crazy! However, I agreed, and in walks this man. He said he was a lawyer, and spoke very broken English, so mainly, we communicated in Russian, and through my friend, Sasha.

The situation is that I was found guilty, (in their eyes) , and I would have to go before the judge, in 4-5 months. In the meantime, I would be jailed. However (this is where the third-world schemes kick in) , if I will pay the lawyer $1000, he'll make sure I am not jailed here, but released to the custody of my friend, and he can have the court date moved up to next week. I took that option.

My sons! I met Victor and Sasha while they were students at Christ for the Nations 11 years ago, and we've staying in contact. Now, they're both up and coming pastors with growing families!

He only said, "You're in trouble. You're in big trouble." He offered no hope. I only had $100 on me, so I paid him that as a deposit. However, I don't trust him. I felt he was going to pocket the money, split it with the official, and leave me to hang.

The next few days, we were in trying to do all we can, and the Lord has helped. I went to the American Embassy, and was told they couldn't hold my passport. When we called the official to ask his name, as we needed to give it to the American Embassy, he panicked and refused t give us his name. The American Embassy called, and forced him to give it back to me. I fired the first lawyer, and got a new one recommended by my friend's father-in-law. He is much better, and wants to help me.

I picked my passport up, and was given a letter from the official to tell them to extend it because I was facing sentencing. I didn't want to show Immigration the letter, but my friend called his pastor, and he said it was okay to show them, although my lawyer said not to. We showed Immigration, and now THEY seized my passport, and they said, "You'll receive it after your court trial in two weeks".

So, now I really am a prisoner here in Moldova. I have no choice but to wait until the trial is over. What's next? I have to wait to be interviewed by the prosecuting attorney next week, and then wait a week for the trial. I wake up each morning hoping it's all a nightmare, but unfortunately, it's very real. I face losing the $1700 (my money for the church in Poland) , 2 years in jail and a $500 fine, plus lawyer's fees, if I'm found guilty.

Not one to sit around and mope, I'm going to be strong and preach with boldness, while I await my trial. Wednesday night, my friend, Pastor Sasha, and my interpreter, pray for the people.

HOWEVER!!!!!!!! I'm sorry, but I just don't have a "victim mentality". Although I'm very worried, I refuse to mope and cry. I love what the Lord said to Moses in Ex. 13:15, "Stop praying, and get moving" as Moses stood before the Red Sea. His situation was hopeless, but he trusted God. I'm going to do the same.

There's a saying in English: "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade!" The devil wants to detain me in Moldova? FINE! I will tell and lead as many people to Jesus Christ as I can while I'm here! I've decided to go ahead and do another show. After all, Nisporeni, where I was for 4 long weeks, is just one hour away. We contacted Victor, the pastor there, and told the people. They're THRILLED to come to the capital of Kishenau, and to do the show.

So, we have been busy all week, and we're going to OPEN TOMORROW NIGHT! The little church my friend pastors, believes God to win 126 souls to Christ (and that's quiet a vision in very Orthodox Moldova!) . I preached Wednesday night, and told the crowd, that I'm believing God for 126 souls THIS WEEKEND!

We're going to be up against the Orthodox again, but we're ready for them this time. We've hired the police, and have got the mayor to send letters to the Orthodox priests to leave us alone, as we've hired the hall legally. Please pray for me, and please pray for the souls.

God bless you, my friends.

For the Kingdom,
Richard Montez