Students Sell Books to Monastery

Every day—Monday to Thursday—students from Integritas International High School (Liceul Internațional Integritas) in Târgu Mureș, Romania, engage in academic courses such as science, foreign languages, social studies, music, and Bible. They are also involved in practical programs, in which they learn about different occupations and gain life skills in agriculture, beekeeping, healthful cooking, woodwork, tailoring, auto mechanics, and others.

During the daily practical work, groups of students are involved in missionary activities, such as canvassing, health caravan, literacy, visits to the hospital or homes of the elderly, and interact with children from local neighborhoods.

Canvassing was and continues to be one of the permanent, basic activities at Integritas. Students enjoy trying different methods: door-to-door visits in apartment blocks, house-to-house visits in the countryside, as well as in shops, offices, and other local businesses. They conduct health seminars for children in schools, health booths, and seminars in different institutions.

One day after prayer, I accompanied students Emina Pohrib, Dora Ceatarîș, and Sebastian Popescu to the outskirts of the city, stopping by different businesses without making any sales. We eventually decided to call on a motel, but came across a sign leading to a monastery on the way. We decided to go there. We were welcomed by a nun, who told us that the abbess (mother superior) was attending a sermon. She invited us inside to wait and talk with the abbess after the sermon. We settled quietly in the church and listened to music for more than 20 minutes. I prayed the entire time for our visit to be productive.

After the sermon, we were presented to the 85-year-old abbess. We told her we were from a local high school, working on our practicums. We were offering to help the community by taking blood pressure, measuring body fat, and taking oxygen saturation readings. At first she thought we needed help. When she finally understood our intention, she was glad and surprised to know of a school in which students are taught to serve society. She asked a sister to prepare a room immediately so that we could attend to the other sisters.

When she found out what type of books we had, she sent the treasurer to take one copy of each to show her. She was so delighted with all the health books that she ordered two copies of most of them. Finally, we presented to her the The Desire of Ages and The Great Controversy. She listened carefully when we told her about The Great Controversy and sounded especially interested. She received both of them happily and wished us good luck, stating that we attend a very special high school.

We realized that God has precious, honest souls in monasteries who search for Him and are preparing to meet Jesus. God took us to this place where His angels had done the work of preparing the hearts of the sisters before our arrival.

Please pray for the sisters, that God will call workers to take the gospel to them and others. Pray also for courageous young people to stand for the truth, even though the heavens are shaken!

* Sânziana Constantin is a teacher and literature evangelist leader at Integritas International High School. She is pictured above with students Emina, Dora, and Sebastian.