Thank you and Goodbye

Originally published in Veritas View newsletter, Spring 2020

An Arkansas breakfast with co-workers

This summer Veritas staff will say goodbye to Roberta Bustin, volunteer missionary with the Church of the Nazarene, who has devoted 23 years of her life to the people of Sighisoara. Roberta will return to her home and family in Arkansas.

Roberta’s work extended far beyond Veritas, but she was an important part of the Veritas family over the years. Here are some of the ways she participated in Veritas work: 

• As a charter Board Member served Veritas with wise counsel from 2001 to 2020, helping us stay true to our mission. 

• Was an unofficial chaplain, role model and friend to staff and volunteers 

• Regularly participated in Friday devotions with the staff. Her clear Bible teaching was always encouraging and appreciated. 

• Taught environmental science to university students and science lessons to teens and kids

Roberta and Petra

• Led devotions and interacted with members of the elderly clubs 

• Used her personal vehicle to help drive special needs and elderly clients on excursions, kids to camp, staff to retreats 

• Helped wherever needed at Veritas events 

• Regularly supported Veritas from personal ministry funds 

• Hosted staff for Arkansas-style breakfasts 

• Helped to host visiting teams, providing transportation, and helping longer term volunteers get settled 

• Hosted weekly evening meals for RSP students and led devotional times with them 

• Led field trips and hikes and shared her love for nature

Petra says, “Roberta is a bouquet of qualities – I can’t just write one thing about her. She exhibits patience, humanity, kindness, empathy, toughness, kindness, good will and serenity. Her strong faith and love of God and people demonstrated to all how to be a disciple of Jesus.”

Roberta shared her love of science
with Veritas children

Dorothy Tarrant writes, “I had been in Sighisoara for two years and was praying that God would send a partner in ministry, a kindred spirit, someone who would stay longterm. God sent Roberta. She kept very busy teaching, preaching, and caring for people, but always enjoyed the opportunity to take a break for a walk in the woods or a trip to discover a new part of Romania. Much of what Roberta did for Veritas was behind the scenes, but everyone on the Veritas team through the years has a deeper understanding of what it means to follow Jesus because we have known Roberta.” 

Roberta’s comforting presence and her loving care for all of the staff and clients will be missed. We know she will continue to pray for us from Arkansas. We wish her God’s blessing as she settles into this new phase of her life.

House on the Rock changes

Originally published in the Veritas View newsletter, Spring 2020

A major decision was made by the Veritas Board in the fall to rent out the House on the Rock. Mark Tudose, who owns and operates two craft shops in the citadel (one in the basement of the House on the Rock) proposed that he turn the upper three stories of the building into The Spoon Museum. Mark learned the art of carving wooden spoons from his grandfather and has begun collecting carved wooden spoons from around the world. He has many creative ideas on how to present these, and make this museum a “don’t miss” location for tourists in Sighisoara. The plan will be delayed because of the pandemic, but we anticipate that a year from now it will be open to the public. This decision impacted the educational programs of Veritas, which since the purchase of House on the Rock, have been held in that building. Currently that includes the teen programs: It Takes Courage, Ceai and Chat and English camps. Those programs will take place in the Veritas Family Center in the fall. The International Cafe will continue to operate on the first floor.

Casey Bloom (holding cake) with teens from It Takes Courage 2.0. Casey, a Nazarene volunteer, is now taking leadership in these programs, since Adela Hermann is on maternity leave.