Westmont Magazine Reunion Brings Helpers to Romania

When Arne ’63 and Carolyn Humphreys ’65 Halvarson attended Westmont’s Homecoming in 1998, they expected to reunite with their classmates. To their surprise, they also recruited short-term help for their ministry in Romania.

Arne directs Romania Outreach Ministries in Caransebes, which he founded. The mission operates a Bible school in a large Baptist church to train and send out pastors, evangelists, youth workers and children’s workers. The ministry is also developing a 12-acre retreat center in nearby Rusca Montana.

At the class of 1963 reunion, Donna Utlaut Stephens and her husband, Fred (on the right in the photo above), asked Arne if he could use some extra help at the retreat center. The couple from Westminster, Calif., had just retired and had time to travel.

They arrived in Rusca Montana in March 1999 and spent a month working with other Americans and Romanians on the beautiful, rural retreat center. Fred’s experience as an electrical engineer came in handy as he assisted in many projects including wiring, designing, plumbing, carpentry, maintenance, and digging ditches. Donna kept busy washing dishes, doing laundry, and cooking for the work crew. They helped in planting a garden, fertilizing the apple orchard, and singing in village churches.

The Stephens’ short-term mission greatly helped and encouraged the Halvarsons and other missionaries in the area. According to Arne, “We are all thankful for the challenging, inspiring education we received at Westmont.”