Day 5 - Maybe Glasses Today?

We found out late on day 4 that Customs has decided not to confiscate the supplies but they are not releasing them to us in the country. We will need to take them back with us.  That means no eye glasses for people.  We went to bed disappointed by the news but with a resolve not to let the "spiritual warfare" deter us.  Guess what happened this morning - Oleg found a bag of 50+ glasses for us to give out!  Wow! God provided again!  Why Am I amazed?  I shouldn't be because God is amazing!  

Look at how many glasses!

People were excited about the glasses.

Eyeglasses make a great opportunity to evangelize.  Now that you can see, read us the word!

A mission nurse's job is so much more than just checking a person's vitals!  These nurses are incredible.

Laurie and Brianna spreading the happiness at the local school.

Hollie playing with a little boy. 

Th children had a drawing contest.  They were all winners!

Yes, I photobombed this picture at the local school!  I am so funny.  I crack myself up!

Joy and Johnny just Monkeying around...

God Sparks

Thursday and Friday we held the medical clinic in Chisinau. We were able to obtain the 3 missing bags for additional supplies. God provided everyday what we needed. Yesterday I saw a lady who described her time of being taken to Siberia when the Russia took control. Yes, that is not medical related really but was part of her story that  she wanted to share with me - it is part of who she is, it shaped her. It was curious because we had had a discussion the day before about socialism / communism. We Americans have our outside view, but when one experiences this as their reality it is often much different. I did what I was called to do - listen. This adult, like the children at the orphanage, just want our time and attentiveness. Later in the day she came back with a bag of pairs - way over 50 - as a gift for me. She said - this is all I have to share. They were delicious - enjoyed by our entire team (American and Moldovan) as well as the Transition Home family and girls. Today I had a gentleman come in and asked me after I had prayed for him to tell him why I am a believer. He said he had tried to believe but was a communist, going to many different church's and needed proof. While I couldn't provide 'proof' I did share my story and what God had done for me - that was my proof along with looking in the sky at the light of the sun - God's light shining down. After we talked he asked when services were at this church and was given a Bible. God was working, sparking - reaching into a door that had been opened. 

We later went out to deliver food bags to families in the neighborhood. The first home we visited had an elderly retired lady who was alone. She welcomed us to her home and told briefly us briefly about herself. She had firewood scraps in the corner of the tiny postage stamp property - she was starting to ready herself for winter heating - can you even imagine? She survives on $38 per month she receives in pension. That's $500 per year. Now can you imagine? She was not really bitter, it is what her life is. but The food bag included enough food for at least 2 weeks. She was so very grateful. She followed us out to the vehicle, tears in her eyes, thanking us and blessing us. She did bless us! God sparks of hope in a desperate place. 

God can and will use any of us. The evening ended with ladies night, a time for sharing. I am so proud of our team - the vulnerability, opening up. In the end, we are all here to make a difference in people's lives and help to point them toward God. God was already setting the sparks before we arrived --- we just helped by fanning he flame. 

Day 4 - Chisinau Clinic

Today we opened our traveling medical clinic in Chisinau.  People were waiting for us when we got there.  The clinic saw about 65 patients today, many came for glasses that we did not have because they were held by customs. We are hopeful they will be released for our clinic tomorrow. There were also several children with disabilities there because it is so hard to get medical treatment for them. Children with "problems" are often not kept at birth, but somehow these parents have found the serenity to follow a path of acceptance and the courage for the difficult journey ahead of them.  I can't imagine how hard it would be to raise a child with so many challenges in a society where there is so little support. Amazing amazing courage.  God bless those parents and may they someday know the blessing that has been put upon them by the gift of their child.

The clinic also saw a young couple and their daughter.  The father was paralyzed in a car accident and had to be carried in.  I couldn't help but think how hard it was for them - the father out of work, mother trying to support the family, and also being the primary care giver for the daughter and her disabled husband.  I could tell they were all in desperate need of hope.  God created the opportunity.  I was blessed to witness their spirits lifted and encouragement breathed into them through a complex set of circumstances that only God could have orchestrated.  Thank you Lord for showing me this today. 

Here are a few pictures from the day...

Nick and Joy working in the pharmacy.

The clinic in action.

Our lovable translator and amazing man of God, Johnny giving me his serious pose.

And the crazy pic of the day goes to the fresh hind quarter in the 

middle of the butcher's display case - Only in Moldova!

God's Majestic Love

It is amazing how you can be used by God. I have a tendency to believe the lies that I really don't have many skills to give. How was God going to fit the few skills I thought I had into what seemed like an out of place mission adventure? What really amazed me is not how he used the skills I thought I had, but in the common skills in the middle of hectic work others were doing. Just supporting common tasks that support bigger work is something you have to take pride and comfort. If you think about it, God equips  you from birth for ALL the tasks you will need to support his kingdom. Seemingly dumb and mundane things you have learned, God weaves it into his divine plan. So the biggest lesson for me is to remember I have been groomed from birth, whether I knew or not, to be a puzzle piece in Gods great puzzle. Thank you God!

Giggles and Joy

We toured the countryside on the way to visit an orphanage. Because of some general complications, we were able to spend an extended period of time with the children. That is really what all children need, time, one-on-one time. To be able to look in their eyes and see a brightness begin to shine. We sang, played hand clapping games, tossed balls, took photos, tossed balloons, and Pastor Oleg shared a Bible story. To see children giggling with joy - when tossing balloons - that was a sight I am sure - seeing me chase a balloon. Hearing the giggles, seeing the smiles - I can't even describe it. We have all seen children with an infectious giggle - doesn't just the thought bring a smile to your face? The love of Christ was shared wth these little ones by just being present. Thank you Lord for the complications that allowed for this extended time. 

Balti

Day 1-2 We were in Balti, the clinic was able to treat over 100 people during the two days we were there. There was a great need for not only medical attention but also the ability for our team to deliver spiritual guidance and uplifting to their hearts, minds, and souls. The people that come and wait to be seen greet you with love and smiles. Their eyes say what my ears can not understand. I'm touched over and over again with God's great abilities. The stories and the ailments are unique to their culture and often times they tell me of a curse being put upon them when they are young. The gypsy community is large and very vocal here. It was an amazing opportunity to shed some light upon their beliefs in a non threatening way. Educating about hygiene as well as their specific illness or affliction is often times rebuked, yet the seeds are planted. What a powerful gift that is, in the midst of the uncertainty in their eyes. It's as if the dimmer switch starts to be turned up and the light of Christ is able to get in.

As many of the readers of this blog know, we had three bags that didn't show up at first from our connection in Rome, then after 4 agonizing hours in customs we had another four bags detained in customs. It's hard knowing how many supplies that you brought to help people aren't there. Not only are they not there but you are uncertain if you will EVER get them to the intended target. When your patient is there in need of something you know you brought, yet can't get it feels so heavy on your heart. I felt helpless, and for a brief moment I felt despair. But what can you do but call upon the name of Jesus? What can you say other than you understand and you will and can do your best to help them. You can pray. Psalm 107:6 reads Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. When I didn't know what to do or what to say I thought of this and I just prayed that God would continue to allow us to do his work. We talked with other team members and they quoted stories of how God could feed with 5 fish...WE lifted each other up in the middle of what seemed to be crisis, and you know what....we didn't run out of supplies. God was so good to us that the bags and the suitcases that did come thru had all of our equipment to check blood pressure and blood sugar. WE were able to provide them with prayer and bibles in either Russian or Romanian. I had women come back for ladies night because they said they felt the heat of the holy spirit flowing through my hands in the name of Jesus when I touched them and prayed. They were essentially hungry for the Lord and to know more! I have no way of ever knowing if that would have happened or been the same had we not faced any of the adversity that we did, but what I do know is that my faith in the POWER of the HOLY spirit was being renewed. I couldn't have found a bad mood if I had tried.

What I have learned is that God leads us to still waters to hear him, to allow us to be renewed in the holy word. He tests us at times, but not to fail. It's in order for us to grow and to be set free from the limitations our own minds create.

I thank him for the ability to serve here in Moldova and for the strength and courage to step out when he called for me to step up in my faith. I'm blown away with how powerful he is, how seeing his word came to life before my eyes, and how completely he loves in HIS love for each of us.

( I know I'm behind on my days, but exhaustion hits when you least expect it. lol ) forgive me and thank you for loving us and supporting us during this week!

Day 3 - Road Trip back to Chisinau

We started our day by going to the boy's transition center in Balti to collect our things and say our goodbyes to the team there.  We also got to see the finished construction project in the light!

I say this every year but what a great group Team Oleg has in Moldova. They truly have a passion for what they are doing and have Gods heart.  Before we left we got to see the new 2nd boys transition home and pray for the family living there.  

Our next stop is to get gifts for an orphanage visit on our way to Chisinau.  The orphanage was an amazing visit.  The team spent about 3 hrs spending time loving on the children playing games, music, bible lessons, and snack time. 

God did something amazing again today.  (Somehow I feel like I got more out of the visit than the kids did).   This orphanage was different.  We could tell the caretakers loved these children and they were well taken care of.  It was good to see this and it offers us much hope that other state run orphanages could change in Moldova.  Even with the good care these children were receiving, they were still starving for love.  I can only imagine what that's like but I could feel God moving throughout the visit and I'm sure he gave every soul the love they needed to have.  An amazing experience.  God is good!