Hello from Moldova,

There are so many topics I could blog about. This mission trip was difficult for me personally from the moment that I decided to say yes and commit to going. Fundraising was a chore, it was harder this year than it has been any other time. Most of the people that spoke to me about it, questioned where Moldova was as a country. Never hearing of it seemed to take over the conversation, but it never really seemed to ignite the spirit of giving. Falling short on that only made me feel as though I must not be hearing from the Lord and so maybe I wasn't meant to go...now I see not only was it a test in my faith, but also my humility and vulnerability.

God teaches us that in order to be able to understand and to grow closer to the heart of our father is to extend love. In Hebrews 10:24, Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

My desire is to be motivated in Christ Love, and to have the ability to come back home and to help spread the good news of what Oleg and his team through Christ are doing for Moldova.

Orphanage

Awesome describes the day. A beautiful ride through a beautiful country called Moldova. We rode from Balti to Chisinau with a stop at an orphanage in the Moldovan countryside. It is sad but at the same time so fulfilling to provide a few hours of just pure unadulterated fun for God's children that deserve so much more than the hand that this fallen world has dealt them. When you leave it really rips your heart out for the children that may never know the love of 2 parents that they deserve. God is so faithful that he sent US for a short reprieve from what looks like a dismal existence. Thank you Lord for the most excellent afternoon and please bless those children.

Moldova

God says where there is light there can be no darkness! If you were not grounded in an understanding of our God one could really question this notion in Moldova. By sight and experience the place is so dark it is hard to tell if God's light is coming through you and making it to the people you encounter. It is not until you dive in and take a closer look that you can see the streams of God's light running through. The people with their misbeliefs and superstitions have a need for a savior and Jesus is the one that is really moving and lighting the way to a better life. It is a test of the faith needed to believe in God when the seeds that you plant, you may NEVER see the growth. God is so faithful that he continues to send HIS people to serve a dark world! I thank God that he is so faithful to ALL his children, whether they intentionally deny him or just don't know of his love. It is a relief to my soul that I know my savior and he has called me to a greater purpose.

Day 2 - Hitting our Stride

Today was all about the team hitting their stride.  Second day in Balti and a second day of everything again - Medical Clinic, School Bible programming, food bags to families in need, and construction!  

After we went for a morning cappuccino, the team fell into a rhythm today and did more amazing things.  I witnessed the team touching hearts again.  

I watched people at the clinic, including the transition home boys, getting prayed for and loved on.  The nurses do such a great job taking their time to care for the patients. The clinic has been operating for 1-1/2 days with a patient total of approximately 120.  We got good news today - our Mission partner Oleg was able to get 3 of the bags lost by the airlines through customs!  Tomorrow we are off to Chisinau and have more medical supplies!  God is good.  

I saw the US team singing with and enjoying the Moldova team. Man they are good.  

I caught a cute moment when Nick helped a young girl put her shoe back on.  

Nick and I continued work on the Gazebo construction project (and finished just before dark!)  I heard about moving experiences delivering food bags.  To finish the evening at the transition home, the ladies of our group had a women's night spending time with the Gypsie women singing, telling testimonies, and eating cookies - at least that's what I imagine cause it was a ladies only thing and men weren't invited.  It was another glorious day serving God's Kingdom.  I can't wait to see what God has in store for the team tomorrow!

Day 1 - Welcome to Moldova!

It has been a difficult start to the trip so far. The first day of Travel was very long due to airline delays, lost luggage, and a bad customs experience.  So we are down 7 of the 10 bags we brought with mostly medical supplies.  3 lost by the airlines and 4 taken by customs officials.

It was difficult to stand by and watch all the supplies the team worked hard for and everything that was so freely given for good taken away by customs.  It feels evil. But God is always in control. Evil is always subordinate. Gods way is higher than ours and he has a greater purpose for those supplies.  We just don't know what the purpose is yet.

OK reality check time.  Even though my head believes this and I was dealing with it fine on the outside, at a deeper level I was struggling with something.  I prayed about it.  "Acceptance" was the answer to my prayers today.  Ugh.  Well that sucks. :)

Day 1 was a good day.  The Clinic saw 50 patients, a local school was given a bible lesson with song and games, food bags were delivered to people in need, and construction work was done at the boy's transition home.  I am proud of this Mission team as the team is making an impact without all the supplies.  It is amazing how God is touching people through the mission team because they are willing to do his work on his terms.  We don't need the stuff that was taken from us in order to touch lives.  The stuff is not what's important.  It's God's message to these people that's important.  I see healing going on even without all of the medical supplies!  God is good.

Enjoy some pictures of the day!

Transition home boys helping with construction.  

Serena doing a check-up in the clinic.

Nick working on the construction project.

Beth praying for a patient.

Joy and Rebecca working in the clinic.

Love in Action

Greetings from a Balti! What a beautiful day it was. After a good night's rest we were ready to start a new day. As I end the day these thoughts come to mind. I think it has more meaning then sharing all the 'things' we did today. 

How can we share God's love with people? By loving - that seems simple. How can we begin to understand what they are truly going through? By seeing and listening - by really seeing and listening - being proximate. That gets harder - getting dirty and being uncomfortable. How do we grow and connect with people? Opening up - becoming vulnerable. Our struggles are not so very different. What is the key act that pulls all together? Love. Jesus commanded us ... to Love God and Love People. 

I witnessed this all today - Love in action really. 

Listening to people as they came into the clinic to be seen. Really listening even if it was not a problem we could fix. Holding a hand. Giving a hug. Praying for individual needs and witnessing the tears that come with it. Those memories will leave a lasting impression. That is love. 

Being welcomed to visit people's homes. Providing a food bag. Seeing how they live, listening briefly to their stories, praying for them - for hope, love, provision. That is love. 

Sharing at Women's Night. Inviting the local women to come share time with us. A time for some of us to share our personnel story. Our sharing not only helped others but also helped us. Who wants to be made vulnerable? But sharing allows for healing, encouragement, and for others to say 'me too'. The women really encouraged the members of our team. That is love. 

Love to all of you who have provided for us, prayed for us and supported and loved us. 

Missing Supplies - No problem

We landed in Chisinau some 21 hours after leaving Detroit - our team was safe, tired and ready to be one our way. There were a few snafus - #freechampagnes (thanks to our team leader, Mark, for springing them in Rome), 3 bags did not arrive with us and Customs held back 4 additional bags. The # 1 rule of life is to trust God.  The # 2 rule of any mission trip (and life) is be flexible. We worked with the agents counting, recounting and recounting once again our supplies - pulling out what we could take (they allowed) with us at moment. So once we left the airport some 3 + hours later, what else could we do --- revert back to an American favorite, McDonald's - yes they have one in Moldova but a McFlurry has a different twist (only available in chocolate, cherry or Carmel - yes Pastor Heather, I cheated - but I prefer to call it flexibility). We couldn't do anything else but be flexible - God will work thru us with whatever have. We want to be a light shining in the darkness - I want to be that light. So we spent the night at the Cosmos Hotel - 5 hours after a shower we were up and enjoying breakfast before traveling to Balti. We were ready to GO to be used by God.

We arrived in Balti to people waiting in line to be seen. I so like to greet everyone with a handshake and hello - all those in line waiting so patiently. We set up with the supplies we had - it worked out fine and we saw some 51 patients. Two of the ladies I saw, Nina and Eugenia, said they remembered me coming last year - can you believe it? People waited patiently to be seen - no complaining. I was able to pray with everyone coming thru and some even prayed for me and our team. Most were prayed for again with either Joy or a member of the Moldovan Team. 

A second boys transition home is now open on the same property as the first. So much has been accomplished to improve the lives of these young boys / men as well as outreach to the community. Praise the Lord, Alina and Vasili adopted their first child last year, a toddler, Anastasia and now Alina is pregnant with another - PTL! It is always a joy to be with the Moldova Team. Alex made me laugh - let's take a picture he says --- and wants to stack some more medicine in front of us --- so we look ummmm like we are working hard in the pharmacy. He is too crazy. Margareta translated for me - she has been a part of out team on all previous trips - she is 19 now and over half way thru nursing school with dreams of someday becoming a doctor. She is a gypsy orphan girl who the church has loved - her life forever changed now because of her personal relationship with Christ.  

Our team did great today - some visited an orphanage, delivered food bags or worked on building an outdoor gazebo in the play yard. All this while the medical clinic was operating. God can do more thru us if we are obedient to his call - He can do anything! And remember - that despite missing 7 bags of supplies - many lives were touched. Tomorrow is a new day - I pray that when people look in my eyes they see the light of God shining thru. Pray for our entire team - that we Americans can be a catalyst to connect people to the local church - and that New Hope Eurasia will be that beacon of light in this community - where people with little or no hope can see that these Believers - look and live differently. And those least, last and lost will be drawn to learn about and experience the Love of Christ. Goodnight from Hotel Balti. 

PS I'm thankful for wifi even if I have to go to another floor and sit in the hallway to pick up a signal to be able to post this - there are way bigger problems in our world than this nuisance for certain.