Travels with Hope: A Whirl Wind Week and Day of Rest

* This is a long one - there was alot of information and happenings in the last week - even I was posting this I could think of so much more to say - for those of you short of time and attention there are pictures at the bottom. =)

Life here in Moldova has been full. We spent about five days in a village called Sarata Galbena. The girls stayed in the house of a Moldovan couple and the guys stayed at the church. We had no internet access for those days we spent in Sarata Galbena, which is the main reason it has been awhile since my last post. In Sarata Galbena our main ministry was helping out with a Convoy of Hope Moldovan style outreach and connecting with the youth at the local church. The first day there we bagged groceries. Then the second day was the outreach. The church had a program prepared and then afterwards there was food to eat, balloons, an oral hygiene area, a physician was present, face paint and groceries as they left. In the following days we were there we had a couple church services, home visits and a children’s program.

My favorite part of Sarata Galbena was working with the youth. On Saturday night we joined them in their youth service. We worshipped and fellowshipped together despite the fact we are from two different cultures and languages. The following two nights Sunday and Monday night we ate, fellowshipped, and worshipped together. It really was just a special time. We played Moldovan games and played music to connect instead of talking. It is amazing how Christ can work through the language differences and how he blessed us with the ability to connect.

After leaving Sarata we were able to have a half a day rest in Chisanou. The next day we headed up north to help flood victims. Moldova has some of its worst flooding this last summer season. We drove about four to five hours up to north to one of the villages affected by the flooding. Along the way we got into an accident. No one was hurt and our van was fine. The car that hit us from behind however was totaled. Despite all that we did finally make it up north. We bagged groceries until ten or so that night. Everybody broke up into groups of two or three and we spent the night at people’s homes in the village. So everyone in the group the next morning had a story to share of a Moldovan feast at eleven o’clock at night and a Moldovan breakfast the next morning. It is very important to Moldovans that their guest are well fed and do not go away saying they are hungry. In honor of the family we were staying with the Zama (soup) and bread was very good and breakfast was even better. I definitely did not go away hungry. =). The next day we distributed the groceries we had bagged the night before to 250 families or so that were in the most need. The names were given to the local pastor we were working with by the government. Before the groceries were distributed a Moldovan evangelist spoke to the crowd and one of the interns Chris explained Convoy of Hope, introduced the team and shared a little about why were there in Moldova. The pastor after the event was over told the team that other teams had come with more money and supplies, but that our team brought something special/different with us that was great blessing.

Today was a day of rest for our team. I did nothing much, but still feel pretty tired. It is about that three week mark where culture shock, homesickness and tiredness begins to sneak up on us. Pray for the team that we will endeavor through it well and will remember that we are here to honor Christ by serving his people. Pray for protection, safe travels and strength.

May God’s Love and Blessing Be With You!

This was one of the nights we hung out with the youth - they made us sausage and hot dogs.

This is Glori Ann - she is in charge of our Children Ministry - this is a village we did some home visits in and a short children's program

This lady told me I was like a daughter to her because I reminded her of her daughter - needless to say I think she was pretty cool - she took us to the homes in the villages. As a side note there are many elderly people who live alone with no source of income because there children have left Moldova or have moved to the city for work. This is creating a need for elderly care in the villages.