Hot tea, fresh apples, corn fields, colored leaves and brisk air. Fall has officially come just in time for October.
I am currently in a small village in northern Moldova. I am working with a small Catholic church and living next door in a “house” with a room with mattresses with our own kitchen. Our official ministry is working/playing with kids at the two churches the priest serves at. However, we also help people whenever they ask for help.
After being here for a few days, we have learned that ‘helping a sick women’ typically means being outside for an extended period of time doing manual labor in the fields. So far this has meant chopping down corn stalks with axes and cycles, shucking (spelling?) the corn and then taking the corn from the field to the chicken coup. I am getting pretty good at chopping down corn stalks after two days of doing it.
My teammates have gone to the “forest” (a bunch of bushes) picked mushrooms, and cut them for two hours. Others have done some weeding around the house.
When we go cut down the corn, we are doing it with at least two or three other women at least in their 50s or 60s. These are strong women with big hearts. They feed us REALLY well every 30 minutes with a snack (fresh apples, fresh grapes, apricot juice, cookies, cornbread) and lunch complete with three courses. I am already developing a love for these women who I can hardly communicate with.
I am so happy here. Being here reminds me of my time in Ukraine last January with my Youth Encounter team. I get to hear/use the Russian words I learned last year. I get to see/eat delicious foods I experienced last year. I get to experience the peace and quiet of the simple village life of Eastern Europe all over again.
I look out my window and see rolling hills in the background with colored leaves. Below the hills are rows of cornfields. Some waiting to be harvested and some harvested neatly in little piles that look like teepees. I walk down the street and meet a gaggle of white geese and a giant pig. while children bundled up in their Winter clothes say “Priviet” to us (hello in Russian).
I am content. I am happy. Things are familiar while there is still plenty to learn. I am peaceful. I am listening. I am listening in this season. I am listening to what God has for me and what He has done for me. I am listening to His sweet voice in a new way this month amongst the peacefulness of my surroundings. I am looking forward to seeing what He has for me this month.
I miss you all and can’t wait to see you in a few short months!
