You literally can’t get here from there. And it doesn’t matter where you are, actually…you really just can’t get here. Because I’m nowhere. I’m not in a country, at all!
This month we are in Transnistria. A tiny region sandwiched between Moldova and Ukraine, and yes -it’s not in an actual country. Crazy, right? Its a 'break-away state' independent territory off of Moldova. Both Moldovan and Russian language is spoken here, but it’s claimed by neither nation, and funded almost totally by Russia.
<The River separates Transnistria from Moldova. Me & Kylee enjoying the sunset >
Transnitria broke off of Moldova and wants to be its own country- but that's not likely to happen. It’s convenient for Russia and Moldova to leave this territory unclaimed so that they can use this no-man’s land for sketchy arms/weapons dealings and not be subject to their own country’s laws.
Its not officially communist. Officially its a democracy, but it feels, looks, and sounds like we are in the Soviet Union. Everything (street signs, store fronts, nwspapers, and restaurant menus) is in Russian. Only the older generation speaks Romanian (the language of Moldova)- as Transnistria broke away a few months after the iron curtain fell. The buildings are square and gray, the people don't smile, and most of the cars are all from the 70's. For all practical purposes we are still in the USSR 😉
<Fanel- our interpreter- & the the girls of my team- chillin outside the church we serve at (that's the Pastor's car, pretty stylin, no? Told ya it was 70's flash back! >
< These are the cop cars in Transnistria! You think these look funny, you should see the ambulances: they look like old army vans with sirens on top! So USSR. >
<The Russian alphabet is sooo challenging! Fanel says, 'just sound it out' and I'm like A: I dont know what sounds the letter makes (so he makes me an alphabet key) and then B: even if I could sound it out, I wouldn't know what word I am saying! LOL It's a battle.>
We are staying at a house of this older Moldovan woman, Anya. She is super nice but doesn't speak a word of English– so that makes for interesting daily life lol
Our ministry activity schedule is still getting figured out (mostly helpin out with church programs- planning skits, teaching english, passing out flyers for said activities) and everything is done with and through our translator and unofficial body guard: Fanel. Fanel is a giant soviet ex-body builder with the heart of a teddy bear. His fantastic Russian accent, ridiculous sense of humor, keen sense of adventure, sweet tooth, and childlike curiosity have made him my best buddy for the month.
And if you didn’t know yet, I have a new team! We switched at the beginning of last month. It’s 4 of the same girls from Team OIL and 2 newbies: Kylee & Miranda. (you can visit their blogs and see their pretty faces on the lower left hand side of the screen J ) and our new Team Name is ‘Team Ohana Lokahi’ – We go by Ohana for short. It’s Hawaiian- Ohana means Family & Lokahi means ‘Unity & Harmony’. It’s fitting that Ohana means ‘Family’ and that was what last month was all about for me: realizing my heart for Families that God has built in me. Funny how He works like that. No coincidences; just God-incidences.
I haven’t forgotten about my Holy Spirit Blog Part 2 – It’s just taking longer to hash out than I had planned. I’m figuring out how best to tell you that I am becoming what Fanel calls, “one of those crazy Christians” –but Fanel likes these crazy Spirit-filled Christians. I’m realizing I do, too – and I’m hoping you will! 🙂
Sending you a big hug from no-where's-ville Eastern Europe!
xo
