Moldova is a country situated between Romania and Ukraine in Eastern Europe. It’s very small and we’ve been told a number of times that it’s the poorest country in Europe. We’ve also been told that everyone is trying to get out of here. In the last 20 years, the population has dwindled almost in half from 6 million to 3.5 million.
The people
here are amazing–kind, hospitable, and warm. Our team of 7 has spent the past few days living in a small village called Lapushna with a family (Grandma, Grandpa, Mom, Dad, & two young boys). The family is top notch. We’ve only lived with them for 4 days, but their passionate work for the Lord is evident. We have also been eating the most delicious Moldovan food including Mamaliga, Borscht, cake rolls, pickled veggies, and Grandma’s homemade salsa that she canned for winter. We eat it on bread at almost every meal! BTW, I can’t wait for some Tex Mex!We spent 4 days this week in the village of Lapushna participating in a camp for students who are on school holiday this week. Many of the kids here are being raised by Grandparents or neighbors while their parents are off working in other parts of Europe or Russia (apparently that is very common). The kids came every day from 10-2 and we did worship songs, English lessons, Bible study, sports & games, testimonies, and origami. I loved that we got a chance to get to know these kids. I met Zina and Andre and many others and had a lot of fun hanging out with them.
In the afternoons we went to homes of elderly folks and worked outside in the gardens. The men chopped wood and us girls weeded, raked, and turned over the soil in preparation for the winter. At the first house we were waiting out front and from the side of the house came the cutest old Grandpa walking so slowly, with a cane in one hand and an axe in the other. Behind him came a little Grandma barely making it, hunched over using two canes. She was adorable and apparently gets around okay because she made a loop of the whole house before we started to work. These folks don’t have kids and just need a helping hand before winter comes so that they can stay warm and also so they can plant their fields again in spring. It was a joy to do a couple hours of hard work for them. After two hours of weeding, I admit that my back was starting to ache. I made creaking noises and laughed at how much pain I was already in and thought of all the times my Dad would do the same thing after working hard in the yard. The second day we did basically the same work for another widow woman. She is 77 years old and a retired French teacher from the local school, but she still came out and helped us work the whole time we were there.
We are headed back to Chisinau (the capitol of Moldova) tomorrow and will go to another village for the last week of ministry on our World Race. On the 14th, we head back to Romania for a few days of final debrief and then we will be on a plane to NYC on Nov 20. I’ll be flying into Dallas at 4:45 on Sunday Nov 21 and plan to have a party at my house that same evening! Everyone is invited and can even bring a yummy treat!
P.S. We have had beautifully warm fall weather so far during our stay in Moldova and I say Thank you God for that! The house we are staying in is warm and cozy and we even have a hot shower here.
P.P. S. Mom, I’m feeling well and healthy. I can’t wait to see you so soon! I love you!
