Maximovca.
Where do I
begin? So much happened here in a matter
of one week it is hard to keep it within one blog. God just showed up all over the place while
we were there. One blog will not do
justice to our time at our second ministry site in Moldova. Our time there was extremely blessed. Everything we saw happen while we were there
was in God’s control. We could see His
hand in each situation out as they happened.
Everything about this place was providential for our team and our
ministry partners. Each moment of our
time there was God-led and natural. Even
though we were only there for a week, we were so blessed to be there. Each day, each interaction, each hug, and
each smile was a blessing.
The moment we arrived at our ministry site we were all
bear-hugged by a big burley man with the brightest smile. I did not know this man, but the joy was gleaming
from his smile and his extraordinary cheerful welcome. We gathered inside and were introduced to a
number of the youth and the church community.
I immediately thought this week would be overwhelming. Little did I know it would be the exactly the
opposite. I enjoyed every second of this
village from the moment we got there to the moment we left. Life here was simple. Nothing too complicated; nothing too
complex. Everything that one would need
to survive was here – food, shelter, clothing, and all the natural, organic
resources. It was a quiet, quaint
village – just a peaceful place.
Our overall goal was to help the
church build a bridge to the community by painting the school fence and help
with English classes for elementary students (mind you that Christian groups
are not allowed in schools). We were
really used for bait in order for the church to be exposed to the community
through simple act of kindness (i.e. painting school fence, picking up trash in
front of the school in the rain, and assisting with after school English
sessions). What makes this significant
is that most Christian groups are not allowed in school because of the Orthodox
influence in Moldova. The school director (because of her
experience in questioning who God is) allowed us into the school to talk to the
kids – imagine that. Who knew that a
group travelling the world to simply share the Gospel would be allowed into a
school to share with the students their adventures? I cannot stress how much of a momentous
privilege this was for our team and the church.
It might be the building blocks of a relationship this church longs to
have with the community.
But there
was something so unique about this church body.
I cannot really put my finger on it.
I know that the church there is a beautiful community of believers
really apt to seeing change in the community.
They naturally live out the Scriptures in love. It really attests to Christ being the light
of the world; that He is heavily active everywhere regardless of the language,
culture, customs, etc. The Lord has
favour on them and I pray that they truly feel God’s grace and mercy.
Along with that thought, our group
really feels that there is potential for a revival in the community. It was all God’s time, plan, and purpose for
our team to be in this town and walk alongside them in their vision. For me, it is not about what our team did or
did not do, but what God did and is doing, and will do. All we really did was follow what the church
wanted us to do and follow in the vision that they have for Maximovca. I sincerely feel like Christ’s light and love
are in and all over this church; that this church is the light to the
community. I pray that through the
church Christ’s love and light will crash over this town like an avalanche
breaking the chains of religion; that God will radically transform the
religious atmosphere through the inexplicable freedom in Christ.
It was almost as though God brought us to start
the project of painting the fence. Maybe
He did not want us to finish the fence in order for others to come along side
of the church and help. At the end of
our stay, our group had talked about how God might not have wanted us to finish
painting the fence. Maybe it was God’s
will for it to rain all week. We hope
that the project will go continue for the simple fact of building a bridge
between the church and the community.
The school opened the gym to the church for two nights after the after school English lessons.
Pastor Mihail and his family. The church body.
Pastor Mihail and His wife. Me and our translator Tutor.
