Okay, that title doesn’t exactly make since seeing as Moldova isn’t somewhere I’m going, it’s where I am. Before I left I sis some research about the countries on my route and shared what I learned in a blog series called “Where I’ll be Going.” I made a post about Eastern Europe and another on Africa, but stopped before I got to Asia. I realized that my route was subject to change and decided to hold off until things where more set. And change they did. Not only did the order of the countries change, but Turkey was removed all together and replaced with Moldova. So, to fill you all in, here is my adjusted route and some information about this surprise country- Moldova.
July- Bulgaria
August- Albania
September- Moldova
October- Romania
November- India
December- Nepal
January- South Africa
February- Swaziland
March- Botswana
April- Mongolia
May- China
I found out about Moldova at Launch, so I didn’t get to research it at home like the others. Instead I’ve been learning about it from the best teachers (the nationals) in the best classroom (Moldova itself!) This small country is nestled between Romania and the Ukraine. Though I’ve read that it is the poorest country in Europe, I have found the people to be overwhelmingly generous and hospitable. Out hosts feed us like royalty at every meal. Upon meeting people in the community we are hugged, kissed, and showered with gifts of grapes, honey, and croissants. Because the pay is so low for what little work there is available, many people leave Moldova. I have heard multiple stories of men who go to Russia, Germany, or Italy and work for months at a time to send money home to their wives and children in Moldova. This is obviously a strain on the families who are separated for most of the year. We’ve been told that over 90% of the people are Eastern Orthodox while only a very small percentage identifies as Other Christian (Protestant, Baptist, Pentecostal, etc.)
During our month here my team is serving Emanuel Baptist Church in Singeri. The pastor, Mihail, is our host and we are living on the campgrounds where they run summer camps for children during the summer. We are serving in a few different ways. First of all, we are working to remove the Soviet Union-era whitewash from one building so that it can be repainted.
When we finish that project we are going to spruce up and paint the outhouses. On the weekends we do children’s ministry for the church- playing games and performing Bible skits about the apostle Paul’s missionary journeys. We also visit the church plant in a nearby poor village and love the kids there.
Today we started visiting the public school to talk with the students about the United States and we will be teaching English later on. On Sundays we share our testimonies with the congregation, present worship songs in English, and get the incredible opportunity to witness one person after another come to know The Lord despite all the cultural obstacles. In between all of this we get to connect with some of the sweetest people I’ve ever met and have the time of our lives- milking cows, playing with the camp’s ziplines, waterslide, and trampoline, and laughing with Mihail, his beautiful wife Galina, and their wonderful kids David, Lydiana, and Mihaila. If I’ve said it once I’ve said it a million times- I love Moldova!
I’m so glad to be here and to be used by God. I’ve heard from many Moldovans that it is so common for young people to leave the country for better opportunities elsewhere. It makes my heart so sad to think that this beautiful place is dying out in a way. My prayer for these people is that they come to know the Lord and let Him fan a passion in each of them for their homeland. This place needs to encounter the living God and see how relationship with Him transforms.
