You look out the window and gaze upon rolling hills covered in trees of many textures and watch the various goats and cattle graze lazily in the fields. There’s nothing much else happening in the small village you call home this month besides a small breeze as the sun starts to turn in for the day. You set about to down the last few bites of your dinner of foods you haven’t quite adjusted to when suddenly the atmosphere changes. Your teammates rush into the church building next to your present quarters, following after the priest who is your only “English speaking” contact. A quick survey of the small yet thoughtful chapel finds you and your teammates alone with the priest with the exception of but one other person. “What are we doing?” you ask. “We are praying,” your team leader responds, then quickly adds, “This woman believes she has an evil spirit tormenting her.” “Oh, okay,” slips out and five seconds later you are furiously praying for the deliverance of the woman you moments ago knew only to be a neighbor who stops by to use the kitchen frequently.
Welcome to week one of Moldova.
Our stay in the village of Petropavlovka actually began a little more peacefully than this. We were showed into a nice new house with a big room covered in small matrasses and given a blessing to call the place home for the next four weeks. We soon discovered we were staying in the annex of the church. This meant we were never alone and often invited to attend the various events held by church members. Day 2 began with a Catholic baptism and an unusual feast to follow. I’ll save you from further detail other than to say the afternoon was full of its own “world race” type adventures.
Following a day of mass and announcements of our presence in town we were given our first ministry mission: chopping wood. We were delighted at the opportunity to serve the elderly village members who had stayed loyal to Moldova as immigration had soared in popularity. Chopping wood turned out to be an eye opening experience as we found ourselves showed up by a woman four times our age. It was also one of the most heartwarming experiences the race has held yet. I only with you could see the gratefulness and love in our “babushka’s” eyes as we prayed with her and accepted her gifts of grapes to eat. This is kingdom.
Throughout the month we have been privileged to harvest side by side the people of Moldova in vineyards and corn fields. I’ve never had more fun in a field nor have I worked harder or been shown better hospitality. Time apart from farming has mostly included figuring out how to cook for our selves here and playing with the children of the village. I’ve received the vote for the name most easily pronounced in foreign countries as the children love to speak it when they visit. We respond by speaking Jesus back to them in any way we can find. Although we can’t seem to cross the language barrier here with words, we’ve once again found that love is beyond words.
Speaking of love, let me finish the story I began earlier.
It was a funny feeling to sit before Marina and for the first time, actually witness the dark side of the spiritual world manifesting. I had been well prepared in what to expect and tested what I saw before me against the Word. I experienced an incredible peace and comfort from the Holy Spirit as He left no room in us for fear. I even found myself praying easily and passionately. What I hadn’t counted on was how natural the whole thing would feel. “Battle, finally! This is what I’ve been trained for!” I even thought. But that leaves out the most important piece I began to discover, the thing I want you to walk away with too: love.
God’s love is furious! So furious that He would send a team of 7 sons and daughters to a village that’s has never met Americans and ask them to pray over one woman suffering at the hands of the enemy. He loves this woman! She was made for relationship with Him. Made to praise Him and rejoice in His love. God loves His people so much He would go to the other side of the earth to rescue them.
I’ve begun to realize that I traveled halfway around the world to be shown that God is love.
He IS love. He loves powerfully and entirely. And I didn’t just get to see this; I’ve gotten to experience it and to give it back to others. Experience it as the LORD protects us from the enemy by night. Give it out by loving our neighbors as ourselves, even the neighbors around the world.
We continue to pray for Marina to be filled with Christ and look forward to rejoicing in her deliverance. I’d like to invite you to pray for her as well. Pray that she becomes a shining example of relationship with Jesus that changes this town forever.
Thank you for keeping my team, my squad and myself in your prayers as we’ve battled against the enemy here. Rejoice with us too because God has been faithful and protected us as well as blessed us greatly. Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we head into team changes and even bigger changes: Africa!
