My new team “This Is It!” spent this past month in a small Eastern European country between Moldova and Ukraine called Transnistria…or what most racers like to call "Narnia country." Even though it has it's own government and currency, the UN doesn't actually recognize it as a country – so it doesn't make it appearance on a map that often. So naturally "being off the map" statements were quite frequent this past month to say the least.
We spent the month doing construction in Tiraspol the capital as we helped lay the foundation down for the new church building. Our days were spent in the sun as we shoveled dirt, moved rocks and jammed out to our "pump up" music in between.
Our home was onsite as we lived in a concrete building, complete with a kitchen, western toilet, hot shower (sometimes) and a make shift bedroom filled of wooden bunk beds. We even had sweet cooks who prepared all of our meals, consisting mostly of cream of wheat, bread and loads of soups! Boy, were we blessed!
We also had the opportunity to live with the incredible men who were working on this construction project. This group of seven was made up of ex cons, recovery alcoholics and addicts who had recently turned their lives over to the Lord and were giving their talents and time to literally build the Kingdom. Even though conversation was scarce, laughter was shared as we mispronounced Russian words and fruity candies were given as a sign of love. Who says that you need the same language to be impacted? 🙂
Ok, well now that you have a brief little summary of what our month looked like, here is some insight (& photos to go along) with what you really do in Narnia.
Enjoy!
Sometimes in Narnia, you get the camp experience you always wanted.
You eat all your meals together like the Waltons…
…and even take time to pose and smile for the camera.
[thanks guys!]
Sometimes in Narnia, you spend hours moving rocks, bricks and dirt…
and then take occasional breaks to take epic band cover pics.
[hopefully they don't kill me for this!]
Or sometimes in Narnia, you just sweep gravel driveways with tree branches.
In Narnia, your lunch consistently looks the same…
but sometimes you get to spice it up with some super fresh fruit juice.
Sometimes in Narnia, you go to youth group and worship in Russian and English…
…and have a techno dance party afterwards- complete with a strobe light.
and sometimes (on one rare but exciting occasion) you have guest worship leaders from NORTH CAROLINA!
Sometimes in Narnia, you feel you have gone back a few decades.
Even to a Soviet V-day parade.
Sometimes in Narnia, you never know what you're going to get…
like Saturday morning card games in the park,
team shaving in the great outdoors,
#extremeteambonding
project getaway,
or the finest commodes Narnia can offer!
And sometimes in Narnia, this is alone time at its finest.
#desperatetimesdesperatemeasures
Now it's out of the wardrobe and onto new adventures in Romania!
