Here are a few facts I learned at our orientation about Moldova before we started ministry:
-Lost over half of its poplulation from a war.
– 98% Russian Orthodox (salvation comes through being "baptized" in the church. Works based done to the priest. Its all religion without relationship with Jesus. They are blind.)
– Less than 3% Evangelical Christian
– Legalism is HUGE here.
-Fatalism, Workaholics, Alcoholics are strongholds.
-Everyone wants to leave the country.
-Bread basket of Europe.
sooo.. Im in Cornesti, Moldova now.
I am staying in a tiny village home of a church member with Kendall and Michelle (from Team Echarastia ..the teams are pretty split up in different places to sleep.)The whole backyard is a garden where they grow their food =) and they beds for us to sleep on… so no tents this month. No bathroom either but an outdoor hole… this is the simple life, but probably the nicest we will have on the race!!
home for the month
I have noticed that no one smiles and there is a huge sense of hopelessness among the village and everywhere. It is so freakin religious. There are statues of relgious stuff everywhere. BUT our contact Vitali here at the church is reckless and in love with the Lord and refuses to give up hope with this village. He has a HUGE heart and is going up against some pretty tough stuff. The non believers here, which is almost everyone wants the entire church shut down. The Jehovah Witness are in the town as well. Lots of false prophets and goofy stuff going on trying to mess with this ministry. Please pray for Vitalis strength and that he will see the fruits of his labor.
First day of ministry. We didnt know what we would be doing so we just followed our 2 female contacts Veronica and Anna and came to a run down looking shack. There were about 5 kids hanging out around this "home" We were told that their mother abandoned them and went to Russia. She is an alcoholic. Her husband left her. So the children are just living alone.This one little girl caught my eye she was about 2 or 3. I can't comprehend this..a 2 year old living on her own. She walked so independently. I followed her inside the urine scented shack and she took me to a broke out window that had some markers/pens and an old coloring book sitting on the shelf. She started to skribble just like any 2 year old would… but nothing was coming out of the pen. They were all dried up. Finally we found one that worked and I completely lost it watching her draw. Psalm 10:14
2 of the 5 orphans we love on.
The spiritual ground is very tough but Moldova has some of the most fertile soil in the world and it seems that everyone has a garden in this village. The entire garden was grown over at this abandoned home of children. Today we tilled it all up with oldschool hoes and rakes. I'm not sure what will be next but its a start for them. Before we left, the children gathered and we prayed for them. I love them so much. I asked the Lord to take them into his hands and to bring overwhelming comfort. We will be spending lots of time with them hopefully.
The church services here are different and so real because everybody follows Christ. Everyday year round they meet for a few hours to pray and sing praises to the Lord. They are powerful prayers. Young boys around age 15 worshiping and singing in another language brings so much joy. They worship in Spirit and in Truth. They know what it means to surrender their lives as a living sacrifice for the Gospel.
Veronica! Childrens ministry..
I feel like I have so much to say and don't even know where to begin. There is such a need… in my hometown and around the world. It's smaller than you think. It's time to say YES to following Christ. Its time to be made more like Him. Its time to be the hands and feet. Are you?
Love and miss you all <3
