I know I haven’t posted about Ireland or Romania, but I figure it’s better to let you know where I am now than trying to catch you up. I will write blogs on them later if I have the time. I will at least do so once I get home and have a LOT more time on my hands.
This month my team, along with one other team, are in Transnistria. Transnistria is a small country inside of Moldova, only recognized as a country by Russia. That’s why we call it TransNarnia….because it’s a made-up country full of potential. It’s basically run by Russia, hense, why they speak Russian here! A few fun words that I have learned are hello (pre-viet), thank you (spe-see-ba), I love you (yellow-blue-vus), and praise the Lord (slava-isus). <—-Those are all spelled phonetically of course, haha.
Mostly this month I’ve had the opportunity to teach English to adults in classroom settings, and help them to practice their English conversationally. I’ve enjoyed the challenge, and I’ve built a few great relationships here.
This month has been pretty hectic everyday. A saying that our translator/contact has for Transnistria is, “nothing is normal,” and nothing could be closer to the truth. For example, I’m typing this in the bus on the way to our English class, and for some reason our driver just pulled over and got out to do something. We don’t know what, we just have to go on faith and hope that we’ll get to class on time. That’s another thing about Transnistria, NO ONE is ever on time! Most are at least 15-30 minutes late. It’s frustrating, but now, over halfway through the month, and having dealt with it a good chunk of the Race, we’re just rolling with it. With timing and schedules changing a lot, this YEAR has been about grace and faith. Grace for those surrounding me and faith that Jesus will use every moment of everyday.
I’m very excited about next month! I cannot believe that it is our last month, and that I will be home NEXT MONTH. My team will be going to Kosovo, a small country above Albania and Macedonia. The history there is pretty facinating, having had a crusade/massacre in 1999, and having just become a recognized country in 2008. I am glad to enter into this country and show God’s love to the Muslims, who have only known Christians as judgmental persecutors. The ministry we will be working with works with college students, building relationships and discipling them. We don’t know much more other than this.
God has been teaching me a lot this year, that I promise to share in future blogs….
