For
our last country of the WR, the team was sent to Moldova. It’s a small country
between Ukraine
and Romania.
Personally, I thought it was beautiful. The hills and rocks reminded me of New Zealand. We
lived in a village with no running water. We drew our water from a well. There
weren’t many cars at all. We would see mainly horses with carriages. Our bathroom
was an outhouse with no toilet. It was a squatter potty. We were invited to two
homes in which we could take showers. Other than that, we took bucket showers.
The house had only two rooms in which heaters were brought in. We lived in very
close quarters.
Each
day the team led an English camp for the kids in the village. They were mainly
younger children but we had some teenagers as well. Each day at the English
camp, we would begin with recreation, and then have songs and skits, then an
English lesson, devotion, arts and crafts followed by more games. Each day had
a different theme. One day we had a Christmas theme. We shared with the kids
the Christmas story and taught them some Christmas songs. I was the Christmas
tree while we sang songs and the kids hung the ornaments they had made. On another
day, the theme was creation and we painted their faces like animals.
I
spent a few days playing soccer in the afternoons with some of the boys. I miss
that already. I felt like that was the best opportunity for me to minister
to them…by simply playing a sport and spending time doing what they love to do.
By the way, my team was undefeated.
There
was a little girl who stole my heart. She is the daughter of our ministry contacts
and her name is Mirela. She is 4 years old and one of the cutest little girls I
have ever seen. She would take me by the hand each time we walked anywhere. If
she wasn’t holding my hand, she would be sitting on my shoulders. Mirela would
even ask to ride on the bike with me anytime I was on it. One day, she asked if
I would pick her up from preschool. I picked her up everyday after that. I even
received a personal invitation to her school play! It didn’t matter if I was
tired and needed some rest, every time that little girl stretched her tiny hand
my way, I couldn’t not take hold of
it and allow her to lead me to another place to play.
I
really enjoyed our time in Moldova.
The contacts were great and the ministry was exciting. Moldova is now another
country I hope to visit again someday.
