This month my team, Akal Esh, and I have had the privilege of serving in an “Unsung hero’s month of ministry. The purpose of this month has been to seek out those working to bring the love of God to their communities throughout Moldova. Once we find these heroes, who often go unrecognized, we try our best to encourage them, pray for them work and offer/discuss the possibility of beginning a partnership with them. If beneficial to their ministry, we then send their information to our office in the US who can logistically set up future world race teams who can return to their ministry and assist them for a month at a time.
Honestly, moving around the country this month has been draining but when you invest time just to listen to these incredible sons and daughters of God who work night and day advancing the kingdom of the Lord, you find yourself thinking that there is literally nothing else in the world you’d rather be doing than sitting next to them listening to their God given wisdom. I’ve seen the heart behind these incredible, beautiful souls first hand and so desperately wish that every one you reading this were able to join in these unsung hero meetings alongside us.
There was one meeting in particular that Lyndie, Olivia and I had last week in Balti, Moldova. We had the privilege of grabbing lunch with Anca Danciu and Raluca Farcas. These two best friends that both grew up in America now run a dorm for girls who have been kicked out of orphanages due to the countries strict age restrictions. Although neither Anca or Raluca have birthed any of their own children, they are now “moms” to 17 Moldovan orphan girls all between the ages of 14 and 26. Every morning they have devotion with the girls, make them breakfast, get them ready for school, help them with their homework, teach them the value of hard work, encourage them to love one another, discipline them out of love and not hatred, teach them about Jesus, feed them dinner, tuck them in and make sure each girl knows they are loved not only by them but more importantly by their heavenly father. Because of these two strong women of God, these kids who have faced more pain, rejection and self depletion than many do in a lifetime have a safe place to stay and a family to love them.
Getting to hear Anca and Raluca speak about their daughters which such love, and seeing them step into what God called them to do apart from “mainstream society” with such boldness and courage has completely changed my life and my perception of what dedication and sacrifice look like when in the hands of the Lord. They also shared with me story after story of how God has provided EVERYTHING for them and their ministry exactly when they needed him to. They aren’t officially part of any organization and don’t receive any corporate funding so when they need to buy clothes, food, books etc…they simply ask the Lord and watch him provide in crazy unique ways! Their assurance, that he provides every time for them and their girls, has caused me to look at my own life and think about whether or not I actually give God the opportunity to provide for me in the same fashion. Unfortunately, I have to admit that often times I am too proud and try to find ways to realistically provide for myself, but what I’ve learned this month is that God didn’t call me to be his daughter so I could provide for myself and applaud myself. He has called me to be his daughter because he wants to bless me beyond measure with EVERYTHING I need…in EVERY situation!
“Cast your burden on the LORD, and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken”
Psalm 55:22
Please join me in praying for Anca and Raluca. Pray that they would continue to give all their cares and desires to the Lord, even when raising these teenagers seems impossible. Pray also that they not grow discouraged and that we, as the church, can remember to pray for them consistently as they carry out the great commission in Moldova.
