ok first of all i feel the need to apologize for not posting anything about Moldova until now.. let me start by saying that we are living in what i like to call a make believe land.. Russia recognizes it as Transnistria.. i dare you to find it on google maps 🙂 its the oddest thing.. they have there own currency, president and so on.. but Moldova just see’s it as a territory, if even that.. anytime we have to go into the city (Bender) we have to have our passports for BORDER CONTROL (its hard to even write that without laughing) anywho its been a trip to say the least.. but i am LOVING MOLDOVA/TRANSNISTRIA.. we are working with a passionate young church planter Andrew and his wife Oxona.. they are really something special.. both have such a love for God!!!
the last couple of weeks have been full of working with the children and the youth!!! The kids are great here, it has been such an easy transition.. i am learning Russian left and right.. check it out *PRIVET* means hello : ) *PAKA* means bye, and *SPACIBA* means thank you!!!! okok so im not fluent.. YET!!! those are the three basic words i have learned in every country.. just enough to get what you need and leave strangers smiling..
anyways, did i mention we have a really great translator this month?? our very first one since we have been on the race and its been awesome!!! His name is Peter and he has been a believer for 17 years, he has become the 7th member of our little family and we love him!!! he knows us so well because he stands up with us and has had to translate every single testimony given, every sermon preached, and every conversation spoken!!! he knows every little detail of our lives to say the least.. he also has been living with us in the bar turned church so he has seen us at our best .. bright and chipper in the morning!!
This month has really been a great one for me, i have seen more growth in my team and myself then i have in all of the three months combined. We haven’t wasted anytime being shy or timid, but rather immediately diving into what God has for us here.. we have been establishing relationships with the youth, the church, the community, and i have just seen God move. John and Evan have been preaching on sundays.. and i have to say that they have both come into their own this month, God is using both these men to reach the people here and speak truth into their lives.. and us girls are closer then ever, stepping out in faith in ways we haven’t ever before and literally seeing God show up.. for the last couple of weeks my heart has been in a season of expectation.. expecting God to speak, expecting God to move, expecting God to blow my mind, expecting God to teach me something new, and it has literally brought me a joy i haven’t ever experienced before!!!
Moldova is an interesting place, a squad-mate told me its on a list of saddest places to live on the planet.. and i see that here.. you can see when people have no hope and haven’t had any hope for generations, its inscribed on their faces.. their religion is just that religion.. people stuck in the cycle.. they are strict orthodox and weigh the book of traditions to a status equal to or higher then the bible… in our debrief we learned that they often like to “CLEAN THE FISH BEFORE THEY CATCH THEM”.. so basically they want to clean you up before they bring you into the church.. before they tell you about Jesus and associate with you..and unfortunately what you end up getting are people who on the outside play religion and play christian pretty well but are walking about missing it.. walking around ASLEEP*!!!! and this just breaks my heart, because i remember when Jesus met me in my room all alone one july night in the middle of my mess.. in the middle of my sin.. and said i want that one.. she is mine.. she is my daughter.. she belongs to me.. thats why following Christ is so beautiful, in light of all your dirt Christ still died for you.. when i read the Gospel i see Jesus taking a different approach.. i don’t see him say “go and try to make all your wrongs right and after you have tried really, really, really hard then come to me,” no i see him say “believe and i will make you clean, come and you will find grace, seek me and you will find me, draw near and I will make you a NEW creation!!!!” God desires intimacy with us, and he desires honesty when we come to him.. so yea my heart ache’s for people to know the truth.. for people to know his peace, for people to know his love, and for people to know they were created for a purpose, for a plan, FOR OUR KING TO BE GLORIFIED IN EVERY WAKING MOMENT OF OUR LIVES*!!!!!!
when i read paul’s thanksgiving and prayer for the saints in Ephesus my heart literally jumps with joy because its exactly how i feel about Andrew and his church.. I am so thankful there are believers here.. i see the love they have for the people here, and the passion they have for the Lord.. ahhhhhh* and i just pray they continue to grow into all that God has for them and the body of believers here.. because i know they are a light in the darkness and one by one they are making a difference for Christ! So be praying for them too, because you have brothers and sisters in moldova and these people love the lord and their faith is changing peoples lives and expanding God’s kingdom!!!!
sending all my love,
lauren
