Ministry came to an abrupt and unexpected end this month. After weeks of pouring into and loving on the local children, we had to say our goodbyes.
Culturally adapting this month has been difficult. You would think that there would be more similarities than not between American and Eastern European culture. I was wrong. It wasn't just little lifestyle differences, but also their view of Jesus.
I know that the village we called home was not the indefinite definition of what a Moldovan Christian looks like, but it was a small introduction. The village we worked in was still very much trapped in following a set of rules and regulations. In their eyes, your outward appearance is who you are in Christ and it has very little to do with your heart.
In the church we attended, women were forced to wear head coverings and it is not okay for them to speak up. If a woman ever does get up to give a testimony she has to stand up with a group of other people. Considering that the team I work with is mostly girls, this happened often.
We learned very quickly as a team that we had to look and act a certain way in order to be accepted by the locals. The only place we felt comfortable to exercise our freedom and joy in Christ was when we working with the children. They loved us for who we were, and not our outward appearance.
Like I mentioned previously, we had an unexpected end to our ministry this month.
Two of my teammates (girl teammates) felt that God was calling them to shave their heads. Both for very different reasons and both were initially reluctant because of the culture we were in. God continued to prod their hearts. So while in town they passed a barber shop and the deed was done. (Please read their blogs for more back story, they are amazing and so bold! Rachael Miller and Cindy Nickell.)
As you can imagine, this did not go over to well with the local village. Even with the girls promising to wear head coverings we were forced to head to the city for our final few days of ministry. I didn't know it was possible to be kicked out of a village.
To be honest, I was upset. A month of hard work…for nothing? Was my time spent building relationships with the children in vain? Did we really end up making an impact on the village? Was what we had done really what God had wanted? So many doubts clouded my mind.
Don't worry! This story has a redeeming ending.
Our final few days in the city proved to be what we needed as a team. It was time to understand what God really was doing. We were able to spend a lot of time with a friend of our translator and he was able to pour encouragement into our defeated souls. He explained that the seed had been planted. Even though we may never see the fruit of our work, those kids experienced something this month that maybe their tradition had blinded them from in the past. They saw what true freedom in Christ really looks like. Freedom from finding our identity in our outward appearance.
I needed to hear this. I know that Satan will try to get me down many times these next few months. The fear of not feeling utilized or the fear of not making an impact. God is truly at work whether I see the fruit of it all or not. A seed is a seed and that is nothing to look down upon.
So here we go. Forward into a fresh beginning. Next stop Ireland!
***Financial Update****
I have approximately one month to raise $2700 in order to stay on this journey. Please consider supporting me one time or monthly. My next deadline is October 1st!
