“Moldova is a country of slavery,” he said. “Everyone here is enslaved to something –
mostly fear and hopelessness and tradition.”
mostly fear and hopelessness and tradition.”
I sat in the orientation as Richard, our primary mission
contact in Moldova, explained pieces of the culture in this new country. Suddenly, the way that Olt County had
seemed so repressed and closed when we arrived in Romania faded out of mind; everything about Moldova thus
far supported what Richard described as slavery. Not only was it overcast and freezing cold,
but the people we saw on the streets did not smile. They did not make eye contact or laugh
together or greet any passerby – they just looked at their feet and shuffled to
wherever they were going.
contact in Moldova, explained pieces of the culture in this new country. Suddenly, the way that Olt County had
seemed so repressed and closed when we arrived in Romania faded out of mind; everything about Moldova thus
far supported what Richard described as slavery. Not only was it overcast and freezing cold,
but the people we saw on the streets did not smile. They did not make eye contact or laugh
together or greet any passerby – they just looked at their feet and shuffled to
wherever they were going.
A-Squad has walked into another Orthodox hotbed – Moldova is
a place strangled by tradition and legalism.
Everybody is a “Christian” in the fact that they know the Orthodox
traditions, but very few people can claim any hope or future in Jesus
Christ. The church here takes discipline
very seriously, keeping strict lists of those excommunicated members and
offering no chances of retribution.
Women are absolutely second-rate human beings in this country. They have no voice in their families or the
churches, because they exist to serve their men and have babies; consequently,
Moldova is one of the worst places for domestic abuse in Europe. One of my contacts told me about women who
happily went to prison for murdering their husbands – prison was a better fate
to them than living in such a hellish environment.
a place strangled by tradition and legalism.
Everybody is a “Christian” in the fact that they know the Orthodox
traditions, but very few people can claim any hope or future in Jesus
Christ. The church here takes discipline
very seriously, keeping strict lists of those excommunicated members and
offering no chances of retribution.
Women are absolutely second-rate human beings in this country. They have no voice in their families or the
churches, because they exist to serve their men and have babies; consequently,
Moldova is one of the worst places for domestic abuse in Europe. One of my contacts told me about women who
happily went to prison for murdering their husbands – prison was a better fate
to them than living in such a hellish environment.
I suppose it should not come as a surprise that half of the
population of Moldova has emigrated away from the country in the past
decade. Half of the population in ten
year. There is no money, a horrible
economy, and no jobs. Basically, this
country is dying. Quickly.
population of Moldova has emigrated away from the country in the past
decade. Half of the population in ten
year. There is no money, a horrible
economy, and no jobs. Basically, this
country is dying. Quickly.
Just as I got to experience in Draganesti, though, God is
raising up a generation for Himself in this place. I get the privilege of working with a man
named Andre and his young family this month.
Andre is twenty-six years old and he has a passion for the youth of this
place. He was a part of a rock band for
a few years (there are holdover clues in how he looks and acts around
people…ponytailed drummer turned pastor.
OKAY.), but he moved back to an area near his hometown to start a church in an
unreached community. Children come to the
church every day for lunch and time to just be kids. They eat and play games and tell Bible
stories – and that is what Team RADIANT will get to be a part of this month.
raising up a generation for Himself in this place. I get the privilege of working with a man
named Andre and his young family this month.
Andre is twenty-six years old and he has a passion for the youth of this
place. He was a part of a rock band for
a few years (there are holdover clues in how he looks and acts around
people…ponytailed drummer turned pastor.
OKAY.), but he moved back to an area near his hometown to start a church in an
unreached community. Children come to the
church every day for lunch and time to just be kids. They eat and play games and tell Bible
stories – and that is what Team RADIANT will get to be a part of this month.
It’s easy to catch Andre’s vision for this ministry, because
his heart absolutely beats for service.
Even in the first few days here, the ways in which he has taken care of
my team has been one of the most humbling experiences of my life. You can see his love for this country in the
way that he interacts with all of the children and young guys who flock to the
church – there is a place for the youth here to find something meaningful to
give them hope.
his heart absolutely beats for service.
Even in the first few days here, the ways in which he has taken care of
my team has been one of the most humbling experiences of my life. You can see his love for this country in the
way that he interacts with all of the children and young guys who flock to the
church – there is a place for the youth here to find something meaningful to
give them hope.
That is why I’m already in love with what this month will bring. Yes, this place is dark and broken and enslaved,
but the kids are beautiful and God is working through people in my own age
group to bring His kingdom here. When I
left Romania, I did not know what to expect – how could our next ministry
contacts be as fantastic as the ones we were leaving? Could we possibly have accommodations as good
as our mission house was? What would ministry look like outside of Romania? God is quickly showing me that He is good — all good, all the time — and that each month will surpass the last in a different way…Month 1 was fantastic and it was strange and sad to leave Romania behind, but Month 2 is a whole new adventure and I cannot wait to see what God has in store.
but the kids are beautiful and God is working through people in my own age
group to bring His kingdom here. When I
left Romania, I did not know what to expect – how could our next ministry
contacts be as fantastic as the ones we were leaving? Could we possibly have accommodations as good
as our mission house was? What would ministry look like outside of Romania? God is quickly showing me that He is good — all good, all the time — and that each month will surpass the last in a different way…Month 1 was fantastic and it was strange and sad to leave Romania behind, but Month 2 is a whole new adventure and I cannot wait to see what God has in store.
Next up: We’ll play “Where in the World is Carly Crookston??!?” and, disclaimer: YOU’LL NEVER GUESS. I’ll give you a hint — it involves Smirnoff and rubles. Whaaaat??
