A) I absolutely LOVE the Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis
B) God splashed gold dust across Eastern Europe in this beautiful autumn season
C) Transnistria is a recognized country by the United Nations
If you guessed “C” as the lie, you are correct!
The truth is, there is a little land nestled between Moldova and Ukraine that seems to exist to very few people.
My teammates and I laugh together as we are reminded of the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe when thinking about this place. Lucy has gone through the Wardrobe, experienced the wonders of Narnia and longs for others to enjoy it, too. But no one believes that this place, this magical land beyond the wardrobe in the spare room, actually and truly exists.
So really, the land exists, no question, but it is the political side of things in debate.
According to all nations belonging to the UN, Transnistria is not a recognized nation, it is a breakaway territory of Moldova. But to the people of Transnistria, this is a true nation of which they are citizens- they have their own government, currency, flag, everything. The problem is that no one wants to stay there.
After spending a weekend in Chisinau, APEX packed our bags once again and headed across the “border” to Transnistria. Immigration, border patrol, forms, passports, the works. We stepped through the enchanted wardrobe and out into a new land that I had honestly never heard of before our arrival date.
We worked with New Life, an extension of Campus Crusade, in the capital city of Tiraspol, which boasts of nearly 158,000 people. Another boast: Transnistria is still home to communism.
The sickle. The hammer. This party ain’t over.
Our ministry: English! If there is one thing I never thought I’d do so much in my life it would be to teach EFL to so many different people groups. For a week, we held English clubs each night in the upstairs hall of some kind of cross between an outdated events center and a refrigerator sales office. We also spent time teaching during the days in the high schools which are so creatively named High School #7, High School #14, and…you get the idea.
Who knew you could become so attached to people in just one week. After one week of laughs, learning, sharing, praying, and lots of tea-drinking, I didn’t know how we could leave this place.
There are too many things about this place that begged for us to stay.
I think of Olga and all of our talks about God on the way to the bus stop. .
I recall prayers over students and the power behind them.
I laugh when I think about my time with Natasha and Ecaterina which really ended up being more like a game of charades than an actual conversation.
I think of Ghenya and how hungry she is for the LORD in her life and how eager she was to pray, learn and know.
I remember Paul, full of life, yet still searching for purpose. How he was so willing to hang out with a group of Americans even if they were somewhat of Jesus Freaks.
There is Vladimir, who speaks English so well, I initially thought he was an American. He was proud to take us around the city and always sharing his heart for this place.
Then there’s precious Oxana, our translator, who has suffered more in her 27 years than many people will in a lifetime, yet lives each day through the joy of the, LORD and His strength.
And, of course, Igor loving his kids so well and showing us hospitality beyond compare. The man devotes his life to the gospel and stops at nothing to see it spread.
These are real people. Real faces. Real hearts. Real ministry.
And as I think about the unique situation that this country finds itself in, to them a nation, to the world a territory, I can’t help but think about Romans 12. We are not of this world. And in John 15, when Jesus warns believers that the world will not accept them.
So, I’m not saying Christians are Communists, but what I am saying is this: As believers, we live in this world, a land not our own. We know that our true citizenship isn’t on this earth, but in heaven. But to the world, we are just a bunch of crazy people doing some crazy stuff for Jesus.
Well, hey. Let’s be the people that do the stuff (thanks Sage). Let’s reach every tribe, nation and tongue- even the unofficial ones.
