Our train arrived in Ocnita, Moldova at 4:30am. As we stepped off of our rackety, over-night train we were silent and groggy eyed. We walked in a zombielike slumber to our ministry contact’s van. It was almost the end of our long travel day, we had just passed the twenty-four hour mark. After a quick, ten minute drive we arrived at our new home.
The eight of us are living together in a cozy guest house in the small town of Ocnita. And let’s just say that this month, we are going back to the basics.
Hmmm, how can I best give you a glimpse into this life? I thought a few pictures would do the trick.
We have a squatty potty that eerily reminds us of the one from Slumdog Millionaire. You know, that wooden shack made of sketchy plywood that has a square hole? That one. It’s that kind of squatty. But there is cute floral tarp hanging on the walls to get it more of a homey feeling, which is rather nice.
This month we don’t have running water, but we do have access to a well in the backyard. Not gonna lie, it is really fun to use. We can drink the water too which is great! We use the well whenever we need to cook, shower, and clean dishes.
Showers this month are bucket showers outside. Just thinking of a shower in this weather makes me shiver. Yesterday was no higher than mid-50s. So I’m already going to declare that showers will be rare and few this month. Thank God for baby wipes!
At the moment we have no refrigerator so we store our eggs, dairy, and chicken on a little shelf in the kitchen. So the cool nights really do have their benefit! We shop at local markets in the mornings to get fruits, veggies, and meat.
I was so impressed to see how methodical cleaning a kitchen could be. Our adorable ministry contact, Larisa, showed us how to clean the dishes and kitchen with just two tubs of water. We haven’t known Larisa for more than two days but we already see her hard-working, servant’s heart. Every step of her cleaning process was so intentional and had a purpose. I mean she had this system down. To start cleaning we boiled some water and then cooled it down with some fresh well water. Nothing was wasted as we used our dish-washing water to clean the little kitchen; and we finally emptied the tubs to rinse out our dear, beloved squatty potty. So that’s how the poop disappears. It really is magic, but sadly the smell doesn’t wash away. Oh gosh I am rambling…
Anyway, I feel as if I’m living in a different era. Like I’m a character in the Little House on the Prairie books that I use to read as a kid. Except it’s way harder here. Haha just kidding, it’s so much easier; I mean we aren’t churning our own butter (yet). And surprisingly, we have wifi so I think we’re going to make it 😉
Now I’m not complaining about all of this stuff. I actually love it. I’m so excited to go back to the simple life, even the frustrating parts of it. I love being in a place where I am physically reminded how much I need God because all of the distractions are gone.
We spend our days unhurried and in community with our ministry contacts. We cannot ignore our need to be united, we have to work together and rely on each other to make things happen. We have little to work with, but the crazy thing is, we always have more than enough.
It’s definitely the simple life compared to what we are use to back home. It’s even less luxurious than most months we have lived on the Race.
This kind of living makes me think about returning home and how different life will be compared to what I have experienced this year. In just two months I will be back in America. I will be with my family, my friends, and an amazing community. But as I begin to think of the future my mind starts to race, whispers of anxiety and fears slowly creep into my brain. Everything will be new again. What is going to be the next step? I start to question and (surprise) I begin to doubt.
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. -2 Corinthians 11:3
But this blessing, this gift of simplicity God has given our team in Moldova. This carefree life, it reminds me that sometimes I make my faith so complicated when it doesn’t have to be. I get caught up in worry, fear, and lies from the enemy.
One thing God has shown me on the World Race is His faithfulness, how constant He is in any and every situation I walk into. I’ve done some new, scary, and crazy things this year in my walk of faith— and God never changed. So I’m not going to waste precious time and go down a path of worry or confusion, but rather boldly walk into His promises.
No matter where I am in life or what I’ll be doing in the future, I am confident and certain of this: I have a God who loves me. I have a Savior, Jesus Christ who died for my sins. So I walk daily by faith, and I live to share His name and to love others.
It’s that simple. How simple is your faith?
Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. -John 17:3-5
