My writing lately has been less than I
would like it to but most of the time I don’t see the need to write
if I am not feeling led or have something spectacular to say.
However, I am realizing more and more that my ministry here on the
World Race is not only to those here on the field, but also to my
team, my squad and to those at home who are faithfully supporting me
prayerfully and financially. One of the biggest ways I can share
with you what is going on in my life is to write here. This is my
attempt at reigniting a desire in myself to share the story that the
Lord has so graciously allowed me to be a part. Please come with me
and peer into my life here in Moldova!
Our first week here in Moldova (after
a week of debrief in Ukraine) was spent with Pastor Vitaly and his
family in a small town called Cornesti. They have transitional homes
for children who are too old for orphanages, but not quite ready to
be out on their own and support themselves. It was awesome to see
how they have formed a community and work together. We were able to
work with them in the fields during the day and join them in Bible
Study and prayer every evening. It was a great encouragement to me
to see this group of believers tucked a way in the hills of Moldova
praying powerfully with earnestness and expectancy. I loved that
there were multiple times during a church service that we dedicated
to prayer. This transitional home ministry reaches out to those who
are easily forgotten and left behind. It makes me even more thankful
for God sending His son to earth to reconcile me to the Father and
love me unconditionally. The ministry speaks to me and challenges me
not to overlook people and love the person who it in front of me.
Now we are in a town called Soldanesti
which is a two hour bus ride from the capital city of Chisinau. My
first night here began with a sauna accompanied by our translator and
pastor. After an hour I was a prune and the room was stifling. More
water was poured on the rocks and the pastor said that it would get
everything out of me except the Holy Spirit. I decided that I was
glad that the Holy Spirit can’t be pushed out by extreme heat, but
that I could! I walked back to my room in the dark cold with a
quick stop at the outhouse.
During out mornings, we work in the
garden and in the afternoons we travel to local villages to do
ministry with children. Although we can’t speak Romanian, we can
figure enough out in order to play some soccer, baseball and
volleyball. After playing we have time to do some meaningful skits
and share about Jesus. We have been warmly welcomed everywhere that
we have gone.
We still have about five days here and
I’m excited to see how the Lord is going to work. If you would like
to read more about the ministry here in Moldova please visit
www.newhopeinternational.org
and click on the Moldova link. After Moldova we will move to Romania
for month eight and I can hardly believe that we have made it this
far! My life on the World Race is a constant whirlwind of changing
locations, contacts, languages, weather, modes of transportations,
customs, cultures, etc. Sometimes I have to think for a moment to
remember where I am, what I’m doing and in which language I’m
supposed to respond. One thing that has remained constant throughout
this journey around the world is the consistency of Christ in my
life. No matter where I go or what I am feeling, He never leaves me
nor forsakes me.
