Moldova was a bittersweet month. It was the last month as team Tikkun Olam and the last month in Europe.
Ministry was different each week. The first week I felt like I didn't do much. We moved wood piles and dirt piles.
Lydia, Mikala, and Ashley moving the dirt.
The second week we started to teach English to the after school kids that would come to the church.
We would go over the letters and their sounds, play games, and just have fun with the kids and Jana and Luida the two ladies who ran the afterschool program. Building relationships with those kids was one of the best ministries we had in Moldova!
Some of the kids we got to work with, sad faces because it was our last day together.
We also got to go and visit with some teenagers at a group home that Papa Nicolai works with. We spent two and half days there and got to talk with the boys and girls about what we are doing and that Christ loves them. Our wonderful friend Luida went with us as our intepretor.
One Sunday after church we were able to go and work at a Suicde prevention convention. We played games with kids in the game tent, Mikala did face painting and we got to support an event that hopefully changed some young lives.
Hannah and Ashley at the games tent.
The second and third weeks in Moldova we worked with a team of German men to clear the church yard and build a playground. Mostly we just did the little jobs. Which was at times hard for us to step back and not be so "hard working" The men really just wanted to prefer us and we finally let them. It was great getting to know them and share our lives with each other for those two weeks.
Lindsay working with Michael and Vasia.
Hannah and Lydia, painting the support posts.
One night in our third week we were invited to dinner at Papa Nicolai and Lydia's home. We were treated to a concert by Lydia with her accordian.
Us enjoying the concert.
Our friend Luida also treated us to a trip to the best museum in Moldova with a private tour guide in ENGLISH!
Us in the museum with Luida.
We also got to be a part of an English bible study and made a dear friend Heath. He treated us to a coffee shop, a symphony, and dinner at his home. It was great building friendships in Moldova!
After the concert with Heath.
Since it was our last month together as a team we did Christmas. Julias mom had sent us a care package with Julias friend who moved to Moldova while we were there. A big thanks to Nancy and Stephanie!
To decorate Lydia and I made snowflakes and Mikala and Ashley made a Charlie Brown tree. We also hung our socks!
Us with all our gifts.
Lydia and Me with our snowflakes.
Ashley and the Charlie Brown tree with our socks in the back ground.
In our last week we also celebrated my 24th birthday. The night before my wonderful team cooked a delicious dinner and we enojyed hanging out. I also got some news that made me cry and like the the sad packers fan on youtube. http://youtu.be/ZjvXxwvg8mc
Then on my actutal birthday we were invited to have a party at Nancys house. Nancy and her husband are missionaries to Moldova and were connected to us by Lydias pastor. So Nancy, Rebecca, and Amanda put together a birthday party that looked straight from Pintrest. Nancy made a beautiful cheesecake and a yummy dinner and home made apple cider for the party. They had blue balloon and pink flowers everywhere. Pink and Blue are my favorites colors!
The best cheesecake ever!
We had such a good month in Moldova! The last week was the sweetest spending as much time together as possible. Good byes were hard in Moldova. We loved our contacts and friends so much.
We ended well as Team Tikkun Olam. Thank you Lord for those three months with T.O. Those ladies are all so spirit filled!
Now meet my new team, Jealousy Divine, Glory Refined (aka Sarahs team)
Left to right, Sarah, Me, Courtney, Mikala, Susan and Kaysie
