(ps- this was written last week and now finally able to upload it- hopefully, i'll be able to upload a few more blogs in the next couple days..)
I don’t even know where to begin. It’s been only 2 days in Moldova yet it feels like 2 months.
My team of 6 lovely ladies traveled with 2 other teams and took a long, hot, I’m talking 12 hour, sweaty steamy train ride through the night from Bucharest, Romania to the country of Moldova.
Somehow we still made it a fun train ride experience and I saw the most incredible storm in the middle of the night.
After a week of launch (training) we were excited to arrive in Moldova and start ministry.
Just a few fun did ya know facts about Moldova..
- Moldova is a country. Yep- sandwiched between Romania and Ukrainian.
- It is BEAUTIFUL- so lush and so green.
- They keep their windows closed because if there is a cross breeze you will catch a virus.. our 2 hour bus ride to Cornesti- the city we will be in for the next month- ya, it wasn’t my favorite ride.
- Women, if you sit on the cold concrete- you will be infertile..oh no.. day 1 and I was caught sitting on the ground.
- Majority are Romanian or Russian.
- They had a Civil War in 1990 and the population went from over 6 million to 3 million.
- It is the poorest European country- richest soil- yet spiritually the ground is so hard because of the hopelessness, insecurity and strict Russian Orthodox religion and fading traditions.
We are working with a passionate pastor who LOVES Jesus so much named Vitali. He heard God’s voice to move to Cornesti and start a church. He needs our prayers. I believe God can revive the city through the church. We will be doing all sorts of ministry this month- working with kids, orphans, farming, house visits, preaching and evangelizing.
I’m staying at the most precious couple- Natalia and Octave’s home with two other teammates. They have a sweet 3 month baby, beautiful garden and a lovely outhouse that I will be using for the next month.
The first half of the morning we worked in the field and ploughed the ground. I will never look at onions the same again- who knew it took so much work to get those suckers outta the ground?? I will have blisters all week to remind me. It felt good to do some sweaty, manual labor- I know a little crazy sounding.
Every day they have a children’s program from 3-5pm that we will be organizing. Today we spent time with the kids- we played games, did a skit on David and Golith, and then took them to the lake. My heart breaks for these kids.
Just a quick story- 5 children under the age of 11 have been without parents for the last 3 months. The dad divorced the mom and she is an alcoholic and abandoned her kids and headed to Russia. Here are two of the youngest. I wish I could take them home with me.
Please be praying that we can bring the hope and joy of our Savior to this deserted, hopeless town.
Personally- I’m so hungry for more of God and so is my team. We want more and more and more of HIM. Please be praying that God puts a hunger that can’t be quenched and that He reveals more of himself to us. I want more of Him and LESS of me.
Love you all!
Praying for you!
-Michelle
