So we are well into our month here in Moldova! I must say it's been a pretty peaceful month. God has placed us in a small little village named Rassvet and life is very simple for us here. We get ALL our water from a well. So, showers are from an overhead bucket and our toilet is an outhouse. We have a small fridge and two burners to cook food on. And we have this little home all to ourselves. But in all honesty, I love this lifestyle. Sometimes, I can't help but think that we've become a little too high-maintenance back home… But I sure do love a good western toilet from time to time.
God also gave us two surprise blessings this month in the form of a precious dog (Scruffy) and a sweet little kitten (Racer)! They are the two most loving animals ever and I don't know what we'd do without them this month! Scruffy was a stray dog who showed up on our doorstep during our second day here and she never left! She's been such a good guard dog and an even better companion. Racer was a stray kitten that Carmen found on the side of the road. She followed Carmen for about an hour before she was too tired to walk anymore, and then we brought her the rest of the way home. We've never seen a kitten that was a bigger cuddler than this one.
So anyways, our main ministry this month is to do kid's camp every day from 4-6pm on a big field that is bordered by the beautiful hills of Moldova. We help these kids learn English, tell Bible stories, teach them songs, and play a ton of Duck Duck Goose, Sharks and Minnows, and soccer. These kids are a handful, but we love them so much. It's always a blessing to see them sprinting towards us from every direction as we walk through the village to get to camp. And if we're lucky, one of the grandmothers will hand us some free apples on the way 🙂 Its comforting when you gain the trust of the villagers. Once they trust you, then you become family, and they want to take care of you. It's a special relationship that's unspoken, but clearly evident in their smiles when we walk by.
But even then, there always seems to be an underlying sadness in their hearts, too. Moldova is the poorest country in Europe, and their population is dropping drastically every year as the younger generations continue to emigrate.
My biggest prayer for these villagers is that they can realize there is hope even when there is hopelessness all around them.
There is hope for this village.
There is hope for Moldova.
There is hope for you.
"For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe."
1 Timothy 4:10
I ask that you join me in this special prayer for Moldova, that their eyes will be opened and their hearts will be changed. That they will know the blessings and joy that can be found in Christ alone.
Now some pictures!
Moldova really is a beautiful country!!
Scruffy and Racer meeting each other for the first time 🙂
Just another normal day at camp with the kids and Scruffy
Sometimes Bryan has a tough crowd.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST!!! My support video!!!
Courtesy of the lovely Carmen Thomas
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