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w e l c o m e t o
MOLDOVA,
EASTERN EUROPE.
I’m sitting on my soft mattress and thick blankets,
wrapped up in every warm thing I own,
the complementary socks and slippers from the plane ride on my feet.
The room is really quiet…that freezing,
still quiet-ness where you can hear every little thing.
It’s so noticeable because I don’t remember
the last time it’s been so quiet and still.
Asia was so loud, hot, and crazy.
Eastern Europe is cold, new, big and beautiful.
Moldova is cloaked in a hopelessness that covers the tired land just like the cold grey clouds that never seem to lift. In orientation we learned that three million, over half the country’s population has left Moldova in the past 15 years due to the underlying thought that success and happiness are only found in other places. Many believe they have to leave, to go to places like Romania, the UK, Greece, Ireland, America…in hopes to find what they lack here. It’s our goal this month to build genuine, honest relationships with these people.
We want to be open with them and show them life is worth living because of a personal relationship with Jesus.
This month my team is working with the sweetest family.
Samantha is from England and her husband Leo grew up in Moldova,
and they live in the church above us with their 3 little children…who are all crazy kids with proper English accents.
I feel like I’m constantly watching “Charlie Bit Me” when I babysit:)
Our first day arriving fell on the weekend of an annual woman’s conference with amazing speakers from all over the world.
We got to help by passing out invitations to the event on the icy streets of Ungheni.
The faces of the men and women on the streets are hard,
and the lines in their skin silently convey a past of striving.
Almost everyone looks down and scowls as they walk,
and one can instantly tell we are foreigners due to the smiles on our faces.
Another task we got help with was wrapping soaps as favors at the end of the conference.
Sitting in the conference was amazing.
The speakers were from Australia and England and America,
and they all delivered amazing messages on speaking truth over hopeless thoughts.
There was dancing, crying, demons leaving women and loads of praise.
On Tuesdays we lead a youth group in games and a bible study.
The youth of Moldova are often put out on the streets at the age of 16. Their parents don’t sign any release forms for the kids, so they can’t legally benefit as orphans.
They are wanderers, worse than children orphaned at birth because they are alone on streets fully aware that their parents rejected them.
Even when kids are adopted, they are sent off with only 15 dollars a month to live in homes where they are often used for child labor and are beat. Many girls are picked up off the streets and trafficked.
My heart breaks for these kids, especially the girls.
The innocence has been stolen from their eyes at such a young age.
During our meetings with them, they soon warm up to us and laugh as they join in the games.
As they dance to One Direction with me I can’t help but smile.
Last time we sang for them, showed a video, and broke unto small groups at the end.
In small groups we shared about our lives, depressing thoughts, God’s love, rebellion, neglect, and persevering.
There are no magic words that can fix their lives and thoughts, so we just hang out with them and hug them. After all, they are only a few years younger than I am.
Another ministry we do is visit a home for old ladies.
Sweet little grannys who can’t take care of themselves on their own live here and they were hilarious. Last week we went to visit and celebrate their thanksgiving harvest feast!
I think the whole team, well us girls at least, would agree visiting the grannys was the sweetest part of the month so far!
They had tables set with the collected harvest of corn, apples, walnuts, pears, grape juice and loaves of bread. They gave an offering and we all ate together. It was their version of thanksgiving.
Nina was our favorite.
She was just the most precious, toothless happy lady.
She would talk and talk and kiss our cheeks.
Between our translator, our conversation went something like this:
“I wish I was young and strong again like you!” –Nina
“Well, being old is beautiful! And you are very strong.” –me
“Hmm, I have a boyfriend!” And she burst out laughing.
Then:
“Why is that man black?”….and she looked at our squad leader Julian.
I couldn’t help but laughing out loud as I explained that everyone in America looks different.
“Are there women that way too!?” she asked, shocked.
It was hilarious.
Among other things, we babysit for Samantha, chop and can vegetables for winter, explore the town and enjoy fall.
We are extremely blessed to have a washing machine, blankets, wifi, and hot soup for lunch.
Couldn’t ask for more!
Pray for Moldova. Pray for the missionaries working here. Come visit.
You can really do a lot from where you are.
I know all too soon I’ll be home with only memories of this place,
but I’ll never forget this country that feels so forgotten.
Even in it’s hopelessness, Moldova is one of the most beautiful places I’ve been in all the world.
Hope is rising here.
It just reminds me how we can feel so useless and hopeless sometimes, but others see beauty.
God sees our beauty and value.
Sometimes we need to find a different perspective
and re-discover who we are.
So go take a walk…
Love,
Rach
49
D A Y S.
