My first Sunday in Moldova proved to be a memorable one. It started off usual as I went on a run and then ate breakfast. From there God decided to spice up my day a bit. A small group of us left the training center with intentions of heading straight to a “card board” ministry to make a video with the youth at our contact church. Along our we spotted a small outdoor market that we decided to stop at. I found some neat old USSR pins and while I was paying the man some of the girls I was with came walking quickly at me. They had been trying to video the market and a vendor got mad and started yelling at them in Russian. Not knowing what the man was saying we all quickly left. Craving some coffee we set off to find a good cup of coffee.
To get to the coffee shop we had to pass another market where we met a woman who was attempting to make us follow her. Assuming she was trying to get us to come to her shop I shied away. She did not speak any English and we did not speak any Russian, but she spoke one name we all knew, “Pastor Ulio” (Our contact’s name.) Assuming that she was from our congregation we followed her into the market. Frantically she called someone on her phone. Rose, one of my squad mates, was handed the phone and a girl on the other end said that the lady wanted to buy us apples. As we heard this we were all excited and felt blessed. Our sweet little Grandma named Anna proceeded to buy us peaches, corn and apples then led us to her house nearby. In her house she cooked us the corn, fed us the peaches and well we never did eat the apples. She invited us into her bedroom/living room and put on a sermon that was in Russian and English and showed us pictures of her family from America. After we were done eating we got a picture with her and still determined to help out with the sign ministry we had to go.
Wanting to still make the youth event we arrived 45 minutes late, which actually ended up being 15 minutes early as they were unexpectedly waiting for more people to show up. The sign ministry was fun, we walked around with cardboard signs displaying quotes such as “Jesus loves you” and “God cares about you” in Russian. We walked for over two hours straight and were very tired by the end of it.
Due to the ministry going so long we were 45 minutes late to church. I did not change into my church outfit with consisted of a long skirt and nice shirt because we were so late. Instead, I was wearing keen sandals, Columbia tan shorts and a colorful striped t-shirt. The youth pastor assured me that my outfit was fine, so I went to church. Not having been at this church before I was a bit curious about what I was about to encounter. The front entrance of the church was lined with commercial coolers which led into a grand old opera theater. When entering the “chapel” it looked like a modern banquet hall complete with a disco ball, set tables and a stage. Being thankful that the room was dark, I snuck in the back and sat down. Then, I heard the announcement to bring the bride and groom in and a spot light shined on the door. Sure enough, a bride and groom walked in and a full wedding took place on the stage. Feeling embarrassed that I looked like an REI model at a wedding I tried to lay low and not be noticed. I am sure God was having a good laugh at me. Embracing the experience I laughed with my squad mates about the situation and all of the unforeseen situations that we continually experienced that day.
It has been easy for me to love Moldova. The church we are partnered with is very passionate about Christ and loves, second to Christ, to have a good time. God has been teaching me to expect the unexpected this month through days like this. I am grateful for our contact and wake up each day knowing that it will be filled with unforeseen events and I am more than okay with that!
Here is the link to the Cardboard Ministry viedo we made with the youth at Expo Church: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuVv7j2nQQc
