Home From Moldova...

As we checked in at our gate in Frankfurt, we learned that our flight was delayed by 3 hours due to a storm affecting O'Hare Airport in Chicago but we were mysteriously upgraded to 1st Class for the 7-8 hr. return flight!!! It was lovely!!! We arrived at O'Hare too late on Sunday to connect to San Antonio so we spent the night at a nearby hotel and had a mid-morning flight to TX the next day - courtesy of AA. We survived the -4 degree (-35 degree wind-chill) temperature in Chicago but it was pretty brutal for a couple of Texans. So we're home, glad to see husbands and adjusting to life after our Moldova experiences.

This is most of our team which became good friends as
we shared such incredible days for over a week.

The first day in Moldova was one of the coldest while we were there. We're bundled up for the Sunday afternoon loading of the trucks which would accompany each team for the next week carrying the boots and socks we would place on the feet of hundreds of orphaned children there. This truck with the large CERI (Children's Emergency Relief International) sign, was a thrill for children to see as it drove onto the grounds of each orphanage. What excitement and joy we experienced from the delighted children everywhere we went.


A number of the orphanages are for children with physical limitations. This girl was unable to get out of her wheel chair so I needed to kneel on the floor to fit her feet. I was afraid of hurting her as her foot was unable to bend but as I watched her face, she never winced but remained smiling as a new boot was found to fit her foot.


We were both joyful after new boots were keeping her feet warm and dry.

My thoughts often return to my days in Moldova. The opportunity to provide these few moments of attention and love as I gave new boots to many precious children has been a great gift to me. It has made my Christmas extremely meaningful and memorable.

Each participant in this Operation Knit Together trip was given a small card with a creatively composed appreciation message from the CERI Moldova team. I share it here as a word picture of how blessed I have been.

Rejoice
and be glad!!!
You brought good things
of great joy which will be
to all people here in Moldova!!!
We are grateful that on the Christmas
Eve you have put aside time, money and
your family, so that many orphans and poor kids
in Moldova would feel the joy of Christmas. Winter shoes
will keep our kids' feet warm. Your smiles and words of
encouragement will remind them about Jesus and His Birth.
"...and they will call him Immanuel - which means, God with us."
Matthew
1:23
CERI
Moldova
2008