Moldova Bound in 1 short week...

As I begin this post, I am full of joy and gratitude! There had been some moments of stress in the past weeks as I wondered if all the supplies we needed would be provided. But this past week the box for donations at our church seemed to fill and be overflowing as quickly as the contents were moved to our storage area. On Monday, several of us worked for about 6 hours to sort the items and get them out on tables in preparation for packing day on Tuesday. Our local Home Depot supplied us with our first 19 boxes free and we purchased more before the task was completed. As we assessed the donations on Monday, it was determined that all we needed and so much more was there. We will be able to provide clothing, shoes and treats to all the precious orphans we will have the privilege to spend time with in about 10 days. I am so grateful.

Tuesday morning a group of 9 gathered for packing. It was difficult not to feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of the task but in about 3 hours, everything was in a box!!!
Some of our team members are employed full time so couldn't join the daytime packing but we had a couple of evenings for finalizing the boxes. We securely taped each box and made certain the boxes were sufficiently full. A detailed list of contents had been made by the packers and each box is numbered so we'll be able to retrieve things as they're needed during the week in Moldova. I regret not taking a picture of the finished boxes but it was a beautiful site!

Team member Allison will be making her second trip to Moldova with us. She spent 3 years working for Procargo in Houston and has encouraged us to consider shipping our materials through them ahead of our departure. We decided to try that venture this year. As I write, she is in Houston with our 30 boxes where the next step in this process takes place. I have grown to admire tremendously this young woman's zeal, expertise and love for the Lord and the children in Moldova. She cannot wait to return for another week of playing and praying with orphaned children who will cling, tease and frustrate but who are irresistibly precious. It is beautiful to see a young woman who's personal story has some parallels to the Moldovan orphans become passionate about sharing her life and God's truth with others in a distant land. Allison was adopted at birth. She is the answer to prayers by a childless couple and an example of God's abundant grace.
So there are still some items on my "To Do" list, but with one week before departure, I'm confident God will continue to supply the time and energy for all that's critical to this trip.

My phone just rang. Allison was calling from Houston to report that all went smoothly with the check-in and all boxes will be on their way this afternoon toward Moldova with an anticipated arrival date of Wed. That is perfect!!! And she reported that Procargo was impressed with our packing!!! That credit goes to many but primarily to my husband who worked fastidiously to make sure each box had secure taping including a band of reinforced tape around each box.

Thanks for your prayers and encouragement. Being ready for this trip is not just about packing and shipping supplies but having our hearts right with God.

Isaiah 26:8
Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you;
your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.

Pray that we will truly desire only to strive for the name and renown of the Lord. If that flows from our lives, there will be those who someday will be part of the multitude standing before the Lamb who purchased our redemption with His life.

Revelation 7:9
After this I looked and there before me was a
great multitude that no one could count,
from every nation, tribe, people and language,
standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.

In one week, our travel team will begin the trip to Moldova. But our Moldova team is so many more than those 10 people. It includes all who have provided donations of supplies, technical assistance, money and time plus the many who have been and will continue to be our prayer warriors. May God be honored and glorified through all of us.