Moldova Follow-up #1

I was unable to add photos to my posts from Moldova but today I have added a slideshow and will place some selected shots on this post.

The team of 10 from TX was a well prepared and capable group of God's chosen for this purpose this summer. All of us had made previous trips to Moldova and were eager to revisit the country and children we have all come to love dearly.

Rom. 10:13b-15a "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent?
And in our team's case, it was mandatory for us to have people who could translate our English words into Romanian words in order for our audience to understand God's truth we were hoping to share. How grateful we are for a talented, capable and willing support team who partnered with us to impart our Savior's message.


My class was the adult teachers who spend at least one month of their summer vacation supervising the children at camp. I have met with the adults each year for the past 5 years that I've been with a team to Moldova. Some of the gals I'd met previously; others were new. In the hour we spent together each day, we read the same passages of scripture the children are using in their groups and we shared comments about the scripture and about other things in our lives. These photos include the gals who were faithful in attendance. Svetlana was the team leader for the camp and has become a special friend over the years. As we spent our last day together on Friday, she thanked me for "sharing with them; for teaching them new things and for reminding them of things they had forgotten." It is God's word which does not return void so I'm very thankful for opportunity to share God's truthful word with them.





So many children and adults have become very dear to me. It's difficult to select any who are more special than others but I became especially connected to a couple of sweet girls who are new this year because the orphanages where they had been living were closed and they moved to Internat 2 - the facility we've been working with for the past 5 years. These girls are full of huge potential as they are very academically bright. They are physically beautiful and they responded to human touch and attention with gratitude, smiles and heart wrenching closeness. Just posting their photos is causing my heart to fondly recall the special moments we shared and to turn my fears for their futures to a God who is able to protect and prosper even those without a biological family to love, support and treasure vulnerable girls while giving them guidance on the path of life.

The other two girls we had the joy of spending some time with are the twins we help sponsor. They graduated from the orphanage a year ago and are attending a trade school where they are able to live in a dorm during the school year. They are shy, quiet, cute girls who have committed their lives to Christ and are growing as His disciples with the help of the Moldovan CERI (Children's Emergency Relief International) staff who provide training and encouragement for the future of 100 children in the Transitional Living Program for those who have aged out of the orphanage and now have to care for themselves.

I am returning to my life in the states but cannot help but remember with prayerful hope and trust the children and adults in Moldova who have impacted me deeply. I'm already planning my next trip though that will probably not happen until next summer.

And if you're wondering about the status of our preshipped boxes of supplies, they are still at the airport in Chisinau waiting for still more documentation before making it through customs into the hands of the CERI staff there. I'll let you know when their status changes.