Monday & Tuesday in Moldova...

Monday...

1. I was exhausted - stayed up very late with all the preparations and blogging the night before.
2. Heat was stifling
3. DVD projector which worked perfectly during set-up, didn't work for the real show.
4. Show had to go on without powerpoint assistance...
5. Couple team members felt pretty crummy and without energy
6. Show went on without human strength for some...
7. Previously recorded video interview for Sponsorship documentary had to be redone
8. Huge downpour hit Chisinau for our lunch break.
9. CERI person who offered to buy groceries for our lunch forgot - ordered pizza
10. Camp didn't get rain...  until we arrived for the afternoon segment
11. Had to go to Plan B at camp and get all kids into the dining room for a DVD
12. Only DVD I had with me was the 80 minute GOD'S STORY in Romanian
13. 12 boys and 12 girls stayed engaged for the whole film - Genesis - Jesus
14. No WiFi connection at the team house in the afternoon and evening 
15. No blogging... went to bed early.

 Tuesday...

1. Slept 8 hrs and felt very rested
2. Found out I was the only one who couldn't get WiFi - my computer had gotten that function turned off (Had God said, "You need sleep more than your blogging" ?)
3. Rain has brought a touch less heat
4. Team is staying bonded and courageous
5. Gospel seeds are being planted
6. Kids are having fun
7. 2nd video interview was probably better
8. DVD projector just needed the right operator - has worked well
9. Took all our donated clothes and shoes to camp in the afternoon - outfitted nearly every person at camp with shoes and clothing - at last 5 items

 Lots of photos have been taken so I'll share some and then get tucked in for the night.

Miss Galena knew we were at camp and came by for a brief visit...

Little boys are mostly seated...  Caught that one-time moment with my camera.

Oldest girls...

Middle girls...

Middle boys...

Oldest boys...

Drama group...

 

Crafts...  decorated butterflies...

Precious child

Joanna Worden & Amanda Cox

With our 11 yr old granddaughter...

God's Story rolling...  Thunder booming....

A handsome crew..

Team and translators...

Team....

Depicting John 3: 1-21 - Moses putting up snake in the wilderness...

Knot activity filling in an open spot...

Pool time....

Little girls love the flannel graph story...

One of the boys in John's group...

Young men spending valuable moments with a godly man...

Lots of clothing and shoes for the people...

Joanna and Amanda sharing the week...

The Wordens in Moldova....

Selecting shoes...

Cleaning ladies have a turn...

Twins about to "shop"

A well loved sweater vest has a new owner...

Free time activity....

2 of the 3 girls we sponsor...

Robert might need some advil tonight...

Maybe 2 advil tonight...

 With your prayers and God's provision, we are overcoming the circumstances that might diminish the strength of our presence.  We are choosing to stay engaged though we have been physically weary.  We are trusting that God will water the seed we plant and in time have a bountiful harvest.

A Moldova Sunday...

Delicious pan cake breakfast helped start our day with a big smile.  Then we were off to Jesus Savior Baptist Church for the two hour morning service which caused us to praise the Lord even when we didn't understand everything.  Several songs were old favorites so we sang/hummed along with English words being remembered from other services.  About 5 of our translators squeezed in amongst us to bring the service into sharper focus for us.  These young people are gifted.

Following the service we had lunch at a pizza place near the outdoor market.  We got dollars exchanged and shopped following lunch.  Young John Worden was taken to the airport to retrieve the carry-on bag being held there.  Fortunately they concluded he was the rightful owner and let him have it.  Thanks for that answered prayer.

Returned to the team house about 3pm to begin prep for a trip to the camp to meet the children and adults there.  Will tell the story in pictures.

JSBC choir...

Father and son in the row ahead of me...

Baby dedication.  Twin boys were born 6 mo. prematurely and told they would not survive...

Robert renews acquaintance with the Males family...

Pastor Males is helped by a daughter who speaks English...

Most of the team in front of JSBC...

A sponsored young man shares our pizza lunch...

My yummy choice...

Another option...

Digging right in...

Grandson's happy with his choice...

One of our sponsored girls joins our shopping venture and spends the rest of the day with us.

Lena and Nadea will be "helpers" at the camp with us all week...

Well stocked market this year...

Tired of shopping so waiting with translators for the van to return from the airport...

Tackling some tasks at the team house...

Great helpers...

Peeling stickers from photo albums...

Trying to stay cool...

Time for last minute instructions before prayer time and then departure for the camp...  We're ready!!!

On location interview for film to feature the CERI Sponsorship program.  Since our 3 girls were in camp, we were asked to share our story and our girls...  I wasn't as unwilling as I may appear...

Little boys take a spot on a couple benches to make their nametags and get acquainted with their leader, Phillip.

13 young men with a 14 year old leader who's bringing joy to a Grandmother's heart...

Lots of middle aged girls for newbys on the team...

Playing a game...

Son John was expecting about 8 for the oldest group of boys and ended with 17... 

We have gotten the week started and the keyword "be flexible" has been put to use already.  We arrived at the camp with the children in the midst of a swimming rotation.  With the temperature in the 90's, we were tempted to join them.  They completed that plan and then we started our time with them.  Miscommunication about some opening welcome remarks turned into a lost cause as the lead camp director thought we were asking for "immediate" help getting into small groups.  Oh well...  plan B worked just fine.  

Learned of other changes this year at the camp which impact the schedule we have been thinking we would follow.  Children now have lunch at 1 instead of 2 so we'll delete one segment of the activity schedule.  Plans for swimming being an activity starting at noon won't happen.  Will need another activity choice so the wisdom of bringing past options for Knots, Strings and kites will take care of 3 days.  Something will spring forth when a fourth option is needed I feel quite certain. 

As "Be flexible" was being applauded during our debrief time after we had our dinner this evening, one of our newbys commented, "I thought everything went perfectly.  I didn't know we had missed anything."  And that comment from an 11 year old put it all into the right perspective.

Keep praying - it's very hot and at times a bit chaotic.  But everyone is still enjoying the
privilege we're sharing. 

Tomorrow we share John 3: 1-21.  Pray for new members of God's kingdom if it be his will.  Will keep you updated as long as I can stay awake each night after preparing for the next day.