Sunny Saturday

Today we are leaving the mission house in Balti and setting up our last clinic site (not the pre planned site but a new site decided just yesterday - be flexible). This is a trait of our Moldovan hosts, flexibility and they do it with a grin. Everyday there has been a different obstacle - the darkness trying to creep back in - I wonder if the darkness is trying to creep into me more then the Moldovan's? The darkness that can overwhelm with feelings of helplessness. As one of my teammates said last night - we are not here to do God's job - he's got it under control - we are here to be his hands and feet - showing love, love in action. God has showed up every time - and yet I am amazed when He does. Why? Often I m so caught up in the business of life that I don't look around to see God's wonders. Wonders all around me each and everyday. I would ask that all reading this will pray for me - God keep me open and my heart soft yet strong for the people of this world. Pray for little Inga whose life looks bleak - but I know God has great plans for her. If we only would love one another - isn't that what we are commanded to do - love. Well it is sunny and warmer today, praise The Lord! Now off to follow the path God has planned just for me.

Life changing....

My letter from home this morning said, "you are being blessed"  I sure am.....

We came to show God's love and we are getting His love through the wonderful people of Moldova in return.

Upon arriving we felt like we had to do more.....we come for a week and leave?

We shared how we felt with Ian, a volunteer from the Village of Sofia, last night at dinner. While we visited homes with food bags yesterday I thought, what a stellar guy, not knowing his story.  He explained how a life can be changed by just a smile or a good deed.  He was abandoned at 16 by both parents and it was caring people who came to his village who changed his life. He glowed with love and determination. Life changing.....

I woke up yesterday, my birthday, to decorations and a card signed by my new family.  A woman giving me her chocolate for a birthday present. Speechless.....Love in action

Our translators.....patient, compassionate and talented. Our new friends, I cannot say enough about these great people!

Asking people if I can pray with them and then they turn around and want to pray for me.

Visiting people's homes and seeing the thankful look on their faces, hearing their stories, seeing the conditions they are living in and yet still smiling......

How many times have I wanted more when all I had is what I've needed?  Do I really need all I have? Love is all we need. Thank you God for continually reminding me that love is not found in things or acceptance. It's found in giving, a choice, an action.

I pray that all who read this experience the love He has for you and share it with others. Life changing love...

My thoughts

Hey Everyone :-) Thank you all again for remembering us in your prayers. The team has held together so well through all the unexpected things that have come up over the last few days; I'm sure that wouldn't be the case if it wasn't for your prayers.

I really don't have much to say-- this trip for me is definitely just the beginning of a journey of which I have no idea where it may lead. It has been so wonderful meeting the people here and being able to remind them they are not alone and show the love of Jesus.

One thing that has been a weight on my mind is a question that has been continually running through my mind-- What is my purpose? This week has made me very aware of all the needs here and I know there is so many needs at home too-- but what can I do to make a difference? My constant prayer as of late has been that God will not allow me to bury my head in the sand and become so task orientated that I miss what God has planned for my life.

Please continue with your prayers-- Love you all!! :-)

The Village of Sofia

Today we packed our bags into the van once again and made our way to another village. I was overcome by the simple beauty - from the wells to draw water, horse drawn wagons, small homes, quietness - peace. Our clinic was set up on the second floor of a community center. Again, there were people already waiting to receive care. Waiting and watching. By clinic day 3 we were more confident that we could do what God had asked of us. We worked as a team. I am overwhelmed by the kindness we received from all. The villagers were well prepared for the cold damp weather, layered up with clothes. Now we understood why everywhere we have been, many dress in layers. Today was a bit slower paced with up to 130 people being assessed. I saw a 2 year old who had 30% of his body burned from pulling a pot of soup on himself. Soup, something we eat occasionally but soup is a staple of most meals here. This young man had been grafted and it had healed. Mom was seeking a salve to prevent his itching of the new skin. We had none to give. Heartbreaking. Many walked with crutches or canes made from sticks found in their yards. They walked from their homes, then hobbled up an uneven flight of steps - Eric had the most important role today - assisting people up and down the stairs. In America, a site such as this would not have been seen as being acceptable - caregivers and patients alike in coats, no handicap accessibilty. Not one person fell. Not one person complained. I listened to people and heard their story. I think now that that is why God brought me here. Not so much to assess as a nurse but to care as a nurse. To care a person. To listen to a story. To pray with and for people. I am humbled that many of these people prayed for me - for me - God is wrecking me. They asked if we would be back - there is only one way for me to answer this. Yes, because Jesus loved me, because Jesus loves these people. I don't believe it is out of desperation that they ask. They ask this after we talk, after we pray together. They ask because they trust and believe we care and love them. Why else would it be. God is wrecking me. The last person I saw today was Ian's grandmother. Ian, our host from the village. The volunteer from the local church. Ian whose grandmother told me she raised him from an infant because he was abandoned by his parents. Ian who spoke to us at dinner and shared his story. Ian who shared wih us that we offered hope. God you wrecked me yet again. Intermingled in all this is Maria, who cooked for us. We were served their best. Flowers in cups on a cloth covered table in the school house cafeteria. Maria who aaked at lunchtime that we remember the children when we return. Not if we return but when we return. Maria who comes to be seen at the clinic and asks for vitamins and Tylenol for her child, and vitamins for her friend and her friend's child. She asks for them, not for herself. Maria who then rushes back to start our evening meal. It was delicious and included cake. I saw flowers I have never seen before. Today I saw a buckeye tree - they grow here too. The name of the village where God wrecked me is Sofia - the name of my first granddaughter, Sophia. Isn't God brilliant?

Day 5

We arrived to Sofia, the location of our third medical clinic to 100+ people, young and old waiting to be seen. The group was so large that they flooded out of the main floor and onto the steps of an old Soviet building that now serves as the local community center/school house/library/police station. Many of these people had been standing (uncomfortably) for hours just waiting for the clinic to begin. We moved all of the supplies up 2 full flights of stairs, quickly set up "shop," and began clinic.

Thank goodness for the presence of all members of the team at this location throughout the day. Many people utilized canes and were barely able to make it up the stairs with assistance. Eric and Kristin spent the entire day assisting these people so that they could be ministered to both spiritually and physically. Today we saw 100-120 people, yesterday 133, Monday 89.

In the afternoon, half of the group continued the clinic while the other half took food bags with Ian (Sofia village volunteer) to 8 local families to visit and pray with them. At the completion of dinner today, we were brought to tears as Ian shared how important our visit was to him, personally. He was an orphan and at the age of 16, recalled a visit missionaries made to his home. He remembered the happiness he saw in the faces of the visitors as they gave him a gift. That moment... changed his life- he knew he wanted to bring joy to people. I feel that at times it can be easy to lose focus in daily life; what it means to bring joy to someone. It doesn't have to be the moon and stars- God has given us all we need to be there for others, listen, be present, show them they're loved and valuable to Him and to us.

Despite the challenges of this trip so far, out team has been brought closer together. Today was actually Joy's birthday :) we celebrated with decorations, "Happy birthday" at dinner in both English and Russian...then cake when we returned home.


Day 3 of clinicals in the books, by nothing more than technicality...

Group Blog

It rained.
A lot.
It poured.
We're talking monsoon.
Broke down vehicle.
Scratch that. Two broke down vehicles.
Ten people, six seats. (You do the math.)
Patti in the trunk.
Soaking wet.
Joy barfs. No joke.
Mental break downs x11.
11 AM.
Two hours late to clinic.
Hollie and Bailey mistaken for doctors.
Arrive to 150 people waiting. (Chaos.)
Pushing, shoving.
More mental breakdowns.
Bathroom. Outside. 'Nuff said.
8 hours, 200 patients later.
Worship time with the locals.
Heading to a new city.
Road to Mordor.
No brake lights.
11 PM.
#MoldovaMissionMansion.

Snacks, movies, and 3 bathrooms (INDOOR.)

God never promised this would be easy From Moldova with love,
the team

Hope

These words came to me during my devotions last night... gave me a little comfort :-)

In the dark I had lost hope.
In the cold, my heart had turned to stone.
No longer feeling, no longer
lonely--simply empty.

A word from a stranger with a bright, white smile caught me off guard--was it a spark that I felt in my stone cold heart?

A feeling so foreign, I cannot explain began to grow inside my chest, as if a sudden rain began in a desert place.

What was this feeling so foreign? These drops of healing rain on the scarred, cracked surface of my heart?

A word and a smile caught me off guard--the word was so simple...the word was pronouced...Hope.