Somevof the Kids from day camp

food bags

This is a home that we were invited into in the Gypsy community.  The story here is very sad. The grandmother raises the granddaughter because her daughter was taken by human traffickers.  She took in the other young girl who lost her parents.  People  told her to sell the girl for human body parts and organs.  They also told her to cut the girls legs off so she could go an beg for money. It was so sad you could tell she loved these girls. There home is falling apart and there is very little income.  The son came in and he was 27 and an alcoholic.  We prayed with the grandmother and girls and left them with a bag of food. And prayed with the son and invited him to the men's night at the church. But he did not show up. I pray for this woman to have the strength and more income to raise these girls. The oldest girl does come to kids camp at the church

As I write this we have started the long journey back to America. While it has been a long exhausting week, it was also rewarding and went by quickly. Many on the team have come down with a respiratory infection which was bothersome but did not stop us. We saw some 300 patients in the clinic. We we're so blessed to have one of our team members receive donations of vitamins and supplements for us to distribute. I got the most joy when I was able to pray with people - it was emotionally draining though - it felt at times I was taking on their burdens during the time of prayer but at the same time I often felt an indescribable peace. Prayer is powerful. After I finished assessing and praying with one lady she reached I her purse and gave me a banana - I was humbled. Others prayed for me. I believe that the prayer while holding hands was just as important as the medicines that were distributed. If I encouraged just one person, then this trip was well worth it - as that person is loved by God.

I also go to see Lucia again this year when we visited one of the transition homes. We met the first year I came, I distinctly remember she liked looking at the pictures on my phone that year and listening to the music. When our eyes met, I could see them light up as she pointed and smiled and we hugged. She is not forgotten! She motioned me upstairs to see her room before the others came up in a group. It is neat and orderly and she has 3 small stuffed animals on her bed. She has a lovely balcony to step out on (so I think she and her roommates have the best room in the house). We can communicate love and caring even if we don't speak the same language. She has grown into a strong young lady, now 18, who will be transitioning out of the house at the end of the school year to a social apartment into the workforce. I now see hope in her bright eyes that wasn't as evident in 2013. 

Alex is one of the older boys in the Balti Transition Home, now 17. I remember him a few years back when he took younger neighborhood boy aside when we were playing games to show him how to jump rope. He likes music and dance. He is quiet and always observing what is going on. He is taking a course at the university for dance 'hip-hop' - he tells us. We saw him first when at a local market. I say hello Alex, he looks and again you can see recognition register in his eyes. We talk with him - and when we can't understand each other we find an interpreter so we can. I believe God has a bright future for him and he will make a difference. When I look in his eyes I new see a brightness, hope. He is not forgotten! 

Why do I keep going back? I love the people. It is where God has called me. I never imagined that I would be a short term missionary, traveling some 5000 miles to a small country in Eastern Europe that I had never even heard of. And as much as I might be helping other people, God is changing me. I am so thankful to God and the Moldovan people for blessing me. 

food bags

This is a home that we were envited into in the Gypsy community.  The story here is very sad. The grandmother raises the granddaughter because her daughter was taken by human traffickers.  She took in the other young girl who lost her parents.  People  told her to sell the girl for human body parts and organs.  They also told her to cut the girls legs off so she could go an beg for money. It was so sad you could tell she loved these girls. There home is falling apart and there is very little income.  The son came in and he was 27 and an alcoholic.  We prayed with the grandmother and girls and left them with a bag of food. And prayed with the son and envited him to the mens night at the church. But he did not show up. I pray for this woman to have the strength and more income to raise these girls. The oldest girl does come to kids camp at the church

Moistly Pictures

Tonight I'm tired from the long week.  I need to get some sleep to finish out the week strong.  So I'm keeping the post short.  It has been an amazing week.  God is doing great work through this incredible team.

We found the local advertisement for our clinic while out delivering food bags to families.

Beth checks her patient heart and lungs.

Jessie is checking the blood pressure of her patient.

The girls of the clinic with the Doctor.  I think Cindy was framed.

Jake, Val, Hollie, and Aleah give a great presentation on Human Trafficking. 

Beth takes a break from being a nurse to take care of the Transition Home Mother's Baby.

The Moldova team take us for good coffee each morning at the local coffee shop!

A donkey pulling a wooden cart with a bike in the back.  Amazing to see in 2016.  Really can't make this stuff up.

Jake plays guitar while kids play hot potato.

Jake talking to kids about a gratitude rock.

A spoon race!

Forgotten

What does it feel like to be forgotten? Do you remember a time as a child you felt like this? Fast forward to present day, do you ever feel forgotten?  Probably not. This seems a worse plight then even being marginalized. That is what I saw, heard and witnessed. Who? The Gypsy people. We all have preconceived idea about this people group, in America, in Moldova and around the worrld. God loves all people - and we as believers are called to do the same. The local church in Balti is doing this. They have had a physical presense at the current site for just over 2 years. Today I see some of the same neighborhood gypsy children I saw on a previous journey. It warmed my heart to see these same children who have grown but are still coming to 'hangout' at the Church / Transition home, a place they feel wanted, accepted and loved. There was a get together for ladies on Tuesday evening. The  The room was packed - women of all ages  (including young teenage girls) who came to spend time with us.  It was an amazing evening - being able to share, pray, and worship with these women. I wish I could post a video of it, but instead imagine hearing simultaneously in Russian and English - 'How Great is our God' being sung - it was beautiful. At the close a gypsy lady spoke (with a smile on her face) and thanked us for coming - 'not forgetting about us'. Tears came to my eyes - we came because we were commanded to go share the gospel of love  - we came and that in and of itself made an impact.

I also had the opportunity to visit 3 homes to deliver food bags and Bibles on Tuesday. The names of the homes that could benefit from a food bag were provided by the local neighborhood school. At one of the homes lived a Mother with her adult daughter Irena and grandson (her son's child whom she is raising). Irena was born with a medical condition that causes her to age much slower (she looks 14 but is actually on her late 20's).  She said she has been in a depression and not wanting to get out of the home. She was invited to come to the Ladies gathering that I spoke of earlier. I bet you can now guess where this is going....Irena came with the Bible we gave her clutched to her chest and sat in the second row. And right next to Irena was the gypsy lady who I wrote about earlier. Oleg had our team introduce ourselves and then asked the ladies to introduce themselves and tell of something they like to someone around them that they did not know. Irena sat there, not initiating any conversation, but the gypsy lady turned to her and started talking - I believe she didn't want this scared young lady to fell forgotten or excluded. Fast forward to the next morning ....I bet you can guess where this too is going....Irena showed up to be seen at the clinic. I pray and am believing that because of our visit, it opened a door for her to connect to the this local church - is that the impact God wanted us to make - to let Irena know that she is loved and not forgotten by God?

The clinic has been very busy - we have seen over 150 people in just 3 days. Young and old alike, men, women, children, extended family. Our intake / assessment form is simple. Name - Address - Phone (so the church can follow up after our team leaves) and Assessment / History with Plan of Care / Medications dispensed. There are no consents for treatment needing to be signed ---- imagine that (showing up implies consent). One of the joys of the clinic is being able to talk with people, no matter how briefly, and to pray with them. Sometimes it is intercessory and and at other times I believe God is giving me the specific words to say - it's hard to explain - but they are definitely different prayers. And it is even different when looking in the people's eyes afterward. God is truly moving in those moments. God is making an impact. 

As I reflect back on our devotional from Day 2 on Impact - following Jesus, I think all I shared above referenced this: Are you going? Are you impacting? Are you seeing the faces? Wow that's - well that's God - impacting me too! 

Building Faith

Today was a reminder about about growing in faith.   I used to think my faith was strong - then I went on my first mission trip.  To be clear I'm not talking about my faith that God exists.  That is unwavering. I'm talking about my faith that Jesus will have my back.  The reality of this hits when I'm faced with something I'm fearful of doing like talking in front of a large crowd, praying out loud, sharing testimony with strangers- you know, the stuff I'm not great at and also where I'm vulnerable.  Yeah vulnerability is REAL scary. The type of scary that makes courage afraid.  Sometimes it seems like jumping into the pool with lead weights on your feet and trusting you can breath underwater.  But reality is, if we don't submit ourselves to the fear of being vulnerable, our faith that Jesus has our back doesn't grow and it becomes stagnant.

Being vulnerable for Jesus builds faith - REAL faith. Mission trips are faith builders including the first day of accepting the call God has placed on the heart, fundraising, collecting supplies, trip Preparations, letters of gratitude, team meetings, praying in front of large groups.... this list really never ends.  Really never.  Yes it's a lot of work, dedication, and vulnerability, but it's all in the name of Jesus and did I mention the growth in faith? - it's exponential on mission.

I realized something else about faith.  Our mission team has incredibly strong faith (that's not a surprise to me because these are amazing people) and being witness to strong faith in others changes you.  You can catch it.  It's contagious. Yes, Faith is contagious!

My faith has grown so much since I went on my first mission trip.  I don't get faith building anywhere else like on mission.  It's amazing when your faith grows, because God is so good.  I will continue to submit myself to vulnerability in the name of Jesus.  I trust he has my back.