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.

Ch-ch-ch chia

We have been on the go go go.......

Our first day here we arrived, welcomed as family and off we went to site see and to the street market. This week we're in the town of Balti (Beltz) serving the people free medical care.  All of our planning for the last couple of months is a go, how exciting to be able to serve in this manner.

Donations. We received thousands of dollars in supplies from companies and people willing to help the people of Moldova. Kuddos to my team mates for all their hard work reaching out pulling it all together.  Thank you to all who gave. We're trying to capture through photos the impact your giving has had. It is life changing.  As Luna a local woman from Balti said last night at womans night, "thank you for making this trip, for not forgetting about us."
The group later discussed it sounded as if she feels forgotten, abandoned. As an adult? This is our reason WHY, why we make this trip, to make a difference, even if it's in just one persons life.  At the moment she spoke those words I teared up, tears of joy.

Today was our third day of clinic we have seen about 160 people so far. Thanks to Ion(Johnny) aka our "bouncer". People arriving at 7am to get their name on the list to be seen.

The power of the ant.  While sitting at the clinic I looked around thinking, Oleg with his wife Marina have impacted so many lives in the country in Moldova. Transition homes (like a foster home, with a house Mother and Father where orphans who because of their age can no longer be in the orphanage are able to finish school, learn life skills while being in a loving, safe environment.) Churches, after school programs, summer camps, human trafficking prevention talks, Kingdom businesses, visiting people's homes, orphanage visits all to show the love of Christ.  Oleg never misses an opportunity to talk with someone about Christ's love for them. We have mission shirts that we wear for the trip.  Walking through the airport, going into a restaurant we're always turning heads, people wanting to know who we are.  The Americans (who "have it easy" says Olga to me yesterday. A perception of all Americans since we're such a rich, blessed country. A perception that money makes you happy......) While we're with Oleg checking out of our hotel he is told to "keep your opinions to yourself" while greating a man from Wales saying, "Good morning, what a great day the Lord has made" Oleg says, "its my conviction, I have to tell you" the man proceeds to tell him he "lives in a Godless country." Oleg quotes the scripture, when a Nation turns it's back on God. Romans 1:18-32. I couldn't help but think of my country, where are we headed? Do I lead with conviction? Do I share the love Jesus has for others enough?
If the seed is planted, it can grow.....

Our team rocks! We go together like peas and carrots.  Lots of laughter, sharing and more sharing oh and laughter.  Thankful to be with such great people.  Go to bed, Beth! Teehee

The meals here have been great. It's always a concern eating in another country sometimes the tummy doesn't handle it so well.  Of course the meals are different from what I'm use to. Starch isn't much of a friend to me. Thank God Jake brought chia. It has saved me.  Its much better when it's moist and chewy. Thanks Jake for taking one for the team @TSA :)

Well I still can't believe that I am back, here in Moldova for the second time. The first time here, I was confronted with so many deep seeded fears and issues that I honestly never thought I could come back. I didn't think I would have the strength. After these 2 years though, I could not be more thankful for this trip as well as the first one. 

My first trip, although difficult, changed my life. It forced me to see a part of myself that I had no desire to unlock but that is what going on mission does. It forces you to give it all up. Through the good, bad, and ugly, you have to completely surrender to God otherwise you will be grasping at air. You have no real control over your situation so you are forced to have faith in not only God, but yourself. I suppose I needed to come on this journey a second time to really realize how much I've grown and for that I am forever thankful to Moldova, Oleg and his amazing team, our wonderful church back home and our friends and families praying for us, as well as my fellow team members for being apart of my transformation. We are truly blessed!

I'm not really here for myself though. My desire for coming on these trips has always been to help others but it truly has changed and helped  me just as much if not more than these precious people of Moldova. The need here is great but their gratitude for what little we can give them is so inspiring. A hundred stories are running though my head but maybe I will share some tomorrow. For now, please pray for and remember Moldova. The people feel forgotten, and abandoned and I do understand why. Pray for their hearts to open up to Christ and for him to fill every void in their soul. The need may be great but our God is greater still! 

A New Experience

Being 17 in a group of adults is often intimidating, and at first I was scared of being the odd man out for my age, but in all honesty, I have never felt so close to a group. Every single being in the group has a genuine faith and mindset that has affected me already in the 4 days of this journey. Being an atheist a little over a year ago, this trip was a leap out of my comfort zone, but God pushed me to take the leap. I am so thankful that He told me it was time to move - my faith has never been stronger, thanks to this group, my mother, and the man upstairs.

In the 3 days of doing the clinic and after school program, I have been in numerous situations where I was unaware that God was preparing to give me a wake up call. For instance, the first day, we visited a school. I just so happened to pass a boy who reminded me of my brother. Seeing the poverty they live in, I instantly thought "Wow, that boy could be my brother. It could be me, even." and I can't begin to explain the gratitude I felt. Although my friends and I call Monroe High School prison and talk negatively about how poor the structure is, I will never be able to compare it to the schools in Moldova. I never realized how great I have it, going to a school where it's air conditioned and the lunches are most times better than what the kids here eat. What a wake up call, right?

This trip is now half over, sadly, but I know that I have impacted numerous lives. I have made a few friends who I can keep in contact with, and better yet, they believe in God as well. Over the next few days, my goal is to continue to see the lessons I'm supposed to learn here, and also to ensure the people I come across feel the love I have in my heart for not only them, but our creator.

Beautiful faces of Blitz

Well...here goes my first blog.

Where to start... In that moment I thought to myself  there is no way i am dying like this trapped in this box, especially with another man inside. I panicked. Would there be a fight to the death between mark and myself. Days of slowly dying, rotting inside until finally desperatioin kicks in and shear survival mode takes over. Would mark be the one drinking my blood to survive or would it be me drinking his?. Then the lights came back on.  I looked at mark in the face as we were going down in the rickety 1 and a half person elevator and said "I did not like that." I thoroughly meant it. And from the look on marks face, he felt the same.  The momentary pitch blackness decent into the creaky balti (belts) hotel was enough for at least myself to decide on the stairs as my new default option for now on thank you very much.  The m. Night shamylan movie about the elevator felt all to close to real in that moment. At least we all had a good laugh about it later that night. (Maybe that was a bit graphic but if I were in person telling the story Id say it just like that.)  Its the moments like that and the laughs that stick around with ya long after the trip ends.
Its funny how good it feels to be back in Moldova. Like finally finishing a book you started long ago. You remember things from the beginning of the book you forgot and the story now feels more complete. My first trip here now makes sense and I can see the purpose of it, being here again. How basically the last two years of my life were the direct result of going on my first mission trip to Moldova. Valerie, my wife agrees and was shocked when I shared this, because she said the exact same thing to others before she or I even mentioned it to each other. But I guess that's enough for tonight. I'll end this bizarre and graphic blog with this: its amazing what can come from simply saying yes to god. And its amazing what can happen and how you can grow when you step ( in faith) out of your comfort zone.

Being on Mission for God

What does it mean to be on mission for and with God? Wow, that can be so many things all at the same time. For me personally it means knowing it's ok to say yes to God while still be a little bit (and sometimes a lot) scared / anxious. 
This morning there was a plan, our plan - Medical Clinic begins Tuesday.  Monday, arrive in Balti and there 3 ladies waiting inside to be seen. What, how, why? What - people, How -walked, Why - they heard. New question - When? When - now - ? now ? - now! Ok God, no problem it's one of things we came to do here in Moldova. God asks us to be flexible. Yes that is like a Red Rule when being a mission with God. Some 42 patients later we closed the clinic for the day. The other Red Rule for me is loving people.  It's taking time to listen, look in the eyes of people, holding a hand, praying for people. Yes, there are the tasks that need to be done such as taking a blood pressure and pulse, but these tasks don't give joy but loving people does. Praying for people and it bringing tears to their eyes - that is love and shows there is hope. I believe God can, I believe God will, Even if God doesn't, I still believe. Let me not only continue to engrave this belief in my heart, but my prayer this week lis that my actions and words do the same to others. 

Restoration

It's Sept 11th @ 1:59am and we're somewhere over the Atlantic (weird).

The week before this trip I was experiencing the first ever,  anxiety.  I have no idea why, no thoughts, no fears just anxiety. The morning of it was really bad,  then my arm on the left side of my body was going numb. Why was this happening? Was I scared? No. I keep my thoughts on the mission, the people of Moldova. The one thing I do have control over,  my thoughts! Faith
Boarding time was just about over, and the seat next to me was empty, YES more room maybe I could actually sleep!? This is my third trip to Moldova so I know the length of this flight and I dread it because as hard as I try I cannot sleep on a plane.  It could be that I'm fearing I would be a drooler (ask Cindy to share her story). A gentleman approachs me, 34F!? Bubble burst.......
Then, I am reminded of the date.  Those people who didn't make it to their destinations, those lives that were taken unfairly.  I am headed to a country where most people will never have the luxury to see the inside of a plane.  Why do I concentrate on such selfish things?

Thank you God, for all the wonderful people you put into my life who paid for my trip so I have this wonderful opportunity. Thank you for the reminders of what is really important in life.  Lord, make my heart clean, restore it. Restore it to your ways.

I always enjoy the movies on the flight.  I chose, Demolition. Mostly because of the genre, comedy/drama. Comedy,  yes.  Jake Gyllenhaal double yes :)
Who names the genre, a comedy? Not one laugh......I know I can be uptight sometimes but geeze, not one!! I keep watching thinking that ok, there will be a happy ending.......
The movie was set in New York,  a man going through the stages of grieving.  Jakes character reminisces about September 11th, has a sign,  "Never Forget" with the Towers pictured.
I definitely needed a laugh now, so I turn on an episode of Friends. Always a pick me up. In this episode,  they show the Twin Towers  (takes away my breath everytime)

I sat there thinking,  praying for those who had lost.  How long did they grieve? Where was their happy ending?

As the character Joy in "Inside Out" I do want everyone to be happy. I try to help in that process, sometimes to my own detriment. God is the only one who can give peace and joy. The joy of the Lord is our strength.  He uses people who show love to accomplish His purposes but it is He who heals,  restores.  Through those times of demolition when we think we just can't take it anymore, He gives us hope,  peace and joy. "a diamond is just a piece of charcoal that handled stress exceptionally well."

Life will throw us some hard balls (many times because of our own choices) but He is right there to pick us back up.  To put the pieces together.  To redeem what was lost, Ephesians 1:7 "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.”

Trespasses? Trespasses because I'm not perfect.  Because when someone hurts me, I want justice.  In this verse,  He is talking of, MY trespasses.  My unforgiveness, my bitterness. Taking responsibility for my own actions/emotions.   The saying, "Anger is like drinking poison, expecting the other person to die. Not forgiving someone is like drinking poison expecting the other person to die. Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die".

Once we surrender it to God, forgive....His grace is overflowing.  Healing,  restoration,  redemption.
Who doesn't want freedom!? Replacing those lies we were believing about ourselves,  others or God with truth and love,  "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will."
Romans 12:2 NIV

Surrender myself so I can show the love of Christ.  This is what I want the people of Balti, Moldova to feel this week. To feel the love of Christ through His hands and feet.
Prayers for this to be accomplished this week. 

God's plan is better than ours

We are in our second day of the trip and I have to say we are offff the ground and running!  Things can move fast here in Moldova.  We arrived in Balti today.  A day later than planned because of unexpected changes to our (not God's) original schedule.  When we landed at the boy's transition home there were people waiting for the clinic to open. They didn't know the clinic was closed until tomorrow.  Or maybe we didn't know God's schedule?  Of course we couldn't turn them away.  We figured we would serve the few who were there and then take some time later to get properly set up.  Again God had a different schedule...  So a few turned into many as the afternoon took off and the clinic got slammed with patients.  Our team was incredible as they just faithfully responded to the change and worked together to get the Clinic setup and serve the patients.

A second part to the Mission trip is an after school Bible camp.  Our team also wasn't expecting to start this today either (again, our plan not God's).  But the team responded with games, songs, and a lot of energy!  It was a great first day and God brought some very amazing children to the camp!

It is an amazing thing for me to witness people filled with the Lords spirit coming together not for their own glory but for his.  Incredible things were accomplished through God today and I see this team already getting better.  I can't wait for tomorrow!

It's been a long day day for our entire team - none of us got much sleep on the flights - maybe 2 hours and it wasn't not for trying. We have all been up about 32 hours The connection from Frankfurt to Munich was delayed so that left an interesting site - seeing us jogging thru the airport as a group with an airline attendant. Arrived in Chisinau to hot, hot weather. Slight change in plans in that we spent today in Chisinau and will go to Balti early tomorrow morning. We did visit the church and so much work has been done - recalling in 2014 when it was s recently purchased property that work / renovation had just started on, last year painting floors in the auditorium and this year seeing a fully functional space that looks alive. God is good! A forgotten property bright back to life, and a place where people are loved. Got to see old friends and children from previous trips. The children have grown. The adults have a true love of Christ and the people they serve. Really good to have some time with the Reutki family. And we are and ate and ate some more - but Pastor Adam shared that our bodies adjust faster to the time change if we eat at the regular meal times herr  (whether we are hungry or not) - so we did. Well this lady needs to get some sleep so will close. I am looking forward to what tomorrow will bring.

Tomorrow our team of 10 souls will be in-flight to Moldova. I am excited to be returning once again to Balti to work with our partners from New Hope Eurasia. 

God always provides - our team is fully funded - we were blessed with an abundance of supplies to bring along - and our team is varied with each of us with unique gifts. Our trip will be multifaceted - Medical, Human Trafficking Education, and an After-School Programming - 3 in 1 like our God with each of these areas always pointing to Him. 

We welcome you to be our Prayer Partners (thanks to Joy for the focus): 

Pray for open Doors, for Boldness in Witness, that God's Word Will Spread, for Protection, for the Ministry, for God's Guidance, and for Refreshment.

Peace and Hope,

Beth

Mark, Cindy, Beth, Jessica, Valerie, Joy, Aleah, Jacob, Mary and Hollie