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!