Learning Russian

Hello Friends!!!  Every day I have been in Moldova I have learned so many new things. Today we spent the day planning for a jewelry sale we are doing at a trafficking conference on Friday.  We inventoried the jewelry yesterday and discussed how we would display it.  Tomorrow we head over to the Home to finish up the jewelry display and come up with the game plan. Please pray for this process.  This afternoon I had my first Russian lesson and it was great.  My tutor's name is Olga, and she is extremely kind and funny .  Today was her birthday so we got her tea and chocolate.  She was pretty excited.  My first Russian session was pretty intense, and I am going to have to study a lot to become fluent.  I am trusting the Lord for the Russian language !!!

I will post pictures of my apartment tomorrow :) We got cabinets to today!

Quality time in the hospital

      Sorry I was not able to write yesterday the website wasn't working.  However the last two days have been fun filled and full of challenging times.  Yesterday was the beginning of the Visa process which included a visit to the hospital clinic with Jessie (my roomate), Emily, Igor (our interpreter and guide), and myself.  We walked into this ancient gray building which had hallways lined with doors.  Through each white door you would find different specialties such as dermatology, Psychiatry, etc... In order to live in the country you have to be checked off by physicians of the different specialties and undergoe a series of blood tests.  Most of the specialties consisted of a doctor asking us if we had a problem related to the specialty, no physical exam was done.  I was kind of amazed from a nursing persepctive but also very appreciative that they did not have to examine me.  This total process took about two days at the clinic.  Praise God I am healthy and Moldova should be safe with me living in the country.  After hospital time today, we headed to a restaurant with all kinds of stuffed crepes. It was delicious. We ended back at our apartment after Jessie and I did our first ride on the public transportation van (the Rutiera) alone.  I was praying a throughout the ride that we would know where to tell the van driver to stop since there are no street signs.   God is good; we arrived home!!!

The Lord says I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.  I will advise you and watch over you.   Psalms 32:8

All about the apartment

Today we went to a store called Metro (similar to Costco) to outfit our cute apartment.  Jessie and I are sharing an apartment with a school.  I thought we were going to have our room in the classroom, but we actually have our own space.  Each day we have been with a different couple from our team and they have shown us different aspects of the city.  Today we were with Don and Beth.  They are an awesome couple from Wisconsin, who drove us around to help us get what we needed for the apartment.  The Lord definitely helped us get a lot of good stuff for excellent prices.  One of our best purchases was mustard, yellow velvet curtains which are going to keep all the heat in our room.  Don jerry rigged a rod and put wire around it to hang the curtains.   Right now we don't have any heat, hot water, refrigerator, or working stove, but I could not have asked for a more beautiful apartment.  The team has been taking excellent care of us.

                                                          His Grace is Sufficient!

Please continue to pray for us!!!

Whirlwind

Today was an amazing day.  Jessie and I spent the majority of the day touring around the city and learning about Moldovan culture.  This included parks, government buildings, the art market,  and restaurants. In addition we had our first introduction to Moldovan transportation which is 80% walking and 20% riding  vans (completely packed with people) or buses.  I am looking forward to the public transportation :)

Moldova's history is so rich.  Elena, our new best friend and lovely blessing,  tried to explain how Moldova became what it is now, but she even had a hard time explaining Moldova's complex history.  One of the coolest places we went was a park near the center.  When I came last year, I called it the internet park because it had free wifi.  However we actually walked through the park this time, and throughout the park their were busts of famous people who Moldovan's view as heroes including: soldiers, poets, novelist, etc...  I really enjoyed this.  I felt that is gave me incite into what is important to people in Moldova.

Kishinev.info

We ended the day going to the local vegetable market (similar to a gigantic farmer's market) and then cooking at the Raatz's, our host family's house.  The team I am working with here is amazing,!!!  I will share more on them later.  God is so good!!!

We arrived !

Yey, we just arrived in Moldova.  I forgot how beautiful this country is-vineyards, rolling hills, etc...I am so excited to be back!  Tonight we have dinner with the boss and her family and then hopefully much needed sleep. I am walking around in a bit of a fog.

Meeting Jessie, my roomate in Moldova

So I am headed for the small country of Moldova per God's calling.  I am so excited to see what He is going to do.  Yesterday I met my roommate, Jessie and we ate a HUGE breakfast.   I was able to learn a lot about her passion for both God and the issue of human trafficking.  We have a lot in common :)
I leave Wednesday, woo hoo.I feel so privileged to go to Moldova and be a part of such an awesome team. I am nervous but I know it is going to be amazing!

Please pray for Jessie and I's first week in Moldova.