a Casa

      Wow, this past week was crazy but good.  I spent a lot of time at the home and was asked by the staff to move up the date for when I begin health teaching. So instead of next month as originally planned, I will be starting in two weeks.  For all the nurses out there, I plan to teach about hand hygiene first.  Yeah I know it probably sounds boring, but it will be a lot of fun.  In addition to the women, I think a lot of the staff will also be joining the sessions.  Speaking of the staff, we are becoming very close.  Some of Jessie and I's closest friends here are from the staff at the home.  It has been a joy to get to know and work with this staff.

Me and friends (also staff)

    

     One challenging aspect of this work or ministry is that sometimes you feel absolutely helpless.  Some of the issues are very hard to have answers for and often times you don't have answers.  What has been so beautiful is to see God help our staff to find answers.  We are not perfect but there is a realization that sometimes we have no clue what we are doing and that is ok.

Some of the projects Jessie and I are currently working on include: a grant proposal, home survey, health curriculum, and newsletter.  Please pray for all of these projects.

But those who wait on the LORD 

      Shall renew their strength; 

      They shall mount up with wings like eagles, 

      They shall run and not be weary, 

      They shall walk and not faint.

Moldova is beautiful in the fall!

     

Working in a Warm Culture

     One of the books I am reading while here in Moldova is called From Foreign to Familiar. In this book, the author outlines some of the differences between "cold cultures" such as the USA and Germany, which value efficiency, production, etc.. and "warm cultures" like Moldova and Mexico.  According to the author warm cultures tend to focus more on relationship building than on productivity.  Although the average person on the street of Moldova is not initially smiling at you, once you talk to somebody, they are extremely kind and open.  For instance, on the days I have had Russian lessons, Olga (my teacher) and I have spent a large portion of the time finding out about the others family.  By our third lesson, it was like meeting up with an old friend.  Although I am there to learn Russian, it is secondary to our relationship.  It has been nice living in a warm culture where cultivating the relationship is extremely important.  On the other hand, working in a" warm culture" when you come from a "cold culture" can be extremely challenging and at points frustrating.  This past month God has been working with me on not having to always be doing something, or contributing, or being productive, or even trying to make things happen.  He is showing me that I can work with the flow of the people as opposed to overruling situations or living in irritation.    It has been very good !!!  I mean that.
     This past week we spent a lot of time getting to know more about the Home and the women we are working with.  We attended our first staff meeting. I am moved to be working with such a loving group of people. It made me think about what a blessing it is to work with others who truly want the best for those they are taking care of even if it is taxing on them.  It is God's work.  I feel like my relationships are growing, and soon I will start teaching lessons on health in the home.  This past month has given me the background information I have needed to understand more of the women's specific health needs and concerns.  Please pray for the work here as this past week had a lot of challenges that are far from over.  We need wisdom.
Oh  yeah, Jessie and I got a refridgerator yesterday!!!


Disclaimer:  This does not mean Americans do not value relationships :)

City Day

Yesterday we attended Chisinau's City Day.  City Day is held across Moldova in ever village on various days.  After taking a long detour on the public transportation van, Jessie and I were about an hour late meeting Elena (a co-worker at the home) and her friends who had invited us to got to City Day with them.  After getting over our embarrassment because we were so late, we got to enjoy City Day.

[You ever have those days where you are in a funk and you know the Lord is going to have to help your attitude if you are going to have a good day?  Well, I was having one of those days.]  When we met up with Elena and her friends, I was worn out and the day was far from over.  What started off as a rough day, due to a lice scare, no electricity, and getting lost, ended up being one of the most memorable days I have had so far.  All down the main street of the city were different street vendors selling clothes, food, art, jewelry etc... The streets were packed and people from all over Chisinau had come to celebrate their city.  In between booths, there were different music performances ranging from American pop to Moldovan traditional dance.  I had an amazing time, and I was so grateful to get to spend time with Elena her wonderful friends (Ana, Irena, and Sergio).  We ended the festivities with authentic Moldovan food.  It was such a blessing to see and get to experience the people of Moldova celebrating and enjoying themselves.  

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Village Scenes  

Consider it pure joy, my brother, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. -James 1:2-4

Becoming Staff

Last week I was oriented to the home I will be working at for the months we are here.  The director of the home asked us to become comfortable enough to be able to work overnight with the women once a week.  Up until this point, most of my time at the home was spent getting to know the residence.  With my limited language skills, this has been a bit of a challenge, but I feel like we have developed relationships.  On Wednesday we spent our first night there and worked alongside one of the staff to learned the ropes.  The night went extremely well and everyone seemed to know the routine.  The next night Jessie and I were on our own.  I was a bit nervous but trusting God for every minute of the night.  Aside from an electrical fire, the night went very well.  We played games, read the bible, ate, and just got to know each other better.  I had a wonderful time and was sad to leave the next day:)

Smiling

Sunday we went to the break away Republic of Transnistria to attend church. It is amazing how a place of so much political unrest appeared very safe.    We were able to enter the area without any difficulty,  due to the good relationship of the director of Teen Challenge with the officials.  We were meeting with a team who came from the US who came to work on the teen challenge center. After church we were invited back to the directors and his family's home for lunch.  He has eight children and a mother-in-law who lives with him and his wife.  We all packed into a cozy dining room and ate chicken, potatoes, and bread. One of the ways Moldovan's show love and hospitality is through the gift of food.
After our time in Transnistria, we headed back to Chisinau to have dinner with people who attended the Human Trafficking conference.  This was such an amazing dinner.  I  learned more about the initiatives that different Christians are taking all over the world to help confront this growing problem.  I sat next to a woman who is running a home in Seattle and another girl who is reaching out to women in Amsterdam. It was amazing !!!
On a personal note:  I am really enjoying Moldova and the work I am doing here.  Just about everyday God does a miracle in my life and I am so grateful to be a part of His work.  One of the cultural traits that has been hard for me to adjust to is the lack of smiling.  Rarely will you see people smiling at a stranger or even at loved ones.  This may sound like a relatively minor issue, but it is strange for me and can be harsh.  I really want to smile at people and show them love in that way but I do not want to offend.  So as I prayed about it, I have been reading Jeremiah.  In the first chapter, Jeremiah is being called to follow God's call.  Jeremiah is young and  fearful.  God reassures Jeremiah and tells him to not be afraid because He is with him.  I am not sure how friendly people were in Jeremiah's time but in verse 8 God says,

Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.


He knows our smallest doubts and fears and knows what we need.  I was so glad to get this verse and I am now smiling at people.

This is our room.  We love it!

Those curtains are mustard yellow but they are amazing.

Our view from the window.