Sasha the Cuteness

Two days ago at around 10:00p I was approached in the entrance to our apartment building by the cutest stray kitten, and she followed me up the stairs to my apartment .  Actually she looked really mangy, she was infested with fleas, she was dragging a leg, anorexic, and her tail look like it was run over by a car.  I was moved with compassion.  Sasha just received her flea medicine and is eating like a champ.  She is no longer limping, but her tail is still struggling.  She is super sweet and is called sweet by Jessie in Russian at times.  She is beautiful. I am not sure what the plan is for her past tomorrow but I am glad she found me.  I am praying to get her healthy.

One of the many things I like about Moldova is you never really know what a day will bring or how it will go :)  Sasha is evidence of this.

Thanksgiving Fun

    So I realized that I have never spent a Thanksgiving without my family.  This was my first, and it was great.  Don't get me wrong I missed my family terribly and had intermittent moments of nostalgia and sadness, but Thanksgiving was a blast with my team.  For two days prior, we were all in some way preparing for the ridiculous delicious feast we were going to have on Thursday. We ended spending about eight hours together playing games, eating, and laughing on Thanksgiving.
  

 On Wednesday I went grocery shopping with the ladies from the the restoration home at a store similar to Costco called Metro.  We bought an absorbatant amount of food and it was entertaining to see people's reaction to the two overflowing carts.  One of the children joined us from the home and we had her sitting in the front of the cart.  Yeah I know, not that odd- right, wrong, people just stared at her in the cart.  Unlike the states, the grocery carts are not kid friendly.  People hold their kids or they walk through the store.  It was pretty funny to see the reactions.  On a more serious note, this little girl brings much joy to the home.  You can often hear her learning people's names, calling the dog, or repeating phrases.  She is deeply loved by her mom and their relationship is a blessing to see and be a part of. I love this kid.
     Today was rainy and extremely cold outside.  It is starting to feel like winter, woo hoo.  We had Russian lessons in the afternoon and ended up going to our tutors house for the lesson.  This was the first time we have been to her house.  She showed us all the rooms and her plate collection.  Then we had coffee and jam (homemade jam) and talked.  It was wonderful !!!

We are supposed to get snow tomorrow :)

Odessa

     This past weekend we were supposed to go to a anti-trafficking conference in Odessa with the staff.  However the conference was canceled, and we went to Odessa for a retreat instead.  We had a blast!!  Odessa, Ukraine is a beautiful sea port city with a lot of history and astounding architecture.  We stayed in a hostile in the middle of the city and we were able to walk everywhere.  We traveled by train for five hours from Chisinau, Moldova on Thursday and stayed until Saturday.  It was so nice to be able to spend quality time getting to know the staff more outside of work.

     The people we met in Odessa were extremely friendly.  The afternoon we went to the Black Sea there was a older man picking up smooth rocks and collecting them.  I was sitting there watching him, and he kindly came over to us and gave us each a rock that he had picked.  He was so sweet :)  I kept the rock.  

In the three days we were there I had a lot of chances to get to know the staff better and was able to see a new beautiful place.  God is good!!!

Some photos from Odessa:

Friends

There was a time when Odessa had a large Jewish population.  We saw the Star of David over a random door frame

The first night walking through the city, we were able to see the beauty of the city.

On the train, heading home

  

Presents from Odessa 

So this is Love

     This past week was so good!!!  After a really stressful weekend, we were able to find a place of peace at both the home and our own homes. On Wednesday, I spent the night at the home and was feeling a little nervous about going. In spite of my nervousness, I knew God was with us! When we arrived you could immediately feel the peace that for several weeks had not really been in the house.  Throughout the night we all hung around together, talked, and laughed.  It was nice to see that the fear had subside and everyone was feeling safe again.  I hated that they were feeling afraid at all.
    One thing  I consistently find myself asking God is to show me how show and give love to these woman. He has been faithful, really faithful, in answering this prayer.  Wednesday morning started with me checking heads for lice, and then I asked one of the woman if I could do her hair.  When she thought she would have to do it, she was shying away from the hair time.  She did not have the energy to do it herself.  Through a translator, I told her that in fact I wanted to do it, and she wouldn't have do anything accept sit there and trust me with her hair :)  She immediately lit up and ran to the bathroom where she wanted me to do it.  While this was happening, I was thinking about how much I need my mom or other woman to love on me like this, and I was so grateful to be able to love her in this way.  By the time we left the home, she walked (and at times skipped) us out to where we were to pick up public transportation.  Please pray that our relationship will continue to grow.

God is showing me that even though I cannot always express my love in words (I like to communicate) I can in action.  He fills my love cup!

"Typical" Week

      Every morning I usually have a basic plan of what I am supposed to do for the day.  However what usually starts out as a plan quickly changes.  So let me give you a typical week in Chisinau, Moldova for Sarah. (I know people like details)

Monday-  We work on the grant proposal, and do everything and anything else we can possibly get done.  I usually study Russian on this day as well, it includes watching cartoons, written exercises, and speaking out loud.  

Tuesdays-  I head over to the rehabilitation home and spend time with the residents.  We also have staff meetings.  I love this day!!!  I end the day with Russian lessons and some quality chat time with Jessie and Donna.

Wednesday-  Continued work on written projects during the day time then we head over to the home to assist the night workers for the night.

Thursday-  We spend the morning with the women and then head to Russian lessons. 

Friday-  We go to the home and do what they need and also spend quality time with the children

On weekends we usually have some free time on Saturdays and then Sunday is church.

*I am finding that this schedule is tentative based off the needs of the home, our team, and deadlines for projects.  It has been good for me to see the importance of relying on the Lord for peace and not my circumstances.  

      So friends and family, honestly, this past week was insane which is why I did not post on Saturday, sorry.  However God has been faithful and we (meaning the team and woman) have surfaced thus far unscathed.  Please continue to pray for the home and the woman.

  Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”-

Matthew 11:28-30