Moldova Reflections

Have you ever had an experience that words could not express? An experience where feelings could not be relayed? That is exactly how my adventure was to Moldova. In reading this, I hope you at least get a glimpse of all that we saw and felt.

Upon leaving I prepared myself for the brokenness that had struck the land and wounded the people. I knew the poor conditions were beyond anything I had experienced. I was ready. At least, I thought I was. I did not have many expectations for this trip aside from the fact that I knew God was working and had plans bigger than we could imagine. He was going to provide opportunities for us to minister to woman and girls, to visit poor families, and speak in front of hundreds. God was going to change lives through us. I was sure of that. What I was not ready for was that He was going to change my life through them.

Yes, of course, God did provide opportunities above and beyond those that we had expected. He worked in the hearts of the pastors who graciously supported (that is unheard of in Moldova) the girl’s conferences our friends were holding where we (the four of us who went) spoke to hundreds of women and girls. They prayed for us before we came, prayed for everyone attending the conferences, and one of the pastors and his family even opened up their home for our group to stay in when we traveled to the South of Moldova. Unexpectedly our friend, the woman leading this group to Moldova, was asked to bring a message to a church we would visit. Women do not speak in the churches there – ever. God opened so many doors. All throughout the week we were given times to share with the girls and simply love them. We were able to visit an orphanage/school for children of all ages who experienced some kind of mental disability and see them in their classrooms so excited to learn. The opportunities that God gave us while we were there were more than we could expect especially because of the barrier between woman and ministry there.

The times I was overwhelmed the most though is when I would be sharing with people yet I would feel touched, changed, and blessed myself. So many times I would think, “I am here to touch the lives of these people yet they are touching mine.” My favorite time of the entire trip is when we visited a women’s shelter. We heard heart-breaking and devastating stories of the lives of these women but in return were able to encourage each of them; sometimes with a simple, few words or a promise from God’s word. It did not matter that we were only there for a couple of hours because we saw an obvious change in the eyes and hearts of these woman in that short time. I left that place overflowing with joy. The hospitality of the families there is another one of the things that blessed me the most. Throughout the week we visited different villages for girl’s small groups. We would meet in these girl’s homes – some of these girls walked forty-five minutes from another village in the snow, the dark, and the biting temperatures just because they were hungry for more of God – who eagerly waited for us to share with them. Every time we met in a home they would set out hot tea and cookies (something we ate too much of while we were there :)). This simple act showed their willingness to give even in their lack. We experienced this all throughout the week. They gave because they wanted to and not because they expected anything in return. At the end of the week when we traveled to the South for the last conference where we stayed in the home of the pastor we experienced so many unexpected blessings. It was below five degrees the whole weekend and we could not get warm. No matter how many layers we added to our already thick bundle of clothes the shivering did not go away and our freezing cold hands and feet remained. We prepared ourselves mentally that it would be freezing the rest of the weekend and the pastor’s home we were staying in would not be much different. Heat, indoor plumbing, and comfortable conditions are very rare in the homes there and we did not expect anything else in their home yet when we arrived in their home they led us to a perfectly prepared and heated room (using coal that meant they might not have heat for a week because they could not afford to buy more). They also cooked us dinner and to our pleasant surprise had indoor plumbing (meaning we could actually use a bathroom inside)!! There is no way to describe the excitement over that simple blessing. All of the harsh conditions I had prepared myself for did not even matter. God led us every step of the way and so many hearts were changed in Moldova, including mine.

There are no words to express how grateful I am for your support (no matter what that looked like). We could not have walked so smoothly through this adventure without all of the people who faithfully battled in prayer for us. This experience changed my life. I didn’t have culture shock to Moldova. God had a specific plan for me there and He had prepared me. But I did have culture shock to America. My mind wanted to conform everything I was seeing in America to fit to the culture of Moldova. My heart wanted so badly to have the joy and fulfillment of seeing hearts touched and lives changed every moment. The transition from my mission in Moldova to my mission back home (because I do believe He has a plan for me right where I am at) was a challenge. I am forever changed by the experience I had in Moldova and I know God forever changed so many people there too. I have learned that His plan for me here is just as important as it was there. Until my next adventure…