Reflection on First Trip (Email Update)

Salut!

I have returned from my first trip to Moldova and am once again adjusting to life here in Nashville. It has been a whirlwind few weeks for me, but I am always amazed to see God's work here and on the other side of the world. I am continually reminded that He is good and that His love endures forever.

It is hard to know how to fully articulate the 10 days I spent in Moldova. I could tell many stories and share ways in which God moved, but I don't know if words can do justice to all that happened.

Our team arrived in Chişinău after many hours of travel excited to start camp the next day. We were each assigned to a different activity (e.g. music, arts & crafts, sports, etc.) to lead at camp and also were assigned to a Bible study group. Each night, we planned for the next day's camp activities. I led music along with three other team members and led a Bible study with guys mostly in the age range of 11 to 13.

While camp was incredibly fun, especially for the children, I realize that the most important work that occurred was in the relationships that were built with the kids. I was able to meet and talk to many of them, and made some especially close connections with several of the guys in my Bible study. All of these students will be at the orphanage where I will be teaching in September, so it is good to know that I already have a foundational relationship with many of them.

Getting to know the children was an incredible experience. Hearing them talk about their families and their life situations broke my heart and caused me to feel desperate and helpless. Most of the children do not have any parents, and the ones who do usually have just a mother who cannot afford to keep them at home. Often the mothers are "working" abroad, and the children have not heard from them in years.

Despite the seeming hopelessness of the lives of these children, our team came with a message of hope and love to bring light to the darkness. It was such a joy to see children hear about and understand God's love for them and to see many come to know Jesus as Savior. I had the opportunity to talk to some of the guys in my Bible study not only about what it means to have a relationship with God, but how to grow closer to Him through prayer and Bible study. Discipling and walking alongside these young men will be a major part of my role at the orphanage as they move into mature faith as well as sustainable life situations.

In addition to our work at the camp, we had a construction team that was working on the Grace House, a transitional living facility for girls age 16-18 who no longer live at the orphanage. The construction is not yet complete, but to know that the girls from the orphanage will soon have a place to live and learn life skills before entering the "real" world is encouraging and hopeful. Children's Emergency Relief International is talking about building a similar facility for guys in the future as well. Currently, the boys are encouraged to attend trade school after leaving the orphanage in order to become employable, but this is usually very difficult because they lack any financial resources.

All in all, God certainly confirmed that I am to serve in Moldova next year through this trip. Spending time with His children and being broken for them and their country was enough to say that next year will be more than worthwhile. Thank you once again for your support and commitment to this ministry!

I will be sending emails like this one roughly once a month, but I have also created a blog site which will be updated more frequently. It will eventually have pictures, links, useless knowledge about my life, etc. The site is http://moldova-john.blogspot.com.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

1) Pray that the relationships that I formed at camp will blossom when I arrive in Moldova in September. Pray that the children will hunger to know God and that they will be open to what He is teaching them. Pray also that there would be an element of trust in these relationships as I, and others, talk to the kids about positive options for life after the orphanage.

2) Pray specifically for the girls who have been victims of sexual abuse or who have already been selling their bodies at such a young age. The girls from our team had a "trafficking talk" with the orphan girls, many of whom felt comfortable sharing, for the first time, ugly wounds from their past. Pray that they would be protected from future incidents and that God would provide legitimate and sustainable employment for each and every one of them.

3) Pray for my personal preparation for this coming year. Spiritually and mentally, I want to be in a good place before leaving. Also pray that learning the Romanian language would come easily and quickly. I am trying to cram in as much as possible each day!

All glory to God--