outreach Moldova #1

The first week: done! We did start quick and busy, which is very helpful to get a big picture of the month that is ahead of us, to turn our minds on to giving up time and strength for a goal to present God to people we are meeting here. I am privileged to live with 10 people, who are an example of this themselves, an example of variety in God's character, mercy and fun!

A week before we came to Chisinau, our outreach leaders, Ivan and Katya, went to find us a place to live.  Just a few days before the rest of the team came, they got an amazing place to stay! 5 rooms! enough space for all of us - 2 families with babies and 6 singles.  Great location, and the landlord is very happy to have us.

Monday 31 of March, was a day off, since we arrived early, and I slept till lunch.  The rest of the day we spent in walking through the center of Chisinau.

Tuesday, 1 of April, was a day to set up life at the apartment: buying food and supplies. In the evening we met with a contact, Peter, who works at the “Beginning of Life” Urban Center. He has done ministry with teenagers since he was 19 (now he is 36).  He explained to us what him and his team do: they serve in government schools, giving the idea of a right life to teenagers.  By spending their time with them, building relationships and encouraging them to have right understandings of life they have.  Since it is a public school, it is not allowed to speak about God openly, but through Biblical & Christian ideas they reach their minds and hearts.  Students watch them & us and as... "Why are you so good?" Peter told us many things were told that evening.  We also started asking ourselves, “How are we going to do this?” But, as soon the next day came...

Wednesday, 2 of April, started early for guys who left to the school, bringing discussion about Family. They had 6 lessons in a row, but the first one, Peter led himself, to show by his example how that look like.  The teenagers loved the way Peter did it, and of course, being at the first time here, doing such thing, our team was hesitating. They still did what they could, and they were open to step up and try! While they were at the school, others, who stayed at home (including myself), we did "ministry hunting". We gathered to pray and ask God to show us what we can do. The result was us going outside, finding white cigarette kiosk, looking for a person in camouflage. We saw at least 3 people with camouflage!  We approached one girl in a camouflage jacket, told her that we had been led her. One of our students gave her his own Bible.  Although she was surprised, as would most people be, she looked glad we came to her.  God is leading us.

Thursday, 3 of April.  Myself and 3 people from the team, went to another school.  Our topic was Friendship. Every grade had it's own atmosphere... Really!  We split in 2 pairs, presenting this theme. One of the pupils, described Friendship as a miracle. We had really good discussions with them, challenging them to be the friend they would like to have.  Encouraging them that they have the potential to be a good friend, by saying we believe in them.  During our lessons, they were intently listening. 

Friday, 4 of April.  I babysat, and I loved it :)  Giving myself the chance to change environment, and giving space to our leaders who were deciding big things. :) As I led debriefing with the rest of the team, I asked questions "What was challenging for you?  And how did you overcome it?,  What did you pray for yourself?, What would you wish yourself for the next time?".  Our team was open to share and times like this are bringing us together. That day, some of our team went to the school, and others prepared for an english club and cleaned a playground outside of our house!  While cleaning we met a lady who is responsible for that area, and asked us if we were refugees from Ukraine :) Since we were cleaning, she was surprised, and said that people would never do something like that here.

Saturday, 5 of April... No, it wasn't a day off... But, what a day it was! Our men got go to a village (Sculeni, Moldova) and help with their man power!  They did construction on a local church.  Girls, at that moment, but at home in Chisinau, had an hour an a half prayer time for needs of our team.   What a joy to pray for others well being. 

Sunday, 6 of April.   Again, not it wasn't a free day but this is expected because we often give in churches on DTS outreach.  We went to the Urban Center, where, since September, unbelieving teenagers come to just simply hang out in a safe atmosphere.  Peter and his team have created this and it is actually a church building too.  They give a short message about God, loving them as they are.  Treating them as those who are worth forgiveness and love.  Ah... also, Peter got a call from the school where we had been the previous week!  The head teacher said to him that they loved what we had done and want us to come again!  He added that is a very rare thing that the school would call and say they liked it, but this time they just loved and were very excited to have us next time! Praise God! 

I love serving my team, and sometimes it is so challenging because my personal ideas or selfishness twists my ability to do this.  It is my desire to serve here, my team and the people of Moldova, this is why I’m on the mission field!  The mission field is one of servanthood.  That is what I am striving for.

 As we are entering WEEK 2 of outreach in Chisinau, this is what we are up to the rest of the month!

 Believe with us in God is glorified through what we offer Him each day!