On Wednesday, after breakfast and a run-in with chocolate butter, we began painting the playground. After a few hours, I left with Jordan, Dr. Aultman, Silas, and Pastor Igor for two more visits. This was my favorite part of the trip, so I was glad to put down my paint brush! We headed first to meet with a young girl, age 25, whose husband was also an alcoholic. I have never witnessed in my life someone so visibly broken. I caught the vibe instantly and connected. I remember vividly walking through her gate, across the dirt yard, and to the front of the house. I remember pleading for the Holy Spirit to work in her life because I could see she so clearly needed hope. She had bruises on her arms, a broken face, and hollow eyes. I shared with her my testimony; I shared with her the love of Christ; I shared with her the peace He had given me. I shared with her that He only asks us to have faith, not to understand. Dr. Aultman talked with her more. Finally, she said she would like to know Jesus. We prayed with her. I remember the breeze picking up, feeling it on my face mixed with tears, and thanking God for what He had allowed me to witness. It is only He who grows the seeds! So often, we sow and water and plant. I got to see a harvest!
Next we visited with a sweet older couple who were relatives of Albina. We sat on the front stoop of their home. I held the woman's hand while we Dr. A talked about how we could be assured that we will go to heaven when we die. Then I shared with them the raw appreciation I had for Christ and His sacrifice for me, that He was perfect yet He chose to take what I deserved upon Himself and did so willingly. I also spoke about the peace He grants to those who seek after Him with all their hearts. He gives us a blessed assurance! Pastor Igor finished conversing with them, we prayed for them wholeheartedly and then we left. Lunch was waiting!
Day #2 of the daycare program! The children decorated t-shirts and pillowcases with puffy marker pens. They had a blast and would have decorated for an hour if I had let them! I even had smaller t-shirts for the little ones in the group. We did our Bible story, Bartimaues receives his sight and walks in the light! Finally, we headed through the village to the "stadium" where we would have our game time. We needed more space than the church courtyard, but this was almost too much! It was an open field with two rusty soccer frames. Beyond the field were the hills. We even had the company of a horse grazing in the midst of us! We played a few circle games, and then split into two teams. Stefanie took the boys while Melissa and I took the girls. Surprisingly, through much pantomime, we arranged them into two lines for a relay race. We played a few relay games with the bean bags while the boys played soccer (mixed with a bit of wrestling…). We walked back to the church with the children, many of them holding our hands and clinging to us even though we shared not one word in common…
After saying goodbye for the day, we were headed out for another visit and food delivery! We visited with two elderly women, the first bed-ridden and living in filth. She had a deaf husband and a son to care for her. Dr. Aultman asked her if she was a Christian. She said that she prayed to God for her children and went to church back when she could. We told her that it is not praying or attending church that offers salvation, only Christ. After extensive discussion, we prayed for her and then went on to the next visit. I pray for the Holy Spirit to knock at her heart and for her to have the courage to answer! I want to see that woman in heaven walking again someday.
Next we visited a sweet old woman who was almost blind and almost deaf. She sat next to me and clutched me tight the whole time we were together. She said she prayed to God every day, that she was a follower of Jesus Christ, and that He was always faithful to provide. She shared that even that day He had provided a green pepper for her to eat. We loved on her the best we could. I wrapped my arms around her and offered up prayers on her behalf. It was all I knew to do. One day, very soon, she will be with her Jesus in heaven.That night, we attended the Wednesday night church service. Dr. Aultman preached about Jesus being in the boat in the midst of the storm and the peace He likewise offers, Melissa and Jordan gave their testimonies, we sang a few songs in Romanian, and Pastor Igor closed the evening with a fervent, passionate prayer. It was a sweet sweet time together...
Next we visited with a sweet older couple who were relatives of Albina. We sat on the front stoop of their home. I held the woman's hand while we Dr. A talked about how we could be assured that we will go to heaven when we die. Then I shared with them the raw appreciation I had for Christ and His sacrifice for me, that He was perfect yet He chose to take what I deserved upon Himself and did so willingly. I also spoke about the peace He grants to those who seek after Him with all their hearts. He gives us a blessed assurance! Pastor Igor finished conversing with them, we prayed for them wholeheartedly and then we left. Lunch was waiting!
Day #2 of the daycare program! The children decorated t-shirts and pillowcases with puffy marker pens. They had a blast and would have decorated for an hour if I had let them! I even had smaller t-shirts for the little ones in the group. We did our Bible story, Bartimaues receives his sight and walks in the light! Finally, we headed through the village to the "stadium" where we would have our game time. We needed more space than the church courtyard, but this was almost too much! It was an open field with two rusty soccer frames. Beyond the field were the hills. We even had the company of a horse grazing in the midst of us! We played a few circle games, and then split into two teams. Stefanie took the boys while Melissa and I took the girls. Surprisingly, through much pantomime, we arranged them into two lines for a relay race. We played a few relay games with the bean bags while the boys played soccer (mixed with a bit of wrestling…). We walked back to the church with the children, many of them holding our hands and clinging to us even though we shared not one word in common…
After saying goodbye for the day, we were headed out for another visit and food delivery! We visited with two elderly women, the first bed-ridden and living in filth. She had a deaf husband and a son to care for her. Dr. Aultman asked her if she was a Christian. She said that she prayed to God for her children and went to church back when she could. We told her that it is not praying or attending church that offers salvation, only Christ. After extensive discussion, we prayed for her and then went on to the next visit. I pray for the Holy Spirit to knock at her heart and for her to have the courage to answer! I want to see that woman in heaven walking again someday.
Next we visited a sweet old woman who was almost blind and almost deaf. She sat next to me and clutched me tight the whole time we were together. She said she prayed to God every day, that she was a follower of Jesus Christ, and that He was always faithful to provide. She shared that even that day He had provided a green pepper for her to eat. We loved on her the best we could. I wrapped my arms around her and offered up prayers on her behalf. It was all I knew to do. One day, very soon, she will be with her Jesus in heaven.That night, we attended the Wednesday night church service. Dr. Aultman preached about Jesus being in the boat in the midst of the storm and the peace He likewise offers, Melissa and Jordan gave their testimonies, we sang a few songs in Romanian, and Pastor Igor closed the evening with a fervent, passionate prayer. It was a sweet sweet time together...
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