Well, it is Thursday, Oct. 15th and I am home! I arrived back to the States yesterday with our plane touching down at Dullas Airport at 1:15 in the afternoon. Then it was through customs and on to baggage pickup. All my luggage was there and that is a great blessing--no standing in line to report missed luggage and filing out a claim. Always, when I pass through customs, there is this little fear that rises up within me--what if my country won't take me back?! But, the attendant always looks at my passport and then smiles and says, "Welcome home." I love that!
A van from Orange Baptist with the pastor driving and John Miller, our association director, with him, welcomed us and took us back to Mineral Baptist Church where my sweet husband, Steve met me and we arrived home around 5pm. It is always so good to walk in your own back door and into your own kitchen. All my animals greeted me this time and I felt good.
The last 2 days in Paris were wonderful but, very tiring. I think we must have walked the whole city from the way my feet and legs felt. My toes hollered at me the whole way!! On Monday, we rode 2 elevators to the very top of the Eiffle Tower. One elevator takes you sideways up to the second floor and then another takes you straight up to the top. What a sight from the top! At the top there is a room you enter that has windows all around the outside of it, with the names of all the countries you are facing above each one. It really looks like you can see forever and ever!! Then you go outside and you look out over a very vast city. I believe it is the largest city I have ever been in, except maybe for New York City.
Before that, we had visited the Arc of the Triump, which Nopoleon had built in honor of those who had served with him. It was very elaborate with carvings and names of those who gave their lives and an eternal flame directly underneath.
Only the five of us from our team went into Paris that day, so we walked more than we needed too, stoping to ask directions with our fearless Ceola, who had been a French teacher for more that 30 years. She loved using her french and talking to the locals we would meet on the street.
The Eiffle Tower was very popular and took more than 2 hours of waiting in line before getting inside to buy tickets, but it was worth it all! Tammy and Ceola had to be talked into going to the top, but, all together, we made it!! I am very proud of Tammy, who suffers from anxiety attacks from elevators and heights--we all held hands and to the top we went!!
We then trekked to the French Armory, getting there too late before they closed. We slowly walked back to the Gen. DeGalle train exit, passing lots of important buildings on the way, such as the legislative and administrative buildings, the Grand Palace and the Petite Palace. I loved the arcitecture of these massive buildings. What a beautiful city!
That evening we arrived back at the church, ate supper at a Chinese restaurant which was next door to the church, and fell into bed!
On Tuesday morning, four of us, minus Mary--for an 82 year old to do all she did the day before, she knew her potential and opted to stay at the church and read and pack for home--headed back on the bus and train for Paris--this time led by Valerie, a French American. We went back to the Armory and enjoyed a long tour through that massive building with all the knights in armor and looking at all the weapons used over at least the last thousand years. How the men were able to wear those massive armour was soon discovered, when we saw knight armour for children as young as 5 years. They were required to wear the armour to get used to its weight and confining stiffness at a very young age. Poor young boys!! It is horrible what we humans put our young through inorder to fight wars--I guess from the song of the movie, South Pacific, "You have to be carefully taught to hate all the people your relatives hate" is very true.
Next we walked to the Englise du Dome- where the ashes of Napoleon are entombed. Again , what a massive, highly decorated place.
We finished up in the Revillie area where there were many shops and stores to buy souviniers, etc. It is a good place to "part with your money fast" and we did just that! It was a long train and bus trip back to Riolle where the church is that we stayed at and we ordered pizza, and packed for home. Brian's chior--which we had heard at the Madeleine Church in Paris on Thursday night--practiced on Tuesday night, so we were able to sit in on the practice and listen to over 50 people use their tallents for singing praises to our Wonderful Lord! I enjoyed that so much! Scott, Brian's accompianiest and director of the band, asked me to critique a song he had just written to see if I liked the ending. I was blown out of the water at the magnificence of the piece! I told him I loved it and he made me feel special to have me critique such a wonderful song.
We awoke on Wednesday morning and packed ourselves-and I do mean PACKED--into a car driven by one of the church members to head for the airport. I have never been to such a place, a huge airport--The Charles deGuall. The driver had to use her navigator to get through Paris and into the terminal we needed!
So, I am back home and enjoyed so much the close friendships I made with the team of 5--Tammy, Alyssa, Ceola, Mary and myself. What a blessing to get to know others in such a way that they become a special part of your life--thank you girls!
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Exhaustion
We are back from the retreat and very exhausted! What a joy to work with 18 beautiful children. We had 4 sessions with them, each 1 1/2 hours long. They are very intelligent and most spoke english. Those who didn't, the others would interpert for them. The younger group (5-8 years old) were all girls--8 in all. Very cute and gigglily. They taught me alot about love and patience. The older group was in the 9-10 year olds and were 6 boys and 4 girls. They also taught me love and MORE patience!
Most of the activities I did with the kids seem to go off well, except 1. That was making lion masks for the younger set--girls aren't crazy about making boy lions' manes. But, they decorated them with sparkles and danced around with them over their faces!! I can't believe I was that cute when I was that age.
Now, we are back in Paris at the church. Tonight the church has a monthly gospel service, so that should be a treat. I look forward to that.
Tomorrow is our time! We are going to tour Paris and the first place will be the Eiffle Tower. Three of us are planning to go to the top!! I am excited. Maybe I will blog how the day went. We are going alone--just the 5 of us! But, Tammy, Alyssa, and Ceola have been before so they know where to go and what to take.
My life is in their hands!!
Lesley
Most of the activities I did with the kids seem to go off well, except 1. That was making lion masks for the younger set--girls aren't crazy about making boy lions' manes. But, they decorated them with sparkles and danced around with them over their faces!! I can't believe I was that cute when I was that age.
Now, we are back in Paris at the church. Tonight the church has a monthly gospel service, so that should be a treat. I look forward to that.
Tomorrow is our time! We are going to tour Paris and the first place will be the Eiffle Tower. Three of us are planning to go to the top!! I am excited. Maybe I will blog how the day went. We are going alone--just the 5 of us! But, Tammy, Alyssa, and Ceola have been before so they know where to go and what to take.
My life is in their hands!!
Lesley
Friday, October 9, 2009
Paris, France
Bonjoir from France
After finall getting picked up at the airport(our driver got stuck in traffic for 3 hours!!) we arrived at Pastor Brian's house to a nice dinner of ham and baked potatoes with cheese melted on top, along with a great spinach salad.
Yesterday, we cleaned the church with the help of volunteers from the church. They provided a lunch of sandwiches and chips and a chicken curry that was to die for!!
Then it was off to the laundromat to do some much needed laundry.
After a quick supper, we went to a large, old church in Paris, the Madilynne(sp.) to hear Brian's choir sing. What a blessing!! To hear such beautiful voices singing Southern gospel, spirituals, etc. in english in such a setting was marvelous. I loved watching Brian directing--I got quite a few tips to use on my choir--lookout!!
Today we are finalizing our stories, crafts and music for the retreat and we leave this afternoon. Here is asking God for success and blessings for all of us.
Lesley
After finall getting picked up at the airport(our driver got stuck in traffic for 3 hours!!) we arrived at Pastor Brian's house to a nice dinner of ham and baked potatoes with cheese melted on top, along with a great spinach salad.
Yesterday, we cleaned the church with the help of volunteers from the church. They provided a lunch of sandwiches and chips and a chicken curry that was to die for!!
Then it was off to the laundromat to do some much needed laundry.
After a quick supper, we went to a large, old church in Paris, the Madilynne(sp.) to hear Brian's choir sing. What a blessing!! To hear such beautiful voices singing Southern gospel, spirituals, etc. in english in such a setting was marvelous. I loved watching Brian directing--I got quite a few tips to use on my choir--lookout!!
Today we are finalizing our stories, crafts and music for the retreat and we leave this afternoon. Here is asking God for success and blessings for all of us.
Lesley
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
To My Grandkids
Grace, James, Nathan and Emery
I miss you all so much!!!!!
You all would love Bremen. The most famous thing about Bremen is the story of the animal musicians. I have pictures and the story about them. I will bring them home to you.
Hope you are well and doing good in school. I will send you another message when I am in Paris.
Be sure to see what I wrote as a comment to Grace's questions in the Oct. 1 blog message.
Love you all so much!! No matter where i go, there is no one as cute and sweet as you all.
Grammy
I miss you all so much!!!!!
You all would love Bremen. The most famous thing about Bremen is the story of the animal musicians. I have pictures and the story about them. I will bring them home to you.
Hope you are well and doing good in school. I will send you another message when I am in Paris.
Be sure to see what I wrote as a comment to Grace's questions in the Oct. 1 blog message.
Love you all so much!! No matter where i go, there is no one as cute and sweet as you all.
Grammy
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Good Morning
It is a bright new morning and after arising at 4:15(I couldn't go back to sleep) I decided to get up.
Nunia, my host, is leaving this morning for a holiday in Rome! It is so cool how people go from country to country, I guess just like we do from state to state. She needed some down time to relax after all she did to prepare for the retreat and us. Plus, Nunia works as a cook in a hotel and the holiday season is fast approaching and she will be so busy then. Nunia is a wonderful cook and opens her home to anyone who needs it. She said they are house setters for a couple who is living outside the country. That husband needed to find work elsewhere, but he did not want to sell the house. When Nunia and Ole found out about the house, they prayed hard to get the house, and Nunia promised God that she would open it to anyone who needed a place to stay and also has alot of church meetings and activities here. Nunia and Ole are such fine Christians--it is so evident in everything they do.
This morning a neighbor and church member will be picking Mary and I up and taking us to the church for a biblestudy with the pastor's wife and other ladies of the church. We will have lunch with them and then another couple will take us to the airport to catch our plane for Paris at 2:45. When we arrive in Paris, someone will meet us and take us to the next church we will be working with. Until supper, I will be working with the children/youth choirs, singing songs with them and playing games.
This will prove to be a full day. Mary and I both agree that the church retreat in Paris is going to have to come a long way to compare to the one here is Bremen!!
Hope to update in the next day or two.
Love in Christ!
Lesley
Nunia, my host, is leaving this morning for a holiday in Rome! It is so cool how people go from country to country, I guess just like we do from state to state. She needed some down time to relax after all she did to prepare for the retreat and us. Plus, Nunia works as a cook in a hotel and the holiday season is fast approaching and she will be so busy then. Nunia is a wonderful cook and opens her home to anyone who needs it. She said they are house setters for a couple who is living outside the country. That husband needed to find work elsewhere, but he did not want to sell the house. When Nunia and Ole found out about the house, they prayed hard to get the house, and Nunia promised God that she would open it to anyone who needed a place to stay and also has alot of church meetings and activities here. Nunia and Ole are such fine Christians--it is so evident in everything they do.
This morning a neighbor and church member will be picking Mary and I up and taking us to the church for a biblestudy with the pastor's wife and other ladies of the church. We will have lunch with them and then another couple will take us to the airport to catch our plane for Paris at 2:45. When we arrive in Paris, someone will meet us and take us to the next church we will be working with. Until supper, I will be working with the children/youth choirs, singing songs with them and playing games.
This will prove to be a full day. Mary and I both agree that the church retreat in Paris is going to have to come a long way to compare to the one here is Bremen!!
Hope to update in the next day or two.
Love in Christ!
Lesley
Monday, October 5, 2009
International Baptist Church Retreat
I wasn't able to get to a computer while I was on the retreat, so now I will update.
On friday morning after a much needed sleep, our driver arrived to take us to Nordon, Germany for the retreat of the International Baptist Church of Bremen. Marge, who I had met the day before, and her husband, Michael were to take us by car. Marge, who is from the Philippines, was in charge of taking alot of the food, plus going to the grocery store to buy whatever else was needed. Michael, a German, drove silently so he could concentrate.(we traveled on the autoban, which I am sure you have heard you can travel up to 200mph) We did not go that fast--thank you Lord!--but many flew by us and I thought they were flying!!
After a quick lunch at MACDONALDS!, we arrived in Nordon around 3pm.
When you talk about international and church in the same sentence, you find a church that is made up of at least 15 countries! I met on the retreat, people from Germany, of course, Malasia, Liberia, India, Figi and Denmark(my host family), South Africa(the pastor and wife), Kenya, Scotland, Philippines, Guana, UK, Singapoor, Switzerland, Brazil, US. and a country in the former Soviet Union which I cannot pronounce.
This church is an English speaking church, so at the retreat all could converse with Mary and I.
The children we worked with were few--only four and 2 babies, but, we enjoyed them so much. The oldest was a 10 year old boy, Cameron, his brother, Samuel- 6 , a girl, Angelina-8, a 3 year old-Frances and two precious babies--Pia-1 year and Silas--3 months.
The children were so well behaved--all we had to do was give them a project and they worked hard at it. They did love to play with a pool table and balls, making a lot of noise, so we couldn't let them if the babies were sleeping. We made fish from "Jonah and the Whale". Noah's Ark with animals, pig puppets from "The Prodigal Son", and "Jesus Loves Me" bookmarks.
The afternoons were free, so we were escorted to a Tea Museum on saturday. We learned all about making tea, going through an old factory hearing how tea was made and the proper way to drink it and prepare it. i really enjoyed it.
Yesterday, we went a few miles to the coast of northern Germany just across from the Netherlands. The architechure(sp.) was very reminescent of the Netherlands. I saw 2 windmills and a seaside farmers's market that among it's fare, was an eel sandwich, which I was not about to try!! I did try some deep fried fish that a merchant gave us to taste.
The homes in Nordon were so quaint, sort of a frame with double picture windows in front which held lace curtains pulled back making them look like eyes with their eyelids drooping. Everyone had pots of flowers in the windows that made me think how my grandmother loved to do the same in our home. The countryside looked so much like that of the Shennadoah Valley in Virginia minus the mountains but with rolling hills- If this is the way the rest of Germany looks, then I can see why my ancestors settled in the Valley-
Saturday night, the retreat held a talent night that was so much fun--they act just as crazy as we do at Oakland and our family reunions. Then, last night was a wonderful time of testimonies, praise and worship and the Lord's supper. There were some who were going through difficult times and a few were leaving to go back to their countries. When these were mentioned, many members went to the person and layed on of hands while someone prayed for them. The closeness and love was so evident--God was difinitely in that place!!
Ther is so much more to tell that I will have to tell you to your face. Tomorrow, we will have a free day before leaving here on wednesday. We plan to do some more sightseeing in Bremen and some shopping. God bless all of you!!
Lesley
On friday morning after a much needed sleep, our driver arrived to take us to Nordon, Germany for the retreat of the International Baptist Church of Bremen. Marge, who I had met the day before, and her husband, Michael were to take us by car. Marge, who is from the Philippines, was in charge of taking alot of the food, plus going to the grocery store to buy whatever else was needed. Michael, a German, drove silently so he could concentrate.(we traveled on the autoban, which I am sure you have heard you can travel up to 200mph) We did not go that fast--thank you Lord!--but many flew by us and I thought they were flying!!
After a quick lunch at MACDONALDS!, we arrived in Nordon around 3pm.
When you talk about international and church in the same sentence, you find a church that is made up of at least 15 countries! I met on the retreat, people from Germany, of course, Malasia, Liberia, India, Figi and Denmark(my host family), South Africa(the pastor and wife), Kenya, Scotland, Philippines, Guana, UK, Singapoor, Switzerland, Brazil, US. and a country in the former Soviet Union which I cannot pronounce.
This church is an English speaking church, so at the retreat all could converse with Mary and I.
The children we worked with were few--only four and 2 babies, but, we enjoyed them so much. The oldest was a 10 year old boy, Cameron, his brother, Samuel- 6 , a girl, Angelina-8, a 3 year old-Frances and two precious babies--Pia-1 year and Silas--3 months.
The children were so well behaved--all we had to do was give them a project and they worked hard at it. They did love to play with a pool table and balls, making a lot of noise, so we couldn't let them if the babies were sleeping. We made fish from "Jonah and the Whale". Noah's Ark with animals, pig puppets from "The Prodigal Son", and "Jesus Loves Me" bookmarks.
The afternoons were free, so we were escorted to a Tea Museum on saturday. We learned all about making tea, going through an old factory hearing how tea was made and the proper way to drink it and prepare it. i really enjoyed it.
Yesterday, we went a few miles to the coast of northern Germany just across from the Netherlands. The architechure(sp.) was very reminescent of the Netherlands. I saw 2 windmills and a seaside farmers's market that among it's fare, was an eel sandwich, which I was not about to try!! I did try some deep fried fish that a merchant gave us to taste.
The homes in Nordon were so quaint, sort of a frame with double picture windows in front which held lace curtains pulled back making them look like eyes with their eyelids drooping. Everyone had pots of flowers in the windows that made me think how my grandmother loved to do the same in our home. The countryside looked so much like that of the Shennadoah Valley in Virginia minus the mountains but with rolling hills- If this is the way the rest of Germany looks, then I can see why my ancestors settled in the Valley-
Saturday night, the retreat held a talent night that was so much fun--they act just as crazy as we do at Oakland and our family reunions. Then, last night was a wonderful time of testimonies, praise and worship and the Lord's supper. There were some who were going through difficult times and a few were leaving to go back to their countries. When these were mentioned, many members went to the person and layed on of hands while someone prayed for them. The closeness and love was so evident--God was difinitely in that place!!
Ther is so much more to tell that I will have to tell you to your face. Tomorrow, we will have a free day before leaving here on wednesday. We plan to do some more sightseeing in Bremen and some shopping. God bless all of you!!
Lesley
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Bremen, Germany
Well, we are here. Mary and I arrived at 9am (2am US time) and were met by Miriam and her baby son, Silas. What an adorable 3month old baby!; she brought us to the home where we will stay while in Bremen-- Nunia, from Figi, and her husband, Ola, from Denmark. What a sweet couple to open their home to us.
After a nice nap, Nunia and a friend, Vivian, took us on a walking tour of the old part of the city. Oh, I could never have imagined what old buildings look like! Some were dated back to the 1400s. I took lots of pictures until my batteries ran out. I plan to go back to that area on tuesday.
Tomorrow, we leave around noon for the retreat in Noiden--on the coast of the North Sea- I will write all about it and take lots of pictures.
Until then, please pray for us--that we have a safe trip and that Mary and I will show these children and their parents God's love for them. It is truly a blessing to see how other Christians live around the world--they are our brothers and sisters in Christ.
By the way--all of my luggage arrived with me!! Praise God!!
After a nice nap, Nunia and a friend, Vivian, took us on a walking tour of the old part of the city. Oh, I could never have imagined what old buildings look like! Some were dated back to the 1400s. I took lots of pictures until my batteries ran out. I plan to go back to that area on tuesday.
Tomorrow, we leave around noon for the retreat in Noiden--on the coast of the North Sea- I will write all about it and take lots of pictures.
Until then, please pray for us--that we have a safe trip and that Mary and I will show these children and their parents God's love for them. It is truly a blessing to see how other Christians live around the world--they are our brothers and sisters in Christ.
By the way--all of my luggage arrived with me!! Praise God!!
Monday, September 28, 2009
Germany/Paris Here I Come
It has been a short 6 weeks at home and now I am off again, this time to Bremen, Germany and Paris, France! I am getting to love this traveling and seeing new places (to me, that is).
Through the International Mission Board, I will be traveling with 4 other ladies from our association (Goshen--which includes Louisa, Goochland, Orange and Spotsyvania Counties). We will be leaving on wednesday, Sept. 30th.
We will be traveling to Paris, leaving 3 of the team to help in a church there; 2 of us will be going to Bremen, Germany to help with an international baptist church's fall retreat.
On friday, Oct. 2, we will go north to a retreat center in the mountains for their weekend retreat. Mary, the other of the 2, and I will work with the children so all the adults can take part in the classes, etc. Mary has gotten together all the bible stories and I, the crafts, songs and games to keep the children occupied and give them a learning experience. Most know English, so that should not be a problem and maybe I can learn a little German. As most of you know, Germany is a country I have always wanted to visit, so I am so excited!!
We return from the retreat, back to the church on Monday, the 5th and have a full day of sightseeing before flying back to Paris on the 7th.
In Paris, we will do the same with the rest of our team at another church. I will have a chance to work with the children/youth choir, attend a concert by the church choir and then on Friday, the 9th, we will travel with the members to another retreat center for their retreat--again working with their children.
Please pray for our team, as we travel to our destinations and as we follow the Holy Spirit's lead in teaching these precious children more about God's love for them. I also, ask for prayer as I fulfill my duty as team leader, getting us safely to the right terminal, the right gate, the right plane! I can't believe they chose me--that is like the blind leading the blind!
I am so thankful for this opportunity--God is always blessing me and is always faithful in taking care of me. What a wonderful God we have!!
Lesley
Through the International Mission Board, I will be traveling with 4 other ladies from our association (Goshen--which includes Louisa, Goochland, Orange and Spotsyvania Counties). We will be leaving on wednesday, Sept. 30th.
We will be traveling to Paris, leaving 3 of the team to help in a church there; 2 of us will be going to Bremen, Germany to help with an international baptist church's fall retreat.
On friday, Oct. 2, we will go north to a retreat center in the mountains for their weekend retreat. Mary, the other of the 2, and I will work with the children so all the adults can take part in the classes, etc. Mary has gotten together all the bible stories and I, the crafts, songs and games to keep the children occupied and give them a learning experience. Most know English, so that should not be a problem and maybe I can learn a little German. As most of you know, Germany is a country I have always wanted to visit, so I am so excited!!
We return from the retreat, back to the church on Monday, the 5th and have a full day of sightseeing before flying back to Paris on the 7th.
In Paris, we will do the same with the rest of our team at another church. I will have a chance to work with the children/youth choir, attend a concert by the church choir and then on Friday, the 9th, we will travel with the members to another retreat center for their retreat--again working with their children.
Please pray for our team, as we travel to our destinations and as we follow the Holy Spirit's lead in teaching these precious children more about God's love for them. I also, ask for prayer as I fulfill my duty as team leader, getting us safely to the right terminal, the right gate, the right plane! I can't believe they chose me--that is like the blind leading the blind!
I am so thankful for this opportunity--God is always blessing me and is always faithful in taking care of me. What a wonderful God we have!!
Lesley
Friday, August 14, 2009
Where Has The Time Gone
Well, it seems my time for visiting Moldova is coming to a close. I can't believe these 3 weeks are almost gone. I feel it has been a blessing, both for the people of this area and most definitely for me. I have lost count on the number of food parcels we have delivered and there has been some improvements made around the church, although Charlie thinks if the Belguim team had been able to stay longer, more construction could have been done. According to Igor and Marianna, many seeds have been planted from the visits we have made. I praise God for that! Even the haircutting has been a success with more that 30 haircuts given--this has been a great ice breaker.
Another item that has been a good tool for breaking the ice is something I brought along to keep my children and grandchildren close. That is my grandmother necklace. I have worn it everyday and the people I have shown it to, just love it! They are so interested in my life and in where I live and how many children and grandchildren I have. They ooh and aah over the necklace and smile, then chatter away about their own families and I can feel the warmth radiate from them.
One subject that comes up alot is President Obama and what I think of him. I tell them I am giving him a chance because I feel everyone needs that. They are very interested in our country and most are very favorable of the US. Most have tvs and keep up with what is happening in the world.
But, what grieves me so are the conditions some have to live under. One place we visited on thursday was the home of an old woman. She was bent over and used a cane to get around. She was well into her 80's. She was so dirty and her hair was filthy and matted at the back of her neck. Her home-or at least the 3 rooms we were in-- had not seen a good cleaning for many a day. In walks her daughter, dressed nice, with makeup and jewelry on and not very friendly.
We found out that the daughter lives in the home as well. At the insistance of her mother who wanted to give us something to drink, she got a glass from the kitchen and went outside to the water spout, rinsed out the glass( I could see her from the window) and brought the glass back in. She poured some orange drink into it and handed it to me. Meaning to be polite, I drank it while she stood there, gave the glass back to her. She poured more liquid into the glass, then handed it to the lady next to me who had come with us to see the old lady. She chatted on to Marianna in Russian the whole time and seemed impatient for us to leave.I cannot believe this woman did not take better care of her mother and home.
In another place, a crippled woman lives. It is a nice apartment and very clean. She has a friend who is staying in the next apartment who helps the woman, Nina. Nina is very intelligent and very gracious. But, she told us because of her health, she has no money and cannot pay her heat bill. Someone has come and disconnected the heating register(you could see where it had been disconnected) and she will have no heat when winter comes. The friend who is helping her is only here through the summer and will be going back to Russia in the fall. Nina has no children or family so she will be all alone. We were very amazed about her faith--she was raised Russian orthodox and she has no bible. She has not been taught about a personal relationship with God because in that religion, they ask the priest to pray for them and for help. But, she told us she prays and she knows within her heart God will take care of her.
Marianna told her we would get her a bible and she said she wanted to come to church with Xena, our old friend from earlier posts. We are hoping she will and I know she will find the church family she needs to love her and help her. Praise God for sending us to her in this hour of her need.
I don't know if I will be able to get on the computer again before I leave for home. But, I will be leaving here early monday morning--my flight leaves at 5 am. It will be a long day for me, coming back across all the time zones--I am scheduled to get back to Washington around 1:30 in the afternoon which would be 8:30 pm in Moldovan time. It will be a bittersweet day for me, I miss my friends and family so much, but, it will be hard to leave all my new found family here that I have come to love so much!
Another item that has been a good tool for breaking the ice is something I brought along to keep my children and grandchildren close. That is my grandmother necklace. I have worn it everyday and the people I have shown it to, just love it! They are so interested in my life and in where I live and how many children and grandchildren I have. They ooh and aah over the necklace and smile, then chatter away about their own families and I can feel the warmth radiate from them.
One subject that comes up alot is President Obama and what I think of him. I tell them I am giving him a chance because I feel everyone needs that. They are very interested in our country and most are very favorable of the US. Most have tvs and keep up with what is happening in the world.
But, what grieves me so are the conditions some have to live under. One place we visited on thursday was the home of an old woman. She was bent over and used a cane to get around. She was well into her 80's. She was so dirty and her hair was filthy and matted at the back of her neck. Her home-or at least the 3 rooms we were in-- had not seen a good cleaning for many a day. In walks her daughter, dressed nice, with makeup and jewelry on and not very friendly.
We found out that the daughter lives in the home as well. At the insistance of her mother who wanted to give us something to drink, she got a glass from the kitchen and went outside to the water spout, rinsed out the glass( I could see her from the window) and brought the glass back in. She poured some orange drink into it and handed it to me. Meaning to be polite, I drank it while she stood there, gave the glass back to her. She poured more liquid into the glass, then handed it to the lady next to me who had come with us to see the old lady. She chatted on to Marianna in Russian the whole time and seemed impatient for us to leave.I cannot believe this woman did not take better care of her mother and home.
In another place, a crippled woman lives. It is a nice apartment and very clean. She has a friend who is staying in the next apartment who helps the woman, Nina. Nina is very intelligent and very gracious. But, she told us because of her health, she has no money and cannot pay her heat bill. Someone has come and disconnected the heating register(you could see where it had been disconnected) and she will have no heat when winter comes. The friend who is helping her is only here through the summer and will be going back to Russia in the fall. Nina has no children or family so she will be all alone. We were very amazed about her faith--she was raised Russian orthodox and she has no bible. She has not been taught about a personal relationship with God because in that religion, they ask the priest to pray for them and for help. But, she told us she prays and she knows within her heart God will take care of her.
Marianna told her we would get her a bible and she said she wanted to come to church with Xena, our old friend from earlier posts. We are hoping she will and I know she will find the church family she needs to love her and help her. Praise God for sending us to her in this hour of her need.
I don't know if I will be able to get on the computer again before I leave for home. But, I will be leaving here early monday morning--my flight leaves at 5 am. It will be a long day for me, coming back across all the time zones--I am scheduled to get back to Washington around 1:30 in the afternoon which would be 8:30 pm in Moldovan time. It will be a bittersweet day for me, I miss my friends and family so much, but, it will be hard to leave all my new found family here that I have come to love so much!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
The Village of Leova
We are back to Anenii Noi and what an eye opening 2 days we have had.
We arrived at Leova close to midnight. It was kind of an erie place in the dark, but, we first went to Pastor Alexii's home where his wife met us and gave us a little snack after our long journey. Then we went to the church, a very old building to get settled in for bed. There was no running water and the bathroom was out back behind the church.
Now, in Moldova, when you say out house--it is not like those we have experienced in the US. It is a building, yes, but inside is just a hole! Try squatting over one of those with arthritic knees! Not a pretty picture! Pastor Alexii to the rescue--the next day he fashioned a "toliet" chair for us, using an old chair with no bottom and a potty seat. Now the only problem was if the chair moved, the chair leg may go into the hole. Yikes!! We had a lot of laughs about it and one of our team members, Emma, from England cracked us up about that until our sides ached. Then Igor translated for Alexii in Russian and we would laugh with him again!
All joking aside, Leova is a small village that has no running water at all. There are a few wells where everyone goes to get their water for the day. One of them is at Alexii's home and he says they come early inorder to get water--you come late and you may not get any for the day!
We visited 4 homes while we were in Leova to take them the food parcels--these particular ones were really having a hard time. The first one--the father could not work because of a back injury and his wife had gone to her doctor because she was having problems as well. They have a young son and the man's parentslive with them. The house did not have much but everything was clean and neat. They had a garden and crops they sell, so there was a lot of work to be done. The grandfather really impressed me for his deep faith in God and his belief that things would work out. At the 2nd house, a woman and her adopted son lived there. Her husband had left for a period of time to work in Russia, but he never returned, telling her he no longer wanted her or the son. She works some but does not make much money. She was happy for me to cut her and her son's hair.
While some of us were visiting, the rest of the team cleaned rust off of an iron fence enclosing the church. They planned to paint it over the next day and half.
After lunch, we invited the children from the village to come to the church. We met in a gazebo infront of the church. I told them a story about Zacchaeus and then we sang some songs in english and then they sang to us in Russian. They were so cute.
The next day the fence was finished, we made 2 more visits then packed and came back to Anenii Noi. One of those visits was to an old lady who is a member of Alexii's church. She recently received her retirement pension and she gave it to the church. I have never met a more selfless woman. She kept telling us how much she loved God and even though she had so little, she insisted on giving us some "compote"--juice--that she had made.
Tomorrow morning the 3 from Belgium leaves and it will be sad to see them go. In such a short time, I have made 3 very good friends.
We arrived at Leova close to midnight. It was kind of an erie place in the dark, but, we first went to Pastor Alexii's home where his wife met us and gave us a little snack after our long journey. Then we went to the church, a very old building to get settled in for bed. There was no running water and the bathroom was out back behind the church.
Now, in Moldova, when you say out house--it is not like those we have experienced in the US. It is a building, yes, but inside is just a hole! Try squatting over one of those with arthritic knees! Not a pretty picture! Pastor Alexii to the rescue--the next day he fashioned a "toliet" chair for us, using an old chair with no bottom and a potty seat. Now the only problem was if the chair moved, the chair leg may go into the hole. Yikes!! We had a lot of laughs about it and one of our team members, Emma, from England cracked us up about that until our sides ached. Then Igor translated for Alexii in Russian and we would laugh with him again!
All joking aside, Leova is a small village that has no running water at all. There are a few wells where everyone goes to get their water for the day. One of them is at Alexii's home and he says they come early inorder to get water--you come late and you may not get any for the day!
We visited 4 homes while we were in Leova to take them the food parcels--these particular ones were really having a hard time. The first one--the father could not work because of a back injury and his wife had gone to her doctor because she was having problems as well. They have a young son and the man's parentslive with them. The house did not have much but everything was clean and neat. They had a garden and crops they sell, so there was a lot of work to be done. The grandfather really impressed me for his deep faith in God and his belief that things would work out. At the 2nd house, a woman and her adopted son lived there. Her husband had left for a period of time to work in Russia, but he never returned, telling her he no longer wanted her or the son. She works some but does not make much money. She was happy for me to cut her and her son's hair.
While some of us were visiting, the rest of the team cleaned rust off of an iron fence enclosing the church. They planned to paint it over the next day and half.
After lunch, we invited the children from the village to come to the church. We met in a gazebo infront of the church. I told them a story about Zacchaeus and then we sang some songs in english and then they sang to us in Russian. They were so cute.
The next day the fence was finished, we made 2 more visits then packed and came back to Anenii Noi. One of those visits was to an old lady who is a member of Alexii's church. She recently received her retirement pension and she gave it to the church. I have never met a more selfless woman. She kept telling us how much she loved God and even though she had so little, she insisted on giving us some "compote"--juice--that she had made.
Tomorrow morning the 3 from Belgium leaves and it will be sad to see them go. In such a short time, I have made 3 very good friends.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Heading for Leova
Yesterday was another wonderful and full day. Of course there was the worship service first.
The Belguim team came in thurs. night. Hannah, the US girl who has been staying the last year in Belguim, works at a church on a US base as the Youth director. She is from Minnisota and a very sweet and lovely girl. Then there is Emma, a young woman from England, who tries to act non-conformist, and Al Weeks, the leader who is the minister of the before mentioned church.
Anyway, Hannah and I sang a duet, "How Great Thou Art" and then during the sermon hour, Marianna and I took the children into another room and I did a felt board story for them about the "Prodigal Son" I gave them each a pencil and they each gave me a hug. O how I miss my grandchildren and their special hugs!
For those who have taken the "Esther" class with me, last night we watched the Esther story in Russian. I followed along in my bible and knew what was happening. It was an earlier version of the story and went along with the bible completely.
Earlier, before the movie, one of Igor's congregation called for us to come talk to her husband, who is a heavy drinker and wife beater. He has decided to stop drinking. Igor talked to him outside while the rest of us went in to talk to the wife. If I had never believed that God does not change and work in people's lives, I believe it now.!! I will tell you all about it when I make my presentation at Oakland when I return. That woman so humbled me--to think I have problems!
Now, we are off to a little village in a town called Leova, where we will camp and witness for a couple of days. I will write more when I return.
God bless all!!
The Belguim team came in thurs. night. Hannah, the US girl who has been staying the last year in Belguim, works at a church on a US base as the Youth director. She is from Minnisota and a very sweet and lovely girl. Then there is Emma, a young woman from England, who tries to act non-conformist, and Al Weeks, the leader who is the minister of the before mentioned church.
Anyway, Hannah and I sang a duet, "How Great Thou Art" and then during the sermon hour, Marianna and I took the children into another room and I did a felt board story for them about the "Prodigal Son" I gave them each a pencil and they each gave me a hug. O how I miss my grandchildren and their special hugs!
For those who have taken the "Esther" class with me, last night we watched the Esther story in Russian. I followed along in my bible and knew what was happening. It was an earlier version of the story and went along with the bible completely.
Earlier, before the movie, one of Igor's congregation called for us to come talk to her husband, who is a heavy drinker and wife beater. He has decided to stop drinking. Igor talked to him outside while the rest of us went in to talk to the wife. If I had never believed that God does not change and work in people's lives, I believe it now.!! I will tell you all about it when I make my presentation at Oakland when I return. That woman so humbled me--to think I have problems!
Now, we are off to a little village in a town called Leova, where we will camp and witness for a couple of days. I will write more when I return.
God bless all!!
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Hello Friends
Just wanted to take this time to thank you, the congregation of Oakland BaptistChurch and the friends and clients who donated money for the food bags. All total, I came with #960. Charlie, the man from Lynchburg, who came with me, brought $1000 (His money came from budgeted money from their church. Our money came from the hearts of my friends and congregation.) To say the least, Igor and Marianna were astounded! That money is too much to make food bags to be delivered while I am here, so the rest will be used to make more food parcels as needed.
So again, God bless all of you from the bottom of their hearts!!
I am doing great--have visited many people and given around 25 haircuts. I am surprised by that number because I could not believe the people would trust a stranger to do this.
One older couple we visited were Russian, having moved here more that 8 years ago to be near their daughter. They were the sweetest I have met. She, Valentina, had fallen that day and it looked like she had broken her wrist. She was waiting for her son-inlaw to come for her when he got off of work in Chisinau, so he could take her back to her daughter, who is a doctor. She was in some pain, but she insisted on giving us peaches and water to drink. Her husband was so attentive to her and you could see many years of devotion between them.
When we were ready to leave, they went into their room and brought out several shirts and a dress made of fine muslin. They were decorated with beading and beautiful tucks and the man, Valentino, said they had been handmade 150 years ago by his grandmother and great grandmother. They were beautiful and very well preserved. They then gave me one!! I wanted to refuse, but, they said for me to bring it back to the states and when I looked at it, I was to pray for the people of Moldova and their continued freedom from communism. I will cherish this shirt and will pray for them as they asked!B y the way, did you notice their names? Valentino and Valentina--how cool is that!?
Hope all is well and will see you all during the revival. May God bless all of you!
Lesley
So again, God bless all of you from the bottom of their hearts!!
I am doing great--have visited many people and given around 25 haircuts. I am surprised by that number because I could not believe the people would trust a stranger to do this.
One older couple we visited were Russian, having moved here more that 8 years ago to be near their daughter. They were the sweetest I have met. She, Valentina, had fallen that day and it looked like she had broken her wrist. She was waiting for her son-inlaw to come for her when he got off of work in Chisinau, so he could take her back to her daughter, who is a doctor. She was in some pain, but she insisted on giving us peaches and water to drink. Her husband was so attentive to her and you could see many years of devotion between them.
When we were ready to leave, they went into their room and brought out several shirts and a dress made of fine muslin. They were decorated with beading and beautiful tucks and the man, Valentino, said they had been handmade 150 years ago by his grandmother and great grandmother. They were beautiful and very well preserved. They then gave me one!! I wanted to refuse, but, they said for me to bring it back to the states and when I looked at it, I was to pray for the people of Moldova and their continued freedom from communism. I will cherish this shirt and will pray for them as they asked!B y the way, did you notice their names? Valentino and Valentina--how cool is that!?
Hope all is well and will see you all during the revival. May God bless all of you!
Lesley
Friday, August 7, 2009
To My Precious Grandchildren
Hello my darling grandchildren,
I thought I would take this time to write to you. I miss you all so much and the more I see children around here the more I miss you. I hope you all are doing well--Grace and James, you are on vacation, Nathan, you are just home from vacation and Emery, you are just keeping your mom and dad busy as you explore everything.
I have seen many things and taken many pictures which I will show you when I come home. The people here are just like you and me and the children have toys like you, and the older kids have cell phones and games on the computer. God made all people the same all over the world.
The difference only that I see, is that the children are taught several languages from the time they are little--in some towns like Anenii Noi, people speak both Russian and Romanian. If they don't learn it, they will not know what half the people are saying.
This is a very poor country, though. There are not nearly as many cars and trucks and the roads are horrible. Homes are small and many without plumbing and electricity but most are clean. The way this country is today reminds me of when I was a child. People didn't worry about getting the best of everything then. You used what you had.
There aren't many believers of Jesus here, and my job has been to visit in the homes and share God's love with them through the food parcels we made and giving haircuts if they want them. So far, I have given 22 haircuts.. One older couple we visited yesterday, did not get haircuts, but, they gave me something--a shirt made by the man's grandmother and greatgrandmother 150 years ago. I couldn't believe she would want to give it away, but she insisted and said whenever I look at it, I must pray for Moldova's freedom from communism and for all in the country to find God and His love. I assured her I would do just that.
I have been so blessed by coming here--Praise God!
My love always to you and your parents!
Grammy
I thought I would take this time to write to you. I miss you all so much and the more I see children around here the more I miss you. I hope you all are doing well--Grace and James, you are on vacation, Nathan, you are just home from vacation and Emery, you are just keeping your mom and dad busy as you explore everything.
I have seen many things and taken many pictures which I will show you when I come home. The people here are just like you and me and the children have toys like you, and the older kids have cell phones and games on the computer. God made all people the same all over the world.
The difference only that I see, is that the children are taught several languages from the time they are little--in some towns like Anenii Noi, people speak both Russian and Romanian. If they don't learn it, they will not know what half the people are saying.
This is a very poor country, though. There are not nearly as many cars and trucks and the roads are horrible. Homes are small and many without plumbing and electricity but most are clean. The way this country is today reminds me of when I was a child. People didn't worry about getting the best of everything then. You used what you had.
There aren't many believers of Jesus here, and my job has been to visit in the homes and share God's love with them through the food parcels we made and giving haircuts if they want them. So far, I have given 22 haircuts.. One older couple we visited yesterday, did not get haircuts, but, they gave me something--a shirt made by the man's grandmother and greatgrandmother 150 years ago. I couldn't believe she would want to give it away, but she insisted and said whenever I look at it, I must pray for Moldova's freedom from communism and for all in the country to find God and His love. I assured her I would do just that.
I have been so blessed by coming here--Praise God!
My love always to you and your parents!
Grammy
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Midnight Thoughts
I woke up a little while ago and thought it would be a good time to update my blog. Hope all is well at home and everyone is going about their day happily.
Yesterday was a long and very interesting day. Igor, Marianna, Anna, Charlie and I went to a small village--where Igor started another church--to visit missionary friends who are continuing in that church. They are a sweet young couple, Sergio and Tatianna, with a precious little daughter of 2 1/2. They live in 2 rooms in back of the sanctuary. Laura, the daughter, entertained us and made me miss my grandchildren even more. They gave us some juice, they had made and then we went into the yard and saw the rabbits they raise--huge rabbits! I took pictures, but Igor's laptop over heats easily, so I am afraid to try and put them on the blog. I will show them when I get home.
The family went with us to 3 other places, each different than their own. The first was a farm with ducks, chickens, cows, a hugh pig and a very hard working woman with 2 young sons. Her husband works in Russia to make money for the family, so she is left to work the farm. I cut both her sons' hair and Sergio, hair as well. While I was doing that, the lady, Loba, Marianna and Tatianna washed tomatoes, cut up homemade bread and brought out homemade cheese and apricot preserves and prepared our lunch. I still can't believe how willing these people are to share what little they have! By the way, the bathroom was in an outhouse, with just a hole in the floor. That was most interesting!
Next, we went to a home of a lady who is a member of Sergio's church and fairly well to do. Her husband is very capable-he is in construction and did a beautiful job on their home--but, he drinks way too much. You could see how lonely she is. She gave us cookies and coffee and we talked and prayed with her. Another home and lady were the same way, and I cut her hair. She gave us refreshments, too. We felt like we had eaten all day!
A huge electrical storm blew up then so then we returned home to a delicious meal prepared by Barbara, Marianna's mother.( Steve, she makes the best fried squash I have ever tasted. I will have to fix it for you.)
The weather was very hot and extremely humid, so , after a week and a half of comfortable weather, the heat is upon us!!
Take care and God bless you!
Yesterday was a long and very interesting day. Igor, Marianna, Anna, Charlie and I went to a small village--where Igor started another church--to visit missionary friends who are continuing in that church. They are a sweet young couple, Sergio and Tatianna, with a precious little daughter of 2 1/2. They live in 2 rooms in back of the sanctuary. Laura, the daughter, entertained us and made me miss my grandchildren even more. They gave us some juice, they had made and then we went into the yard and saw the rabbits they raise--huge rabbits! I took pictures, but Igor's laptop over heats easily, so I am afraid to try and put them on the blog. I will show them when I get home.
The family went with us to 3 other places, each different than their own. The first was a farm with ducks, chickens, cows, a hugh pig and a very hard working woman with 2 young sons. Her husband works in Russia to make money for the family, so she is left to work the farm. I cut both her sons' hair and Sergio, hair as well. While I was doing that, the lady, Loba, Marianna and Tatianna washed tomatoes, cut up homemade bread and brought out homemade cheese and apricot preserves and prepared our lunch. I still can't believe how willing these people are to share what little they have! By the way, the bathroom was in an outhouse, with just a hole in the floor. That was most interesting!
Next, we went to a home of a lady who is a member of Sergio's church and fairly well to do. Her husband is very capable-he is in construction and did a beautiful job on their home--but, he drinks way too much. You could see how lonely she is. She gave us cookies and coffee and we talked and prayed with her. Another home and lady were the same way, and I cut her hair. She gave us refreshments, too. We felt like we had eaten all day!
A huge electrical storm blew up then so then we returned home to a delicious meal prepared by Barbara, Marianna's mother.( Steve, she makes the best fried squash I have ever tasted. I will have to fix it for you.)
The weather was very hot and extremely humid, so , after a week and a half of comfortable weather, the heat is upon us!!
Take care and God bless you!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Mixed Feelings
Yesterday and today have been days of mixed feelings and many blessings. There is a big difference in my trip to Romania 2 years ago and my trip to Moldova. The difference is I am living right in the midst of the people. Not that I wasn't in Romania, but I am going into the homes of the people I want to help instead of they or their children coming to where I am.
Yesterday, Marianna, Natasha, myself and one of Marianna's sisters, Anna went to the village where Igor and Marianna started their first church. Igor no longer preaches there, but there are still those he wants to keep in contact with. One such lady is Olga, a 71 year old lady who lives in an apartment. She is on fire for the Lord! Her grandson is staying with her and she is trying to help with his schooling--that has happened only because she was able to sell her garage and can help him with the money she made from that. Such a lovely lady she is. I cut her hair and then we came back home for lunch.
Later in the afternoon, we went back to pick her up and she directed us to another woman, 54 years old who works harder than I have ever worked! She has a garden and little chicks running around. The food she harvests is used to buy food, etc. for her family. Her ex-husband, still stays at the house and eats her food but, will not help provide for the family of 5 children. The 4 boys are grown, 2 still live at home and a daughter about 12 years old.
When the lady was pregnant with the last 2 children, her husband wanted her to abort them. She refused and he beat her. He drinks and beats her for any reason.
When the Soviet Union feel several years ago, everyone was given a plot of land on which to make their living. But, some did not know how, or they didn't have a vehicle, or gas got too expensive. This family has a plot several miles away and they grow watermelons and other melons on this land, but they have to walk to this land to take care and harvest it. Someone must stay with the field until it can be harvested or others may take the fruit. Then they take the fruit to the roadside and sell it with many other people trying to make a living.
Inorder to work, many of the people in Anenii Noi travel by train to Chisinau (about 30 miles) everyday. Yesterday, when we were coming back to Anenii Noi, we suddenly came upon all these people walking down the road into town. They were walking home after a long day at work.
The roads in the town are in horrible condition except for the main road going through the town. That road is kept in fair condition and so is any road leading to a grave yard--so the hearst can get through smoothly. Some roads are so bad, the cars have to drive on the wrong side inorder to make it around the deep holes. There are many old bldgs. that are vacant and falling apart, many businesses closed up, which are reminiscent of the days under communist rule. This is why many of the older folks wish to be back under communist rule--they may not have any freedom and have things and people taken from them, but, at least if they obeyed, they could live comfortably. My heart suddenly broke for them and I realized that when America won its freedom, we were so lucky to have like minded people to write our constitution and carry out our wishes for a free country. God was certainly with us and we need to thank Him everyday for living a the country like the USA! And we need to realize that God could turn His back on us at any time.
Today, we went back to get Olga and see led us to another apartment not far from her home. There lived a much younger lady, who had a very guarded look in her eyes. At first she did not want to take the smaller bag of supplies from my hand, but after Olga's insistance, she took it graciously. I could tell she didn't have much love for Americans. We set down and she immediately told of seeing some showing on the internet that stated that America wanted to start more wars and wanted to make everyone follow their ways or kill them!
This makes me furious that propaganda like that-which I believe the media doesn't help!-is being spread throughout these countries. Thru Marianna's interpreting, Charlie told her that most Americans only wants everyone to live good and happy lives and have a choice on how to live that life. 6 months ago, she had moved from Chisinau to Anenii Noi because she had lost her home. It is cheaper to live here. During that time her faith was taking a bad turn and when she went to the orthodox church, the priest told her to leave the baptists alone. She began to feel God could not help her and she was feeling alone from Him. Through Marianna, I told her that all Christians have those times of feeling alone but, that He is with her and if she gives her heart to him, He will help her in her life. We talked for a long time and then we prayed together. My heart was so broken for her! I have never felt so close to God as I did then.
You can not believe how much I am learning and how I am changing. Praise God!
Yesterday, Marianna, Natasha, myself and one of Marianna's sisters, Anna went to the village where Igor and Marianna started their first church. Igor no longer preaches there, but there are still those he wants to keep in contact with. One such lady is Olga, a 71 year old lady who lives in an apartment. She is on fire for the Lord! Her grandson is staying with her and she is trying to help with his schooling--that has happened only because she was able to sell her garage and can help him with the money she made from that. Such a lovely lady she is. I cut her hair and then we came back home for lunch.
Later in the afternoon, we went back to pick her up and she directed us to another woman, 54 years old who works harder than I have ever worked! She has a garden and little chicks running around. The food she harvests is used to buy food, etc. for her family. Her ex-husband, still stays at the house and eats her food but, will not help provide for the family of 5 children. The 4 boys are grown, 2 still live at home and a daughter about 12 years old.
When the lady was pregnant with the last 2 children, her husband wanted her to abort them. She refused and he beat her. He drinks and beats her for any reason.
When the Soviet Union feel several years ago, everyone was given a plot of land on which to make their living. But, some did not know how, or they didn't have a vehicle, or gas got too expensive. This family has a plot several miles away and they grow watermelons and other melons on this land, but they have to walk to this land to take care and harvest it. Someone must stay with the field until it can be harvested or others may take the fruit. Then they take the fruit to the roadside and sell it with many other people trying to make a living.
Inorder to work, many of the people in Anenii Noi travel by train to Chisinau (about 30 miles) everyday. Yesterday, when we were coming back to Anenii Noi, we suddenly came upon all these people walking down the road into town. They were walking home after a long day at work.
The roads in the town are in horrible condition except for the main road going through the town. That road is kept in fair condition and so is any road leading to a grave yard--so the hearst can get through smoothly. Some roads are so bad, the cars have to drive on the wrong side inorder to make it around the deep holes. There are many old bldgs. that are vacant and falling apart, many businesses closed up, which are reminiscent of the days under communist rule. This is why many of the older folks wish to be back under communist rule--they may not have any freedom and have things and people taken from them, but, at least if they obeyed, they could live comfortably. My heart suddenly broke for them and I realized that when America won its freedom, we were so lucky to have like minded people to write our constitution and carry out our wishes for a free country. God was certainly with us and we need to thank Him everyday for living a the country like the USA! And we need to realize that God could turn His back on us at any time.
Today, we went back to get Olga and see led us to another apartment not far from her home. There lived a much younger lady, who had a very guarded look in her eyes. At first she did not want to take the smaller bag of supplies from my hand, but after Olga's insistance, she took it graciously. I could tell she didn't have much love for Americans. We set down and she immediately told of seeing some showing on the internet that stated that America wanted to start more wars and wanted to make everyone follow their ways or kill them!
This makes me furious that propaganda like that-which I believe the media doesn't help!-is being spread throughout these countries. Thru Marianna's interpreting, Charlie told her that most Americans only wants everyone to live good and happy lives and have a choice on how to live that life. 6 months ago, she had moved from Chisinau to Anenii Noi because she had lost her home. It is cheaper to live here. During that time her faith was taking a bad turn and when she went to the orthodox church, the priest told her to leave the baptists alone. She began to feel God could not help her and she was feeling alone from Him. Through Marianna, I told her that all Christians have those times of feeling alone but, that He is with her and if she gives her heart to him, He will help her in her life. We talked for a long time and then we prayed together. My heart was so broken for her! I have never felt so close to God as I did then.
You can not believe how much I am learning and how I am changing. Praise God!
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Hi, everyone
Sorry I didn't get to blog yesterday--we were away most of the day and then when we returned, there were many people here at the church that I couldn't get to the computer.
I thought about all of you at the Zirkle family reunion. I hope it was a nice day and all enjoyed themselves. I bet there was a lot to eat!! And lots of fellowship.
Today"My Jes we had a 2 hour worship service. I am sure many of you would not have wanted to be at that. But, it was wonderful--even though I could not understand alot of what was said.
I got to sing a song for the people--"My Jesus, I Love Thee" I told them the first verse before I sang it and Marianna interputed it for me. Then she sang alto with me. The musician playing the keyboard did a great job backing me up even though he had never played or heard of the song before!
I am so very grateful that God has sent me to this place. Already these people have become very dear to me and I want to never lose contact with them. I thought I was coming to help them, but they have helped me--I don't think I will ever look at having so many material things again. They have so little in the way of possessions but so much in their hearts to give. Thank You God for showing me so much while I have been here.
Today was Lord Supper day, and as is their custom, whenever they have Lord's Supper, they have a fellowship meal following the service. What a spread of food!! And how wonderful it all tasted. I tried a lot of new things and loved them. The people would smile when I tasted their food and stuck my thumb up meaning it was great. Even though I can't speak their language, we can still find ways to communicate. Boy, did I get a lot of hugs and kisses!
After a long nap, Igor, Marianna, their 4 kids, Charlie, another young man whose name escapes me at the moment, and I went to the river. It was so much like when I was a child and Uncle Pat used to take us to the river to swim. The kids had a ball!
Over here the country is so far behind us, that it is exactly like living in the 1950s again. There is nothing like reliving your childhood again!
Tomorrow, I will be doing much the same as last week, visiting and cutting hair.
May God go with each of you and be safe.
(Steve, I am doing fine but I miss you.)
Lesley
I thought about all of you at the Zirkle family reunion. I hope it was a nice day and all enjoyed themselves. I bet there was a lot to eat!! And lots of fellowship.
Today"My Jes we had a 2 hour worship service. I am sure many of you would not have wanted to be at that. But, it was wonderful--even though I could not understand alot of what was said.
I got to sing a song for the people--"My Jesus, I Love Thee" I told them the first verse before I sang it and Marianna interputed it for me. Then she sang alto with me. The musician playing the keyboard did a great job backing me up even though he had never played or heard of the song before!
I am so very grateful that God has sent me to this place. Already these people have become very dear to me and I want to never lose contact with them. I thought I was coming to help them, but they have helped me--I don't think I will ever look at having so many material things again. They have so little in the way of possessions but so much in their hearts to give. Thank You God for showing me so much while I have been here.
Today was Lord Supper day, and as is their custom, whenever they have Lord's Supper, they have a fellowship meal following the service. What a spread of food!! And how wonderful it all tasted. I tried a lot of new things and loved them. The people would smile when I tasted their food and stuck my thumb up meaning it was great. Even though I can't speak their language, we can still find ways to communicate. Boy, did I get a lot of hugs and kisses!
After a long nap, Igor, Marianna, their 4 kids, Charlie, another young man whose name escapes me at the moment, and I went to the river. It was so much like when I was a child and Uncle Pat used to take us to the river to swim. The kids had a ball!
Over here the country is so far behind us, that it is exactly like living in the 1950s again. There is nothing like reliving your childhood again!
Tomorrow, I will be doing much the same as last week, visiting and cutting hair.
May God go with each of you and be safe.
(Steve, I am doing fine but I miss you.)
Lesley
Friday, July 31, 2009
Servant to the least of these
Greetings from Anenii Noi! Have had another good day here.
We visited another lady this morning who I would say is in her early 60s. She lives in a fairly good house and has gardens of all kinds around her house (here everyone fences in their homes and everything on their property inside one fence.)
When she returned home after having surgery, her daughter had taken over the house and had closed off most of the gardens. She had torn down rare grape vines that her mother made a living off of and gave her mother 1 small room to live in at the back of the house, with no furniture in the room. The woman was very sick and needed care. Igor's church, of which she is a member, furnished and cleaned the room and cared for her until she was over the surgery. I cannot imagine anyone doing that to a stranger, much less your own mother! Her spirits are up and she continues to praise God for her church family. I cut her hair for her and she hugged and kissed me. WE took her a food parcel, of which she was very grateful.
I did several more haircuts today and I am quite tired. Please continue to pray for these people. They need care and yet, when they can, they give of what little they have to help someone else.
This is what Jesus meant about being a servant to the least of these. They may be poor but they have so much love in their hearts. I am blessed to have met them. Praise God!
We visited another lady this morning who I would say is in her early 60s. She lives in a fairly good house and has gardens of all kinds around her house (here everyone fences in their homes and everything on their property inside one fence.)
When she returned home after having surgery, her daughter had taken over the house and had closed off most of the gardens. She had torn down rare grape vines that her mother made a living off of and gave her mother 1 small room to live in at the back of the house, with no furniture in the room. The woman was very sick and needed care. Igor's church, of which she is a member, furnished and cleaned the room and cared for her until she was over the surgery. I cannot imagine anyone doing that to a stranger, much less your own mother! Her spirits are up and she continues to praise God for her church family. I cut her hair for her and she hugged and kissed me. WE took her a food parcel, of which she was very grateful.
I did several more haircuts today and I am quite tired. Please continue to pray for these people. They need care and yet, when they can, they give of what little they have to help someone else.
This is what Jesus meant about being a servant to the least of these. They may be poor but they have so much love in their hearts. I am blessed to have met them. Praise God!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
'Lesley's World
Today started out great and ended up even better!
Igor told me great news at breakfast. My luggage had been sent to the airport. We took the half
hour drive to get it. Then we went to a store called the Metro (which is alot like Sams) and bought
all the food for the parcels we want to make up. After lunch and some down time, we fixed up the
parcels and the girls (Maryanna--Igor's wife, Natasha( a girl who helps with our cooking) and I went to the first 2 homes on our list. They were 2 very old ladies-a mother and her daughter--who lived in a very tiny rundown house. The daughter was sick and had just fallen and couldn't get up. She had fallen outside and the poor mother, who uses a cane and is 90 years old, couldn't help her.
Maryanna and Natasha got her inside and made her lay down, but she kept trying to get up.
We talked and prayed with them for a while. Then I cut the mother's hair. They both kept kissing my cheeks and hugging me. It was such a sad situation and I pray God will bless them and keep them safe. They aren't believers so please pray for them.
Next, we went to to a woman's house who has been coming to Igor and Maryanna's church and back in the spring, she gave her life to Jesus. What a wonderful lady. We talked to her for quite a while--she had not had her hair cut by someone else since she was a child. That person had ruined her hair, so she was afraid to let anyone else cut her hair. But, after a while, she changed her mind and I layered her hair--she loved it and hugged and kissed me. She wanted to give me something, so she gave me hair color from Russia--where her son lives--because she said her hair was the color of mine and she thought it would look good like hers, which would be a light auburn. People over here tell you what they think! She also gave me some dried rose petals to make rose tea with. Here she didn't have much herself, but, she wanted to give what she had away.
After a wonderful supper of stuffed peppers and melon slices, I cut Maryanna's mother's very long and thick hair. She is such a charming lady and even though we can't understand each other, she always has a smile for me.
I will go for now. Praise God for sending me to such a place as this. There are so many people who are just like us all over the world. By the way, Igor and all I have met, are happy with the results of the election.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Arrival in Moldova
We are here in Moldova and what a beautiful country--green grass, rolling hills, farm animals in herds in the road, hay wagons and wagons pulled by donkeys. A lot like being in Romania--Sharon, Pat and Kathy-- You would love it here!!
Igor and Marianne are a beautiful young couple who are very creative and dedicated to the Lord.
I already feel blessed!
As things go, I arrived with out my luggage--luckily I have a change of clothes for today. I wore the outfit I came in, for 2 days straighT (I couldn't stand myself!)
The airlines is supposed to send it today. The plane comes to Moldova only once a day.
All for now, miss everyone but am already enjoying my trip!!
Lesley
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Germany
Greetings from Frankfort, Germany
We got here around 8:30 Germany time(230 am your time). Now it is 12:40 and Charlie and I are waiting for out flight at 3pm. We can not get phone service so I am blogging. Would someone please call Steve and let him know I have arrived safely on German soil? 804-512-3852.
As it turned out, Charlie and I flew over on the same plane and I was especially glad to have him with me when we arrived here. He knew what to do.
I loved the landing--the countryside is beautiful!! I can't believe a lifetime dream has been realized--I am in Germany!! I will be returning here in October and will have more time to explore.
I am so excited to get to Moldova, although I am quite tired--very little sleep on the plane--seats much too close together!!
Will write soon
Lesley
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Pack,pack, packing
Trying to make sure I get everything in the suitcases and they don't weigh more than 50 lbs each.
I can have 2 checked bags and a carry on. They each have to be a certain dimension, too.
Today, I got a call from a woman, Karen, in Portsmouth who was in Moldova a few weeks ago. She wants me to take a suitcase full of items for the church I will be working at. I worked out a way to get the suitcase. Matt, Lisa and the kids will be returning from Eastern Shore on sunday morning and will meet Karen's husband and bring me the suitcase. Isn't it wonderful how God works things out when the destination is halfway around the world?! How awesome is He!!
I can have 2 checked bags and a carry on. They each have to be a certain dimension, too.
Today, I got a call from a woman, Karen, in Portsmouth who was in Moldova a few weeks ago. She wants me to take a suitcase full of items for the church I will be working at. I worked out a way to get the suitcase. Matt, Lisa and the kids will be returning from Eastern Shore on sunday morning and will meet Karen's husband and bring me the suitcase. Isn't it wonderful how God works things out when the destination is halfway around the world?! How awesome is He!!
Friday, July 17, 2009
LESLEY'S WORLD
Getting ready for my mission trip takes a lot of planning and forethought. My tickets are bought, my flight scheduled and now comes all the packing. I don't want to forget a thing! Foremost in my mind is my reason for going: to become a servant to others, to love those who need love and help to survive, to tell others of Jesus' love and how good He has been to me, to follow His lead.
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