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!

'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.

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

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

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!!

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.