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!