A Moldovan Wedding

Sunday morning, Sept. 26 turned into being a very sunny and bright day. The wind was a little chilly so the black and white outfit--the only dressy type outfit I brought with me--seemed to be fine. I decided to take my dressy black jacket along, but, did not need it. I wore the jade, gold and black necklace that Adam and Michelle gave me to add a little color to my outfit. Around 9 am, Igor, Mariana, their children, Lydia (Mariana's sister) and her husband, Pavel picked me in a car Igor borrowed from a church member and we headed to Chesinau.
First there would be a church service at 10am followed by the wedding at 11am as part of the worship service. This was like nothing I had ever heard of before and there were several visitors including Mariana's family and me.
In Moldova, things don't begin on time--only when everyone is ready!! Some of you very organized people could not stand that!! Because the bride and groom were not ready at 11:00, the pastor introduced a woman from the US who has come to Moldova as a missionary for many years! She has also taught Physcology in college in Chesinau--both Igor and Mariana were taught by her. A very nice young Moldovan woman translated into Russian for the congregation because the woman hadn't learned the language and had been here more than 20 years. I did enjoy hearing her speak in English. I met her after the wedding and she was glad to meet an American.
Then, the wedding began. Andre', Mariana's brother, and the minister who would marry them, came down the aisle together, followed by all the attendents on the arms of the groomsmen. They took a seat on the front row on the left. This was very fast and followed by Marko, Igor and Mariana's son, and a pretty little girl dressed in white. Both carried baskets of flower petals which they dropped as they walked. Next, came the parents who took a seat at the front row on the right.
Finally the bride, Anna, came down the aisle on the arm of her father. She was beautiful and when she reached Andre', they walked onto the stage and turned to face the audience. They were a gorgeous pair with Andre' reminding me of a young Napoleon and Anna, his Josephine!
The pastor officiating, spoke to the couple about how they should act as a married couple with God in the center of their marriage. Pavel translated for me so I understood what the minister was saying. Then the pastor asked each of the parents to say something about marriage to the couple and after all had spoken, he asked each parent if they approved of the marriage.
Next there were vows repeated between the couple but no rings exchanged. Then there was a pronouncement as husband and wife. There was no recessional-the couple stayed at the front and others rushed to them to hug and give their blessings. Then family pictures were taken. I was even invited to have a picture taken with the bride and groom!
Next, we left the church to go have lunch. The reception would not be until 6 pm!
Igor, Mariana, the children and I went to a Moldovan Italian restaurant for pizza and a salad. The Moldovans even put corn on pizza--I really liked it!
After eating, we went to Victor's inlaws' house--that is another one of Mariana's brothers. There are 7 brothers and 4 sisters in her family! When we arrived, I was immediately led into a quiet room and put on the sofa for a rest. It was so peaceful that I sleep for around 30 minutes. Then we sat in the kitchen and drank coffee until time to leave for the reception. Mariana's parents were there also and when Mariana was not in the room to translate for me, we used sign language to communicate. Barbara and I always talk that way.
When everyone had gotten to the reception--about 75 people--we were taken to an outside patio area where a long runner, with candles on either side, had been set up. An official looking woman, who turned out to be the magistrate, stood at one end of the runner. We all gathered on either side and in came Andre' and Anna to the announcement and the Wedding March playing. This was the registration ceremony.
The magistrate spoke some words to the couple and again to their parents. Next the bride and groom registered their names, and then they exchanged rings--Anna's on the left hand and Andre's on the right hand. They were introduced as man and wife and everyone applauded.
After that, everyone formed a line and presented the couple with their gifts as they congratulated them. These gifts are opened at this time. Most gifts are money and are put inside a chest decorated in white.
Now, we are escorted into a beautiful dining hall lavishly decorated with the couple's table on the stage. Seated with them are a couple who have been chosen to be their witnesses and their mentors. They, also, have signed the registration book as their witnesses.

Part 2 to follow at next post

Recouperating Saturday

I am doing what Igor told me to do. He is so sweet and caring of me. Now, I am in my room with my leg propped up, sitting by the window where I am watching the people walk by in front of the church. This is a busy street, where "bus-taxis" stop to pick up people--there are regular taxis as well. Next door to the church, there is a bread store which is rented out by the church. Beyond that is a restaurant and bar. The outdoor food market, where everyone sells their produce, begins right across the street and continues for several blocks. So, there is much coming and going.
I am alone in the church except for Vitali, who is cleaning the downstairs area for tomorrow's worship service. Vitali is a wonderful young man--father of 4 little girls--who does a lot around the church. He leads the after school program, translates into Russian Igor's sermons, he and his wife clean the church weekly and help with the youth program. He is paid for the after school program and a little for the church maintainence.
One thing I have noticed, the young adults of this church are at the church a lot. This is their second home--they are a church family and there is much love and concern among them.
They are so respectful of me and enjoy my being around.
Sergio and Vica, the newlyweds, who are living in the room across the hall from me, are gone for the day. Vica has gone to visit her mom and Serigo is shopping with his cousin. They have finally found an apartment and are doing some work on it before they can move in. Sergio just returned
and stuck his head in my door because I have my door opened. He shows me a faucet he has bought to replace one in the apartment. YOu can tell he is excited about it.
Natasha was here this morning and brought me breakfast and a vacuum container of hot water
for my tea. She has brought me enough food for all day, but she says she will return at 1 pm to bring my lunch. She is so good to me and I don't feel lonely. Everyone is so good to me and I feel so loved and completely unstressed. Thank you, dear Father!

In my time alone, I have spent time in bible study and prayer--a habit I plan to continue more at home. It is a great habit and draws me closer to God and what He desires me to do each day. I
have been reading the book--"A Woman After God's Own Heart" by Elizabeth George. It has really convicted me today! I am realizing that God does expect his daughters to value their husbands and next to God, they should be valued the most. He should be the "head" of the family and it is my job to treat him as such. There has been many ideas shown to me today that I have not followed. I am praying about this and plan to make needed changes. I know it won't be an easy task to change my selfish ways, but, God understands the long process and will reward me as I follow His way.
Speaking of reward, I cannot say enough how much God has blessed me by following Him to Moldova. The friendships I have made here and the experiences I have had are a true blessing from God. These people are now a great part of my life. I love them as I love the people in my own country and will cherish them the rest of my life.
Tomorrow, I will tell of about the wedding I will be attending.
Blessings to all,
Lesley

Those Who Care for Me

Each day this past week, I had a different interpreter to accompany me. Mariana and Natasha were with me 3 days, Serigo and Palo--each one day. We would travel by taxi to some of the villages since Igor's car is still being worked on. With Serigo and Palo, we would travel to nearby homes and again go by taxi because of the heavy parcel bags of food. After delivering and visiting with the people, we would walk back to the church. I enjoyed these walks for the exercise and because I was able to get to know Palo and Serigo better. We climbed many steep stairs to get to some of the apartments or into the homes. Everything went fine until thursday night. I was sitting on my bed reading . When I got up to turn out the light, I felt a terrible pain shooting around my right knee cap and down my let. I found I could not hold my weight on the leg or walk! I had to inch my way to the lightswitch. By the time I got back to the bed, I was shivering so hard my teeth were chattering. I covered up tightly and when I got warm I fell asleep. Everytime I would turn over in bed, the pain would shoot down my leg and wake me up. When I got up to use the bathroom, I could walk better but, I still had a lot of pain.
In the morning, I was able to walk a little better but it took me a long time to dress because if I moved my leg a certain way, I would again have a lot of pain.
When Mariana and Natasha came, I told them what had happened, so they went to the pharmacy near by and got some gel to put on my knee and an ace bandage. After fixing my up, we went on another visit. There were stairs to climb and by the time we left this lady's apartment, everyone had to help me to the taxi and then into the church.
I went upstairs to my room, put some more medicine on the knee , wrapped it and slept for a few hours. Again, when I woke up I could not walk on my leg! Igor and Mariana talked with me about seeing a doctor, but, the only one they trusted was in Chesinau and we had no transportation--I knew I could not stand riding a bus that far. Then they asked me if I would consideer going to a lady in another village who was not a doctor but was good with setting bones--she had done that for Mariana last winter when she hurt her foot.
To their surprise, I said yes. I was in so much pain and worried that I think I would have let Lenin himself work on me!
Igor was able to borrow a car from a church member and we piled in the car and went off in to the night on a bumpy dirt road for a good 10 miles or more until we came to a very small town. Then Igor turned and followed an even bumpier road with more holes than pavement until we came to a dark house surrounded by a very tall fence. In the yard was a tall crucifix that the car lights shone on when we stopped! (those crosses give me the creeps since our Lord is not on the cross any more!) Of course, there are not street lights on these old roads, so Mariana and Igor led me ddown a dark path and up to the house where, in the shadows, a small woman stood. She motioned for me to come into her house and into a small room in the back.
At first, she was not very friendly, but as she helped me get onto a hard sofa and Mariana removed my shoes and she put my feet up on the sofa, she asked in Russian my age. She then smiled when Mariana told her because she was the same age.
That relaxed me a lot--Mariana had told me that the lady is Russian Orthodox and according to their church rules, they must have nothing to do with Baptists! Still, she had taken care of Igor and Mariana and others from their church, but, I was more worried because I was an American!
When she found out where I was from, she laughed and said she had never worked on an American before. We laughed when I told her she had gone International!
This lady definitely has a gift because she got ou some oil on her hands and immediately went to all the sore spots and began messaging around my kneecap.
Suddenly, she raised my leg and pushed it towards my chest and rubbed around the right side of my knee at the same time. It hurt badly but then it began to feel better. She explained thay my kneecap had moved out of place and she had pushed it back. She said this had happened because of all the stair climbing I had done this week.
She then, wrapped my knee with some fabric strips she had torn and showed me how to wrap it so the bone would stay in place. She told me to use the strips instead of the ace bandage because the strips would not stretch. She said to keep wrapping my knee for 3 weeks or until I could get to my doctor at home.
After I got up and she saw I could walk without as much pain, she asked my religion. When I told her, Baptist, she smiled but also looked like she didn't approve. Then she showed me a room at the front of the house which was decorated with all the orthodox icons. They were hung all over the room and she said proudly this was her religion. The icons were very beautiful and in bright colors. She made it a point to tell me all of the ones she had were only of Mary and Jesus. I noticed one was of the Lord's Supper--although not the same picture we have--and said it, she nodded, knowing what I had said and smiled. She was very respectful of me and I of her.
On the way home, Igor said I was to stay in my room all day on Saturday and not go downstairs. I know when to listen.

Who Cares for These People?

What a week this has been!!
I have gone to visit several people, some of whom I visited last last year or I have seen at church. It is wonderful to renew old friendships--to see how my friends are getting along, how the past year has been for them.
I have been blessed to give some haircuts both to those i cut last year and some new ones as well. I have already lost count!
Xenia is the robust Russian speaking lady who became my favorite last year--She speaks loudly and so very distinctively, that if you didn't know her, you would think she was blessing you out! But, this year, Xenia is ill again--When I met her last year, she had recouperated from cancer surgery. But, this year, I am afraid it is back. Her back, hip and legs bother her greatly. She has been to the doctor and will go into the hospital soon for more tests. You can tell she is afraid, but, she knows God will take care of her. She is the one whose daughter took over the house and garden and left her with only 2 dirty rooms in the back of the house and a small plot of land to grow vegetables. Poor lady is not able to work the land now.
I can see those from the church have worked hard to make her 2 rooms liveable. They painted the rooms a soft blue and installed a decent sink and put a small table and chair in her kitchen.
They put down linoleum and pretty curtains in her window. Mariana's father rebricked the firebox to better heat her area. It certainly seemed more like home for her.
Xenia has several close lady friends living nearby who come to the church as well. They all look after each other.
Valentina lives across the road and Veronica lives around the corner in an apartment building. Veronica's husband died last winter. They owned 2 apartments on the same level which they used as one apartment. However, her son sold one of the apartments, so now Veronica is busy moving all her things into one. It really is a nice apartment and very clean.
Veronica has problems with 2 of her neighbors. They make fun of her because she is a Baptist christian and spread gossip about her. I am so thankful she has Valentina and Xenia to visit with. She says her church is now her family since her son lives so far away in the Uraine and doesn't get to visit often.

Gloomy Monday

This morning has begun with rain and is a gray sleepy morning. I woke up around 7:45, showered and dressed before going downstairs to eat breakfast. I fix my own breakfast in order that Natasha can come later and doesn't need to worry about me. I have my quiet time then and next check on my emails on Igor's computer. Steve will be glad that I have not played games on the computer since I have been in Moldova!

Of course, every evening it has been a habit of ours to play UNO around the table in the church fellowship hall or at Mariana's. Everyone loves that game and have developed a few extra "rules" that add a lot of laughter and fun to the game. It is so hard to stop playing and we say at the end of the game--"just one more game!" Needless to say it is very late when we finally stop!

Last night, Igor and Mariana invited me to their home for a late dinner of lasagna and salad--which Mariana had me advise her on. One of her brothers, Roma and his wife and 2 precious little girls were visiting and they all made me feel part of the family.

Earlier in the evening, Mariana and I went to the new mission church in a village to a home where the man and wife have a sanctuary set up in their house. Because Igor's car is "broken" and is in the "shop" for repairs, another couple from Filidelphia church, came to pick us up.

But, his car broke down--the brakes would not work!!--close to our church. Mariana called her brother, Roma who came and took us on to the mission.

The service was wonderful and very relaxed with everyone sharing songs, poems or thoughts. Then Gregory, the man from our church, gave the message. I thought about sharing a song, but, I couldn't think of any songs or the words! Sometimes I wonder about my mind! Now I have started copying the words to songs so I will be prepared in the future!

Worship Service

Sunday, Sept. 19,2010

As I sit in the sanctuary of Filidelphia Baptist Church on a chilly, gray Sunday morning, I feel the love of these people as they greet each other and me, as well. They are so sincere in actions--nothing false, or "put on" about them. They love Jesus in a quiet, gentle way. Their circumstances in life are much harder than mine. They have gotten through another week, another day, another hour, receiving their basic needs, which they have thanked the Lord daily for. It makes me wonder--am I humbly thankful for the basic things that the Lord has provided or do I complain often for the things of comfort that I seem to feel I deserve. When I came to Moldova last year, I was thinking I would be helping these people, but I find that they have helped me--helped me to discover that they have what I really need---a humble thankfulness for the basic things of life. All I really need is to know that God loves me and that He will take care of and provide for me.

In his sermon, Igor used as his text, Romans 12:9-10. We are God's chosen people and we do not need to be afraid. No one can really harm us because we are in God and He will protect us. In our church, some are strong and some are weak. It is a family love and we must take care of and honor each other without trying to change the other. In other words, we must help each other learn and grow without pointing out their weaknesses.

Also, during the service, a couple from the church was recognized because they are leaving in a week for Indonesia. The husband is from there and he married a Moldovan woman. They have a little son and they felt the call to move their and witness to the Muslin people there.

The whole church stood in front of the podium to have their picture taken for the couple and I was included in the picture! I felt so much a part of them!!

Back Online!

Hello Everyone!
After 6 days without internet because Anenii Noi was having work done on the telephone wires, I am back !!
This week was spent visiting in several villages, taking food parcels to the people. Now, there are 4 others who have witnessed the poverty a lot of these people live in; and their hearts have been broken for these "children of God" as mine has been last year and again this year.
As Helen, Nancy, Sara, Alena and I have seen, there should not be people in this world in this day and time going without and forgotten. We certainly have been convicted on just how spoiled we Americans are. Why worry about remodeling a bathroom,when, at least, we have indoor plumbing! Why complain about the service we receive at a restaurant when, at least we have food to eat when we are hungry! They are people who have so little but are willing to give all they have to you if you will let them!
We must all think of what we have and be thankful!!

Woman's Retreat

an awesome experience at the Anenii Noi. Had 30 women from around the area to come for a 3 day retreat. We had a time of fellowship, classes and bible study. I taught 6 classes each day on these different topics-- prayer and having a quiet time, and on spiritual journaling.

The women shared a lot with me and seemed appreciative of what I was able to share with them. It is such a blessing to see these women enjoy time away from their families and doing things for themselves. We were well fed by Barbara(Mariana's mom) and Natasha--who cooked for us last year. We laughed, we cried and bonded as sisters in Christ.

They were awed by the fact that Igor and other men from the church served the meals to us and helped to clean up afterwards! I was amazed how everyone pitched in to help and things got done quickly.

Two members of our team--interpreters-- left for home this afternoon and we miss them already.

Naty and Angela, who were in their mid twenties, are both Moldovans. Naty lives in Bucharest, Romania with her American husband who is a minister at an international church there. They will be traveling to the states in January of 2011 and I hope to see them when they are in Lynchburg.

Angela is a student and lives in Moldova. They both were so sweet and I admired their translating abilities greatly.

Tomorrow is a day to do laundry and plan for next week where we will be fixing the food parcels and delivering them to the people in different villages. I probably will cut hair again for those who want me to.

Now that the conferences are over, I will have more time to write on my blog and on facebook.

Take care,

Lesley

Exausted but Happy

Hello Everyone!
Hope all is well with everyone!
What a great conference we are having! We hAve had close to 30 participants and they are so joyful and friendly.Tomorrow will be another greaaat day!
Will write more when I am not so tired!

Anxious

Here it is 1:30 in the morning and I can't go to sleep!!
Tomorrow (or should I say today) we begin the Moldova Women's Retreat! I am so excited and nervous at the same time. I have never led a retreat or taught an adult class before. And, here in a few hours, that is going to happen!
Over the past few years, I can't believe the direction God has taken me and I can't believe the strength He has given me to do the things He has planned! He is truly awesome. Each time He has asked me to step out on faith and do something He wants, He has given me just the right strength and will to do the task. Then He rewards me many times over!
The people He has brought into my life as a result, far outweighs any struggle or uncertainty I have had to go through to finish what He has asked me to do. God is so good!
I feel better now and I think I will be able to sleep. Good night and I will be writing more after the retreat is over. Please keep me and these wonderful ladies in your prayers

Lesley

Here I Am

Hello Everyone;
I am so happy to be back in Moldova. Seeing so many familiar faces has been wonderful. People were glad to see me!! What a blessing!
The church service was a blessing, as usual. Igor never ceases to amaze me. His sermons are so meaningful and full of God's love.
Some of the women giggled at me and gave me"shame on you" sign because they could see that my hair is now blonde instead of grey. They seemed to like it, though.
Tomorrow will be full of preparation for the retreat.
Will write more tomorrow.