We are now home (back in the US)

After being away for a month, however it surely felt less, our missionary team is finally back in the states. It was a bitter farewell in Moldova but many are happy to be home with their families.

Being away for a whole month is a long time, but if you ask anyone, it felt like the month flew by. We were all preoccupied with countless things and hardly any time to notice the days going by. Every day was cherished because we all knew the day would come when we would have to say goodbye. Now being back in the states, all we have is wonderful memories to put a smile on our face, thinking about the amazing experience we had that God gave to us.

Thank you every one who kept our team and our service in Moldova in their prayers because we truly felt Gods’ presence and blessings in all that we did. It is amazing to see how families, churches and friends come together for a cause and we can see the fruit of all the prayers given up to God for our team. May God bless you, your family and your life.

Stay tuned for more blogs about are time in Moldova. The new posts will be posted accordingly. We will have more pictures and videos from a missionary trip to Moldova.

Outside Evangelism in the Protestant populated town of Kopchak

July 23, 2015, we visited a church with our missionary group in a town where mostly Protestant people lived; overall, it was a grand experience. For we were told of an outside evangelical gathering that we were currently heading to, but as soon as we got there, our expectations were greeted with a different perspective.

 

This was a small church holding about 15-20 members, therefore we had to take out all the benches outside and lead service outside. Near the back of the church, we noticed a hurdle of stones and rock slabs so we asked the pastor (which had around 18 kids) what the hurdle of stones were all about. He told us about a project they were working on, a project to expand the walls of their building to fit more members. From hearing these words, we were heartfelt for their struggles and decided, upon having money donations, to give them a little financial help. The service was very blessed through the songs, sermons, and poems that we shared.

 

After the service, the members of that church invited us to a late snack for the road. In addition, while we ate, we socialized with their good fellow members and found them to be full of passion for God and welcoming to strangers and guests. May God bless them abundantly for the effort and the sacrifices that they had to make to accept us into their warm hands. 

Visiting the Governor of Gagauzia

 

On July 20, 2015, our missionary team had the privilege to visit the Head of Gagauzia, Irina Vlah, and spend some time with her. The team ended up spending about an hour with the Governor and everyone seemed to enjoy the time spent there.

 

We presented our missionary shirts to the Governor and gave it to her as a gift on behalf of Charity Springs missionary. Along with the gifts, we sang some songs and blessed her. Irina Vlah is a good governor and wants the best for Gagauzia, to improve the well-being of the kids and the living conditions of the region. She told us that it makes her happy that those people that left fGagauzia from different towns, come back to visit and donate their time and finances to make a difference in the region. She believes that we can work together, helping each other to make the region of Gagauzia a better place for our kids.

Non-Christian Camp Day #7: Our Farewell

Before we knew it, the last day of camp has finally came. We all had this look on our faces that we did not want it to end. You do not notice how the kids have affected you until they began to leave one by one. Everyone wanted the camp to continue; however, we had to face the truth and say our goodbyes even if it was hard.

Many of the kids built a friendship with one another and when it was time to go, many of them cried as they accompanied each other to the gates saying that we will see each other next year. Many of the kids asked similar questions to the mentors and staff, “will we see you next year?’

Each kid received a gift bag from Camp Elim filled with candy, toys, a picture frame with the class picture, a CD with a sermon for the parents, and finally the most important gift of them all, a personal kid’s Bible with a blessing written on the inside cover.

For those parents and kids that stayed at camp until 3pm, we invited them under the tent for our final church service where mentors talked about their class and how was their experience. Parents we also given an opportunity to speak. Before we ended, Pavel Chernioglo and Yuriy Torlak spoke on behalf of the Charity Springs missionary and thanked all the parents for giving their kids to our camp. Then we blessed the families and said farewell.

Non-Christian Camp Day #6: Jesus is the final Sacrifice

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

John 3:16

Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice was the theme for the day. We wanted the kids to understand that no one forced Jesus to take up the cross and die for the sins of the world. Jesus chose that role willfully in order to save every man, woman and child from the chains of sin, that we living today may glorify Him and serve the Lord.

Day 6 was our last fully day with the kids before they went home the next day, so we had to make it special and memorable. After lunch, we set up a carnival in the town of Nazareth filled with different games and activities where the kids can spend their coins, which they earned throughout the whole camp, in order to win prizes.

During the evening service, we said our farewells and thanks to all those that took part in this wonderful and blessed camp. Some moments got emotional and we could not believe that the camp was coming to an end. While the kids were busy singing, all the staff went back stage, grabbed handful of sparkles in each hand, spread out under the tent and when the cue came, we all threw the sparkles onto the kids. Before the service end, we handed out glow sticks to everyone, prayed and walked over to the bonfire. Around the fire, we sang songs, took pictures and talked until it was time for the fireworks. Once the last firework went off, it was time to head to sleep.

t

We even had time to celebrate one of our mentors birthday - Lena Torlak

 

Non-Christian Camp Day #5: Jesus served others

Missionaries on a bus in Africa when it breaks and the unlikeliest person fixes the bus

“A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another”

John 13:34

Today was all about serving and doing well to those around you. We focused on our service to others, how it can affect a person’s life and how doing something good is a contagious chain reaction. Too often in this world, we tend to put all the focus on ourselves, how we can make things better for us and we forget to give a helping hand to those that need it more.

During lunch and dinner, kids would volunteer to clean the tables of another class. It was great to see kids get very involved in serving their fellow camper. The kids were encouraged to serve others throughout the day and not to wait for something in return.

In the afternoon, we had a missionary run where we set up 10 stations; each station was a different country where you would have to complete a challenge associated with the country. It was a lot of fun to see the kids rushing to complete every challenge and you can see the competiveness in each group to be the fastest.

During the evening service, we gave an opportunity for the kids to show everyone their talents. We had kids that sang, said poems, did cartwheels, push-ups, bridges, splits and lots of other things.