Europe Report #4 - Moldova

Dear Brethren,

Well, our time in Moldova has come to an end. Please forgive me for not writing more often, but often we left early in the mornings and did not return to our hotel room until late in the evening. I usually had enough time to talk to Teresa on Skype for a while or write an email report, which would YOU chose!? :-)

We did go back to Balti on Tuesday and taught the sisters who make up the church there. Serghei V. drove us in a much nicer minibus than the one Serghei C. drives (Yes, I pointed this out to Serghei C. and he thought it was funny.). Serghei V. is a fine translator and he thanked me for not using any big words. I assured him that I don't know many big words! I taught a lesson from Revelation 7 about the "Blessings for Overcoming" in Balti. The sisters were very encouraging to me about the lesson. After the lesson one of them asked me about a dream she had recently. Like Joseph said to Pharaoh, I said to her "The interpretation of dreams belongs to God," but He did not bless me with that gift. Then I told her that we should put our trust in God's word, not in dreams. Tuesday night in Chisinau I taught a lesson from Hebrews 11 about having "Faith to Look Beyond." It was cold and rainy out, so only two other people showed up for the lesson, but many listen in over the internet.

Wednesday we got to sleep in a bit and then we met Lena for a little sightseeing. Wednesday was the "City Celebration." It marks the founding of Chisinau some 650 years ago. We went to a museum, had some Moldovan "pies" which were more like stuffed breads, but good nevertheless, and then we walked around the main street in downtown which was closed to traffic and was like a street fair. I thought it was interesting that there were booths set up that actually sold useful items like toiletries, cosmetics, and kitchenware, not just crafts and a bunch of junk for kids like so many of our festivals! That night at the study in Chisinau I taught a lesson called "Surviving the Journey" from the Exodus and Wilderness Wanderings. This generated some good discussion among those who came and the many more who listened over the internet.

Thursday morning we got up early and went south to the city of Benderi. Benderi is a city in Transnistria. Transnistria is a disputed region of Moldova than declared it's independence in 1990 and is "kept free" by Russian "peace keepers." We had to pass through 4 different checkpoints, one complete with armed Russian soldiers. It was really strange seeing Russian soldiers having been raised during the Cold War, and having been in the Air Force. After passing through all the checkpoints we were then met by a Benderi policeman and he made me more nervous than the soldiers! The church in Benderi is the largest congregation in Moldova with over 20 members. They had some relationship with a liberal church in America, but Serghei and others have convinced the church in Benderi to sever the ties. I taught a lesson called "What Did Jonah Learn?" One of the sisters said she felt that the lesson would help her deal with her non-Christian neighbors better. I like those kinds of comments! Serghei V. drove us and translated for me. On the way home we stopped a HUGE open air market that mainly sold building supplies. Serghei V. said it was a kilometer long, and the rows seemed to never end! It was too cool. Thursday night in Chisinau I taught the lesson from Revelation 7 that I had taught in Balti on Tuesday. The brethren were so encouraging! A young man named Andrei said he felt that "batteries had been recharged." Serghei C. thanked me for my "spiritual optimism." He said that I was in a position to touch people like few others could, and maybe that's why God allowed me to endure this trial. I couldn't agree more!

Friday, we just packed our bags, had lunch with Serghei, Anna, Vicky and Paul, as well as Lena and her mom, Nina, then flew to Budapest. It was harder to say goodbye than I would have imagined. I was SO impressed by Serghei C., and I just feel in love with Lena, in a fatherly/godly way! I told her on Wednesday that she would make an excellent preacher's wife, so she must find a good Christian man whom she can help serve the Lord to the fullest!

Overall, I would say that with the blessings of God we had a very profitable week in Moldova. Now we look forward to having another good week in Norway!