Children from Moldova

Here are two little girls who are enjoying the church directory from Oakmont Church. They loved it when they recognized photos of Steve, Kim, Linda, or others from our team. They also tried very hard to say the names of the Americans in the photos. What a treasure this is. We will never forget these wonderful children. They are in our hearts and prayers from now on. There is also a photo of one of our interpreters. Stella was wonderful to work with. The children loved her and she is an expert in interpreting Bible thoughts and scripture.

There is no I in Team

On the long-long-long flight back, I had time to think about what God was teaching me during this short mission trip. I sure hope I was able to bring His good word to a few people. There is no doubt, we worked hard and provided a lot of fun and games. We "taught our hearts out" trying to help children to understand God's love.

But we also learned a lot about ourselves. I think each of us, in our secret hearts, learned something new about ourselves and our relationship with the Father. We learned a little about self-sacrifice. Certainly, not anything near those who are life-long career missionaries, but a little maybe.

Pam, as our leader, kept us safe, on time, and led us all the way through to complete the task. I am so thankful for this. Steve never waived, not once, as the humble minister that he is to us all. I can learn from this. Tracie's beautiful flute that played "As the Deer Pants" squeezed my heart in remembrance of another time hearing that beautiful psalm. Kim's vibrant personality kept us laughing and added pure joy to the trip. She wrote the book for "fun-loving". Mary's gift for giving provided so many gifts to help us remember, in a tangible way, this life-changing trip. I'll treasure the silver cross, always. I've never met a better and more talented middle school teacher than Mary. Beka 's enthusiasm was very contagious. What a wonderful testimony for one so young. I really appreciated Linda's love for everyone on the trip. She demonstrated this in tangible ways by making sure we had all the supplies needed and taking special care that as many people as possible were comfortable. The children responded beautifully to Bridgette's gentle spirit. I loved the high finance goldfish. Scott was a friend and a teacher to those young boys. I think they loved him for his honest presentation of the gospel. And, Ruth was in my heart, remembering her desire to give to this team.

All these together, spell team. Our devotional book for the team asked that we reflect on what we learned. As I was reading and praying I thought about all our precautions for cleanliness, safe food and water. I came across this verse in Matthew:

Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is elminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceeds evil....to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.

I pray that I might have a clean heart so that whatever comes out of my mouth will edify and uplift. There may not be an I in Team, I pray I am in Him.

Full Day on Saturday

There were three major events for this Saturday after the end of camp. First we visited a preschool orphanage. We distributed bananas and chocolate cookies. I have a new respect for bananas after this experience. They sure loved the fruit even more than the cookies. Playing games with three year olds is easier than 6-16 year old children but being able to teach a child how to find passages in the Bible is much more rewarding, and not possible with the preschoolers. Next we visited the Abbey in a nearby villiage. In the afternoon we finally shopped in the city. It was a good chance to buy very unusual Christmas gifts.

Reflection for the week

The theme for today was God's love. The children easily received this good news. The teachers had many questions about how to love the unlovely---but they questioned how to love troublesome peers, not the children. They have no problems loving these children. This is grace.

We saw God's love in so many places this week: the patience of the interpreters, the kindness of one child to another, the goodness of the mission team, the perseverance of the SERI team. There are so many gifts, talents, and skills offered to this trip. Tracie had her beautiful flute absolutely mesmerized the children. Steve H. and Bryan was able to clearly communicate the foundational lesson for the day. Pam was a kind and thoughtful leader, day after day afer day. Kim and Linda are the Craft Queens! Our devotions and lesson prepared by Ruth Ann blessed our souls and spirits.

I feel like I've been preparing, all my life to work with these orhpanage teachers this week. It was like a dream but clearly reality with colors and sounds I'll never forget.

Time is up, others are waiting for the computer....I am thankful.

A Motley Group

Today was t-shirt day. No good VBS is complete without hand-painted t-shirts. Our Moldovan children loved writing their names, painting flowers, and hearts on their shirts. Again, I must say, children are the same the world over when it comes to personal pride in their creative activities. They want things to be pretty...and they want to do it for themselves.

A few of the older boys were pretty creative in their pilfering of about two dozen of the shirts out the back door. ...thus causing a lot of stress for the team. There was a lot of talk about forgiveness and an effort at understanding what real poverty is really like. We also talked about how theft is wrong no matter the circumstances. All this caused quite a lot of discussion in our nightly planning meeting.

A highlight for me, was the continued attendance by the camp teachers, at the adult Bible studies. I used the ABC method for explanation the gospel. They listened attentively and began asking questions. One of many unbelievable events of this week.

Steve mentioned tonight that we are a very motley team, so many different personalities, skills, and gifts, are brought together in a way that only God could accomplish.


I think 135+ children were in the presence of Christ this week, and I also think a team Americans, our interpreters, and Steve with SERI all enjoyed the hand of God on our efforts here.

Worship at the camp

Each day begins with some of my favorite praise songs...all sung in Moldovian (Romanian) language. The children know these by heart. It is beautiful!

Steve and Brian the puppet have brought several excellent sermons for the children. I learned some new lessons too! The children were very attentive and really absorbed these important words.

Each team member has told the children a short personal testimony/message. Each has been unique and very appropriate for the lessons of the day.

Bible study has gone very well. We can thank our wonderful interpreters for this. We are all amazed at how much the children already know.

At all the worship services we close in prayer and I can hear the children praying aloud the Lord's prayer (in Moldovan language). It is wonderful that they pray but we are hopeful they will also learn that pray is personal conversation with God.

Ruth Ann's devotion on the topic of "don't worry" will be presented tomorrow to both the children and the adult teachers.

A huge victory today was the request by the teachers for ideas for teaching Bible lessons to their students.

A visit to the University

My translator was able to negotiate a visit to her university this afternoon. You can see their website at http://www.ase.md/cartea/en/

Much of the campus is deteriorating and the buildings need a lot of repair, but Stella tells me this is one of the best in the city. The professors and staff were very gracious. I was able to speak to the director of the libray who was thrilled that ECU had arrived. It seems we have some sort of a partnership with the library at this institution and even though I'm not connected they were pleased to see me. I learned a lot about the economic downfall at the end of Soviet Union. This was catastrophic for Moldova. The problems are extremely severe.


More later.

The Camp

There are 150 children ages 6-16. Most don't speaka word of English, but I have the most wonderful translater. Stella is a college student who is a shining light in Moldova. Her parents teach at the University and she dreams of studying in the United States. She sits by my side and easily tranlates all my thoughts about scripture and what God has to say and communicates these to children and the adult teachers of the camp.

All but one of the adult teaches showed up for day two of the Bible lessons. These women talk with me and share their faith. They are teaching me as much as I teach them, and I have told them we are "sisters" because we are all teachers and doing God's work.

The camp is in a beautiful natural setting that could be the year 2007 or the year 1007. Only the presence of the van and the portable sound system for morning worship are give-aways that we are in 21st century.

The "out door potty" is the only available restroom and reminds me of how far we really are from the city. These dedicated teachers live "on campus" and seem very dedicated to their work with the children.

I see the presence of Christ here.

Greetings from Moldova

Bene Sera --

I am now in the mission house in Chisunau. There are four of us in a very nice room complete with a/c and bottled water...two essentials for this trip.

We visited an elder house today. We delivered bananas, candy, cookies to 400 residents. The conditions are very very hard in this state operated home for elder and disabled. No one could speak English, but love did translate.

We also visited a nearby village. We stepped back in time about 100 years and visited a small Baptist church that averages 20-30 people at Sunday Service, most of whom are children. The pastor and his wife live Chisunau but drive the 30 to 40 k. to this very rural area. Eastern NC is a metropolis compared to this little community. Cow, chickens, and dogs were common than cars on the dirt throughfares. We delivered food bags to these folks. This was a first for them and didn't quite understand but again the love of God easily translates.

More tomorrow.

Challenges

Count down for departure about two hours.

We are undergoing some challenges this morning. First, part of our hearts will be left behind as one of our team members has learned she has serious illness. Her contributions to the team have been so important. We are glad to know she will be with the team in spirit if not in body.

One team member has passport delays...

I've never been so challenged to pack for a trip. All the supplies for a full week at a summer camp for 150 children are being packed in our personal baggage. It's tough remembering your own toothbrush, soap, underwear...etc., but even tougher to remember and efficiently pack all those camp supplies!

I am thankful for Pam and her skillful leadership.

May God be with us.

Good Friends Give Send-off

On Saturday good friends and co-workers met together for a Bon Voyage party. I laughed and reminded Abbie that I'm going to Moldova, not France! Even so we enjoyed a wonderful cake with a genuine and geographically accurate map of of the country. It was great to be able share our traveling stories and I do appreciate comments and suggestions from those who are international travelers. This will be my first time to travel to a country where I will need a passport, so naturally, any suggestions are helpful. Many in our group have traveled to Europe, Russia, South and Central America, Korea, and China, but no one has been to Moldova.

Having the good will and wishes of friends means a lot. It helps to know others affirm and respect my mission to work at the orphanage for a week. I've added a photo of the cake to the blog. This way, if you ever have a chance to travel to the country...you can find your way around!

Departure is near! What to pack and what to leave behind

One week from yesterday and we will be boarding our plane for Moldova. This is the time when our preparations become very intense. Packing, purchases of necessary housekeeping items, and most importantly, our Bible lessons and devotions all require time and focused attention. I consider myself an experienced traveler, but this is one trip that has extended the stakes to my tent!!

Spiritual preparation is one area that can not be neglected. Never have I felt such intensity in the need to be prepared spiritually and emotionally. My suitcase must hold clothes, toothpaste, comb, and brush. These are all in place. It must also hold my deepest commitment to being an ambassador for Christ. I must pack my testimony for His power to deliver us from all the evil and heartbreak of this world. I MUST leave behind self-centered wishes, hopes for recognition, and any fearfulness for travel.

Moldova and the mission

I am about to begin the trip of a life time. It is not possible to describe the anticipation and great expectations associated with travel to the other side of the world to work with children who have only food and shelter, maybe two changes of clothing. I will be working with about 110 children, ages 6 through 15. They are residents of a state operated orphanage in Chisinau, the capital city of Moldova. During the winter months, 500+ children reside in the facility. Most of the children have extended family who will take them in during the summer. Those remaining have very little to do during the summer. Our children complain they "have nothing to do, I'm bored", but these children rely on the generosity of organizations and churches to provide the simplest of summer activities. We'll provide games, sports, activities for personal and spiritual renewal. We will also take craft materials and provide t-shirts for painting and other fun crafts that our children in this country nonchalantly enjoy every summer. One of my assignments is to provide Bible study and educational materials with the Moldovan adults who monitor the children during the summer. This will be my first experience to work with an interpreter. I am grateful for the opportunity.

I began planning this trip nearly a year ago. Last June I began investigating the possibility. It has taken, literally, a year to bring the plans to this point for departure. You may be interested in reading more about Moldova and the organizations who are sponsoring this trip:

CERI

Oakmont Baptist Church

21st Century Learning

For comments and reflections on 21st century learners see eSchoolNews

Summer 2007 at ECU

East Carolina

Welcome to Summer School at East Carolina University. Summer is fast paced. To be successful you must be very focused in assignments and readings. I have four major events planned for this summer--First; I'll be traveling to Eastern Europe in early June. I'll be in Moldova, a small country east of Romania and west of the Ukraine. I'll be teaching Bible classes at an orphanage and working with the adult camp leaders living in the capital city of Chisinau...more on this later.

Secondly, I'll be teaching two courses in 2nd summer term. I love EDTC 6035. It's a great course for both classroom teachers and media specialists. I'll also lead a seminar with about 10 interns in the MAEd IT degree program. This is the culmination of their degree program and we want this to be useful for preparing them in future careers and employment. I'll also begin with the MAEd IT cohorts that begin in 2nd summer. We'll have our first Summer Institutes in late June and early July. Many thanks to Tom Frye and Harnett County Schools for hosting the first institute. Schools in Craven County and in Charlotte will also host institutes.

Last, I will work with Pembroke Middle School in Pembroke NC. They've just been awarded an IMPACT grant from the state of Norht Carolina. In talking with teachers and the media specialist at PMS, I'm convinced this will be a two way learning opportunity---I'll learn more about the needs and interests of teachers in a middle school, and the teachers will gain new strategies for teaching 21st century students.