October — December 2016 News
Ready to soar.
Smelly Feet Lesson
One day I was rushing around the orphanage asking who has the smelliest feet. I gathered dirty socks, old shoes, greasy rags and candy wrappers. Everyone watched, curious, but as usual when I prepare for a lesson, I didn’t say anything.
Weighed-down wings.
That night I told them that when they were first created, they were made for a wonderful, blessed, productive life – ready to soar (hence the butterfly wings) then things happened. Some were bad: they were neglected, or parents couldn’t care for them because of alcohol problems, they lost their parents, people accused and said hurtful things to them or mistreated them. With each thing, I hung a piece of trash or smelly sock on the wings. “Now you are weighed down. You can’t fly. You feel unattractive and you stink. You don’t feel comfortable around other people because they look beautiful and don’t accept you. You “hear” “recordings” in your head – voices of people in the past – your mother, your siblings, your friend, your teacher: “You’ll never amount to anything . . . “ “You’ll never be able to do that.” “You’re ugly” “You’re lazy” But now you can go to the Word and find out who you really are, who you were created to be, and as you renew your mind with it, one by one the old will be replaced with what the Word says about you: you are accepted in the beloved. You are loved. You are forgiven. You are free. You have peace. You have Wisdom. You have put off the old man and have put on the new man. You are blessed, You are a new creation – like the butterfly . . . and like the butterfly, with that freedom you can soar! They really caught hold of that lesson, and afterward everyone was really enjoying the butterfly wings!
A different sort of butterfly (maybe a bat?)
The Rose Home logo.
Interesting Meeting
An interesting thing happened on my way home to America from the orphanage. I felt I needed to go through Finland, but didn’t know why. I was there a couple of days and really felt I was supposed to meet with a woman I briefly met at a Russian camp, but again, didn’t know why. She was beginning a ministry working with young women rescued from sex trafficking. She only had half an hour to give me, however we ended up talking almost three hours. Even though our ministries are very different, hers began much the same way mine did. We identified with each other, I was able to encourage her as one who has already walked a similar path and God has proved faithful. Her work is difficult. The women are extremely wounded and need much love, prayer and patience. As she dropped me near the station she hugged me and said, “You told me you didn’t know why you were supposed to come to Finland. I know why. You came here for me.”
I asked if she would be comfortable with me asking you to pray for her ministry. She would be grateful for your prayers. Here is a link to a Youtube video of her ministry, “Rose Home” if you are interested to see: https://youtu.be/vK8gF32y9DQ
The Herd
I was walking home from shopping one day and bumped into a herd of cows with their cowboy. They were really cute, and I actually knew all of them (see photos). They were from the orphanage, “walking” home from working in the garden (or rather “grazing”). The cowboy had a stick she used to prod them onward as she “Kooshed” at them (their version of “Gee up!” or “Gettalong!”). She didn’t actually touch them with the stick. They were so funny, the cows just wanted to eat grass, some would hide from the cowboy while the others were being pushed forward. The more I laughed the more they milked it for all it was worth (no pun intended). It was the most fun I’ve had walking home.
Hungry, disobedient cows.
“This is the real orphanage cowboy (below). He’s holding a stick he uses to prod actual cows. (You helped purchase several of those cows – they are so beneficial to the orphanage.)”
The real cowboy.
“Cowboy” pushing the herd.
Hanging with some of my mountain treasures.
Rest Day
One rest day Papa pulled us all in a trailer behind his tractor into the mountains. When we couldn’t drive any longer we walked. We came across an avalanche. Papa and the big girls and I explored under a large rock.
You never know what you’ll find under a big rock.
MUSHROOM HUNTING
Mushroom hunting.
Everyone loves the break in normal chore routine when Mama says, “Lets walk to the mountains and look for mushrooms!” We had a fun time this day, but we only found one set of mushrooms.
Thank You!
As we Americans prepared to celebrate Thanksgiving there was a flurry of texting activity from our two girls in Moldovan university. They are SO excited I’m coming. Till this week they lived off-campus in substandard group-living a long commute from the university. Now they are on-campus and are lovingthe convenience. The administration has given me permission to stay in their room! I’m happy the girls are on campus, and am thankful the conditions for my stay will most likely be better than the off-campus. Know that your prayers and support are making a group of students very thankful - especially encouraging and bringing joy to our two girls.
Merry Christmas!
In America many people start decorating for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving. Not only do they not celebrate Thanksgiving here, most people don't celebrate Christmas. We are in the second week of December and nothing looks Christmassy yet. I brought some ornaments and some festive Christmas flags with me and soon the decorating will begin!