God, did I hear you right? Moldova Part 1

God went ahead of them in a Pillar of Cloud during the day to guide them on the way, and at night in a Pillar of Fire to give them light; thus they could travel both day and night. The Pillar of Cloud by day and the Pillar of Fire by night never left the people. Ex.13:21(MSG)

For those of you who don't know, I am just me. I've got no special stamp marked on my forehead that qualifies me to be a missionary, I am not a Bible genius, or some theological buff, no special degree or top secret handbook on how to be a missionary... Often I am selfish, lazy, and a glutton, my language not always God honoring, my heart not always right, and sadly, I often find myself putting things before God in my life---   BUT by God's love, grace and mercy, He has placed a call on my life, he forgives me, and he is continuously opening my eyes to my own sin, but he always finds ways to use me despite my flaws. And as crazy as it was for the Israelites to follow a fire, or eat bread from the sky, it is crazy for me to hear God speak to me, and then actually see those words take life and unfold before me. This is the thing though, that is how God was in the old testament, that is how he is right now with me, and that is how he will always be... So as you read this, do not think for a moment that I am some perfect person, who has my life together, or that I am someone who has got it all figured out. I am sinner with baggage and issues just like the rest of us humans, and yet God loves me,  He forgives me, and he speaks truth into my life, and He LOVES you and offers all of us the same personal relationship if we choose to accept it-- I know that obedience to God is important, and can lead to great things as long as I choose to keep my eyes on the light and it is the same truth for you as well.... so now that you are reading this and knowing that I am human, and this whole adventure was God ordained, and had nothing to do with me really, let me tell you about my journey and I hope to encourage you in your own personal journey...

This trip to Moldova, if you haven't been keeping up with me, was in the makings for a year. It started with me seeing an advertisement for an internship in India with Project Rescue. Project Rescue is a non profit organization that works with "women and children affected by sexual slavery."

 When I first saw this, I thought, I was just in the mood for a change of scenery, but as time progressed, I couldn't get this internship opportunity out of my mind. Day and night I felt a draw to this internship. I've said this before, but God has placed on my heart a "call" to always have an ongoing ministry of reconciliation/ healing for those around me. And when I began to realize that in Ukraine, specifically in the Orphanage like my family has been working, that 1 in 5 of those kids will be affected by Human Trafficking, my heart breaks. With that burden and desire to see a difference, I was at a lost as to what that meant for me as far as how I could make a difference... So India seemed to offer some key that would make me have sense about all the feelings I was having, and more importantly, I could put this nagging feeling from God to rest. WELL, it ended up that it just didn't work out for me to go to India. I was kind of bummed, but more than that, I was confused. " God I heard you, didn't I?" How could I have felt such a strong pull to apply to this internship last year, and then nothing come of it? haha, little did I know ( cause I should have known), God works things out in His own timing, not mine. So through a series of emails with the internship liaison, I discovered that there is a Freedom Home in Moldova, the country that borders Ukraine in the south. Well, that makes way more sense for me to experience eastern European culture and how a ministry like this works in a former soviet country because it would offer more relevant guidance to my ministry in L'viv . So anyways, long story short, a year later, I finally got to see what God intended for me to see, a year later, not in India, but in Moldova. The Raatz family opened up their home to me, not knowing much about me and I not knowing much about them either, everyone a little skeptical--despite those circumstances God blessed the time I spent there!  And it had nothing to do with me, I was only obedient  for a split second, just a second... and even though I then doubted that moment, over and over, God still chose to use me.I hope that God continues to use me in Eastern Europe as he sees fit, and that I will have many more split seconds of obedience to his voice. That is also my prayer for you as well. When the body of Christ works together, in one accord, praying and reaching out, great things happen! To God be all the praise! And May those split seconds grow to moments and those moments to lifestyles of obedience to God:) 

And I pray that as you read this, that your heart, not only breaks for the women and children affected by human trafficking in Eastern Europe, but I also pray that God stirs something inside you that makes you want to see change, and to be a part of that change. Remember you do not have to be someone "qualified" you just have to be willing to say, " Okay God, I'm putting you first, and I will be obedient to your guidance and I will follow you." 

May God bless you greatly this week and I am excited to share more about my trip, and there are so many things I need all of you praying for, so till next time, here is the first picture of my journey.... 

*I am breaking up my thoughts about my trip into smaller sections... so be sure to check back for Part 2! *

The start of my journey to Chisinau, had me going to another
small town in Ukraine, Vynnista. I took a seven hour train ride,
then had a few hours there to wait before my next train to Moldova.
Isn't this cool, it is paint!