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It is September, and with that knowledge comes the realization that for the last week, I am no longer doing what I have done for the last six years. As one chapter of life closes, and another opens, I want to catch you all up on the last two months, and thank you for your continued prayer.
Our team was able to resume church services both in the town of Soroca and the village of Bulboci, in June, but, as with most ministries across the States and the world, extra ministry activities were curtailed. Church services included social distancing, masks, hand sanitizer, and temperature checks. In town, only a few of our “regulars” were able to resume coming to services, due to various reasons – several were stranded out of country, others had concerns of exposure, others were elderly and under governmental restrictions, one had passed away, and another was too ill to attend services. In the village, however, we were greatly encouraged to see the majority of the church body able to come, and ever so joyful to be meeting again.
So much of ministry work is group outreach, and with that restricted for the time being, our team shifted to more individual ministry. Since the quarantine was lifted, several precious souls have come to know the LORD as their Savior through this more personal evangelization, and there are plans for more people to be reached.
The vast majority of my work for the last four and a half years has been to groups of children. I was able to resume teaching Sunday School, though with about half of our previous attendance. However, children’s English classes, Bible club, and Vacation Bible School, were all canceled. Sad as it is in terms of limited ministry, in a way, with my leaving, it was a blessing to leave my coworkers without a number of my ministries that would need to be immediately picked up on their part, and added to their schedules.
The week before I flew out, our team held their annual planning meeting. It was a nice time to put aside some of the stressors of the past month with packing and cleaning and selling, as well as the healthcare for my friend. The days together were sweet fellowship, and a nice finale in the midst of most goodbyes not being able to happen. (Thankfully, a benefit of living in a small town is that I was able to see several of the children that were in my ministries, while out and about the last month I was there.)
In my last letter, I shared that my tickets had been canceled, and I was working towards getting them rebooked. Thankfully, after forty-some calls to the airline company, I was able to get new tickets, and they were not canceled again. I feel so blessed! So many of my missionary friends and acquaintances who have traveled in the last several months have had their tickets canceled many more times than mine were.
I left Moldova mid-August, flying with my cat, which was a new experience. The hassle of so much ticket and veterinarian run-around beforehand aside, this was by far the smoothest international trip of all I have taken, even with traveling with a pet and extra luggage. God is so good! I arrived safely in Washington state after about 26 hours of travel. Bella, my cat, did great, charmed the stewardesses and airport personnel, and is happily settled into her current state of lap cat with a bigger window for bird-watching. I am back adjusted to the time zone, mostly adjusted to the reverse culture shock of coming back to America, and have been spending time with my family these last couple of weeks.
I thank you all so much for your prayers and support these last several years. It has been a privilege to partner with you in ministering to the people of Moldova. The LORD has been ever so good – and continues to be!