Friday morning we all woke up and shared our devotional time.  Chris McInnish did a great job leading us in our devotions that week.  We then hopped in the van and headed for Providence for what we thought could be our last day there.  We were excited to see the kids....and sad that this could be our last time with them....
   We began our day by giving them actual copies of some of the photographs we had taken of them throughout the week.  We even gave them copies of some of the pictures they had taken (remember they took like 200 of the sky and trees in one day).  They were all SO excited to have actual pictures of themselves in their hands....to KEEP.  You should have seen the pride and joy on their faces.  After we gave them the pictures, we began making picture frames.  Having something that belongs to you...that is uniquely yours....it can change your life...Our plan was to let them choose one picture to frame...well we had SOOO many extra frames (we got 300 frame kits for $12 from Oriental trading...crazy, huh?) we decided to let them make more...and that they did...check it out....Do you see the rest of Maxim's pile o' pics to the left?  They each ended up making AT LEAST 4 (some made MANY more)

   We did SOOO many crafts with the kids that day...I will tell you all about the rest of the day another time...for now...I just want to share some of my favorite shots that the kids took of themselves, the sky, or each other...I think you will love them too...don't worry I won't share all 500 total!

Isn't this postcard or magazine ready?  Maxim and Vadim really have an eye...and that Moldovan sky is GORGEOUS!

Maxim took this picture of his brother, Vadim, from the window on the third floor or the building...don't you love the perspective in this shot?  Wow...he's sooo talented!

I love love LOVE this one!  Maxim's self -shot...he actually had several of these that included his entire face...but for some reason I love this one the most!

Maxim and Luida walked around the orphanage photographing...he posed her in the wildflowers...how precious is this?

Maxim photographing his brother Vadim:)

No...Luida is not upset with Patrick...its just a sour straw...which she LOVED!  Maxim took this picture too...he and Vadim LOVED the camera!

I just love this one...because...well...Brian looks so cute in it:)

Valentina and Vica REALLY loved Mrs. Heather's nice camera...I believe this picture was taken right before they dropped it:)  But good camera take a licking and keep on ticking!  Valentina is a serious photographer:)

My all time favorite photo.  To me this self-portrait captures her innocence and beauty...and her personality all in one.  I think this picture could be entered in contests and win...maybe its because I met this darling child and got to know her...and her life story....and the hope that she now has...I don't know...but I love this picture.

   I am glad I blogged about this today...reminded me that back in June I decided that I would get a camera for Maxim and Vadim for Christmas!  I must go do that now...it might not make it in time...but I KNOW they will love it!

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That's right friends....I deserve punishment for the time I have spent away from you all....Its been almost TWO months since my last post.  I will do better!  I promise!  Right now...you ALL need to say a prayer for me...pray that I will have tenacity and make time to blog.   I REALLY want to share my story...I just don't do so hot with time management.  I have sooo much to tell you about life and Moldova!
      Christmas is my favorite time of the year...and I wish I could spend it with the kids in Moldova....maybe someday:)   Shout out to my mother -in - law (the GREATEST Mother in LAW ever!!!) she responded to my previous post and helped sponsor shoe boxes for Moldova!!!  You can still help out this Christmas season...its the perfect gift for someone who has everything...www.stellasvoice.org.
 OK...let me get you up to speed with things...you may need to go back and refresh yourself...I will give you the Cliff Notes of our Moldova story so far...but first let me share some other things. 
 In the last two months I have:
*  BEEN LOVING my job.  Really I have the most amazing students and parents and coworkers ever!  I am so blessed.
* Got to help PCM with their Christmas Project for Moldova.  I should have photographed our house....It was FULL of all the AMAZING donations of Christmas Gifts my friends provided.  Have I mentioned that I have the most awesome and giving friends?  We were able to sponsor 15 girls from Stella's House for Christmas...and my friends are good present buyers:)  I would like to give a little shout out to 3 special friends- Karen Vance, Savannah and Chris Bowden...They showed up and showed out...without being asked, these 3 came and helped Brian and I catalog and wrap all the gifts...it was a big job...and they brought love and laughter to it!  Also-my school nurse, Tracy Phillips wrapped 18 paper ream boxes by herself!!!!.  Who needs Santa's elves when you have friends like mine?  I mean REALLY!
*Have been praying about God's calling in our lives with some amazing friends.
*  Attended Bruce Wilkinson's "You Were Born for This" Conference...If you haven't read it...you should...life changing stuff:)
*Had a wonderful Thanksgiving Break with Brian and our chosen family (dear friends) and our extended family (who I think I would chose to by mine any way...they are pretty great)....I have sooo much to be thankful for this year!
* Felt full of love for Moldova...wanted to be there....missed the kids there....and began planning our mission trip there this summer!!!!!



OK-Cliff Notes of Moldova (Feel free to go back and read my previous posts...they are much more informative than this).  In June 2011, Brian and I went to Moldova to work with Philip Cameron Ministries.  We were blessed with the opportunity to serve at both Stella's House and Providence Orphanage.  Working with those kids was life changing and life affirming all at the same time...we know God is going to use Moldova in a big way in our life story.  The kids of Moldova are always in my dreams and in my heart.  My very last post that was on topic about our trip was about our next to last day at the orphanage.  We all began to sense that our time with the kids there would end...and none of us wanted it to...we left with heavy hearts that day.....now read the next post for more of the story:)

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My it has been tooo long sweet friends...did you think I would never post again?  I still have too much to say....and I have been journaling it....just not cyber journaling it:)  Right now...there is a precious two week old boy in the room with me...don't be shocked and think I left some important information out of my story...or forgot to tell you big news...he is the foster child of one of our church friends...I begged them to let me keep him...and MY he is precious...but I decided...I would not make another excuse for not blogging...the time has come...my heart still has soo much to tell you...OK...little man is crying...I will be right back...I'm not giving up! :)

OK...so....right now I miss Moldova so much I can't stand it.  I keep looking at pictures the girls post from Stella's House and the orphanage...and I just wish I could be there...Brian does too...I am already looking forward to our mission trip this summer.  If you are interested, let me know.  Our church has 2 trips planned for June!  I am counting down the days!  I wish I could go over for Christmas...but...I don't think I can....but I do have the extreme honor of "assisting" with getting Christmas sponsors for 15 of the girls at Stella's House...I was worried I wouldn't be able to find enough sponsors...but...the people in my life are amazing...and we got all 15 "sponsored".  My friends ROCK!!!!  Brian and I have had sooo much fun putting this together...shopping for teenage girls is so much fun.  Shopping for orphans is truly a blessing...There are opportunities for you to help too!

As you may recall from This post ....I have vowed to not let holidays and birthdays be celebrated with a focus on myself...while my human nature makes this difficult...Brian and I have decided to give to the kids of Moldova this Christmas...we would LOVE for you to join us...there are MANY ways you can help...you can donate money to PCM for general operating costs (believe me heating the orphanage and Stella's Houses in the winter is very expensive)....and you can also assist with their Christmas Shoe Box Ministry for the Orphans of Moldova...you can find more about it by clicking -->Christmas Shoe Box.

If you are not in a position to help financially, remember....PRAYER is IMPERATIVE for the orphans of Moldova...Pray for their health, safety, and well-being...pray that God puts kind and loving people in their paths who can show them and tell them about Christ's love for them.

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Hello again friends!  Just as I feared...life has gotten the best of me...the "real world" is taking my time and I am not listening to God calling me to share my heart with you.  I may not post every day friends...but I WILL be posting every week...so check back! 
      I want to officially wrap up Day 2 (remember this is day 2 at the orphanage). 
After leaving Cupcui...Maxim's words haunted my heart...Tomorrow?  Would I return tomorrow.  He followed us down the drive way waving goodbye to us...and smiling...because we told him we would return... My heart said that I wanted to return every day that I possibly could.
      We were a bit of a solemn group after our departure from Cupcui that day...it wasn't our last day...but we new a last day would come.  We were all quiet...no silly songs were sung that day...we were tired physically and emotionally...and spiritually.  I again pleaded with God in my head...to reveal His will for me.  Why had he burdened my heart for Moldova?  Why couldn't I get it out of my head?  Why did He bring me here?  What was His purpose in all of this?  What did I have to give to these kids?  I am No One Special...I am just an Ordinary girl.  I wish I could tell you that God immediately answered all of the questions in my heart....but He didn't answer them all...but he continues to reveal Himself to me...

He answered one of those questions back at the house that night as we shared dinner with our Scottish friends and some of the girls from Stella's House (Galina made us some yummy manka...its like a sweet cream of wheat dish...YUMMO!)
The village house is NOT a big house...so having the 8 of us who were staying there...plus the 5 who came to join us for dinner.......well...lets just say it was a TIGHT fit.  After we ate our delicious meal...Elizabeth and I sat in the front hallway with one of the girls and looked through some of the treats we had brought.  We had some makeup for the girls at Stella's House and this particular girl had some amazing eye makeup talents...Elizabeth and I just sat and visited with her....and asked her about her story. 

She, like Galina, had lived at Cupcui....Philip Cameron's presence there changed her life.
 Let me tell you her story...Its a heartbreaking story.  Pray for her as you read this...she was raised with an alcoholic father.  He beat her mother often.   Her home was void of love.  One day she witnessed her father beat her mother to death.  This poor child witnessed the murder of her mother.  After seeing the conditions in her home, the mayor of the town said that she must be put in the orphanage at Cupcui.  She lived there for a little while...and then through changes in laws and authorities...she ended up in the home of her aunt.  Her life there was not much different from her life in the orphanage.  Her aunt only wanted her to help around the house.  She was brought in to the house strictly for her potential to serve the family...not out of love.  She did not welcome her in to her home.  Her uncle's treatment was even worse.  Eventually her aunt became concerned that the Uncle would rape her.  So she sent her back to the orphanage at Cupcui.  The orphanage was a cold and sad place before PCM came in.  At  Cupcui, she cried alone in her bed every night...wondering why no one loved her.  She was still just a child. 
Then one Christmas when she was 11, a cheerful American (with a Scottish accent), came into her life...and changed it forever...Let me tell you what she told me...He came and brought Christmas gifts to the kids.  They had been performing a Christmas Play and this stranger clapped and cheered and asked them to do it again.  The kids were all so excited.  Then he stayed and visited with them...what she remembers MOST from that day....is that it was when she received her FIRST hug.  This poor girl was 11 years old and had never been hugged.  Can you imagine that?  I can't go a DAY without a hug.   That hug changed her life forever.  The Camerons have become family for her.  They took her in to Stellas House...She speaks AMAZING English AND she hopes to come to Auburn University this fall!  She is a beautiful and intelligent young girl.  Even bigger than that...they taught her about Jesus and she just LOVES HIM!!!  How amazing is that?  God can do so many things through us when we heed His call on our lives. 

Her story kind of got me thinking about the blessings of my life...and how God is going to use who I am to change this world.  A lot of times I feel like God first needs to CHANGE who I am before I can make any difference.  I am great at telling God all the things he needs to fix in me...I tell Him..God I'm not smart enough...I'm too goofy...I'm not well spoken...and get this I even tell God I am not pretty enough...I mean really...who uses THAT as an excuse?  When has God ever mentioned calling the beautiful?  I don't know.  But this girl's story made me think....You know what?  God made me a little different...He made me quirky...He made me compassionate...He made me want to hug every single person I ever meet...is it weird?  Perhaps!  But HE made me that way and HE is going to use me just the way I am.  Isn't that refreshing? You don't have to be anybody but yourself for God to use you!
You know what I made SURE to do the next day at CUPCUI?  I hugged every single one of those kids all day long! (Don't worry I had already hugged them the days before too...but I did it with renewed zeal!) I didn't worry if they thought it was weird or strange....I just did it! And you know what?  They hugged me back! 

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