I love helping people.  Ya know? It feels so good to hold a door for someone, to take dinner to someone (even if I just picked it up at Zoe's) or carry a burden for someone.  Brian is that way too.  He is at his finest when he is serving others.  Doing things for others just feels so natural.  Its this warm and wonderful niche that God made for us.  Interestingly enough....it is incredibly difficult and uncomfortable for us(Team Jones) to allow someone else to serve us.  It just feels weird.  I don't even feel right when people want to bring food to my house just for fun.  My issue with this must be pride related. I can remember when my Grandfather passed away and my family had a very rough week with transitioning my grandmother into a nursing home and grieving and everything that happens with the loss of a loved one.  Two of my dearest friends brought me food....because....well they knew me and they knew that even though I was smiling that I was literally exhausted.  It was LITERALLY the one time in my life that I felt being served was acceptable.  I felt broken and weary...and well...I needed someone to stand in the gap for me....to nourish me-not just physically -with a yummy meal...but emotionally....with support....the sight of foil wrapped casseroles was like a balm to my heart. 
It should't take grief to break down my pride.  I want to be that broken and open and allow others to pour their love in to me...and not be prideful and say...I can do this.  I am not 100% sure why I have always had an "I can do it myself" kind of attitude (I blame my favorite book as a child- Sesame Street's "I can do it myself")...but I think of the thousands of times that I have blocked the servant hearts of others because I was proud or uncomfortable.  I  know that God is seeking to change that about me (and Brian).  With all that is going on in our lives, we are having to allow others to serve us....if we are to accomplish all that we need to accomplish before our big move....we have to do what is uncomfortable...we have to not only allow people to help us....but (gasp).....we must ask for help.  That is the scariest thing about our upcoming move.  Following God's call on our life isn't scary.  It is necessary....its like air or water...we need to follow His call to live.  Allowing other people to help us follow the call....well, that is just where God is bending and stretching and stretching and bending us....and I know it will be good.  I know God has it all under control.  But, that doesn't mean that it isn't uncomfortable.  Pray for me to just take this pride off.  I cannot do it myself.  I need HIM every moment of every day...and I need to allow Him to use other people to see His plan for my life come to fruition!

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Things are changing in our life ever so quickly.  Really.  I mean it is crazy.  At any other point in our faith journey, Brian and I would not have been able to make it through the day to day with the amount of uncertainty that lies ahead of us.  But, right in this moment, we both feel more calm about our future than we ever have....and we have NO IDEA what it holds or should hold.  In case you don't know, the ONLY way we are peaceful about the future is because we know WHO holds it.  Brian said it best (recently in an article our church did about our love for Moldova-You can read it here.)  What he said was, he (Brian) first went to Moldova to protect me (if protecting people and keeping them safe was a love language-it would be his y'all-seriously)....but somewhere along the way he realized...he wasn't the one protecting me....HE was.  The Great I am...the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.  When you realize, truly understand in the depths of your soul, who holds the future....the future seems to not be quite as scary as it once was.  I'm not saying all fear is gone...Im saying the fear doesn't cripple you...Knowing Who holds the future means that you know WHO to call on when things get crazy...when the waters are rising.....Anyway, I say all that to lead into a song.  I am sure you have heard it.  They play it on K-LOVE and WAYFM and all the cool Christian stations.  This song has been in my heart for almost a year now.  Of course, the first time I truly listened to the song was in Moldova....now every single time I hear it...I "hear" it being sung in heartfelt worship with beautiful Moldovan accents....what a beautiful way God lets me connect with my family and friends in Moldova...Now this song ALWAYS brings Moldova to mind for both of us-for so many reasons.  The song is "Oceans" by Hillsong United.  You can listen to it here.  Let me tell you what the lyrics mean to us...and how God is using this song to offer us peace for our journey...God uses this song to calm us and confirm us.  This song washes over us....like peaceful waves....and it helps us truly focus on resting in His embrace and finding Him in the chaos and the storms of life.  He is calling us to places that are unknown, where we may fail miserably...but we know He is there....waiting for us to step out of the boat.      Listen to it...but truly read the words...these are lyrics to live by:)

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Hello Friends!  I haven't spent any time on my blog in a VERY VERY long time.  I would hang my head in shame....but right this minute I have no shame about it....because I have been living life.  The life that God has given me and there is no shame in that.  It has been TWO YEARS since my last blog entry.  I must do better.  Do you mind if I show the highlight reel of the last two years?  Two weeks ago they celebrated Christmas in Moldova with all of our sweet friends...In honor of their Christmas celebration, I think I might just use part of our Christmas Card because I didn't send those out the last two years either:)

Here is what our Christmas letter said (for the most part-a few details both minor and major will be shared with you later).  Mind you, the letter was on super cute Christmas themed paper with peppermint stripes and green polka dots...I feel that is important for you to know:

In the past two years we have not sent out our Christmas cards, so we decided to do the infamous "Christmas Letter" this year (cue awesome Holiday music).  I hope this letter finds you and yours doing well!  So what in the world has been going on in our lives that might require a Christmas letter to communicate it?  I'm glad you asked.:)  Here is a small snippet of our story.

In the spring of 2008, I heard a man speaking on my local Christian radio station on my way to work.  He was talking about a place called Moldova and educating the audience about what happens to children in this tiny country when they "age-out" of the orphanage.  He talked about the reality of sex-trafficking and the lack of value placed on the lives of children.  I won't tell you every detail, because quite frankly it breaks my heart every single time I hear their stories.  But, what I will tell you is what God is doing in this tiny country and in the hearts of Brian and Kathryn Jones.

After much prayer and discussion, we talked with our missions pastor at church and convinced him that I needed to go to Moldova.  God was just breaking my heart for these kids over and over and over.  Everywhere I turned, he was pointing us to Moldova.  This seemed an unlikely thing, because before I hear that man on the radio I never even knew Moldova existed.  So after three years of prayer, Brian and I finally made the trip to Moldova in June 2011.  Believe me the process leading up to the trip was a miracle in and or itself.  You will hear about that someday too.  :)  Anyway, we made our first trip to Moldova in June 2011, and our lives have NEVER EVER EVER BEEN THE SAME.

A lot has happened in between that first trip and now.  But we just want to give you the highlights.  This is very difficult for me because I really want to tell you every single story and miracle and amazing whisper from God that we have experienced.  Here is the short story.  We went to Moldova.  We fell in love with the country and her people.  Our hearts were BROKEN by the lack of hope and love.  God began to move mountains in our hearts and in our path.  

So, I bet you are thinking-Kathryn and Brian are about to adopt from Moldova.  Well, that is not entirely out of the picture.  However, right now God is calling us to really follow James 1:27.  "Religion that God our father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."  He has placed an extremely loud and clear call on our lives that we have been sifting through since we first set foot on Moldovan soil in 2011. 

(The rest of the letter goes on to share some details from our trips with our families....We will share all of that with you soon.    We have so many loved ones in Moldova now and we want to share about them with you too.)

The letter ends by saying.

I could literally fill pages and pages and pages with awesome stories from the last two years...but I know you are busy preparing for the holiday season.  We would love your prayers as we continue on this journey.  This Christmas season, we pray you remember the true reason, but we pray that you also truly feel His presence and His direction in your life.

Merry Christmas or Craciun Fericit!!!!

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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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Well...I'm just going to go on and tell you...they eat a LOT of bread in Moldova...and its yummy.  It smells good.  It looks good.  It tastes good...its a sensory experience.  They eat it with every meal...they just tear a piece off and snack.  We stopped at a bakery in Hincesti anytime we went in to the city.  The bakery had loaves of all shapes and sizes for people to buy.  They all served different purposes...some bread was softer...some crustier...some sweeter....every bread has a mission...When you choose the right bread for the right purpose the end result is even better...All of the bread was yummy...but it was best when it was served according to its purpose.  While the delicious Moldovan bread is worthy of a post of its own...it isn't the bread I am going to talk about today...as delicious and filling as Moldovan bread is....Today I am talking about a figurative bread....the bread of purpose. 

The bread of purpose refers to how the show bread, or bread of presence in the tabernacle of the Lords temple, relates to us as Christians and our own God-given purpose in this world.  Check out Leviticus 24:5-9 for the passage of scripture that relates to this bread...I am using the purpose quest website as a guide.  I won't hit on all the points...just the ones I want you to know.


I know that our plan for June 2011 was to go to Moldova and love on some precious children in a hopeless country.  His purpose was to rock our world in all kinds of ways.  He is daily opening up our eyes to reveal His purpose in our life. 

Here are a few morsels from the beginning of our Bread of Purpose...just pictures of the things/people God is using in our lives...to refine us...and reveal His plan to us...

The Girls at Stella's House

Maxim...gosh I miss that kid!!!

Brian and Pasa

Mia and Maxim

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Oh Friends...if I were Catholic I would go to confession for this!  Forgive me, for it has been 20 days since my last BLOG and you guys NEED to hear all of this!  I NEED to tell it....Let me catch you up on life real quick like...OK?

In the last 20 days I:

• Moved classrooms twice (with help from some sweet teenage friends)
• Got offered a job at my old school and accepted it
• Started School at my new place of employment :)  YEAH!
• Got 12 precious new students with disabilities to work with this year!
• Painted my living room and foyer in my house
• Went to a Women of Faith Event with my momma and met up with Nycole (she's in some of the pics on here)
• Saw the Stella's Voice girls at Evangel Temple and they just BLESSED my heart!!!!!  Please watch their video online!!!!!  They were in Huntsville this weekend at The Rock church...watch the video of that service here
• Felt CONVICTED to keep blogging about Moldova!  (I was also convicted by my friends and family too- THANKS COURTNEY and MRS. CONNIE)
• Celebrated my PRECIOUS husband's 33rd birthday...he is getting OLD:)

So now...I have retrieved my journal from the trip...and opened it up to the end of day 2...Remember I kind of finished that day?  Today's post will just be a quick hodge podge kind of story

Did I tell you that there are a LOT of horse and buggies still in use in Moldova?  Especially in the villages.  On the second day, we decided to take a little walking tour of Sarata Noa, the village where we were staying.  We took our new friend, Peter with us.    Here are a few pictures:

Vineyard in the Village

The fellas talking and discussing various crops in the village

Wagon full of hay...that was all chopped and loaded by hand

Horse and Buggy

This fella in the wagon here stopped to talk to us during our walk.  I had learned a teensy bit more Romanian than everyone else had...so I spoke to him and said "hi!" and I told him my name...I'm such a show off some times.   He continued talking to me.  I told him "Nu vorbesc Romaneste"  That means....I don't SPEAK Romanian.  He then asked if I spoke Moldovan...which happens to also be Romanian....I told him "nu"  He kept on conversing with me...so I thought...hmm...he thinks I just don't speak it....maybe I should tell him I don't understand it either...so I then told him "Nu intelleg Romaneste"  That means I don't UNDERSTAND Romanian...well bless his heart if he didn't just keep on talking to me...you know what?...I think he just needed someone to shoot the breeze with and I was a willing listener...and I wasn't going to disagree with him...because he knew good and well I couldn't speak it or understand it.  He just needed someone with ears to hear.

When we got back to the house...our delicious dinner was ready (thanks to Mia and Nycole).  That was the night we shared such good fellowship with everyone.  We visited with the girls...ate the yummy Manka (the cream of wheat like dish) played Trivial Pursuit (and my team DOMINATED)...and that was the first night I heard about regular cards...gosh I really can't wait to tell you about regular cards!!! 

This was a silly little story for you...tomorrow's blog topic will be the Bread of Purpose...because God really has a purpose for The two of us and Moldova is a part of it somehow....Come back tomorrow!
My apologies for the absence!!!!

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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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I had lunch with a precious friend of mine today...and I got to tell her the WHOLE story of Moldova.  I am so thankful that my friends continue to give me opportunities to pour my heart out about this country.  Who knows how God is going to use us?  I cannot WAIT to see how HIS plan unfolds!

Day 2  Continued (Yes...I am That slow to wrap up each day!)

It was such a great day...remember we made visors, stained glass, and slap bracelets with the kids...and we learned BELT.  During our afternoon art extravaganza, we let the kids go to the "treasure box" it was full of all the random toys and treats that we had.  They each get to pick 2-3 items from the box.  They LOVED it.  Several of the boys chose kazoos and couldn't quite figure them out...and when they did...we all wished they hadn't :)  We also had hair bow time with the girls...we had collected various hair bows and barrettes and headbands...and we let all the girls pick some.  Our PRECIOUS friend Emily Roach made BEAUTIFUL handmade bows for us to share with the girls at Providence.  Look how cute the girls look with the bows...They really enjoyed them! 

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This will probably be the MOST RANDOM post to date:)  Be patient.

Well...starting back to school has thrown off my blogging game friends!  Please don't forget about me!   My preschool special education program got moved to a new school this year (the newest school I have EVER worked in) and I have been working in my super cool classroom!  Those of you who are teachers understand how awesome it is to have a classroom that actually has cabinets, cubbies, and a bathroom in it!  AMAZING! (Feel free to pray for my classroom and me this school year).   But I digress!  BACK TO MOLDOVA!!  (Side Note-I wish I really could go back to Moldova right this second and hug those sweet girls at Stella's House AND the sweet huggable children at Providence!)

ADDITIONAL SIDE NOTE-You would not believe me if I told you all the things that have transpired in the last few weeks...God is still doing big things in our life.  He is daily teaching us...and giving us opportunities to fully rely on Him...Its just crazy.  You know what?...even when it might seem like He isn't there...He is.

I tried SO hard to upload the Belt video for you guys...you  would not believe how hilarious it is...I'm gonna have to get a friend to help me...you need to see that game in ACTION!!!  If you wanna have a game night, let me know...Belt is not the only game we learned...we also learned "Regular Cards" (which will have its very own post soon) AND Phase 10 dice! 

Followers of this blog...you know what has been missing from my last few posts???  

PICTURES!!!  Here are a few...to remind you of why I am blogging!  These precious kids...and what they mean to me and to God!

I have posted this one once before...but gosh I love this picture...you see she is COVERED with temporary tattoos and just so proud of herself!

This is the bus station at Cupcui...Vans/Buses travel through the country side crammed FULL of people taking them to various destinations.

Maxim!!!  Gosh I love this kid...he is just so amazing and outgoing...This is a self portrait he took...look how serious he is about photography(he is usually Mr. Smiles).

Maxim took this picture of me!  I can't imagine anything in the world that would make my day better than Maxim and a camera...he and his brother are completely fascinated with them! Maxim actually framed one of the pictures he took of me...isn't that sweet?

Elizabeth playing with Danu- TRANSLATION-Danu throwing dirt at Elizabeth...this was one of his favorite games...he played throw the dirt at Brian too:)

This was a HODGE PODGE kind of post.  I appreciate your patience...but if you know me...you KNOW I am random...I still have SOOO much to share!  I know my blog is full of emotional ups and downs...sometimes there are hilarious stories to share...and sometimes there are heart wrenching stories to share...Many of these children have had very difficult and horrible lives...but through God they can smile...and laugh...and be the funny kids that they are...

 Please continue to pray for the people of Moldova...and continue to pray for us as we discern what His plan is for us.

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Good morning friends!  I am back!  I spent this week at an Autism training for work...and did not have my laptop with me!  Please don't think that I have finished pouring out my heart about Moldova...because quite frankly...I don't think that is going to happen anytime soon.  Moldova still consumes me...I think about it every single day.  Brian and I talk about it EVERY single day.  (Thanks for your prayers, by the way-cause it is still in our hearts).  The whole time I was at the training...I kept having sensory memories of Moldova (for those of you who don't know what that is...its not some new agey thing...it just meant I was remembering the smells, sights, sounds, etc of Moldova).  I went to sleep each night praying for the kids at Providence by name and for all the girls at Stella's House by name too.  In case you can't tell...they have just over taken my heart...and I cannot wait to see them all again!  Luckily I can "see" the kids at the orphanage often.  I can look at my own pictures...or I can look at Galina's photos from each week at camp.  She has done an amazing job with camp.  After looking at the pictures, I REALLY want to go to camp.  They are having silly days...silly skits...singing songs...loving Jesus.  I am a goof ball...and the thought of dressing like a goober to make some orphans laugh is VERY appealing to me :) Now doesn't that sound amazing?  I just think Galina is the most amazing girl.  I know I have already told you all this.  But, keep praying for her.  Let me tell you how God put her on my heart this week...

Our church has been doing a series called "Real World Transformations"  looking at characters of the Faith from the Old Testament.  We have looked at Moses, Nehemiah, David, Elijah, and Jonah to name a few. Last week our teaching pastor (remember he is the one who got up SUPER early to do communion with us before we left for Moldova) taught about Esther.  You can click on that for the link to the sermon.

Let me just go on and digress for a minute...EVERY sermon we have heard since we got back from Moldova has made our hearts burn for that country even more.  So, as soon as the pastor began speaking I thought...
                OK God...how is it going to be about Moldova this time?  I really did say that to God. 

I knew it was going to be about Esther, because the awesome intro REAL WORLD video was about Esther.  So...I kind of got comfortable in my seat.  I mean, How in the world could Esther's story remind me of Moldova, right?  I am just so dense some times!

Our Pastor started the sermon off by saying...Esther was an orphan (Esther 2: 5-7).  I wrote on my sermon outline REALLY?  Brian and I laughed...I thought to myself...well that one was much more obvious God...didn't really think it would be that obvious.  I mean...REALLY?

Before I tell you about the sermon..let me just go on and tell you...throughout the WHOLE sermon I thought of Galina... from beginning to end.  Every STEP!  He also used the sermon to continue to burn our hearts for Moldova. 

OK...I am not going to do the story or the sermon justice...but here is my summary of it.  The outline part was very applicable to our current experience... It was all about Seeing your Moment and Seizing your moment.  Click on the Esther link above to watch it...it was GOOD STUFF...anyway... Esther's story and Galina's stories are so similar.  Esther, an orphan, was raised by her older cousin Mordecai.  When the king had to choose a new queen, he chose Esther (Esther 2:17).  Important side note-During those times, addressing the kind in his inner court without an invitation was punishable by death.  Esther got word, that her people, the Jews were being mistreated and killed throughout the kingdom.  While Esther initially did not want to risk her life, liberty, etc....she knew that she must be the one to address the king on behalf of her people.  Mordecai reminded her that perhaps (she) had come in to royal dignity for such a time as this (Esther 4:14).  Esther found favor with the king...and was given an opportunity to save her people.  She risked her life to address the king in his inner court and save her people.  This was an OVER SIMPLIFIED version of Esther's story.

I don't know if you see the Galina in this....but I do.  Galina, while initially hesitant to return to Cupcui, the orphanage where she lived during her childhood, she knew that God had put her in a place to "save her people".  To offer hope, love, and joy to the her people....the children in the orphanage at Cupcui.  God found favor with her...and has been preparing her for her whole life...for "such a time as this."  Isn't that amazing?  I e-mailed Galina this week and told her how much she reminded me of Esther.  That she was doing amazing things for her people.  Keep praying for her friends.  She is doing BIG things for His kingdom...and for her people.

If you haven't read the Book of Esther before.  You should.  You may also want to consider watching the Movie a Night with the King (its on Netflix instant).

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OK...friends...I am going to tell you about a very fun game that we played while at the orphanage...its wild and crazy and beyond our understanding of fun in the U.S.  But I just have to tell you about it!  On our 2nd day at the orphanage (remember this was when we met our new Scottish friends), we were outside playing with the kids...and we asked one of the girls from Stella's House to teach us a Moldovan game.  We had discussed learning a Moldovan game and playing it with the kids...and then teaching them an "American" game.  Well...the young lady began telling us about a game called Belt.  (CAUTION-This game, like many games in Moldova, requires physical contact...this one just includes physical contact with a belt...the Americans did NOT make up this game...it is a REAL game that the kids in orphanages in Moldova enjoy playing...so don't be scared or offended by it).  I have a video for you to watch!  I have tried to post it several times...I will keep trying...my computer and the blogger website just did not want that video to post...I will try again!  Wow...I digress in a big way.  Back to the story of Belt!
OK...so we are all standing around as the game is explained to us...our mouths are agape...because it all sounds quite ludicrous.  When she is finished explaining it, I ask..."Did you just make that up?"  That's how crazy it sounded to all of us!  So here is the break down of the rules of Belt.  You stand in a circle that is two people deep.  So essentially there is an outer circle and then an inner circle that stands right in front of the outer circle.  One person has a belt (YES-a belt that you wear) and they run around the outer circle and chase the person who is "it".  Guess how they tag the person who is it?  They get them with the belt!  (Originally I wrote whip...but I thought that might scare you all away).  When you get "tagged"/spanked with the belt the person throws the belt down and then the tagged person starts chasing them...at any time they can jump in front of someone in the inner circle and the person on the outer circle has to start running!  It is crazy.  Kids everywhere in Moldova play this game...luckily our friends reminded the kids to be gentle with the Americans:)  What you will not see on the video is me starting the game off with a spanking...and it just happened to be from the oldest boy at Cupcui...and he let me have it....Andrian LOVED all things athletic...he gave every physical activity his all...even jumping rope...so of COURSE he would give a game of belt his all...as crazy as it all sounds...this game was so fun...you can hear me laughing hysterically all through the video...Its REALLY long..but watch it...its funny.  The sweet voice you hear is my husband...he video taped it all.  We are hoping to have a BELT game day soon...who wants to join us? :)
After we played Belt...we taught them kick ball...it was kind of a dud after Belt...and to think we were worried that teaching them dodge ball would be too violent!  Hahaha!

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Hi friends...don't give up on me just yet!  I took a week off from blogging because I was at a Professional Development Conference for teachers:)  AND I will be at another one this week...but I am taking a laptop because I just have to much to say:)  I am still on this journey to share about our trip to Moldova...and we are still very much on a journey to understand God's plan for us.  Let me just jump right back in to my story...we were on Day 2 at the orphanage (with a few detours). 

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