Friday my host mom brought out a kiwi for me. Her daughter (Marianne--lives upstairs) had bought it for me in her daily run to the store. Doamna Dabija was like "I've never had one of those. I don't know how you eat it! Looks like a potatoe to me!"
Well, this morning she asked how it was--"you know! the potato!" she said. I had taken it with me to eat later in the day, had forgotten, and it was still in my bag. So, I got it, cut it up, and gave her a slice. She liked it. I did too. It was a shared cultural moment.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Moldova
Next Monday the Servant Team and some staff (Josh, Robin, Rachel, Iosif, and John) will take a train to Moldova for two weeks. We found out some more details about what we are doing this week. There is an organization there that has a group of homes in a camp. The site used to be a pioneer camp years ago (think Communist Girl and Boy Scouts), but has been purchased by the Pentacostal church in Moldova. Each house in the camp has a family that lives with (and ministers to) 10 kids. These kids have been orphaned or their parents are not able to take care of them. They go to school in Chisenau, and then live at this camp with families.
We will be staying with families, doing work on the school they are building at the camp, (hopefully!) working in the large garden, teaching a bit of English, and simply playing with the kids. Rachel, Iosif, and John are moving to Moldova in January 2010 to begin a Word Made Flesh site there. Right now they are really in the process of establishing relationships and community in Moldova. Hopefully the servant team will help with that. I really respect Rachel, Iosif, and John for moving there--right now they don't have a specific program, but know that there is a need and feel called to go there.
We watched a documentary (produced in 2006) about the sex trade in Eastern Europe. It followed the lives of two women, one from the Ukraine, and one from Moldova, who thought they were taking jobs in Turkey but it ended up they were sold. Sick. Taking a closer look at this reality made me wonder why God still bothers with us human beings. Sex trafficking is a huge problem in Moldova. More (and better) information can be found in the International Justice Mission website. Or here. Or, suggest other sites in which you have found information.
We will be staying with families, doing work on the school they are building at the camp, (hopefully!) working in the large garden, teaching a bit of English, and simply playing with the kids. Rachel, Iosif, and John are moving to Moldova in January 2010 to begin a Word Made Flesh site there. Right now they are really in the process of establishing relationships and community in Moldova. Hopefully the servant team will help with that. I really respect Rachel, Iosif, and John for moving there--right now they don't have a specific program, but know that there is a need and feel called to go there.
We watched a documentary (produced in 2006) about the sex trade in Eastern Europe. It followed the lives of two women, one from the Ukraine, and one from Moldova, who thought they were taking jobs in Turkey but it ended up they were sold. Sick. Taking a closer look at this reality made me wonder why God still bothers with us human beings. Sex trafficking is a huge problem in Moldova. More (and better) information can be found in the International Justice Mission website. Or here. Or, suggest other sites in which you have found information.
Chapel
An overview of Chapel seems to shape up like this:
Monday through Thursday = chapel with the staff from 9-10. Each day is a bit different. Mondays during lent Rachel (staff member) is focusing on the topic of Lent. Tuesdays are a time for reading a passage of scripture three times and meditating and praying (Leccio Divina -- sp?). Wednesdays are set aside for one of the staff members to speak about one of the lifestyle celebrations of Word Made Flesh. Thursdays we sing and are reading through the Psalms. Tuesdays we usually have book study, and I am helping with Heart of the Child on Thursdays, so unless plans are rearranged, I only can attend on Mondays and Wednesdays. But I'll take it.
We will usually start with prayer and singing--Rachel or Magda plays guitar and leads singing in Romanian. I was actually pretty excited this week as I've been able to understand the page numbers in Romanian. It's the small things, people. The staff is gracious enough to read the Scripture in both Romanian and English, and then translate the talks. Thankfully!!
This month the lifestyle celebration has been simplicity. I've come away from those talks on simplicity with the understanding that it is more than just not buying a lot of clothes or having a lot of things. It is also about having a still and quiet heart--about being able to just be and be present with others. Simplicity can be about letting go of things we want to control but can't, at least in our mind and heart, and then giving God the space instead. My mind is always going--thoughts may not be formed in complete paragraphs-or even sentences, but it is whirring usually. Simplicity is also in stopping that whirring activity.
I get the picture that I am pulling this sled behind me--full of things I think I might need. It's like I'm trying to anticipate all the time what I think everyone else may need, and so I lug around this sled with a bunch of different hats (or whatever) that will enable me to fill a need or help somehow. And the simplicity that I'm learning about is this: it's like God says softly "Drop it, girl." And as I let go of the rope attached to this huge sled of stuff, my arms drop to my sides. Empty. I don't have to think about how I can fill a hole, but can just stop. And really see the other person (staff, child, servant team member). And listen well. And love well. And the secret worry that I have regarding being enough? Well, part of this learning to trust God will be that even though I feel a little naked without the sled o'tricks, that maybe I'll be able to be in the moment more and see individuals for who they are a little better. And this is scary because I feel more vulnerable, but it will enable me to be more open.
Okay, so how does this play out in reality? Not sure. But even the weak attempt to describe it, I think, gives me peace. Or a stillness, at least.
Monday through Thursday = chapel with the staff from 9-10. Each day is a bit different. Mondays during lent Rachel (staff member) is focusing on the topic of Lent. Tuesdays are a time for reading a passage of scripture three times and meditating and praying (Leccio Divina -- sp?). Wednesdays are set aside for one of the staff members to speak about one of the lifestyle celebrations of Word Made Flesh. Thursdays we sing and are reading through the Psalms. Tuesdays we usually have book study, and I am helping with Heart of the Child on Thursdays, so unless plans are rearranged, I only can attend on Mondays and Wednesdays. But I'll take it.
We will usually start with prayer and singing--Rachel or Magda plays guitar and leads singing in Romanian. I was actually pretty excited this week as I've been able to understand the page numbers in Romanian. It's the small things, people. The staff is gracious enough to read the Scripture in both Romanian and English, and then translate the talks. Thankfully!!
This month the lifestyle celebration has been simplicity. I've come away from those talks on simplicity with the understanding that it is more than just not buying a lot of clothes or having a lot of things. It is also about having a still and quiet heart--about being able to just be and be present with others. Simplicity can be about letting go of things we want to control but can't, at least in our mind and heart, and then giving God the space instead. My mind is always going--thoughts may not be formed in complete paragraphs-or even sentences, but it is whirring usually. Simplicity is also in stopping that whirring activity.
I get the picture that I am pulling this sled behind me--full of things I think I might need. It's like I'm trying to anticipate all the time what I think everyone else may need, and so I lug around this sled with a bunch of different hats (or whatever) that will enable me to fill a need or help somehow. And the simplicity that I'm learning about is this: it's like God says softly "Drop it, girl." And as I let go of the rope attached to this huge sled of stuff, my arms drop to my sides. Empty. I don't have to think about how I can fill a hole, but can just stop. And really see the other person (staff, child, servant team member). And listen well. And love well. And the secret worry that I have regarding being enough? Well, part of this learning to trust God will be that even though I feel a little naked without the sled o'tricks, that maybe I'll be able to be in the moment more and see individuals for who they are a little better. And this is scary because I feel more vulnerable, but it will enable me to be more open.
Okay, so how does this play out in reality? Not sure. But even the weak attempt to describe it, I think, gives me peace. Or a stillness, at least.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Friday
Word Made Flesh is committed to serving those who are most vulnerable amoung the poor.
The Casa Valle in Galati has focused on working with kids who are at risk for living on the streets. The center is in the low income part of this 225,000 person city, and the kids who are part of the program can get tutoring, meals, showers, among other help. The staff are committed to the community and helping the kids in a holistic manner.
So how do I react with kids on the streets who are begging? Will some change really help their livelihood? Do I offer food? I can't hold a conversation or suggest being a part of Casa Valle because I can't speak the language yet. We are reading Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger, and more than an ideal book about how we in the West should spend our resources, the questions and stats given in this book have a face for me.
The fact is, I may not have much, but I have money.
Friday night Caitlin and I were walking back from babysitting and were meeting the rest of our Servant Team and Robin at a restaurant. A boy, probably about 8 or 9, came up and was begging. I looked at him in the eyes but kept walking. I didn't give any of the change in my pocket. Was that humanizing? What that right? Shouldn't I have given him something? Even if giving change doesn't answer the problem, was my interaction respectful? Very little separates this young boy that followed us for a block from Cristi or Vanush or Alex or Christina at Casa Vale. And the little isn't a matter of money. Opportunity, maybe? I would give anything to keep those kids off the streets. Why is it different for this boy? Or the kids begging in front of church this morning?
The restaurant, it turns out, was pretty fancy. The place setting kind of looked like the cover of Rich Christians.
I don't have an answer.
Much love,
Annie
The Casa Valle in Galati has focused on working with kids who are at risk for living on the streets. The center is in the low income part of this 225,000 person city, and the kids who are part of the program can get tutoring, meals, showers, among other help. The staff are committed to the community and helping the kids in a holistic manner.
So how do I react with kids on the streets who are begging? Will some change really help their livelihood? Do I offer food? I can't hold a conversation or suggest being a part of Casa Valle because I can't speak the language yet. We are reading Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger, and more than an ideal book about how we in the West should spend our resources, the questions and stats given in this book have a face for me.
The fact is, I may not have much, but I have money.
Friday night Caitlin and I were walking back from babysitting and were meeting the rest of our Servant Team and Robin at a restaurant. A boy, probably about 8 or 9, came up and was begging. I looked at him in the eyes but kept walking. I didn't give any of the change in my pocket. Was that humanizing? What that right? Shouldn't I have given him something? Even if giving change doesn't answer the problem, was my interaction respectful? Very little separates this young boy that followed us for a block from Cristi or Vanush or Alex or Christina at Casa Vale. And the little isn't a matter of money. Opportunity, maybe? I would give anything to keep those kids off the streets. Why is it different for this boy? Or the kids begging in front of church this morning?
The restaurant, it turns out, was pretty fancy. The place setting kind of looked like the cover of Rich Christians.
I don't have an answer.
Much love,
Annie
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