Extra Hats

My life has been non-stop recently as I try to fill more shoes than just my own; or wear extra hats, if you will. It's been challenging and exhilirating and frustrating and humbling but definitely not boring. Good thing, because I simply don't do boring. So, I haven't been bored. But I have been learning more about what it means to depend on the Lord and to draw from the strength that only He can give. And I have been growing in my appreciation of the awesome team I work with, especially some of the people who work side by side with me in leadership and who are such an incredible encouragement. One of the exciting things on our team at this point in time is that we are rapidly developing national leadership and watching our Moldovan brothers and sisters assume major responsibilities is a wonderful answer to prayer.

So although I am acting Team Leader right now (hat #1), I am not alone in that, with Eugen right by my side helping in every challenge that arises and bringing a wisdom and maturity beyond his years. And although I lead the Personnel Department (hat #2), each member of my team shoulder their responsibilities competently and willingly accept whatever I delegate to them. Next week we begin to run a marriage preparation course for the suddenly many couples on our team who could benefit from some input, especially related to cross-cultural romances. My personnel department stepped right up to the plate to help with this program, planning to prepare a meal for each of 5 evenings to facilitate the 'date nights' for these couples.

And although I have been assigned oversight of the Training Department (hat #3) due to the recent unexpected departure of their leader, again there is a team who are familiar with their responsibilities and open to share and to work together in the way that will best accomplish the goals of this department. They're prepared to handle the training course that will begin next month and are already presenting and recruiting for it through this month. All I have to do is help to coordinate things and approve what needs to be approved.

For the past two weeks since I returned from Germany my days have been filled to the brim. But I am so grateful for what God is doing. The other day while helping our head of Relief to put together a project report about the Day Centres that we help the churches to run for poor children, I discovered that through this project 27 Moldovans are being employed full-time! In a country where so much of the employable population has left to work in other countries, this is a huge blessing for these families. And as I hear stories and reports from our ministry teams I realize that all the leadership and coordination of various departments is simply the background fabric of what God is accomplishing here in Moldova through His people who have chosen to dedicate their lives to serving Him by serving the poor. I am humbled to be part of such a team . The picture on the left was taken during Christmas outreach programs by our local ministry team in the north of Moldova. You can see that even though there is a woodstove in the back of the church, everyone still has their coats on. This has been and still is a very cold winter and when you are living and working in the villages you are just ALWAYS cold!

My life in the city of Chisinau is easier than those who live in the villages. My apartment is not especially warm but it is warm enough and can be quite cozy at times, especially when friends come to visit. The other evening I had some friends over for supper. Melanie has just arrived from the US for three months to serve with our team here, hoping to find some ongoing direction for God's call in her life as she serves in the villages of the north with our team there. Cristina is a Moldovan woman who used to be on our team and will soon be heading off to Costa Rica to marry a man there and settle in a new country. She is full of excitement and nervous anticipation of the new life that lays before her. Alida is from Holland and serves on our team in communication and in relief ministries. Alida has been in Moldova for about 2 years now and always has good stories to tell and an enthusiam that is contagious in her youthful forthrightness. She is helping out in our department right now while Claudia is on furlough and it's great to have her nearby to share moments of laughter and to ask for help with this or that from time to time. We had a great evening together and I just thought it was an interesting assortment of people - one coming, one going and one staying - all with hearts open to know and serve the Lord. I really really am ever so blessed.