Magda Clopotel (WMF Romania staff) and I just returned to Galati from a four-day trip to Moldova in which we looked for host families for our staff moving to Moldova, met with a lawyer to discuss the process of obtaining living permits and presented our vision for WMF Moldova to a class of social work students and at a local church. As we draw closer and closer to the big move date (January 15), I stand amazed as I remember the dream God placed in my heart over two years ago and humbled as I realize that I will be joined by five other people who share this same vision.
Some ways you can join us in prayer over the next few weeks:
1) Pray that our team of six people would be united in spirit across our diverse cultural, economic and denominational backgrounds. Although we come from three different countries, we want to be a sign of the new humanity mentioned in Ephesians 2:15 (TNIV).
2) Pray that people would join us through financial support as each of our staff members must raise 100% of their salary and other financial needs. Pray that we would trust God in this time, believing that our needs will be met.
3) Pray for the relationships we will build with the most vulnerable of the poor in Moldova, especially with children who have been abandoned. We will be volunteering with several organizations that have ministries for children as we continue to pray for specific direction in the ministry we will eventually establish.
4) Pray that we would find a suitable host family for each staff member as well as an apartment that we will use for our office/meeting space. Until now, our search has not been very fruitful.
5) Pray for the transition that will take place in our lives on January 15. For some of us, this will be the first time we’ve ever moved to a new city, let alone a new country. For all of us, we will be adjusting to a new culture, a new language, new community relationships and a new city as we also grieve the goodbyes we will have said to those back home. Pray for much grace during this time.
Thank you all for joining us in this new venture.
Praying for you and the team, John.
Exciting stuff. Praying for you all, and was so glad to see the pics from Rachel. Love from the Henriots.
John,
I am a friend of two past WMF staff members and came across your posts. What caught my interest was the fact you’re headed to Moldova, which I learned this year is considered one of the least ‘happiest’ countries in the world (if not the least happiest.)
The account I read of an American’s visit to Moldova portrayed it as dreary, gray and disheartened. The author stated how he came to realize even family members often don’t trust one another and that most people he got to know felt nearly hopeless.
I say this because Moldova truly seems to be one of the world’s darkest places, and a place that is crying out for the LOVE of Jesus, crying out for REAL transformation and crying out for HOPE. And a place like that is scary indeed, because it means the struggle will be great.
I wanted to let you know you now have a brother praying for you in Florida. I pray that God will provide strength in great measure for you and the team. I pray that He will overflow your cups so that everything He pours into you will fall upon those around you. I pray that God will invade Moldova through you and the team. I pray that His light will breakthrough the darkness that is holding so many of the Moldovan people captive. I pray that God will open doors for you and the team, and that Jesus will walk with you into the darkness, never leaving your side.
And I pray for protection over you from the enemy.
Please keep posting about the progress there, and thank you for being willing to go where so few would.