Easter / Pasen

A large part of the world is celebrating this weekend Easter! The most amazing celebration there is, I think. In Moldova we stick to the orthodox calendar and so we will celebrate Easter in about 5 weeks. But anyway, I wanted to share an old song that describes what happened during Easter.

Praise God, HE is alive and we can be forgiven and free!

       Happy and blessed Easter!                 Vrolijk en gezegend Pasen!

4 months = 5200 food parcels!

From December 2012 until March 2013 with help from about a 100 local churches all over Moldova many, MANY food parcels were distributed. Relationships were build, every month testimonies were heard about how people have turned to God after they has realized that He is the One who know them and cares for them. We praise God for all that has been done in the last winter and we are thankful that many lives have been blessed through a simple food parcel. Let us keep praying for all those families who experienced Gods Love!

A lady that has received every month a food parcel is Elisabeth. She is an optimistic lady. You would think that she had all the reasons in the world to complain, being blind, missing her right arm, walking with a stick but no, she is remains joyful and humorous. She is a real encouragement and example for others and helping out where she can. She doesn't ask quickly for help and many daily practical chores she does by herself: laundry, cooking, cleaning, etc. She was married to an older man and they had two children. At the moment she is living with one of her grandchildren but she tries to live as independent as possible in her part of the house. When she was younger she was working in special factory for people with sight problems. While working with one of the machines a piece of metal got stuck in her arm and because it wasn't removes properly, after it got infected, there was no other option than to amputate her arm. Elisabeth owned an apartment but because it was too expensive to keep, she sold it and bought a small house at the edge of the town Cahul, in the south of Moldova. When it rains or snows nobody can get out or in her street by car because the road is so bad. The food parcels she received were of great help because all the money Elisabeth receives per month she spends to heat her house and so after paying for the heating, there is no money left to buy food. For the last 4 months Elisabeth was living from the food parcels and this kept her alive. She is very thankful for these life saving parcels.

Below a video about how the food parcels get delivered and how it impacts people's lives:

God and I are living together!

While I enter the garden of the house we are going to deliver a food parcel to, my shoes sink about 10 cm deep in pure mud. I am trying to keep my balance and not fall down in the mud, while holding the food parcel and making sure that the plastic bag is not tearing apart. Out of the small house comes a small lady, slightly bending over and leaning on a stick. She is curious who we are and why we came. After I explained that we came to see how she is doing and to give her a parcel, she points out with her stick where we should put the food. Alexandra is 83 years old, nearly blind and starting to forget more and more things. When we ask her if she can get for us her passport so we can write down her details on the list, she shacks her head and says: "if only I could remember where I hide my passport. I will need to have a look..." She goes back into her one room house and I follow her. The smell is quite unpleasant and everywhere is dirt. Alexandra starts to dig between the 3 mattresses that are laying on her bed. Different things like icons, socks, insurance papers, medicines etc are found but not her passport....

When I see that she doesn't know where to look anymore, I suggest that she just signs the list and it will be oke. She agrees and slowly we move again towards the front door. There she signs the paper. I ask her: "Do you live by yourself?" She straightens her back and replies: "Me and God live together here! I am never alone."
After we have taken a picture together with Alexandra (cause she likes to take pictures with Americans...;-), we leave her behind and return through the mud to the car. Alexandra remains at home with God near her...May God bless her!

Bus4Life = back

The bus is back in Moldova! Already some technical problems appeared and were conquered! Spiridon will work with the bus from Wednesday until Friday.

Many children, teenagers, adults and elderly have been visiting the bus so far. Let's pray for the team working with the bus: for wisdom and energy! Pray for the visitors that they will hear/ see/ feel God's Love and Grace.

Also here a link to a small videoclip about the ministry: Video Bus4Life. Enjoy and let's pray!

Klein inspirerend filmpje

Deze week bekeek ik het onderstaande filmpje en ja, ik vond het een goede boodschap met een goede vraag dus bij deze post ik het op ons blog en zou ik zeggen: bekijk het filmpje en denk er eens over na....