Back To The Roots

Instead of my right corner bed on the 21st floor in Chisinau, this post is coming from my bed in Midland, Texas!

I made it home last night without any delays or problems, which I am very thankful for, so for all of you who were praying thank you!

It feels a little weird being back home after 6 months of being in Moldova, but at the same time it is refreshing and exciting. Seeing all my family and friends will be the re-boost I need for the holiday season and my return to Moldova.

I am still going back at the end of December and am excited to go back and continue serving. I know that God is not done using me there yet.

While I am here in Midland I'm getting the opportunity to speak to some different groups at my church about the last 6 months i've spent in the mission field. I am also hoping to do a little bit of fundraising for the youth group (Upgrade) back in Chisinau. They are in need of a few things, including a set of wireless microphones, and some funds to be able to do some leadership training. Since I have been working a lot with the youth I want to be able to do something special for them this holiday season. I ask for you to pray before any donations are made, it's important for you to feel led from the Lord.

I also hope that as we are entering the holiday season that is filled with many blessings. I know that this season can be difficult for some, but I pray that we all are reminded of the birth of our Lord and savior.

Much love and blessing,

Bethany

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. - Ephesians 5:1

remembering you today

So this one is to all the people in my life who I love so much. God has blessed me with so many amazing family and friends. Today I remember my brother Aaron, it's weird being away from my family and friends on this day, but I know that God is holding me in His hands and that my brother is looking down on me. It's been 5 years and I've learned a lot through his death, and one big thing is how ungrateful I can be and my lack of thank you's to God.

So God thank you, thank you for always being there, for picking me up when I have fallen, for always protecting me, for healing my wounds, for always providing for me, for your good and perfect will, for sending me to Moldova, for using me in bigger ways than I imagined, God thank you.

With thanksgiving coming up next week, who and what are you thankful for? I love the fact that I will be able to spend thanksgiving here in Moldova, yes it would be nice to be with my family, but I will be right in the middle of one of the biggest blessings in my life. I have grown more in the past 5 months than I thought possible. I have been stretched, challenged, and blessed.

This week and next i'm taking part 2 of Hermeneutics, Applying and Understanding the Bible, with Irene, Eugene's wife, as the teacher. Then just 1 more week in Moldova and then I'll be heading home to America for 3 weeks! Looking forward to spending time with my family and closest friends during the holidays.

I hope you all have a blessed day.

Much love, Bets

"I thank my God every time I remember you." - Philippians 1:3

November Orphanage visit!

So last Wednesday we had a chance to visit the orphanage for handicapped boys again. A few of us had the idea of printing some of my pictures from the summer visits and taking them to them. So I picked 73 pictures and was able to get 6 large packages of diapers to take to them. We were able to stay there a little over an hour and I loved it. I really do love this place and being able to go visit the kids. They get so excited whenever people come to visit. I thought I would share some pics from the visit.

I also just want to say thank you to all my supporters, it was because of you that we were able to make this trip over to the orphanage, so thank you.

more to come, God Bless,

Bethany

21 weeks

I'm blessed to get to come home and visit for a few weeks in December and I've been thinking about what I will tell people when they ask me how everything in Moldova is.

It's a challenge. It's hard to live so far away from home. It's hard to live in a completely different culture. It's hard to not understand the native language. It's hard to do this.

But I don't think God's work is meant to be easy. So it's right.

I've been working with a ministry that is making a difference in this country. A difference to people who some haven't known anything else than a father who isn't around or is a drunk and mother who works her hardest to feed her family. A difference to youth who have been raised surrounded by the traditions of the orthodox church. A difference to someone who has never owned their own Bible.

There is a difference being made here, and to be involved in it is truly and God given honor. Yes it is hard at times, but when I look back at those hard days I'm thankful for them, because that is when growth takes place. I'm where I am in life because of the growth I have experienced during the trials in my life.

God amazes me every day.

I started a new class at the seminary this past week over Genesis through Deuteronomy. This is the beginning of the word of God, the beginning of God's Creation. This is where it all started! And to be able to study it has been a true blessing. I have one more week of this class and then the entire seminary has a fall break for 2 weeks. Please keep all the students in your prayers, that they would be able to understand all the material (since english is not their first language) and that the Lord would penetrate their minds with knowledge and wisdom.

Other than class I stay busy with taking pictures at basketball on Thursdays and at the meetings on Saturdays, teaching english to kids on Saturdays, and meeting with Hellen and other girls during the week.

Some challenges are to come, but I still know without a doubt that I am where I am supposed to be. I am following the will of God.

Big thanks to all of you for your love and support.

More next time

God Bless,

Bethany

O and by the way thought I would share that I have mastered the art of ordering cheese and meat over the counter at the store! One of my earlier posts was a story about my attempts of ordering cheese, but I think I have made friends with the girl at the store by our apartment, and we make it happen. Just thought I would share that fact that I am proud of, because there are a lot more options that way trust me! Much love

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."- Genesis 1:27

A little over 4 months.

Another week in Moldova has gone by, filled with new blessings, new challenges, and new experiences. And God remains the reason for it all.

My roommate and I took 2 weeks off, and although I slept in a little more than I probably should have, these 2 weeks were a blessing.

Tomorrow though we will be starting a new class at the seminary over the Old Testament with another American professor from St. Louis. I'm really excited about diving into the Old Testament. I mean this is a foundation for the New Testament, so I figure I should probably understand it ha.

Today I had the blessing of spending the afternoon with one of my friends from camp, Hellen. She took me to a mall by where she lives and we enjoyed a little bit of ping pong and some crepes. I love spending time with her, and seeing her love for the Lord grow more and more each day.

Please be praying for Hellen, that her love for the Lord would continue to grow. Also she is trying to get to America to study after high school, please pray that God's will would be done, and that he would open up the right doors for her.

It also continues to get colder and colder each week and my mom and I have already agreed that I will be needing to buy a new winter coat in December in America since I'm already wearing my intended winter coat almost every day.

Also please keep the youth of Moldova in your prayers. KBC makes a great effort to reach out to them, and I just pray that their hearts would be softened and that they would be filled with the joy of the Lord.

God is doing more things in me than I could have ever imagined. I pray that He would reveal to me what He would have for me after this year. Whether it be to continue serving in Moldova or to embark on something else. I pray that His will would be done.

I know that everything is in the Lord's hands and that He is always watching over me.

To all of you, Thank you.

Much love and God Bless,

Bethany

For the body of Christ.

The last 2 weeks I had the blessing to take a course on the book of Ephesians taught by Tom Nite at the seminary. The Lord showed me a lot. Not only do I have a better understanding of the book, but I learned a lot about certain areas of my life that I want the Lord to move into more. I thought I would share with you the paper that I wrote on Ephesians 6:1-9 as my final assignment.

Building Up the Body of Christ

The book of Ephesians, written by the apostle Paul, is a guidebook and encouragement for the body of Christ. In it are essential things to know to become a holy person through Christ, in order to glorify his name. In Chapter six verses one through nine Paul writes about relationships between parents and children, and slaves and their masters. It is important to understand the meaning of this passage in order to build up the body of Christ.

Chapter six of Ephesians begins with instructions to children and their parents in the first four verses. “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” (Verse 1) The Greek word used for children is tekna. This word is used for those who are younger, and here it is used to represent those who are still under the care of their parents. As children we are to obey our parents by listening to them and doing what they tell us. This is right because God appointed it. Our parents are our caretakers. They are the ones who feed us every meal, who tuck us in at night, who make sure we get to school on time, who take care of us when we are sick, they raise us to be children of God. We have these people for a reason; they are our Mothers and Fathers. God is our heavenly Father and over all but the next in authority are our parents. The only reason a child is not to obey their parents is if their parents are asking them to do something that does not obey the Lord. “as far as the parents commands are according to the will and word of God. For surely no child is called to obey any parent if he give unreasonable or unscriptural commands.” (Clarke)

(Barnes)

In verse two we are told to “honor your father and mother” this verse is quoted from the original scripture in Exodus 20:12. “Honor your Father and Mother (which is the first commandment with a promise)” (Verse 2). Honoring our parents is different than obeying them. We are to do both, but when we honor our parents we respect them and look up to them. “God has made a general blessing of a good life and a long life to children who honor their parents.” (Nite, pg. 94) Verse three speaks of this blessing. “So that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.” (Verse 3) This blessing is found in the fifth commandment in Deuteronomy 5:16. By learning to honor my parents I have carried on those habits towards other elders in my life. Anyone in authority in my life deserves my respect. When you give respect to others you receive it back. When I do not honor my parents it is hard for them to return feelings of respect. By learning to obey and honor my parents I am learning how to be a well-rounded person who accepts authority.

Verse four is directed towards the parents in the relationship of parent and child. “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” (Verse 4) God is our heavenly Father and just as He disciplines us our earthly father is to as well. This instruction is to be from God’s word. This verse is addressed particularly to fathers because they are the head of the family. We are to obey our fathers, but the commands should be made in love. “When the commands of a parent are unreasonable and severe. The spirit of a child then becomes irritated, and he is ‘discouraged;’ Colossians 3:21.” (Barnes) Children learn from their parents and if they are taught in anger than that behavior is likely to be passed along to the child.

If we can grasp the meaning of these verses than our relationship between parent and child can be used to glorify God. When we follow God’s will the body of Christ is built up. These verses definitely still hold true to believers today. These are commands that should be followed in order to have healthy relationships within the church. When we do this work in our relationships at home then the church is made that much stronger.

As we keep reading in chapter six Paul then writes about the relationships between slaves and masters in verses five through nine. Starting in verse 5 it says “Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ;” The word slaves in verse five is referring to employees and the word master is referring to employer. In verse five when it says “according to the flesh” it simply regarding the human relation between employers and employees. “Your masters in secular things; for they have no authority over your religion, nor over your souls” (Clarke). We are to serve our bosses “with fear and trembling” because they have a power above us and they can punish us for disobedience just as God can. We are to obey God and he commands us to obey our fleshly authority, including our employers. Then the verse says “in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ;” We are not to be fake or false towards God with out hearts. He deserves our whole hearts and the true feelings of them. We are to act this way towards our employers as well. We are to serve them as we would serve Christ. Verse six goes on to say that that our service is not to be as “men-pleasers”. “Not by way of eye service, as man-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.” (Verse 6) When working we should be striving to fulfill the will of God. Even if that means you are waiting tables, God has a purpose for it. This also means not to act this way in order to get attention from others. We are “slaves of Christ” and our service is to be of our hearts, not the flesh. Our work is for His glory, not our own. “With cheerfulness; do not take up your service as a cross, or bear it as a burden; but take it as coming in the order of God’s providence, and a thing that is pleasing to him.” (Clarke) This is what verse seven is saying to us. “With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men,” (Verse 7) We are to serve only God, and no other being.

(Nite, page 96-97)

The last two verses on the relationship between slave and master are verses eight and nine.

Knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free. And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him. (Verse 8-9)

If we listen and follow God’s commands then He will reward us. This is what the first part of verse eight is telling us. The Lord continues to bless us in all that we do for him. This is the same command for masters. Both slaves and masters should be working and authorizing in the name of the Lord. Masters are not to be threatening, because he does not have that authority. Both employers and employees answer to the same God, and God views them both as equal. God does not show “partiality” or favoritism to anyone. We are all children of God. We all have authority over us but above any authority is God, He has greater power than anyone or thing.

(Barnes)

By knowing what God expects in the relationships between workers and their bosses we can form this relationship to what He intended it to be. Even though this translation of scripture uses the words “slave” and “master” that does not make it obsolete to us today. This simply translates over to the modern day workplace. Much like the relationship between parents and children this one between slaves and master can be used to build up the church. When we are showing that we follow all the commands that God has given us we prove that we have surrendered our lives completely to His will.

Now knowing what this scripture means we are able to apply it to our lives. If we can take these instructions and use them, the body of Christ will be built up, and therefore worshiping our God. As believers we are to not only read the word of God, but also understand and apply it to our lives

God showed me a lot through this class and I'm very thankful for having the opportunity to be studying at the seminary. So if any of you reading this happen to support the seminary and funding it's students, I want to thank you. You are doing more than you will ever know just by a simple gift.

Another thing I wanted to share was something really cool that happened on Saturday. This week we started a new meeting on Saturdays with kids from around 8 to 12. It's like Sunday school, but on Saturdays ha We met at the seminary and Tonya (the children's director) had me teach English and we had cookies and tea and then she taught a Bible lesson. Everything went well, but the coolest part was when we got the Bible lesson. Tonya gave each of the kids New Testaments in Russian and we read the lesson straight from the Bible. I sat there with a smile on my face as I listened to these 12 year old kids read God's word, they were asking if they could read next. This is God's word, our spiritual food, and these kids understood how important it is! A boy who's 12, Vaunya said he was going to go home after and read and said he wanted to read the New Testament. I was so moved just by this simple act. And what is even cooler is that Vaunya was at church this morning. He always comes on Saturdays to kids club but he has never been to church on Sunday, until today.

God is moving here, even in the 12 year olds. I am truly blessed.

Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts. I hope the Lord blesses you in many ways.

My roommate Angelica and I will be taking 2 weeks off from class to focus on ministry. I'm excited to take this time to get deep into the Word and to fellowship with the Moldavites.

Much Love and God Bless, Bethany

Stop and Say Thank You.

My best friend Liz and I bought the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan to read together in like January. We both started it, but unfortunately didn't finish it. I got about a 3rd of the way through when other things consumed my time and it then got used as a coaster for the rest of the stuff on my bedside table. When packing to come to Moldova I though "O hey I should definitely bring that and read it!" Well I brought it, but didn't get around to reading it again until about a month ago when someone from the states brought it up in a conversation and mentioned how it changed her life and her view on God's love for us. So curious on how this could be I found the book in my box of random stuff and started to read it again. I'm about half way through with it. A chapter that I have read more than twice is the first one. It talks about God's creation, and how crazy his love and power is to have thought up and created all the things that he has.

There are MORE than 350,000,000,000 galaxies that God created. A caterpillar has 228 separate and distinct muscles in its head. The average elm tree has approximately 6 million leaves on it. Your heart generates enough pressure as it pumps blood throughout your body that it could squirt blood up to 30 feet. When you get goose bumps the hair follicles are actually helping you stay warmer by trapping body heat.- These are some examples from the book that show just a little bit how huge our God is. He is bigger and more powerful than we can ever imagine.

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world."-Psalm 19:1-4

Think of all the places in this world that God created. Exclude the pictures from your mind that include buildings or anything man made. Although man has been given many skills and talents and have used them to create many good things, I want to focus on the pure creation of God. Think of all the oceans, all the mountains, all the waterfalls, the rain forests, all the different types of plants, all the different fruits and vegetables that grow from the earth, think of the snow that covers the arctic in complete white, the desert that even though hot is still beautiful, and all the endless places and things God has created. This is His creation that we live on, and it is amazingly breath taking. When I went to Canada a few years ago we went hiking in Banff, and it was absolutely gorgeous. I couldn't help but stop, look, and think "only God could have created this". I don't always do this though. I think of all the places I've been able to go and see and how few times I stopped and thanked God for creating them.

WE have been given this earth by God, He created it for us. How often do we stop and thank God for it? Do ever take 2 seconds to stop and say, "God thank you"?

"In the beginning there was the Word. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were made by him, and nothing was made without him. In him there was life, and nothing was made without him. In him there was life, and that life was the light of all people. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overpowered it." John 1:1-5

"It is by faith we understand that the whole world was made by God's command so what we see was made by something that cannot be seen"-Hebrews 11:3

We are to worship God for what He has given us. To look it everything he has creating and given us, is a very humbling experience.

Psalm 8 talks about the Lord's greatness.

"I look at your heavens, which you made with your fingers. I see the moon and stars, which you created. But why are people even important to you? Why do you take care of human beings? You made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You put them in charge of everything you made. You put all things under their control:all the sheep, the cattle, and the wild animals, the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and everything that lives under the water." Psalm 8:3-8

This passage asks the question to God, why are people even important to you? God has entrusted us with all of these things, including His great creation. Why would He put us in charge? Do you ever feel not good enough for this earth and for this creation? God is so mighty, why would he choose us?

We are ALSO God's creation. He not only created the heavens and the earth, but he created US!

"Then God said, 'Let us make human beings in our image and likeness. And let them rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the tame animals, over all the earth, and over all the small crawling animals on earth. So God created human beings in his image. In the image of God He created them."-Genesis 1:26-27

The God who we worship is not one who does things just because he has the power to. God has a reason for everything. He created you in HIS image. He has a purpose for your life. Just like he has a purpose for all his creation, He has a reason for having you in this creation.

You are a part of the creation.

God created you.

There is no one else like you.

It is very easy to get overwhelmed and thing that you aren't good enough for God and his creation. But have hope in God, because He has formed you, and He has formed you in His image.

I encourage you as you go throughout your day to look through different eyes. Look all around you at what God has created, and the fact that He has given it to us.

Stop and thank God today.

God put me here for a reason, and it is to serve. Moldova may not be the richest country, or the prettiest, but God is moving here and to me that is more beautiful than any mountain or river. I see God's love growing here, and that's how I know that this is where I am supposed to be.

This was the chapel that I presented this morning, I hope that the words that God gave me are a blessing and encouragement to you.

Much love and God Bless,

Bethany

I know what you're thinking...

So Moldova has changed me in many ways, but one habit I have not gotten rid of is procrastination....

I feel like I say that I'm sorry a lot, but I really am, and I know that my mom is tired of telling me I need to post another blog.

So we went on our vacation and it was absolutely amazing. We were able to see so much in just 10 days. We started in Rome and ended in Munich. I'm still thanking God for giving us the opportunity to travel and relax.

Once we got back to Moldova it was time for the last camp, except this time we were the campers. All the seminary students went to the camp and spent 4 days there getting to know each other and the rules and expectations of seminary. It was really cool to get to meet who I will be studying with this year.

We then came back and seminary started the following Monday (2 weeks ago). Our first class was Hermeneutics, which is a 6 week class, and this was the 1st of 3 sections. The class is taught with the book "Applying and Understanding the Bible". All the classes are taught in English, so the 3 Americans are currently very thankful for our native language. Just 2 weeks of this class has taught me a lot that I wasn't expecting. It was a lot of work, but very rewarding. We learned how to do word studies, mechanical layouts, and different approaches to scripture that are wrong and how to recognize them. Our next class is going to be taught by an American professor who arrived here tonight from Georgia. The class will be over Ephesians, which I am very excited about. I can tell that God is going to teach me a lot through these classes. My original intent of coming to Moldova wasn't to be a student, but God is definitely going to use this experience in my life I know. Even though the schedule and work load reminds me a little too much of high school, I'm very excited and actually motivated to learn this stuff. I'm very blessed to have this opportunity.

Other than seminary we are staying very busy in ministry at KBC. I'm still taking pictures at the kids and youth meetings, and helping out with the youth. One relationship that I'm very excited about, is with a girl named Hellen. She went to youth camp last year as an unbeliever, and returned this year unaware of the change she was about to make in her life. Many people talked to her throughout the week, and before it was over she gave her life to Christ. I just remember her saying to me one night that she can't ignore this calling anymore, she can't keep running from God. She is from an orthodox family, where traditions run very deep. It has been so cool and encouraging to see the change in her. You can see God shining through her face now. God has put a special place in my heart for her, and we have been communicating every day. It is so humbling to see God's fruit. This is the reason I am here. Hellen is only 1 year younger than me, and I am honored to now call her my Sister in Christ.

God is moving here in Moldova. It may be through a bag of food, a visit to the elderly, some donated clothes, a text message, a smile on the street, a high five, a hug, a picture, or any other funny or small thing that God uses. He is alive, and he is moving.

It's been over 3 months that I have been 3 months that I have been here, and I still love it. There has been challenging moments, and times when I've missed familiar surroundings and people, but I still know without a doubt that this is where God wants me right now. I haven't ever experienced this feeling in my heart before. God is great.

Just a few prayer requests:

-My studies at seminary

-Finances

-Health

-Hellen and her new relationship with God

-My chapel that I am leading this Tuesday

-A permanent home for KBC

-Relationships

-language barrier

-rest

Thank you all so much for who you are, and the blessing that you are.

Much love and God Bless,

Bethany

"May we experience your faithfulness, O Lord, for we wait for you." Psalms 33:22

Balance Is The Key

As I sit here on the 21^st floor of our new apartment and eat my American Hershey’s chocolate bar that was given to me by a Moldovan I’m reminded of the biggest thing I learned here in Moldova so far. Balance. I’ve learned that this is something that I didn’t have very much of back in America. I’m realizing that high school might have been a little more enjoyable if I had though ha.

But what God is showing me is that balance is so important especially when so much is happening. Balance in my day to day schedule, balance in relationships, balance in my American life and my Moldovan life, and balance in my spiritual life. Some have been easier than others to figure out, not that I’ve completely figured any of them out ha. Obviously my time management has been an issue since it has been a while since I’ve posted on here. I say in my head ok tonight just take 30 minutes to an hour to sit down and post a new blog. 75% of the time that plan doesn’t last. I write to you all though that you do matter to me very much and please don’t think any differently. I knew I’d be busy this summer, but had no idea to this extent. But it has been a blessing because in all that hectic time God has been working!

God is revealing many things to me here in Moldova, and I thank him for putting me here, and all of you for supporting me. The 4^th American team is here right now, and we will be meeting up with them at the camp tomorrow. This is the youth camp and is the last thing of the summer. I’m really excited to get away from the city and just enjoy this time with the youth and the leaders of KBC, and to get to know the American team of course. This is the 2^nd team from my roommates’ church in San Antonio.

We will be going to the camp tomorrow evening with Eugene though because tomorrow we have to go get our living permits! Yes we got them! Thank you so much for all the prayers. It was a more complicated process than I anticipated, but it all ended up working out. Just the fact that we were able to get them is another sign from God that this is where I’m supposed to be. So I will now have a green card for Moldova! (yes it really is green)

To celebrate getting our living permits, and relax after the busy summer, my roommates and I are taking a little vacation. We’re taking 10 days to explore a little bit of Italy and Germany. We’re so excited for this time to relax and enjoy these new places. I feel so blessed to have this opportunity and am so thankful for my parents who are making it happen! I’m sure there will be many stories and pictures to share from that trip.

After we come back from there we will be going to a camp for the seminary students and then the school year will start. I have no idea what this year in seminary holds for me, but I’m very excited to find out. I’ve heard nothing but good things about the seminary, and for once in my life am excited to go to school. This will be a big test in my life I know, but I’m ready for the challenge.

When it comes to Russian, well I know as much as I’ve studied. Which isn’t very much. Our Russian lessons were put on hold with all of the projects, but I understand a lot more that I did when I first came. I’m really good at pointing at things and I’ve learned that body language is key. We’ve had so many interesting encounters when it comes to the language. I hope that I am able to put in more effort to my Russian once the summer is over. Just even attempting to learn a new language and living in a new culture has been the biggest learning experience for me.

Please pray that God will continue to give me good health. I’ve had a viral infection this past week that has included a lovely cough. I went to the doctor and was given some medicine that I can’t read what it is, but it seems to be working. Pray that God heals whatever is going on, and that I’m able to be back to normal. One plus of this though has been that I’ve been getting a LOT of rest, which has been awesome. I know God is the ultimate healer, so as usual I’m not too worried.

Also please pray for the camp this next week that God would move in mighty ways. I look at the faces of some of these youth and I’m not much older than most of them and see some of the struggling faces that I used to have. I pray that they are shown the hope that lies in Christ. Pray that it is a fun God filled week. I’m super excited to see what is going to happen, and to be able to capture the moments with my camera.

I hope this gets you all up to date for the most part. I will try my hardest to work on balance, and hopefully my posts will become more frequent. But please feel free to shoot me an email, they are very encouraging and I can answer any questions or share some more stories. bethany.a.campbell@gmail.com

Much Love and God Bless,

Bethany

God the Holy One, says, “Can you compare me to anyone? Is anyone equal to me?” Look up to the skies. Who created all these stars? He leads out the army of heaven one by one and calls all the stars by name. Because he is strong and powerful, not one of them is missing. – Isaiah 40:25-26

Just a look

Something that has been discovered about me is that I take A LOT of pictures, which I guess is good since that's my job here. So out of the thousands that I took this is a little sampling!

Words to follow in the next post

God Bless, Bets

The M-Town Team!!

yes i live with her....

Jan!!!!

guess who the Moldovans are and who the Midlander is??

prayer at it's purest form

Intense

Craft time

Futbol!!

Food bags for the elderly

monestary

Con Con!

Monestary

Holla!!

Orphanage

Love

Joy

Happiness

Faith

Laughter

Care

Beauty

the team

random i know...

love this kid!

Slava!!

Can I have a side of prayer please??

Alright I know I haven't updated in while, but the Midland group was here last week and left Monday so just now getting a chance to sit down and breath. But considering it's 1:15 in the morning I'm going to save the detailed update of the amazing week we had last week for another time this week.

Right now I ask for prayer. My roommates (Claudette and Angelica) and I have been in the process of getting our living permits. We have run into some issues, and it may even cause us to not be able to get permits which means we would be returning home at the end of summer. This is not what we had planned and not what we expected at all so it has all been a little overwhelming. There has been some issues with deadlines and the time it takes to process the application and now there are issues concerning the registration of the seminary and Americans attending it, I don't know the details. Eugene and Slava are working their hardest to make this work. So I ask for prayer that God's hand would completely be in this situation and that His Will would be done. We know that he can do this and that we just need to give it over to him. We pray that doubt wouldn't set in and that we would be surrounded by positive energy.

We are meeting with Slava tomorrow morning at 10:00 and will know more then. I will keep you all updated, and thank you so so so much for your prayers and support.

Much love and God bless, Bethany

Dima

Here is a video that Eugene and Angelica did. This is a story that impacted all of us. Angelica tells it so vividly and I feel so blessed to have been there to witness it.

This is what is happening in Moldova, and this is why we are here.

God Bless, Bethany

http://vimeo.com/13089671

Just click in the link and it will take you to the video.

It's Proof

For a month I've been in another country 6,000+ miles away from my home of 18 years where I don't know the language, the culture is complete opposite, and there is no AC and yet I feel at home. I feel at home because God is using me, and I believe that where God is using me is my home. My home rests in Him. God has revealed himself to me more in the past 4 weeks than he has or I have allowed him to in my whole life.

Since my last post we went to camp and been back in the city for a week. Camp was absolutely amazing. There were about 50 kids and each one of their faces is forever in my memory and forever saved to my computer. Each one of them brought something different to the week. Laughter, energy, funny faces, funny voices, motivation, respect, a love for the Lord, and innocence. A lot of these kids don't have much, but what they do have is joy and a gift for sharing it. Although the week was exhausting and the rainy weather was frustrating they didn't matter. I saw girls who wouldn't even say hi to us at the beginning of the week and ended up warming up to us and would run up to us and give us hugs and kisses on the cheeks whenever they saw us. We were able to deal with the language barrier and form new relationships. God moved in that camp and it was evident. The theme song of the week was one that was in Russian of course but I do remember the chorus and basically it says that Jesus is number 1, that he's the champion. I had this song stuck in my head all week and so did the rest of the camp. It made me so happy thinking that these kids are singing this song over and over and every time their reminded that Jesus is number one that He is our Champion. He is the ruler over all, he is in control through it all. We left the camp with new friends and relationships and lots of hugs and high fives. this past Saturday we had a follow up meeting at the church where a majority of the kids showed up and we were able to have fun and hang out but Sasha (a seminary student) was able to once again share the word of God. We hope to continue to build relationships with these kids and get them to come to the rest of the projects this summer. We hope that their love for Christ continues to grow and that God blesses them and their families.

Following camp there wasn't much time to rest, because it was time to start applying for a living permit so that Claudette and I can live here legally! We began the process on Monday by making a visit to immigration and getting all the papers that we needed. We then had to start the exciting 1,000,000 doctor visits! Ok maybe not 1,000,000 just 10, but still it was time consuming, but actually entertaining. It was very interesting to see how the medical system is ran over here. We even managed to start a mini mob as we were waiting for our blood to be taken. A lady who came after us apparently wasn't paying attention to where she was in line and didn't think she was after us. While yelling in Russian she blocked the doorway and a group started forming around us. Sweet little Olga was trying to defend us, but this lady was not budging. We tried to get past her, but only got pushed back, until God sent over the doctor who we now refer to as the Sweet Lady to straighten things out. Somehow though Olga got into the room where we were supposed to be and Claudette and I got stuck in the hallway behind the not so nice Russian lady. We looked at each other and just started laughing not knowing what else to do. We finally managed to get pulled into the room but not without quite a bit of laughter. The whole 3 days that we had doctor visits was quite the experience, boring at times, but definitely a culture experience. But the good news is that we got the papers that we needed and the hardest part is done with! Now we just need to get the right papers from the seminary and from the apartment that we will be living in and get it all turned in. I definitely see God working in this process because the day we started applying for our living permits a law was passed that says that the processing day for living permits will now be 5 days instead of 30! and for Americans it will last up to 5 years and the permit itself is free. This was just once again another sign from God that this is right and that I'm following God's Will for my life.

Since i've been here for a month now, I'm adjusted to my surroundings and they are becoming more familiar. I'm starting to grow a little more independent, and I like that ha. This Wednesday we needed to bring cheese to small group for dinner, but the only one who would be able to go to the store was myself. So I ventured over to Green Hills (the grocery store here) to get the cheese. I had to order it over the counter and I was so proud of myself because I pointed to the one I wanted and told the lady in Russian that I wanted half of a kilo she said something and I just naturally said da, which is yes. I got my cheese and was ready to go, well the cheese was sliced for some reason so I'm guessing that's what I said yes to, but hey I still got the cheese so I felt accomplished! It's good to know that I can go to the grocery store by myself and order cheese, it may be sliced but hey it's still cheese!

This last week and this week we will continue to get Russian lessons from Sergei and Alina in the mornings. We are also taking time to spend some more quality time with the girls that we connected with from the camp and some others that are older. We want to be able to spend some time with them before the Midland group gets here on Saturday and things really get crazy busy. Please pray for my health and that God will give me needed rest.

Also wanna take this chance to say congrats to my brother Daniel and his wife Ellen on their new baby boy! Daniel Walker Campbell Jr. was born on Friday afternoon and greeted by 2 amazing parents. I'm so excited for them and can't believe that i'm an aunt of 4! I thank God for technology it has made being away from all the excitement much easier.

Well that's all for now, if I wrote all of the blessing God has given me since being here I would be here for a while.

Much love and God Bless,

Bethany

"I praise your greatness, my God the King; I will praise you forever and ever. I will praise you every day; I will praise you forever and ever. The Lord is great and worthy of our praise; no one can understand how great he is." Psalm 145:1-3

Blessings

Well it's been longer than I wanted it to be, but I've finally sat down to update! There's so much I've been wanting to say because so much has happened in the past 2 weeks since I last updated. So I'm gonna break it up a little. Here's some pictures so that you can first of all see what's happening here. All of these are from camp, which was amazing.

The words that i've been thinking of to describe these past 2 weeks will be the next post.

Much Love,

Bets

Faith

me during 80% of the camp ha

Kate totally came out of shell by the end of the week

Each a blessing

Power in Prayer

A brother in Christ

The presence of the Lord was in that cabin.

FOOD

punishment

The family

Homeslice!

Harder than it looks!

trust

laughter

Arobica

roommate....

Good Morning!

Coolest thing ever.

Typical

Best face ever.

team flag

Puzzle Time!

Welcome to Camp

A week that can't be described fully by pictures or words.