Dear Moldova, you are already becoming my new home

Now although Midland will always be my first home, I will gladly claim Moldova as my second. I have been here a little over a week now and I already feel God moving significantly in my life.

We have been pretty busy with different things, but mainly our Russian studies. Us 3 Americanos have been going to the seminary every morning this week for Russian lessons with our friend Allina. Although I have gotten really frustrated with the language I have made some progress with it. The biggest help so far has been when Allina has us read scripture in Russian out loud. The first day we read John chapter 15. That same day before I went to bed I read John chapters 14-17 as a challenge from a friend and I realized that chapter 15 was the same. I had read this in Russian just the same morning and didn't know what it meant, and struggled to even pronounce the words, and yet I still knew that it was the same chapter. It just showed me that God's word is the same no matter what. It doesn't matter what country you're in or what language is being spoken, God's word always stays true and faithful. This was a pretty cool realization that I know will carry on to the rest of my stay here.

So far my expectations have been exceeded. I have already been able to build some pretty great relationships here. 2 very important ones being with my roommates Angelica and Claudette. We are able to laugh and joke around, but also get serious and do what we need to. We have been doing roomie prayer before we go to bed at night and it has been a huge blessing so far. I've strived to make prayer a bigger part of my life, since none of this would be possible without prayer. I have also began to build upon past relationships started last year and begin new ones as well. I love the people here, and I feel like if you can just break the ice with someone and get through that first awkward meeting then they are the nicest people ever. This whole week we have been able to enjoy some great fellowship with our pastors from the church. This has been such a great time to just enjoy each others company outside of the church and stress of the busy schedule. Needless to say that this has been an amazing week, and I feel like each day gets better, which is a very good thing!

We are preparing for camp, we are going on Saturday to help clean everything up and get it ready for the 50 kids who will be arriving on Monday. There were only 25 kids last year, so the number doubled! I'm so excited for the camp since it's like the first big event of the summer schedule.

Well I will post one last time before I leave on Saturday, but until then hope you like the pics!

Much love and God Bless,

Bets

"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6 "В твердой увенности, что Начавший в вас доброе дело завершит его ко дню Христа Иисуса." Филиппийцам 1:6

Leadership Camp AKA Awesomeness!!

I haven't even been here a week yet and I already know that God is going to use me in mighty ways that only he is capable of and is going to change my life dramatically for the better.

We just arrived back from the camp today which is about an hour and a half to 2 hours from the city and our apartment. As soon as I arrived at the camp I was greeted by familiar faces. And I finally got to meet my 2 roommates Angelica and Claudette. I know that I have been praying and others have as well that we would be able to connect and get along and I don't think that is going to be a problem at all. We seemed to bond almost immediately, especially when we shared our testimonies to each other. I can feel God pulling us closer and closer together the more we get to know each other. The camp was great it was just a time to relax and spend time together before the busy summer schedule starts.

The 3 of us have also really been working on our Russian. The biggest struggle for me though is rolling my r's. I know it sounds silly but please pray that God will show me this skill soon, because without it Russian is so much more difficult! But with lots of practice hopefully I will be able to at least communicate on a basic level.

Other than that all is good! We have youth meeting tomorrow (Saturday) and of course church on Sunday. Thank you all so much for your thoughts and prayers! I couldn't do this with out God's grace and all of my prayer warriors.

more to come!

much love and God Bless,

Bethany

I Made It!!!

Well now the interesting posts can start!! The day that I have been waiting for came and past. I finally left for Moldova, and I got here safely. I'm currently in the living room of my apartment on my roommate's computer ha
I left Sunday morning from Midland and arrived Monday morning Texas time and Monday evening Moldova time. All my travels went as planned, well except for an over weight fee for my bags, but I guess that was expected.
I was greeted at the airport by 2 of the pastors from the church, Eugene and Sergei, and 2 of my friends I met last year, Vlada and Artium, who even brought me balloons (:
I was dropped off at the apartment, and let me tell you, it's AWESOME!! I will post pics soon once I can get my computer up and running. It is way more than I expected, and will be the perfect place to live while I'm here. Still trying to get settled in and used to actually having my own place though ha
Today I leave for the leadership camp. Eugene will be picking me up sometime after lunch. Everyone else that I will be working with this summer are already there and i'm very eager to go and join them!
God has been so good so far, and I have felt the power of all of your thoughts and prayers. They are all appreciated and such a blessing. I would have never of made it this far without them.
I'll return with my roommates on Friday morning, hopefully then we can figure out my computer and I hope to be able to post some pictures and video tour of the apartment.
Please pray for my health and that I will continue to get rest and adjust smoothly to the time difference. Although I slept great last night my body thinks it's the middle of the night right now since it is in Midland but here it's 11:20 in the morning. Also pray for the language barrier, that I am able to pick up some basic Russian phrases and am able to communicate. So far i've just been listening intently pretending like I know what's going on. Also pray that God will use me to glorify him and to move in the hearts of the people here. Thank you all so much.
Well I'll post again on Friday, feel free to email between now and then!
bethany.a.campbell@gmail.com
much love and God Bless, Bethany

6 days 17 hours and 51 minutes

I am officially counting down, o wait i've been counting down for the past 6 months, but this my friends is the final countdown (yes that is meant to be sung)

Like all my blog posts have said, I'm reminded each day of how truly blessed I am. First of all my parents, they are truly amazing. They are the best parents I have ever had. I was in the car with my mom the other day and we were talking about my trip. I started to tear up because I realized how truly passionate I am about Moldova and this next step I am about to take. I guess true passion can make you a little emotional ha. I told her everyday I wake up and the calling for Moldova is stronger in my heart every day. I know that God has called me to help people in life, but right now I know that he wants me to do that in Moldova. My heart is on fire for the people and work there, and I want to help.

Today was also such a huge blessing. It was a little bittersweet though. It was my last Sunday at Fannin which has been my church home since I was born, actually my family joined there when my mom was still pregnant with me. I have grown up at that church and it has become a second home. Some of my greatest relationships in my life originated in that church. That place has been a great home to worship our amazing God. That's why I feel honored to be representing them and more importantly God, in Moldova. I can't wait to come back and share all my adventures and blessings with all of them.

Fannin thank you for supporting my family and I in everything. I am truly blessed.

So only a week away and although everything is becoming a little overwhelming I just continue to get even more excited to leave.

More to come

Much love and God Bless,

Bethany

Where does time go?

Exactly 2 weeks from today i'll be in a plane on my way to the other side of the world. One important thing has to happen before though, I have to graduate high school. With the stress of packing and leaving this fact has kind of been pushed to the back of my mind. But today it clicked that the day that I have been waiting for since kindergarten is almost finally here. It doesn't seem like i'm old enough to finally be finishing high school, but I am. I'm so excited to be closing this chapter of my life and opening another. We had a baccalaureate ceremony at my school today, which brings in a spiritual side to graduation, which I of course support. The speaker was a former Midland High graduate and he had some pretty wise words to say. I was sitting next to my best friend Liz and she kept nudging me as he addressed all the things we had talked about when it came to graduating and me moving to Moldova. Like fears, being nervous, passions, stepping out of your comfort zone, and so many more. It was very comforting knowing that God put me in that room and used that young man's words to help comfort me. I haven't had any second thoughts about going to Moldova, but with any big change comes stress and worries. But I know what will get me through is prayer. I feel the many many prayers that I know are being said for me daily. I ask for calming of nerves, peace, wisdom, mental strength, health, and ultimately for God's Will to be done. I know I'm going where God wants me, and I will be doing his work. This is such an exciting time, and I feel blessed beyond words.

Much Love and God Bless

Bets

thought this might be useful

Most of my prayer cards arrived at their destinations today and it is amazing how much feedback I am already getting! These cards mean so much to mean, but more importantly the prayers that will come from them. None of this would be possible without prayer and God's grace and mercy.

I have noticed that I'm getting questions on how to contact me, especially when I'm in Moldova. The easiest way is definitely email. So this post is simply to let you know my email. I welcome any feedback, questions, prayers, or anything else.

So my email is as follows

bethany.a.campbell@gmail.com

much love, Bethany

Houston we have a problem, Bethany doesn't want to pack all her stuff.

Wouldn't it be awesome if telaporting was possible, because if so I would definitely telaport me and all my stuff to Moldova. In exactly 5 weeks from today I will be leaving good ol' M-Town. I can't exactly say that i'm sad to be leaving Midland, but leaving my family, home, and friends will be a different story and harder than I thought. But I just keep reminding myself of all the amazing things to come, and the new home God will create for me in Moldova. The departure date though is coming a lot faster than I thought it would though. The more I sit in my room and look around, the more I realize how much stuff I have to go through. The end of school is also coming, and although the homework is at a minimum, the stress of graduating is not. I never realized how much there is to do when you're a senior. But I am happy to say that all my graduation announcements are in the mail and inside of every single one of them is a prayer card! I am very proud of these cards and can't wait for everyone to receive them. So if you are reading this blog because you received a card now you know why you got a prayer card for Moldova rather than a traditional senior picture.

I was asked this morning at church how it felt to know that i'm about to graduate and move into the mission field. I didn't have an immediate answer, but I began to think about it more throughout the day. Honestly I know it won't truly click until the day comes and I'm walking across that stage with the cap and gown on and when I'm stepping onto that plane, but it excites me so much knowing that the day is coming. I will be honest, I am nervous, but that doesn't change the fact that I know without a doubt i'm following God's will for my life. I feel honored to have this opportunity, and every day God shows me a little more how amazing he is.

So at this point all I ask for is prayer. Prayer that everything that needs to be done, will get done. That God will watch over my family and I at this point of major change in our lives.

Much love and God Bless,

Bethany