“Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem…” (Isaiah 52.9a, NIV).
Dear Friends and Family,
This morning I read this article about a community of people living in the sewer system beneath the streets of Bucharest, Romania. Born during the Communist period, many of them were institutionalized as children and then began living on the streets as orphanages were shut down in the 1990’s. Reading about disease, drugs and violence, this living hell, left me feeling hopeless.
Later, at our after-school program, I met with C., a 7th grade boy who has been coming to our program on and off for three years. He enjoys drawing, listening to music and perfecting his impressive ability to identify all car makes and models. For several years C. and I (along with other staff members) have been working on learning the alphabet and basic arithmetic skills. C.’s progress is slow and sometimes not visible at all. When I see him implicated in a schoolyard skirmish or when I catch him with a knife in his pocket, I realize how incredibly vulnerable he is. If only he could learn to read. If only he knew his own worth, I think. And I am left feeling hopeless.
And then there was a reading in our staff chapel time from the book of Isaiah, chapter 52. In this passage, the Jewish people have been freed from captivity in Babylon, but the city of Jerusalem lies in ruins. Meditating on the word “ruins” (v. 9), I could think only of children in Moldova, who, like pawns on a chess board, are moved around from institution to institution without regard for their humanity.
In the midst of these ruins, however, the text speaks of hope and calls for prophetic songs of joy even in the most desolate places. In the midst of destruction, restoration is around the corner.
The very ruins are called to rejoice.
Most days I don’t know how to find this kind of hope for C. or for other children who come to our program, let alone for the underground community in Bucharest. The injustice in their lives seems too oppressive, too strong. How can I possibly rejoice in the midst of these things?
I have gradually come to the conclusion that hope for me must be a choice, a choice that requires faith in the impossible, faith in God who has given each of these children unspeakable dignity. With each letter learned, with each stroke of a paint brush and with each kind word spoken, together we seek to move forward, to grow in our capacity to love, to choose peace over violence, to seek healing for our whole selves.
Like a mustard seed, the smallest of all the seeds, we choose to believe that the tiny bits of love, peace, joy and kindness sown in our community will one day grow into a tree, a tree that provides shelter and shade for us and for others.
Some days, I notice my despair slowly melting away as we move forward slowly, in faith, with patience, with love.
The ruins softly shimmer with joy.
With much gratitude for each of you,
John & Rachel
Recent and upcoming events:
- The adolescents who have been participating in La VIA’s branch of an IMPACT club finished their community service project of cleaning the school’s soccer field, painting the goal posts and installing a new bench and trash can. We applaud them for their initiative and hard work!
- Violeta Hotnogu, staff member from Moldova, entered into a two-year covenant with our community this month. Congratulations, Violeta!
- On May 27, we had a special program with the kids to close out the school year. During this time, the community presented Rachel and I a hand-made quilt signed by all of our staff and children. We also watched a video of the kids saying goodbye, sending us off and wishing us well. We feel incredibly loved by our community.
- On May 30, we will be taking the kids from our program to camp for one week about an hour outside of Chisinau. The entire time will be organized and hosted by our staff as well as by three members of a Leo Club from Denmark. Pray that the children would have a week in which they feel safe and in which they are free to just be who they are.
- During the month of July we will have a summer day camp at the building where we have been running our after-school program. Pray for wisdom for us as this is the first time we have organized a month-long day camp during the summer.