Dear Friends and Family,
By the time you receive this letter, we will have spent our first week at camp. Each summer, children from the orphanage/boarding school go to a camp. Some kids stay all summer, some only stay a month or a couple of weeks before going home. The camp for the orphanage is in the countryside about 40 minutes south of Chisinau. The kids stay in little cabins, and the camp has a soccer field, swimming pool, big gazebo, and central dining hall. We are organizing a week of activities for the kids. It will be both chaotic and fun…
In late May, I was able to attend the “last bell” ceremony at the orphanage/boarding school where we volunteer. All the teachers, kids, and their families gathered in a large U-shape outside the main classroom building. Along with different ministry of education officials, the President of Moldova was also in attendance. The kids graduating 9th grade, looking their best, paraded out the door of the classroom building and in front of the waiting crowd. Speeches were given, songs were sung, and balloons were released. The event had all the facade of joy and exuberance, but in reality, these 9th grade girls and boys were being released into the wide world with little support system. Where will they live? If they can’t get into a technical school or university, where will they get a job? How will they live? Some of these kids have lived in this place since primary school – they have been each others’ family. This institution has raised them, rather, they have mostly raised each other, and now even this fringe of security and stability will be swept out from under them. Even though the morning was an occasion for prom dresses and starched white shirts, it was a sad day.
Please pray for:
· unity on our team and grace for one another as we seek to love and support each other in spite of our differences.
· that our lives will radiate Christ to the children and staff at this camp.
· that these children will be drawn to know and love Christ and truly know His love for them
Thank you all so much for the prayer, encouragement, and support. Your faithfulness to God is influencing the lives of children here in Moldova, and radically changing mine.
Much love,
Annie