Today was a valiant day for one of the girls at the home. She faced her trafficker today in court. We are all so proud of her courage and strength. We aren't sure how the court hearing will go but we are praying for her favor and not the scumbags. If had been in that court room, Lord only knows what I would've done to that horrible man who thought it was a great idea to hurt and abuse women and girls. I'm sure if I ever am in that situation God will deal with my feelings directly.
I'm so happy for her though. God is doing a great thing in her life andbe praying for the other girls who have not yet testified against their trafficker. God is a God of justice and those men who hurt them can be caught! And God will give these girls courage and strength. The Freedom Home has an amazing staff of women who are ready to stand right alongside these girls. So blessed to be apart of what God is doing.
It was a good day at the home. The girls make beautiful art pieces for the local Salvation Army so they were busy with those projects today. One of the girls has been at hair school for the past few days. She comes back with a smile on her face everytime :) The 4 kids at the home are doing great. They have become more familiar with Carolin and I over the past few weeks and it is always so wonderful when they come running to you when you arrive at the home. Their laughs are contagious. Their smiles are contragious. Theire simple love for life is contagious. Little kids are the organic root to the simplicity and happiness of life.
The girls and staff are still in their English lessons and they are blossoming. I love being in the room and seeing them learn. It makes them so happy when they figure out what a word means or how to pronounce a word correctly.
Prayer requests for the home:
-Still be praying for a Director for the home. Transition can be hard for the girls and staff so be praying for peace and security in each one of their lives. (the former director left for personal reasons and the home (and Raatz') are praying and seeking the Lord for a new one)
-Pray for the girls as they (one by one) are testifying against their traffickers. They are heroes and worthy of so much. Though, these hearings can be difficult to go to because they have to see their former trafficker face to face. And sometimes the girls (not the ones at FH) are bribed to not show up to court. It is a horrible cycle and too many pimps are getting off free from the pain and despair they have caused to so many women and children.
-Praying for finances for the home
-Pray for more homes to open up throughout Moldova. (if you read enough books about sex trafficking you may notice that many Eastern European girls are trafficked to Russia, Asia and Western Europe. They are trafficked for many reasons (lied to by others, given fake jobs, poverty, kidnapped..the list can go on) and many go back to the same situations. These homes are a safe haven and a family community for these women and girls.
Thank you for coming alongside all of us in Moldova and praying for these girls!
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There have been some really funny things that have happened in the past week and I just have to share them with you!:
Recently Caroline and I have seen too many big bellies! The men love to cool off their bellies from the summer heat by lifting up their shirts and tucking it in to the top of their belly. These picturesque beauts can be seen on most rutieras that transport us all around Chisinau. Gets me everytime.
Another thing is the hair here. The women have Dolly Parton hair and Im afraid that something..or someone lives inside of it.
Hahahahaha also it's always interesting to muscle your way out of the 101 rutiera at 10pm on any given night. It's usually full of sweaty, smelly, TALL people who pack into the car like a herd of elephants! It's hilarious! There are countless times where when I step out of the rutiera it feels like I go from a heater to a ice-box in less than 1 second.
It has been a wonderful day in Moldova. Finished the day with curry chicken, rice, peas, italian salad, carrots and water made by the infamous Nancy Raatz.
and...
right at this moment: nancy, caroline and I are laughing histerically to just about everything we hear and see while sitting in the living room. you'd have to see it to believe it but you'd be laughing right along with us. It's been a good day. God is so good.
