Life is like a box of diapers…. it’s always full of changes. Sometimes we fear changes, but change can be a good thing.

CHANGES IN SOROCA

Over the past few months, we have had several visitors join us for services. One lady, “O,” has come a couple times. She had passed our building many times with an interest to visit and finally gained the courage to come. Another lady, “L,” came from a village about 45 minutes away from Soroca, having made a profession of faith in a Baptist church year ago, and wants to be baptized. Another lady, Tatiana, has been coming to our services when in town visiting her parents who live up the road from our house. She is working to transfer from another city and move here to help take care of her aging parents. Two deaf women also visited our service once. Stephanie has been doing Bible studies with a young woman named “O,” too, who has been coming to services. Please pray for us as we do follow-up and seek to minister to these new folks.

A fellow believer in town, Irina, who was not a member of our church plant but often came to special events, went home to be with the Lord in the middle of May. A year ago, she was fearful and troubled as she saw the cancer progress and confine her to her bed. The last six months, though, we saw major changes in her life for the better. She sought to focus on glorifying God even with her bedridden state. She wrote poetry to God, gave Bibles to her caretakers, and had a much sweeter spirit. Stephanie and I visited her a week before she passed away. When she prayed, her words were filled with thanksgiving to God and praising Him for His mercy and goodness to her.

Since December of 2019, a young man, “V,” has been coming to the Thursday midweek Bible studies on evenings he does not work. We have given him the Gospel multiple times and had gone through Jacob’s Thursday series on Romans. Recently I had lunch with him and went through the Gospel again, answering questions that he had. He seemed to understand it. I helped him pick up some large items from the capital city the next day, which gave us all day to talk. He then asked if baptism is the point when a person officially crosses the line from lost to saved. When I told him that comes AFTER the new birth and reviewed repentance and faith for salvation again, he looked at me and said, “Well, I made that decision last year.” He then explained how he had been meditating on what Jacob had been teaching on Thursdays and came to believe in Christ! Please pray for “V” as we follow-up and help him take the next steps for Christ.

COVID CHANGES

Most of these changes have been positive changes over the past couple months. We are no longer under a state of emergency and the number of new COVID cases per day has been under 100 in the whole country. Due to this, we have been able to resume the Bible Club in the village of Cosăuți. Sadly, though, the teen boys I started mentoring before things shut down again have been moved to another facility.

Last year, we were unable to run Vacation Bible School due to the pandemic. With there being fewer cases and regulations, we were hoping to have it in July. Unfortunately, we are at a standstill waiting on the government to decide on whether summer camps can run and what regulations will be imposed. I have talked with our lawyer in the capital and also been in contact with the mayor’s office here in Soroca. I was told that one reason nothing has been decided on yet may be due to the impending threat of the Delta version of COVID-19. Please pray for us to hear soon on something definite regarding VBS in the near future, even if the answer is a no, so that we can make plans moving forward and get out of this limbo.

CHANGES WITH OUR OLDEST

     Thank you to all who have been praying for our oldest and the emotional/mental battles. Though struggles still exist, we are continuing to see improvement and greater stability and consistency. We are thankful for the Christian counselor that the Lord has provided. Please continue to keep this in your prayers.

CHANGE IN PLACES

     If you remember Tamara, the lady battling cancer and a host of other health problems, who trusted Christ a couple years ago, she is actually doing better physically than she has in a long time, though far from being healthy. Her husband, Alec, who walks with two brace crutches all the time, fell while working in the field alone. He injured his neck and was completely paralyzed for several days. He now has regained movement in his arms but still cannot use his legs yet. I have never met a family that has gone through so many trials, one after another. Please pray for their spiritual encouragement and many financial needs to be met.

CHANGE OF PACE

      For the last two weeks of June, Stephanie’s parents finally had an open window to come visit us. What a joy it was to be with family again. We spent the last week with them on vacation for a much needed break from the usual demands of life here. I am so blessed to have not only Christian parents but also in-laws. Their visit was truly a fulfillment of Proverbs 25:25: “As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.”

POLITICAL CHANGES

     On July 11th, Moldova will hold Parliamentary elections. Since the newly elected president, Maia Sandu, is limited by the balance of power in Parliament, the possible positive future changes for Moldova hang in the balance. Please pray for a fair and peaceful election and for God’s will to be done.

Thank you very much for your continued prayers and financial support.