1st Taul dental center surgery

We had only just arrived in Taul, Moldova for a four-day mission trip by an intrepid group from First Evan. Church in Memphis. Within minutes, it was brought to my attention that Andre, a fourteen-year-old local, had badly gashed his thigh with the business end of a rusty hoe.

The jagged cut had penetrated to the bone and gaped menacingly. Normally, we learned to our astonishment, such a wound would go untreated. Present on our team, however, were two dentists, in Taul to put on the first community dental clinic in our new mission center facility. So the Drs. Jerry and Stewart's first mercy mission was surgical, not dental. They gingerly cleansed, disinfected, and sutured the four-inch gash, while Andre showed raw courage during the impromptu needle and thread work.

We learned from Dan Onu that his mother, having been abandoned by dad after his birth, was raising Andre alone. Now at the treacherous crossroads of adolescence, dark side peer pressure is vying for Andre's tender affections. Praise God that our missionaries in Taul are also waging war for Andre's soul.

Dan and I drove him to another town's hospital where he was flatly refused a routine tetanus vaccination. Communism is alive and well in Moldova. But through the Romanian missionaries we support, so is the spirit of God. Pray for Andre, that he would allow our local church plant in Taul to embrace him that he might embrace the truth found only in Jesus.

A tale of two toities

Great progress has been made on the Moldova mission center. Showers, kitchen, and an indoor bathroom were receiving finishing touches as we arrived. This saved us the rustic rigors of hoofing it to the outdoor privy in use up until this time. Praise God for the funds created through Little Texas and our housing projects for these creature comforts. The facility is now ready to host our first mission school participants.

The blessings of our four days in Moldova came in waves. Joan Johnston, when not assisting husband Jerry in the dental clinic, met with Kati and helped her with fabric she brought for making new curtains in the missions house. Kati, having just given birth to their third child, little Estera, was ecstatic over Joan's decorating ideas. Little Texas provided funds for some new furniture to help transform the living room and bedroom for this dedicated family of five.

We visited people in their homes that are being reached by our missionaries. I was struck by the continued openness to the gospel. We spoke plainly about deep spiritual issues, sharing the truth about Christ as the only way to salvation. In this way many have come to Christ and are being discipled weekly.

A 1st century baptism

On Sunday we worshiped at our church plant in Tirnova and then made our way out to a nearby lake. A crowd of more than one hundred stood on the grassy bank as a small boat made out from shore where Radu proclaimed the Word while standing on the prow. This was a totally First Century moment. Then, as has been done for two millennia, four new believers were baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. One of these was Sascha.