So, I’m a Mom of two orphans, so yesterday was a hard day.  We left and drove into Stella’s house where we had lunch and waited for the children to be done with school.  Then we headed to a Special Needs Orphanage in Straseni.  We didn’t know what to expect, but we took activities and craft supplies.  They took us to an outdoor stage with bench seating and they introduced us.  We decided to do different stages…put on temp tattoos, paint fingernails, do 2 crafts, play jump rope and soccer.  The children moved around to the different stages.  They wanted anything we would give them and kept coming back for more.  Some you could tell they were special needs but most you could not.  They were poorly dressed and were in need of dental care.  Some wouldn’t even look at you in the eyes.  It was hard.  So here’s my message.  Children all over the world should not grow up in an orphanage.  It was clean and bright, but their closets were empty because they didn’t own anything.  And they need Mom’s and Dad’s to hug them and tell them they love them each and everyday.  It’s what Jesus would do if he was here.

Then we headed to the main orphanage in Straseni.  It has about 250 children all ages.  The older children were preparing a program for the last day of school which was today.  So we headed with crayons and color pages and little stuffed animals to the younger children.  Again, it was descent looking, bright with pictures on the walls and many stuffed animals and other toys.  They were sweet children and I wanted to put my arms around them and hug and not let go.  They loved the gifts, but more so, they loved the interaction and hugs.  Those little boys eyes about popped out when they saw those bright red soccer balls.  One little girl was down on the floor as close to her paper as she could be.  Then she held her crayons up close to her eyes.  You could just tell, she couldn’t see well.  But there was  no one to take her to the eye doctor for glasses.

So I didn’t mean to be so depressing, but this is just two orphanages here in Moldova.  The difference in the girls at Stella’s House (older girls which many have come from Straseni) is amazing.  Jesus is making a difference.  You can be the arms of Jesus to a child, whether you’re in Fayetteville and offer Foster Care, adopting a child, or just come on a trip and share His love.

After a long hard day, we headed to a traditional Moldovan restaurant.  It was delicious and beautiful.  They even had a little museum of a past traditional Moldovan house.  It was amazing!

Then we drove the hour and 15 minutes back home and collapsed.

Today we got up and headed to downtown Chisinau and did a little touring and shopping.  We had lunch at the MALLdova…funny, huh?  Then we headed back to Stella’s house where I’m writing now.  We will say goodbye to the girls shortly and then stop by Simon’s House (where the guys live), before driving back to our Mission House.  We get up early and head to the airport in the morning (Friday).  We fly out of Moldova at 1pm and fly through Munich, Newark, NJ, and will land at RDU late Friday night.  Thanks for praying for us and sorry we were not able to update this earlier.  I will post pictures above.  Can’t wait to be home!  Love, Susie