Archive for the ‘Mission Updates’ Category

Joanne learning to play the whistle

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

Sorry to everyone who has been checking the blog only to not find any updates.  The blog was down and they finally got it up and working.  I have been posting to Snyder’s Facebook page, so fill free to go there and catch up!  I’ll try to give some brief history.  I left 2 days early and met up with Gloria Ginn in the Czech Republic to see her ministry there.  I had a great time with Gloria and got to see lots of things…from the sponsoring church, a Bible study, Mom’s club, her ministry center, and even the Pusta Rybna camp they use for English camp.  Can’t wait to keep working with Gloria.

I then met up with the crew in the Vienna Airport.  When I arrived, I was put on stand by, but got on the plane and bumped up to Business Class.  Well, it was my first time in Business Class.  Funny thing, it was no different in the rest of the seats, just a curtain pulled.  Too funny!  We all made it safely to Chisinau but the only luggage that arrived was mine.  We came straight to Stella’s house and visited for Saturday.  It is a very nice facility that houses girls who have to leave the orphanage because they are too old.  To keep them safe from human trafficking, the Phillip Cameron Ministries have built 2 homes that house about 40 girls.  There is also one home for guys, Simon’s house.  We have not been there yet, but hope to on our last night.  Saturday, we played games with the girls and just visited.  We then headed to the village of Cupcoi where we would stay in the mission house there.  It’s about an hour and 15 minute drive and has 3 bedrooms with 2 bunks in each one and one bathroom.  Yes, there are 9 of us and our host which leads to 10 of us with one bathroom.

On Sunday, we came back to Stella’s house and worshipped with the guys and girls.  They have their own church.  We also had prayer and Bible Study led by one of the girls.  She was very impressive.  Afterwards, we again visited with the girls and played games.  Some went on a bus trip with 2 of the girls to take a cousin back home.  They had a quite an adventure.  Then back an hour and a half to the mission house.

The mission house is in Cupcoi because there is an orphanage there that Phillip Cameron visited and it moved his heart to compassion.  The orphanage closed and Phillip bought the building and has renovated it to a private own orphanage, called Providence House.  We visited there on Monday and Tuesday, leading games and activities.  Yesterday, we painted faces, nails, and played soccer.  We then ate lunch and then had Bible Study with the children and craft time. They are precious children who need families to love and teach them.

It’s now Wednesday here!  On Sunday, 2 pieces of luggage came.  It was Lisa and Trevor King’s.  The rest of the luggage and supplies didn’t arrive till Monday night.  Yes, the crew was ready for a change of clothes!  We were also ready for our supplies!  We had all of it except for one tub, that Gary and Joanne will take on to Armenia.  We prayed when we heard that one tub didn’t come that it would be Gary and Joanne’s since they didn’t need it yet.  And it was the one.  When we arrived here at Stella’s house today, we found that the last tub had arrived!  Praise God!

We are getting ready for lunch here at Stella’s house.   Most of the girls are at school.  After lunch, we will head to a state run orphanage called Straseni and a special needs orphanage.  We don’t know exactly how it will work today, so we are just taking lots of activities and will give out lots of hugs.  Then tonight we will eat a traditional Moldovan meal.  Continue to pray.  We will have one more day tomorrow and then 7 of us head home and Gary and Joanne Copeland will head to Armenia.  Will try to post one more time with pic from today before we leave.  We do not have internet at the mission house.  Thanks for reading!  Susie