Tomorrow we celebrate Easter. This is the biggest Moldovan family celebration of the year. I've been trying to get on here to post for three days and have not been able to because our internet has been so slow. This happens every year at this holiday time--everyone is calling and talking to family members and friends abroad. So many have left Moldova to live in Western Europe, America and Canada.
Most of the woman at Freedom Home do not have families to celebrate with. The memories they have of holiday celebrations are full of drunkenness, fighting and abuse. It isn't a great memory. So this Easter we found Christian homes for each of them (like we did at Christmas). One woman returned to the family where she celebrated Christmas! This has been a great connection for Amy* and her daughter.
A few weeks ago I spoke about this idea with Tina*. Tina is the newest in the home. She is smiley and full of life. After speaking she became quiet and sullen. She went to the window, looking out to hide her sadness. A staff member and I went to her to talk with her. She is afraid of rejection and remembers only horrible holidays. We assured her that we would find a place that was right for her. Yesterday she took her one year old and went to her Easter family. Pray for a beautiful weekend for her, full of love and acceptance. Pray for her to understand the joy of celebrating Easter focused on Christ, not drunkenness. Tina has her one year old in the home with her. She also is mama to a 5 year old and would love to regain custody of this daughter. Please pray that God will make this miracle possible.
Mary* also dealt with a lot of fear going to another home. Mary has been with us since last summer. She is often quiet. Not a lot has changed in Mary. Recently we found she has addiction issues. This past week she admitted that whenever there is prayer or Bible reading, she wants to run and scream and hide. Mary isn't just bound by addictions, but these other things give evidence of demonic strongholds in her life. This holiday she is in the home of a wonderful family in a village. We've worked a lot with the churches in this region and they are full of amazing people. We love the family she is staying with. We shared with the pastor the issues we face with Mary and his response was, "No problem. We will pray and fast for her and ask God to break these problems in her life this weekend."
These weekends are so important for the women. It is important for them to find love outside Freedom Home. It is important also for our churches to learn to care for our women.
As you celebrate the Lord's resurrection this weekend, please pray for the life and freedom for our women at Freedom Home. Please pray that this weekend will give good connections for the women. Pray that more of our churches would be open to taking the women during the holidays. (It was a struggle to find homes). Pray that God continues to heal the pain of the past in each of their lives.
Thanks for praying.
