tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-171919682024-03-22T06:21:34.827+02:00The JourneyNancyRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706953859702642188noreply@blogger.comBlogger174125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17191968.post-34387937695368907302011-07-10T09:30:00.000+03:002011-07-10T09:30:31.846+03:00Starting with BaptismLast Sunday morning a light rain fell, the air was cool and three women from Freedom Home were baptized in water! Andy was honored to stand in the blowup kiddie pool dressed in the standard light green double breasted robe that Pastors wear for baptism in Moldova and do the dunking. In addition to our three, the final youngest sisters of a Christian family of five were baptized. NancyRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706953859702642188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17191968.post-25976687263565150402011-06-27T16:19:00.000+03:002011-06-27T16:19:23.605+03:00TrialsTo most people in the west, "trial" means a hard time in life. To our women at Freedom Home they have experienced trials like few others have faced. But trial has another meaning--it also means having to go to court to convict somebody of something. The women at Freedom Home have sometimes been in court at a trial 3, 4 & 5 times to testify against their traffickers or NancyRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706953859702642188noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17191968.post-53356380234320834632011-06-18T09:28:00.000+03:002011-06-18T09:28:56.149+03:00A New MindThis past Sunday as I walked up to church Amy* came running to me, smiles filling her face. She threw her arms around me and exclaimed it is just a few weeks until her baptism. She is so excited! Every Sunday she and Tina* arrive at church early for classes for baptism. They are memorizing Scripture and learning Truth. While preparing for baptism, they are also preparing NancyRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706953859702642188noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17191968.post-53295321390318710512011-06-09T07:26:00.000+03:002011-06-09T07:26:35.686+03:00Painful ToesYesterday I slipped coming down the stairs just as I was getting ready to go for my morning walk. Ouch! Something hurt in my foot. I put my socks and tennis shoes on anyway and went to walk. About half-way through the walk my little toe on my right foot began to scream in pain. By time I came home, my toe was swollen and black and blue. I don't know if I broke NancyRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706953859702642188noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17191968.post-20258647829354463132011-06-02T06:46:00.000+03:002011-06-02T06:46:18.300+03:00Training for changeThis week has been intense. We have guests here to help the work at Freedom Home. Kyle is a Pastor and Christian counselor who trained the staff last year and is doing so again this year. He is also counseling both the staff and the girls in the afternoons.
In the past month we've taken in one new woman into Freedom Home and have another one or two who may come in the NancyRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706953859702642188noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17191968.post-46038742390918000132011-04-23T10:26:00.000+03:002011-04-23T10:26:53.309+03:00Easter ReflectionsTomorrow 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, NancyRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706953859702642188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17191968.post-36109935782483495132011-03-08T18:38:00.000+02:002011-03-08T18:38:38.621+02:00A Day for WomenToday is International Women's Day. This is the European equivalent to Mother's Day, except we celebrate all women. Today at Freedom Home we went out for a pizza lunch. The women ate pizza until they were stuffed. Later we returned to the home for ice cream and cookies, and one staff member prepared a special dish for supper that she loves to treat everyone to. We NancyRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706953859702642188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17191968.post-4081202403940158182011-02-28T13:09:00.000+02:002011-02-28T13:09:00.145+02:00FamilyFamily.
It is a word familiar to all of us. We think of parents, siblings and extended relatives. For many it brings a sense of home and safety. For some it conjures up thoughts of discord and hurt. Most Westerners can anchor on a family--whether positive or negative.
Many of our girls at Freedom Home have never known family. Some never knew mother or father. NancyRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706953859702642188noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17191968.post-46457637652100387812011-01-25T16:03:00.000+02:002011-01-25T16:03:00.357+02:00I'm Different!It's been far too long since I've posted. So forgive me. I feel like a naughty child who once again has done wrong, asking forgiveness. I'm amazed at bloggers who can post daily. But sometimes life just flies by, and I wonder how we are already approaching the end of yet another month.
So today I want to report what a great success the "homes for Christmas" idea turned NancyRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706953859702642188noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17191968.post-58155343579213870802010-12-06T12:21:00.000+02:002010-12-06T12:21:41.608+02:00Home for Christmas"I'll be home for Christmas..." Perhaps you've already heard Bing croon these words this holiday season, or you've heard one of the other dozen versions of the famous song. When we hear it we get excited about the trip home or our children joining us in our home or we long to actually be home with those we love.
For most of our girls at Freedom Home, there is no where to go atNancyRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706953859702642188noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17191968.post-55656813823970599752010-11-15T22:10:00.000+02:002010-11-15T22:10:36.150+02:00ParentsToday we drove to Essie's parents' home in a village a few hours from our home. Essie is the only girl in the home not just with parents, but Christian parents. From the time she came into the home, we knew we needed to talk to her parents.
But her father worked abroad, and only recently returned to Moldova. Last week they called, thinking that maybe Essie should NancyRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706953859702642188noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17191968.post-91138782815813018592010-11-10T01:10:00.000+02:002010-11-10T01:10:25.184+02:00TruthFor a bit more than a week I have been in the states with Andy. He's spoken at a few churches and we've had dinners with people--sharing about our work in Moldova and the work at Freedom Home. We are now sitting at the Detroit Airport and will be boarding a flight back to Europe shortly. Can't wait to get home.
We realize what a spiritual battle the work at NancyRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706953859702642188noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17191968.post-10611240395318295832010-10-21T15:55:00.000+03:002010-10-21T15:55:57.468+03:00My HerosOur work at Freedom Home wouldn't happen if it were not for the amazing staff who run the home. From the director and social worker to the ladies who rotate staying nights, we have an amazing staff.
A few weeks ago I left the home remembering the time it was my job to make sure who stayed over the weekend. I always needed to make sure someone would be there during the dayNancyRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706953859702642188noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17191968.post-68491868282670228052010-10-07T08:32:00.000+03:002010-10-07T08:32:34.242+03:00Bumped and BruisedMost often I blog to present the needs at Freedom Home. Through the stories of our girls in the home, I ask you to pray.
Today I will tell my story.
I don't often ask for prayer for myself. I know many pray for me anyway. I'm so grateful for those prayers.
Yesterday morning I had a meeting in the center of the city with a young Moldovan friend. I left that NancyRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706953859702642188noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17191968.post-27515185782250320502010-09-23T10:23:00.000+03:002010-09-23T10:23:40.159+03:00Time to Party!Tuesday morning when I arrived at Freedom Home I received the news that Mary's* trafficker had been convicted and sentenced to thirteen years in prison. We laughed, we hugged, we cried, we rejoiced that he faced justice.
Mary came to us about two months ago under police protection. Everything about her screamed "FEAR!!" She couldn't go anywhere by public transportation inNancyRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706953859702642188noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17191968.post-32943335992985194302010-08-29T17:30:00.000+03:002010-08-29T17:30:28.379+03:00PreservationThis morning the text of the message came from Psalm 121. I take a Romanian/English parallel Bible to church with me and after reading the Romanian with the congregation, I read the Scripture in English.
I read words so very familiar, "I will lift up my eyes to the hills..." Beautiful words. On I read to verse seven.
I paused.
I stopped.
I read again.
I NancyRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706953859702642188noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17191968.post-31095369413590639872010-08-19T20:19:00.000+03:002010-08-19T20:19:53.955+03:00Broken HeartsI have three daughters biologically. I have several more by virtue of Freedom Home.
Ali* began first to call me mama. The other girls at the home joined her. Most have not had a mama in a long time. Most haven't known a good mama. Ali's mama died when she was around ten years old.
Ali has had a very hard journey. We see times of great victory and timesNancyRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706953859702642188noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17191968.post-82278152524752335492010-08-16T22:14:00.000+03:002010-08-16T22:14:05.309+03:00Sweet DreamsToday I had the privilege of sitting with a newer resident in the home, Mary, and hearing her story. Her story came out in the midst of her pain. Last Thursday she surrendered her life to Christ and then the nightmares began each night.
She shared how these nightmares are really not new, but have come each time she's wanted to change her life for the better.
When I talked to NancyRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706953859702642188noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17191968.post-39600736331804578092010-08-13T13:57:00.002+03:002010-08-13T14:41:43.280+03:00NeighborsThis week the neighbors on both sides of the home have begun complaining about one thing after another. They both have always made complaints and usually they have some validity. We have tried to comply. The neighbor to the right didn't like our dog, Jack. So we built the fence higher to give him the extra protection from the dog jumping into his yard.But this week he called the police saying NancyRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706953859702642188noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17191968.post-77017915960217777152010-07-28T07:42:00.002+03:002010-07-28T07:56:18.722+03:00Rescue ArtsIt is so important for the women who come into our home to find a place of healing in their lives. There are many avenues to have that happen. It doesn't just happen automatically because they come into the home, but happens because they are led there. We are in the process of helping the staff understand how to lead the women to healing.Often that healing has to start in the lives of the NancyRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706953859702642188noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17191968.post-36203913734231384872010-07-22T11:47:00.003+03:002010-07-22T12:08:06.989+03:00Holding up Your armsYesterday I listened to a sermon podcast by Pastor Rod Loy at North Little Rock First (www.firstnlr.com). He talked about the Bible story where Joshua, the young man, is fighting, and Moses, the old man, is praying with his contemporaries holding up his arms. When Moses' arms are up, they are winning the battle. When the arms are down, they are losing the battle. The idea behind this sermon NancyRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706953859702642188noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17191968.post-76753634840334112512010-07-16T10:19:00.002+03:002010-07-16T10:35:30.608+03:00Taking the Land Part TwoThere is an adage in church work that sometimes you have to lose some to gain more. I believe that has been true at Freedom Home. I'm learning that as we take the land, sometimes we have to let some things go. I'd like to believe that every woman who comes to us will be changed, but this doesn't happen. Some cannot break the chains holding them in bondage. A few weeks ago one woman had NancyRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706953859702642188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17191968.post-2188715664001103982010-07-12T11:28:00.002+03:002010-07-12T12:07:24.436+03:00Freedom HomeWe have given a new name to the Project Rescue home in Moldova. We are now Freedom Home. Why the new name? Moldova is a very small country, and there are already several Home of Hopes, Hope Houses and other ministries with names very close. We needed to set ourselves apart.So we began to pray about it, asking God to give us something that was right for us in this place.An issue begin to emergeNancyRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706953859702642188noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17191968.post-31299274319064453822010-07-09T13:25:00.002+03:002010-07-09T13:39:16.420+03:00I'm often asked how we find the women who are in our home. We have networked and built relationships with several different organizations that deal with the legal aspects of women who are trafficked. They are the agencies that the government calls when a trafficked woman needs to be repatriated or stand trial against a trafficker. These agencies know the women need further help. They then callNancyRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706953859702642188noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17191968.post-76971664402036442622010-06-23T14:06:00.003+03:002010-06-23T14:31:41.678+03:00Taking the LandIt has been more than a month since I last blogged. About the time of the last post, one of the girls in the home (the one who can read English and use a computer) went to an internet cafe', found our website and felt angry that I posted about the Home. So I decided to just stop posting for a time. This week I felt it time to start again. This week all the woman and children of the home and a NancyRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706953859702642188noreply@blogger.com1