Change

At the New Year we always talk about the need for change. We make resolutions, try to lose weight and begin exercise programs. Often the change we need must be deeper. It must be a change of the heart, a change of ways and actions.

This type of change is difficult. It is scary. We see this so clearly for the women at the Home of Hope. They come and want a place of safety, but a changed life is foreign. They don't want to go to that place of change. The first months are especially difficult.

Please continue to pray for *Leah and *Ginny. There is so much that holds them in bondage. They want to leave or run from the home. They see freedom as life on their own, life in the bars, life in another country. After being held in captivity, they see freedom only as a place. As believers we know that true liberty is only in Christ. "He who the Son sets free is free indeed!"

Pray that God would set them free from the captivity of their own souls. Pray that they would submit their lives to Christ and grow in Him.

Pray for peace for Ginny. Her mother died shortly before she was trafficked. She still feels this loss and misses her mother greatly.

Pray also for one of our children. In the next few weeks she needs to get her tonsils out. Pray for safety in the operation and a quick healing for her body.

Pray also for our staff. The work is draining, and they need to see God as victorious in their lives too.

A New Year

I'm sitting this morning at the Home of Hope. We've passed through the holiday season. Last Thursday was Eastern Christmas so there were still services and celebrations throughout the weekend.

Thanks for your prayers over the holiday season. For some of the girls it was a great time. All celebrated in a new style--without alcohol and abuse. But for most of the girls, it still proved a difficult season. It brings to the surface so many tough emotions.

Today I'd like you to pray for the year ahead. Pray for the ministry here. It is still in such an infancy stage. Pray that God would put roots down deep in the hearts of the women. Pray that He would heal their deep inner hurts. Pray that He would become their Father and their comfort. Pray for those that have already committed their lives to the Lord--that they will grow in this new relationship. Pray for those that have not committed their lives to Him. That they would understand the full meaning of what Christ has done for them.

Pray for the other work we do in Moldova. There are churches to be built, pastors to be trained, help to be given. Early in February the annual pastor's conference will be held. Pray that a mighty move of God will fall upon the pastors, giving them new direction so that many will come to Him. Starting in the Spring we will have several teams coming to Moldova to help construct church buildings or help the ministry of a local church. Pray for God's blessings on these teams as they prepare.

Pray also for our family. The girls are doing well, but each is growing up in a very different cultural context than we understand. There are always challenges to home schooling, as there are challenges to public schooling. Pray for God's hand on their lives. Pray also for Andy and I. This Spring we'll celebrate 20 years of marriage. It is hard to believe that we've walked this road together now for nearly 20 years. What a great time we are having. Pray for continued vision and guidance for us also.

Blessings on your day! Thanks for your prayer.

Reflections

As I look back on the past year, I am amazed at what God has done in our first year of ministry at the Home of Hope in Moldova. And I realize that none of it could be possible without the prayers of so many. There is no doubt that finances are needed to run a work, but many people have finances and don't see lives changed. Without faithful prayer for the ministry and for the lives of the women, we would not see the great things we saw this past year.

Thanks for believing with us in prayer for a director. Elena is doing an amazing job. I often sit and listen to her lead and feel incredibly blessed to have her there.

Thanks for praying for Ali*--a month ago she learned from a few of the staff about baby dedication and this Sunday we will dedicate both her newborn son and her 3 year old daughter at our local church. She's made the complete break in an awful relationship and is moving forward. But best of all I see joy and peace in her life. Everything is not perfect, but she is a living miracle.

Thanks for praying for God's work and God's timing. This month we've taken in two new women. One is pregnant. The other is young. Both are so hurting and broken. Continue to pray for Leah* and Ginny*. They need God's touch. We see smiles on their faces some days. We want them to come to truly understand Christ in their lives. We now have five women and four children in the home and that is exciting.

Thanks for praying for work for the women. We've partnered with Salvation Army to give fair trade work to the women. Some are sewing. Another is crocheting. It is allowing them to earn money and hope for a better future. Two of the women are ready to begin a local cooking school.

Thanks for praying for our staff. I'm amazed at what God is doing in their lives. They are wonderful women who truly love what they are doing, how God is using them and how they can be involved in lives being changed.

Current prayer needs--

Ginny* needs complete physical healing in her body--the effects of her trauma.

Ali's baby is doing well, but the doctors were a bit concerned about his growth this past time. Pray for this little baby to grow.

Pray for a special blessing this Sunday. Ali is such a leader and she has lead the way in baby dedication. The others are following and all our children are being dedicated to the Lord this Sunday. How exciting that their lives are being changed! How exciting that they do not need to know the pain that their mothers's lives held. God is so good. So please pray with us for this Sunday.

Have a Blessed Christmas!

Leah

Leah* came to the Home of Hope two weeks ago. She is depressed and struggling with the upcoming Christmas holiday. She says that everything bad that happened in her life, happened at the Christmas season.

Please keep her in prayer this month. Every girl that comes into the home struggles with the lack of freedom, the rules, the structure, and wants to leave. They cannot see that life can be better and want to run. Leah is in this place at this time.

This past weekend she spent a lot of time saying she wanted to leave. Tuesday is our prayer and fasting day, and we prayed specifically that she would see God in her life and make the choice to stay. In the afternoon she went to visit a foundation that takes in pregnant women and mothers. They told her that they would not take her because she is not from the city. We see this as a miracle because we know they take any needy woman, no matter where she is from.

And while she was there, Leah noted how sad everyone looked. She saw the difference from those at the Home of Hope. So she has come back and said she will stay until after her baby is born. Please pray specifically for her this week and this month. Pray that she would settle and see what God will do in her life. There is a great battle for her life at this time. Pray that she will see God showing himself to her this Christmas season.

Additions

Today I met Leah*, a 21 year old victim of sex-trafficking. She's four months pregnant and has no where to go. A short-term shelter that we partner with called us, asking us to take her.

Leah's nervousness showed clearly. No smile showed on her face. She reminded me of Ala* when I first met her a year ago. Hopelessness filled her whole being.

"Would you like to come to our home?" asked Elena, our director.

A positive answer told me that she really didn't know what other option existed. She's spent her life shifted from one family member to another, in an out of orphanages, trafficked to one country and moved to another.

Please pray for Leah this week. Deciding to step into a new way of life is never easy. She will come to visit with her Social Worker on Wednesday. Most likely she'll bring the few possessions she owns with her and stay that night. We are asking Ala to be a helper to her as she settles into life in the home, as we see the incredible change in Ala's life.

It won't be easy. The first weeks never are. But we know that God has brought her to us, and we know that she can find newness of life in Christ and healing from the pain in the coming months.

Thanks for your prayers.

Praying for Ala

This week we are having a time of prayer and fasting for one of our women, Ala*. We ask you to join us in prayer for her.

Ala was one of the first women in our home. She came with her preschool daughter. A few months after she came, we found out she had a boyfriend, and at the New Year she became pregnant with his child. This is the pregnancy which you prayed for and we have a very healthy baby boy in the home now.

In this first year with Ala surrendered her life to Jesus. We see such an incredible change in her life, but she still has a hard time seeing a better future. She has a hard time dreaming that her life can be anything greater and the boyfriend is a safety net. Yet, in the past few weeks, she is seeing that the new life she is living does not fit with the life the boyfriend lives.

This past Friday she asked that we'd pray specifically for her this week. She wants the strength break free from the boyfriend and she wants to see that her life can be something. Interestingly, the boyfriend has begun to ask questions about her new faith. So we are praying either that she breaks free or that he comes to the Lord and is changed.

Thanks for your prayers.

Healthy Baby

This week at the Home of Hope we rejoice at the birth of a healthy 8 pound baby boy. Babies are a normal thing and so many are healthy, but I believe that Baby S is truly a miracle.

When his mama, Ala*, came to our home, she needed medical care. Infection and problems filled her womb. Not long after she came we found out she was pregnant. I first thought that there was no way this pregnancy would ever come to completion.

It was in July, after several rounds of antibiotics that the doctors said she was still filled with infection and that she'd have to be admitted in the hospital. She would most likely lose the baby.

The staff and residents of the Home gathered around her. We prayed fervently for her. My prayer for her, "Lord, reveal yourself to her. Show her Your power. Show her your love for her." The next day she went for more testing and all tests came back negative. All infection disappeared. Only last week I realized that from that moment on, her at risk pregnancy had become a normal pregnancy. This week we welcomed a healthy baby boy into the world.

I'm so thankful to Jesus for His power and work in the lives of the women at the Home. God is so good. He has a plan, not only for Ala's life, but the life of her daughter and son also.

Please continue to pray for our women, our staff and our country, Moldova.

Coming home

Our girl, Masha* is coming home.

Masha came back to us in late July. Two weeks later her "boyfriend" tried to get her back. We had thought ahead of this and when he showed up again, we sent her to a Teen Challenge rehab center. The two months away have been hard and wonderful for her. She wants to come back home.

Please pray for her as she transitions back into life in the home. Pray that God would continue the healing in her life. Pray that the guy would stay away and that she will stay strong. The time away was good. She understands who Jesus is now and He is in her life. She wants to be baptized. But we know the battle is not over. Will you pray for her?

Pray also for Andy & me in this month. We do more than just the Home of Hope! We currently have a Convoy of Hope intern team here. They are in a village in the north of Moldova, doing a month of outreach. We also have a church construction team of men here and on Wednesday another team will join them for another week of church construction. Pray that God would bless their time. That this church would come together so that they will have a building to meet in this winter. Pray for safety and health for all the team members. Pray also for us and the rest of our AGWM team. It is a busy month for all of us. We need God's grace and mercy for this time.

Thanks for your prayers.

This week I reminded the staff at the Home of Hope that our struggle is not against flesh and blood. The work we are doing is truly a spiritual battle for the lives of the women we are helping.

When working with women who have been so traumatized, the results can be slow in coming. Discouragement can set in. We see one woman make a good choice while the next makes the choice to walk away from the freedom she is finding.

In late July I wrote that one of our girls had run away from the home. She is our youngest girl, and she'd given her heart to the Lord at a camp in June. But the battle for her life was not over. A few weeks ago we finally located her in her village. She has no parents and thought she enjoyed the freedom there. But this week she went to her village social worker and asked to come back. So we pray again for her, that Christ would give her joy and peace in Him.

We also took in a new woman this past week. She comes with a 4 1/2 year old daughter. They had been living on the street and another of our girls saw them and told us her story and her need for help. Pray that Nelly* finds freedom in Christ. She also has some health issues. Pray for her complete healing.

I'm also rejoicing because I've hired a national director for the ministry. She is an amazing young woman who has been on the staff. She has such a vision for what God is going to do in the ministry now and in the future.

Please continue to pray for the women in the home. Pray as our young one returns home. Pray that she'd truly be set free in Christ.

Pray for our expecting mama. Her baby should be born in the next month. Pray for a safe delivery and a healthy little boy. We are seeing God do such amazing things in her life. Pray that she continues to grow.

Pray also for Elena, our director. Pray that God helps her as she moves forward in this position.

Thanks for your prayers. They really are making a difference.

Away

Andy, the girls and I have been away from Moldova for a few weeks. We are in the states for a bit of vacation and the Assemblies of God General Council to help with the Eurasia Experience and Eurasia Exhibit. It is a good time to reconnect with friends in ministry and also to talk to people about what God wants in their lives in missions. Please keep this week in prayer.

But as we are away, the work continues on in Moldova. The girl who ran away a few weeks ago has been found and will be coming back to the home later this week. Please pray for Victoria* that she would really understand the grace and mercy of God in her life. Pray that she would understand that God truly wants to set her free from a life of destruction.

Masha*, who came back to us is doing well, but her "boyfriend" once again is trying to contact her. She is moved to a safe place where we really believe God can work in her life and change her. Please pray for her in these weeks.

Pray also for the staff. This work is an extremely exhausting work and it is so hard for all of them. Please pray that they would find rest and peace in God in this week. Pray that He would give them the strength they need to continue. We also need to fill some staff positions and we'd ask you to pray that we can find the women needed to work with us.

Pray also for our family for our final days here in the states. Elissa has to have a minor surgery Monday morning. Her eye teeth are impacted and she needs to have the gum opened so they can come down. This is not the extensive surgery of wisdom teeth, but it is still a surgery and we fly out that evening. Please pray for her. Pray also for the refreshment our family needs at this time.

Thanks for your continued prayers.

An Empty stage

Masha* came back last week. Masha ran away last week. Masha came back last week.

That is how some weeks go. This week is an emotional roller coaster. Every time I promise that if she runs away again, we won't take her back. But we do. She's desperate for help and doesn't know what to do.

Today another girl disappeared. We know where she is. She is with a friend. We spent about half hour at dusk trying to find her, visiting with neighbors of the friend, hoping to find her. She did not want to be found. We'll find her in the morning.

Rebecca G had been in Moldova working with the girls when Masha returned. When I wrote her that Masha had run away, this is what she wrote to me:

"I'm not surprised, but saddened over Masha. What a beautiful,
potential-filled young woman...but a fragmented result of her abuse. I
probably mentioned to you that during art time she painted the past so
graphically, but she could not picture the present or the future. In fact,
her future painting was like a mini-stage with grass on the bottom and a sun
in the corner and nothing on the stage. Like she knew it could/should be
good, but she could not even imagine what life might look like. The fact
that her brain could not fathom present or future, only what she knew that
had been imposed upon her".

This is where most of our girls are at, and this is why our days are filled with so many ups and downs. Most of them can picture the past so vividly, but cannot dream of a bright and beautiful future.

We often hear it said that "you can take the girl from the brothel, but you can't take the brothel from the girl". That is something only Jesus can do. Pray that God will deliver them from the bondage they still live in. Pray that they can see hope for a new future.

Will you please pray for our girls at the Home of Hope? We feel that right now we are in an intense battle for them. We know they are changing, but we need to see them truly be delivered and changed by God.

Please pray that God would take their brokenness and give them a hope for a bright new future. Please pray that they can see that God is making all things new.

Unto You

Rebecca has been teaching a dance to the girls from a song. The chorus is simple, "Unto You be all the glory! Unto You be all the glory! Unto You be all the glory! Unto You be all the glory!" That may seem repetitive, but needs to be the cry of our souls to God.

This morning we arrived at the Home of Hope and were greeted by amazing smiles. Masha* was not smiling, but she got up and hugged me. She stayed in my arms for several minutes.

When we first took her in the home when we opened last fall, she was a girl in need of help. She had been locked in a brothel and abused. Somehow she still had spirit and life, often acting like a small child full of joy.

Today I see a woman totally broken by the abuse of the past months--physical, emotional,and sexual abuse. She sits quietly, unsure of herself, unsure of all that she is, unsure of what the future has to hold.

Please continue to pray for Masha. Pray that God can come in and heal her completely. And pray for safety and distance from the man that held her. He knows where the home is, and we want her to stay safely away from him. She needs an incredible touch from God right now.

In contrast to her, the other girls, who are just baby Christians greeted me with smiles and laughter. They are seeing God at work. They see the answer to their prayers sitting among us. They are full of joy and hope.

So as they begin to dance to the choreographed moves of this song, the chorus rang out to me, "Unto YOU be all the glory!" Oh, our God is so good! His heart is for the broken and although Masha has been away from us, she has never been away from Him. He has heard her cry of pain, and He has come to meet her. Unto Jesus be the glory.

What a day to pray

Some days are just amazing.

I woke up looking forward to what God was going to do today, but a bit afraid of the day ahead. Started with an intense meeting with people who simply need Jesus to intervene in their lives.

Moved on to the Home of Hope. Rebecca, with Rescue Arts, has been here for the past week working with the women there. The first days were such a battle. Rebecca felt such an oppression even within the country, and it was so difficult to work with the girls. The girls didn't want to open up. When she tried to teach them dance, they simply sat down and refused to get up. It was a struggle to get everyone going on anything together. But today in her session the girls opened up in an amazing way, sharing the hurt from the past and the peace of the present.

Went from the Home of Hope to a meeting with an American man studying the issue of trafficking in Moldova. Here I was able to talk about being a faith-based Christian aftercare center, and that we believe fully that Christ is the only one who will bring change to a woman's broken life. As I told him of how many women in our home, saying one girl was not currently in the home, but we keep contact with her (believing she will return), my phone rang, It was this very girl, Masha*.

I immediately responded to Masha's call. She speaks Russian and so it is always difficult to communicate with her. She has my number and usually calls me, and I put Andy on the phone. But he was not with me. Through tears she said, "Doamne [Mrs] Nancy, (then in English) PLEASE HELP ME!" I told her I would call Andy immediately and we'd get to her.

But two hours later we still had not found her, realizing that he boyfriend (pimp) had found her. She'd escaped from the apartment where he keeps her locked and tried a desperate call for help. Before we could get to her, he had found her again and taken her back.

We begin to intercede for Masha. We drove back to the Home of Hope and prayed with the women and staff there. Amazingly, within an hour Masha had made her way to the Home of Hope.

Masha is free from the key that locked her in, but she is far from true freedom. She needs freedom for her soul. Please pray and intercede for her this week. Pray that the chains that hold her in darkness will be broken. Pray that the tie to this man will be broken completely. Pray that God will give us wisdom as we work with her this week.

Pray also for us. The work here has been intense. I feel like today was a day of walking how God wants us to walk. We were fighting for the souls of many and progressing. BUT this is emotionally exhausting. It is exhausting for Andy and me. It is exhausting for Rebecca, and it is exhausting for the staff. Please pray that daily God would renew us with His strength.

Pray also for our last day of Rescue Arts tomorrow. Pray that God would move again on the hearts of the women and that they would see that Christ will be their hope and peace for each new day.

Art Therapy

This week a friend is here to work with the women at the Home of Hope in areas of art therapy. Rebecca works in India with survivors of sexual exploitation and agreed to come to work with our girls for a week.

Today we had the first session, and we felt like it went to well. We see God moving in the lives of the women and that is always exciting.

Will you keep us in prayer this next week as Rebecca ministers to the hurts these women face? Pray that God will bringing healing to their scared lives. Pray that He will take the painful memories of the past and bring peace and healing. Pray that they begin to see who they are in Christ and understand their new identity as a believer.

Pray also for our staff. Three of the staff are doing the sessions also. Pray that they find healing for things they need. Pray that they make themselves open and are honest with themselves and, therefore, God. Pray that God teaches and uses them in this week.

Pray that God uses this time to knit the women and staff together.

Pray also for Rebecca, that God's anointing would be upon her and that she would speak "words of life" to the women as she teaches.

Thanks again for your prayers.

Praising God

I asked for prayer for one of the women the other day who is pregnant and had an infection in her uterus. We prayed and God answered!

Today she went for an ultra-sound, and they see nothing. The tests she's had have come back negative. God has healed. We are rejoicing that once again He is showing himself to her.

Healing needed

One of the women in the home is pregnant. She is 24 weeks pregnant and has an infection in her uterus. She has been on antibiotics for a few weeks but the infection continues to grow and she may need to be hospitalized for a few weeks of antibiotics. Please pray for a complete healing for her. The baby's life is in danger at this point. We are asking God to show himself to her in a miraculous way.

Last week the girls at the Home all went to a Christian camp for the week and all of of the girls accepted the Lord. There is still a lot of discipleship that needs to be done, but we are praising God for the work He is doing in their lives.

Also, Andy's eye is much improved and has not become infected. Thank you for praying for his eye.

Andy's eye

I have a short prayer need today. Last night (Wednesday evening), Andy's eye was scratched by an overhanging plant (the long sharp type of leaf) as we entered a restaurant. It was extremely painful, but after about an hour it was okay. As we were going to bed I lifted my hands and accidentally touched the eye again (but hardly touched it) and it shot pain again.

The eye is sore and scratched and this morning it is sensitive to light so we are keeping the lights off. Please pray for a quick and complete healing of Andy's eye.

camp week

This week the women from the Home of Hope are going off to camp. They are attending with 3 of the staff and it is a church came sponsored by the church of our Social Worker. Please pray that the women and their children enjoy the camp, are refreshed and that they are opened to God working in their lives this week.

At the same time most of our AGWM team (but not all) and our summer interns are off to experience their own brand of camp. They are heading to small village for a week of evangelism and outreach. Andy & I are not able to go this week, but Elissa, our oldest daughter will join the group. Please pray for health and safety for all 9 of those gone. Pray also for God's anointing on them as they work with the church of this village to share Jesus.

The Project Rescue interns are in their last weeks with us. Pray that God continues to use them and show them His way for their lives. These are 2 wonderful young women and we have been blessed to have them here.

Pray also for us as we are away from our families. Some days we really miss being near them. We love what we do and where we are, but sometimes we miss those at home.

Thanks for your prayers.

Nancy

Updates

We just returned from a great week away. We had time for our annual retreat. That is always refreshing. It is so good to get away and worship in English, hear good preaching and have time to visit with others.

While I was gone we took in a new woman and her 14 month old daughter at the Home of Hope. I'm so proud of my staff because they went ahead and made all the decisions needed to make this happen. The organization referring this young woman did not want to keep her with her child, saying she could not learn to parent. But the HoH staff said they would not take the woman without her child. I was so proud of them for standing strong. The baby is a beautiful little girl and we now have an opportunity to again touch another generation. Please pray for this mother and daughter as they adjust to life at the home.

Next week all the women and some of the staff will go to the first camp of the summer. They are all excited for this. This is a Christian camp. Pray that they hear from God in a special way. Pray that they meet Him while there.

We also have 2 great interns with us this summer, working with the House of Hope. We have another 2 interns working with local churches. Pray for these young women as they seek God for their futures. We feel like we have 4 really wonderful young women this summer. Pray for God's continued hand on their lives this summer.

We also have the opportunity to partner with Salvation Army in a sewing project. We are excited about this. Please pray for the women as they learn to sew and begin to have an opportunity to make some money.

Thanks for your prayers. Everyday I know I cannot do anything without the wisdom and understanding from God. He is guiding us.

Blessings.

Having a Baby!

No, I'm not pregnant. You can stop that rumor right now.

Glad I'm not dealing with that at this point in my life, but beginning the Home of Hope ministry is a lot like having a baby. There is a lot of waiting, a lot of preparation, a lot of pain and agony. One day we know that this baby will be birthed and that day will be full of joy. Right now we are still heavy with labor for this new baby.

Why the baby picture?

Last week I was in Lyon, France with two women from our AGWM team and one member from my Home of Hope staff for a Christian conference on Human Trafficking. The conference blessed us and we learned new things that will be so helpful to all we are doing. On the second morning of the conference, we sat to breakfast and Elena, our counselor at the Home of Hope said, "I had the strangest dream. I dreamed I had a baby. I told God, 'I'm too young. I'm unmarried. It is a shame.'"

I was shocked because I too had woken up that morning with a dream of having a baby. I told God, "I'm too old. It is too much. I don't want a baby at this point in my life." And when I said this, Irene, a Swiss woman, said, "dreams of babies means God is birthing something in you."

Now, I was not big on dreams and interpretation. I have never studied this or asked what these things meant. The Bible says, "in the last days I will pour out my spirit... and you will dream dreams." I'm beginning to believe.

So I begin to ask God what He meant by these dreams. What is He saying to us? Later in the day I told Elena that we are like Mary & Elizabeth. She is telling God she is young. I'm telling God I'm too old. BUT God is birthing this ministry in our hearts. We are feeling the pains of labor right now, but God is bringing it to life.

This Sunday we will celebrate the dedication of this ministry with many of the leadership in the churches here in Moldova. We also have guests coming from the states. We are excited about this celebration and ask you to pray for the day. Pray that God's hand of blessing would come down on that day in a mighty way. Pray that His work and will would be done.

Thanks again for your prayers.