Greetings from Moldova,
A good many things have happened this week. On Sunday Emily and I attended the local church in the morning. They played some Hillsong songs in Romanian and Russian... I tried the Romanian, but when the Russian began (since I can't understand much Cyrillic) I tried to sing the English version. A Brazilian missionary spoke (and was translated for into Romanian). He spoke on the grace of God, which is a big topic here, where the Orthodox Church is large, and salvation by works (being a good person) is culturally understood. That night we went to the "International Church" where many business people and missionaries come together every other week to worship in English. I met a girl who was an MK from Cameroon. It was here that Emily and I had our first taste of cactus juice (which we drink regularly now). On Monday, Emily and I went to a local English camp with Michelle (she was teaching music there). The students brought Michelle many trials, to the point where she dreaded going. The following two days I went back with her to aid in her goal to prepare the students for their presentation.
On Thursday, frustration and stress took their toll. I have never truly been thrown into a culture that I do not understand and (according to Michelle) cannot hope to understand. When I tried to reach out to people, my speech slurred and bumbled about like slightly melted Jello. I asked what the name of certain dish was and after people discussed amongst themselves, they said "meatballs". I had been hoping for a Romanian answer, but was feeling so out of place and nervous, I stopped asking. I didn't finish anything that I wanted to and felt like a total failure. My mind raced with things like "You're the English teacher? You can'y even speak properly to anyone" and "You really don't know anything, do you?". I accepted my lack of know-how, in this culture, saying to myself "It's a completely different place than anywhere you have ever been." That night, Michelle had a meeting with Emily and I. She told us all the options and opportunities that we had ahead of us this summer and asked us how we were doing. I was honest in saying that it was a totally humbling situation for me. I had relied so much on my intuition in the States and in the Philippines that I had forgotten how to discipline myself. I begged God to teach me... and here He was doing just that, taking away my faith in my own intuition and making me rely totally on Him. Michelle encouraged me to trust God and the moving of the Holy Spirit. Friday, God granted me the motivation to get up and do what I needed to. I rode to the office alone, and completed my preparation for my first English class (that night) and got home safe and sound. That night I gave English level assessments to four Moldovan who are going to be in my class. I may end up privately tutoring a girl who is much more advanced... but we shall see.
Today was a much needed rest day. We went to the presentation at the English Camp, then went downtown and Michelle showed us around. The downtown is full of trees and has the sent of honeysuckle on the breeze. And tonight, the youth group showed Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs in RUSSIAN. I enjoyed it very much.
I apologize for the long windedness of this update.
Thank you all so much for your prayers. I am so encouraged in knowing that you are doing so.
Please pray that...
1. I will learn how to interact with people who know very little English.
2. That my relationship with my team mate, Emily, will reflect the love of Christ.
3. That I will be able to teach my English classes in a way that will help my students the most.
4. For patience with myself in not knowing the culture.
5. For Michelle, who has had a tough two weeks.
6. For the local church here, that they continue to reach out to others for the sake of the gospel.
Sincerely,
Naomi Lynn Vann
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