Flooding in Moldova -see comments for updates or to ask specific questions

Last Friday it seems Moldova, and many other parts of Eastern Europe, experienced enough rain to cause extensive flooding in their area. Below is an email from Olga in Chisinau. As we get information we'll post it here in the comments section. Thanks for your prayers for the people we know and love as they continue to pray for the lakes and rains to hold and as they begin to clean up from such an event.

Hello Jen,

Now everything seems to be ok after the flood. None is affected or damaged. But Dorel and me were in the center of events when the flood started to show up. It happened that we had 3 and 4 times more rains per month in August, therefore some of the big lakes broke up and they were coming toward Chisinau. I assume that the authorities knew that but didn't informed the people in Chisinau or in the surroundings. Dorel and me were on Friday morning in Gratiesti (the old party of the location where transitional houses are) at a small wedding party of one young couple from Jesus Savior. Their house is in a valley so it started to rain again, because a day before rained a lot, and big waters were formed but didn't damaged anything yet. But on Friday when it started to rain again we saw next to this couple's house a huge river of waters that were directed to another lake in Gratiesti. We tried to get in the 4-Runner and go to Chisinau, but... the waters were so huge that we couldn't drive, if we would the waters would take away the car together with us. It's God's direction that we didn't try to get against the waters.... it was such an experience!... you can't imagine because I didn't believe either it was happening in reality with me. So we managed to park the car in the small yard but there was no assurance it won't be damaged or taken away by the waters. At least there was a small fence. In this time the waters were becoming huger and huger and very strong, like a big river coming down from the mountains. We didn't know what was happening. We, the groom and the bridegroom, the other quests left the house and went toward the back side. In the back of that house is a cemetery with a high stone fence... we climbed the fence on a ladder, went through the cemetery and hid in the house of one of our friends that is on a hill. We continued to pray. And it was a miracle that the waters came down after about 3 hours and we could get the car out of the yard, undamaged! It was unbelievable! Because the waters were so big and so close to the house! But when we got to Chisinau after 3 hours the other lake broke down and the waters reached Posta Veche, where we live and CERI's office is. CERI's office wasn't reached but the 16 floor- building and many others got waters inside in the basements, we couldn't get into the house, but stayed in CERI's office for few more hours... kept calling Dorel's dad who was inside the 16 floor building, to know what's going on.The waters here reached more than 1 meter, I guess more than 40 inches. We got home the same night but didn't have any power and couldn't get any info what is going to be... one of our relative kept calling to inform us. They told on TV that there was another danger for a different lake to break - the largest one in Moldova! It didn't happen this and hopefully won't! But as far as we know 3 lakes has broken that day. Many parking places in Chisinau were affected - cars damaged, houses destroyed, goods taken away, shops, groceries and open markets damaged. We saw these all with our eyes, not heard from anywhere! I don't know still if there are any people dead. But it was absolutely His grace that protected us! For this and everything else we are very thankful to Him, our Father and God!

Olga

A Special Invitation from Sweet Sleep!

Sweet Sleep's 2005 Summer Teams invite you to a special time of sharing on Sunday, August 28, 2005 from 2:30 to 4:00 pm. Please join us as we share with you our favorite memories, video, pictures and a special announcement about the upcoming work of Sweet Sleep.

Sunday, August 28th
2:30 - 4:00 pm
Brentwood Baptist Church
Inman Deaf Chapel

Dessert reception to follow.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Welcome to Home

Will you just look at the smile on Olesea's face. I've never seen her smile this big before. As I look at this picture and think about what to say my mind keeps going back to the picture of Tammy and Olesea posted just a couple of stories below. The first picture was taken in Moldova in December...when we had no idea what the future would hold. Tammy and her family were taking a shot in the dark and praying a great deal. I can only imagine what Olesea was thinking and praying.

The picture above was taken around 5:00 pm on Friday, August 12, 2005....the day Olesea came to Nashville...the day she came to home. It was nothing short of a miracle. For those of us who've been to Moldova we understand just how much of a miracle it is. In a country which does little to nothing for their orphans, whose females are heavily targeted and trafficked for sex slavery, in a country which stubbornly grants visas to their citizens....a young girl from an orphanage was given an eleventh hour visa and became the first orphan in the country to be granted this opportunity. A miracle indeed. God, we thank you for this and for letting so many of us watch this amazing event unfold.

We commit to pray for Tammy and Jerry, each of their four children and now this, their fifth. As friends and I have talked over the last 15 hours we have marveled at the things Olesea must be thinking as she comes to a place like America....at how many firsts she'll have here. She's already been on her first airplane ride (and loves to push all the buttons), last night she slept in a bed, not a metal cot with broken springs and a 50-year old mattress, today maybe she ate her first bowl of cereal. Who knows!

I ask you to pray for Olesea and her new surroundings in this way: stop and imagine you are her. Imagine you have never seen life in this place and have never experienced all you are so familiar with. See how much wonder it brings you, watch as daily life takes your breath away or gives you trepidation or as your eyes grow big from looking at your old surroundings in a new light. I did this on the drive home from the airport and again this afternoon and it truly led me to pray in an incredible way. There is much to pray for and seeing things from Olesea's eyes is a great way to try to begin.

So, congratulations Tammy and Jerry and the fam on your new big bundle of joy. We'll be praying for all of you.

Godspeed,
Jen and company

A Moldovan Miracle ---Click on comments for recent updates!

I took this picture as one of my flights to Moldova was preparing to land in Chisinau. The email below shares amazing, AMAZING news.....Olesea is coming home to Nashville. Praise God. Wow. Words escape me for how incredible this is and what it means for the future of other children in Moldova.

Please join me in praying for Olesea as she leaves behind her entire world, her surroundings, the other children who have become her family, her closest friends and her boyfriend, the sights and sounds and even the food. Please pray for her to adapt well. Please pray for those here in Nashville and everywhere else to love her patiently and to be sensitive to her adjustment.

Also, please join me at the airport tomorrow night. I wonder if Olesea will see the clouds like this over Moldova.

Hello friends,
Just a quick note to let you all know that Olesea
has an approved visa and will be coming home this
friday the 12th to nashville airport on flight
dl1051 At an estimated arrival of 4:30pm. I would
like to take this opportunity to thank you for
all the prayers and the undeniable faith in our
great God.To him be all glory. If you know of any
others to pass this message to that would be
greatly appreciated.
Many more blessing
Jerry

Prayers for Olesea and Tammy- see comments for updates

I wanted to share this with all of you who faithfully come to this blog and keep up with the antics of the Moldovan government and the mission we work on each and every day in order to change the lives of the children we have been blessed to know and love.

A woman from Nashville, Tammy (on right), has been in Moldova since she arrived with her team a month ago. She and her husband and children decided a year ago to begin the unknown process of trying to get a humanitarian visa for a young girl Tammy had fallen in love with, Olesea, pictured with Tammy on the left.

Though Moldova does grant adoptions of their children, it is very, very difficult to get a child out of the country once they are 16. Tammy and Jerry have been very patient over the last year and faithful to this desire God placed on their hearts. God has continued to bless their faithfulness and patience and obedience which is the only reason they are where they are today (both geographically and with the process).

Below is an email I received from Tammy this morning. Somewhere along the way they came to a bump in the road and there is again a need for mighty prayer. Please join with me in praying for this to worked out, today, and for this family to truly be able to become a family by Olesea being cleared to come home...to Nashville. Pray for Tammy and for her strength and patience and time with God to be one that restores her worried and tired soul. Pray for her family who misses her and who are waiting to become whole. Pray for Olesea. A young girl who is now living each day with joyful highs and disappointing lows. Pray for her heart to be protected and to be strengthened. Thank you all for your prayers.

"I am going to the embassy this morning to see if there is something that they can do to help. Dorel told me last night that it is not actually a missing paper, but concerns from the Moldovan government that she will be 17 soon and before she finishes school she will be 18 and can make her own decisions and what if she doesn't come back. I guess it was going to some appeal process this morning and we are supposed to have an answer today, it was something totally unexpected.If they give approval today, it still has to go to external affairs, but we are going to go there to see if we can get them to do things by Wed. so we can go to the embassy on Thurs or even tomorrow. Just pray they don't deny it all after all of this. I am really stressing over it."