Coats-R-Us

hello great friends, family and prayer partners...etc!

just a quick note to let you all know things are going great! today was coat day....this was amazing.

for those of you who don't know....EMI CMG (EMI Christian Music Group--see more on our website) partnered with Sweet Sleep this Christmas to provide winter coats for the children in both of the orphanages....1,040 coats in total. Praise God...that is so amazing.

the children in falesti completely loved getting new coats. tomorrow we'll post pictures of the event so you can begin to imagine how amazing this was. children were squeeling, jumping up and down, throwing their heads back in laughter and hugging each other. one child was so amazed when he saw the new coats he just dropped what he had in his hands and kept saying, "wow" again and again---his eyes getting bigger each time. it was absolutely wonderful!

brian sims, the deaf pastor of brentwood baptist deaf church, arrived in moldova tonight. tomorrow we'll start to investigate ministry opportunities for the deaf in moldova, including a deaf orphanage in the south. please be in prayer for all the challenges that come with this.

our team is still in falesti and will be leaving a place they've quickly grown to love. please also remember them and the children in your prayers as they leave and travel to chisinau.

monday we'll have our first day at the orphanage in chisinau. we're also planning to distribute coats to the children there. that should be another great day!

thanks for your postings and your prayers.....keep them coming!

stay tuned for more from our team...and, pictures!

sleep sweetly,
the christmas in moldova team

My first trip to Falesti

Good afternoon to my family and friends there in Brentwood! I love you all and thanks for your prayers, prayer letters and support. Becky, Dennis and Lisa, you can't imagine how special those letters are each day and what they mean. Everyone looks forward to getting theirs each morning. Thanks so much for your prayers. They spoke right to my heart the last three days and gave me such a spiritual boost. My first trip to Falesti was a very memorable one but I don't have much time right now. We're about to lose our time here at the Internet cafe. The children were lovely and responded so much to our love. The least little look, touch or smile would completely break them down and they would be all over you. It was a wonderful experience. I wish it on anyone. Good thing I upgraded to that big memory card on Becky's suggestion. Getting the hook by the cafe boss. Got to run. Love to all. Tripp

Falesti orphanage

Wow--This is amazing. For those who may read this this is my first time in Moldova. I truely believe God is working miracles here. If not with the people here then within me. I have read how the Holy Spirit allows people to hear exactly what they need to hear, from whom they need to hear it and when they need to hear it. I have experienced this all day. I have talked to at least 100 children, with and without translators, today and we always manage to understand each other. These are some of the most open and loving children I have ever met. I walk into the room and there they are all over me. I worked with children between the ages of 2 and 6 all morning. Others in my group have nicknamed me Gulliver. By the time I had to leave I was pinned on the floor by 10 or more children. What an experience. In the afternoon I helped the other group with the children between the ages of 7 and 16. They all want so much attention it is almost overwelming. The joy and excitement that you feel all day is nothing less than a gift from God. May the Lord continue to bless us as he has today. God be with you

Hello All! What an experience......sorry for not emailing until tonite, the phone line at the house won't call out for some unknown reason. We came to a Internet Cafe to send this message and say that I am doing fine. We arrived last night to the team house at 8:30 meaning that you figure the time, including the layovers and such my total travel time getting here was about 26 hours! And that's not including my drive to Portland Tues. afternoon. Very tired today, this was our first day at the orphange and it wasn't as bad as I was expecting meaning the smells and such. The children are so adorable and lots and lots of smiles. The airport in Moldova was small and had lots of police and security. We had no problem getting thru customs but when we started getting ALL of our luggage they started coming over and asking questions. I just kept my head down and no one came up to me. As soon as our people came to pick us up, we lucked out and got to walk right thru without even checking out our bags. I don't know if I'll be able to email again, hopefully the internet will start working at the house. We are here is Balti until Sunday and leave for Chisinau for the remaining days. I miss you Josie, Lane and Cody. Mom loves you and can't wait to come home and see you and tell you about the kids. Hi Kylie! I'll see you soon. Love, Julie

WOW...WE MADE IT!!!

Hi from Moldova (8:20 pm)! We finally made it after a gazillion years of traveling. I think it took us 20 hours to get here total, but we all made it saftely. A wise person told me (BB) to make sure you drink LOTS of water on the plane. I had to learn the hard way. I think the most difficult thing so far is rest. We are all a little sleepy and worn out. It was hard to sleep on the plane, but I managed to catch some rest on the hard, cold floor in the Frankfurt airport. I think the traveling is a story in itself. Today, we visited the orphanage for the first time. I was in charge of girls 5th-8th grade. They are very knowledgeable about the bible and the meaning of Christmas. We played games and had a lot of fun! After we got back from lunch, we all got together (1st-9th grades) and sang songs. I had so many cute little girls just clinging to me. They held my hands, waist, played with my hair, and talked to me. I can't wait to see them tomorrow. Don't worry! I got lots of pictures. All these little kids are so cute; I want to pack them all up and take them home with me. Do you think I can get past customs with them? :) I just want to say hello to everyone. Talk to you soon!

Is this the right way?

Good morning to my family sleeping in Brentwood - at least you should be. After winding our way through the Frankfurt airport we are staking out spots for stretching out and getting a couple more hours of sleep.

Everybody is quiet from the overnight flight. I imagine the excitement level will pick up soon. We all enjoyed our first day notes from our prayer partners. I know I did. Thanks, gang. Love you very much.

More posts on the way. Talk to you soon.

wellkommen to germany!

hello all- that's the extent of our german!

Our entire team met in atlanta (from oregon, texas and tennessee) and have just landed in germany!

Our flight was great. Now we're all looking for a place to brush our teeth and something tasty to eat.

Thanks to all who came to the airport-and thanks to everyone else who'll be praying for our team.

We leave for Moldova in 4 hours.

Stay tuned!!

Hey everyone I'm blogging!

Jesus loves the children of Moldova!
I can't wait to meet these littel Angels of God!
Marilyn W.

In case anyone is counting ...

... we leave in less than 74 hours !!!

Our prayers for the children,
Tata Joe

***(colors of the Moldovan flag)

Craciun Fericit!!

That's Merry Christmas in Romanian, and that is exactly what this team will take to over 300 orphans in Moldova in T minus 26 days. Yes, you heard me correctly...we leave in 26 days! On January 4th, 23 people from Tennessee, Texas, and Oregon will head to Moldova and meet two other teammates who are already working there. Our mission? To share the Hope of salvation that was born in a manger in a tiny little town called Bethlehem over 2000 years ago. Yes, we will bring crafts and games and warm clothing. But more importantly, we bring the one true Love they really need that is powerful enough to heal every scar, fill every lonely place, dry every tear, and bring joy to the most abanodoned child. We covet your prayers for this trip.

Pictured above: (seated L to R) Kari Scott, Emily Borders, Maree Batson, Leslie Archard. (standing L to R) Marilyn Wilson, Tripp Sullivan, Joe and Marilyn Swing, Tim Bedi, Rick Batson, Brian McKay, Jen Gash, Brian Swartz. Not pictured: Steve Davis, Brian Sims, Jamey Dickens, Matthew McIntosh, Calle Griffith, Diane Treadway, Cortnie Treadway, Greg Treadway, Robert Hobbs, Jordan Bryan, Julie Skidgel, Jessica Beasley.