we are doing well here in Moldova. Deanna had her birthday and is now nine years old. They don't have a McDonald's in Khabarovsk, but they sure do here in Moldova. So Deanna was delighted to have her birthday party at McDonald's. 
How did she make so many new friends in just one week? At church!
Tonya has been delighted to discover that most Moldavians speak Russian as well as Romanian. So she's been able to talk with people. Actually, the local pastors have kept us rather busy with invitations to preach (seven times in the last week). Here we are at a small village church where we spoke, they have an amazing painting on their wall:
I was even invited to speak at a funeral for a man I'd never met in a village I'd never been to in a language I don't know (Romanian). Beforehand, I asked a local pastor about funeral traditions here in Moldova. It turns out that you aren't expected to talk about the deceased. The sermon should be of an evangelistic nature, usually something about the afterlife. So I spoke from Revelation 20:11 to Rev. 21:4 (He will wipe away every tear.... ). A young lady (high school student) translated for me into Romanian. The funeral was outdoors at the person's home. After I preached, the the funeral procession left his house and we walked all the way to the cemetery (about a mile). A man with a large cross lead the procession. A choir from the Pentecostal church walked and sang Psalms. There were several pastors there, so several times along the way we stopped and one of them would preach a short sermon for the villagers to hear. When we reached the cemetery there was another sermon, the casket was nailed closed (they actually used nails) and lowered into the hole. Then we walked back to the house and had a meal.
The whole experience was like something I read in a book about peasant life long ago. There are wells in the villages here where people gather. As we would pass by the wells everyone would stop and be quiet, the men would often doff their hats. Some folks joined us. The family felt very honored that an American pastor would come and speak at the funeral. So I was very excepted.
During the church services the kids had my camera and took a bunch of photos. Some of them turned out pretty well (if you take a hundred photos...). Let me show a few to you:
Even while we are not in Russia, things are going on in Russia. The national church is waiting on a document from the Russian government to allow them to make a bank transfer to buy the building in Khabarovsk. The Seller is unhappy about the delay, but there isn't much we can do about it. We're praying that things will move forward quickly, and the purchase will soon be completed.
Our plan at this time is to continue whatever kind of ministry we can do in Moldova until the missions retreat at the end of February. We'll attend the missions retreat (the training will be in Egypt this year) and then return to Khabarovsk. We pray that my resident permit will be approved by then.
Everything is in the Lord's hands, and we're learning to be content in all circumstances.
The Lord richly bless you.
In Christ,
Cecil, Tonya, Timothy, Vera and Deanna
