This is an update by Nancy Raatz: Director and Dreamer of the Home of Hope Moldova.

"This afternoon I'm exhausted and I'm thrilled. We went as a Home of Hope staff to a short term shelter this morning and met with the first women who will come to our home next Monday. We talked first with the social workers who manage these women's cases, then we met with the women. Three women will come to the Home on Monday. Today we met with two of them. They also have three children that will come with them.

Both of the women we talked with today spoke Russian so I was out of the conversation, but I sat in amazement at the staff God has put together. Rodica is such an amazing woman. She asked them (I was told later) their dreams for life and said that we are here to help them reach their dreams. We are not here as an end in their lives, but to help them move to what their lives can be. Elena told them they could know that we are a family and they will be a part of this family. And Sara told them they are not alone. We will help them learn to raise their children.

We began to dream about games to play and being "Auntie"--"Tante" to some little girls who have had no one to love them. We began to see these women that sat so scared, so lost as women that God has called us to show His love and healing.

After the meeting we talked about how God has so much more ahead. So often we think we are here to do just one thing and God leads us to another. We built a Home for women to find healing from the scares of trafficking and we are also building a bridge to the women who work in the short term shelter. It is not a place that is faith based, but there are lovely women that work there and care about these young women who are trafficked and friendships are forming with these women also.

I'm excited for the days ahead. I know God has lead us this far and He will continue to lead us."

A Friend

I just wanted to tell you all about my new friend Lucas. He is seven and a ton of fun. I spent the past week in the suburb of Straseni with Pastor Nic and his family. Lucas is his oldest son. Lucas and I just got along. We played war, he showed me his newly acquired piano skills, he beat me in UNO and we caught frogs together. In short, Lucas and I are friends. We talked about his plans for future travel, how to learn languages and the best techniques for golfing with a stick and a rock. I am delighted about the friendship and Lucas double checked that his family had my phone number before I left. I can't wait to see him and his family again.

A Good House Wife

Sasha turned and looked at me, beaming. “Sara,” he said in Russian, with a little bit of surprise in his voice, “you are a great house wife.”

Sasha and the other young men of Sarata Galbena had been watching me that evening as I helped prepare the potluck for forty people. They were impressed that I knew how to set the table, cut the bread and even remembered the tea. I was taken aback by the comment. I knew that Sasha had given me a compliment. In fact for a Moldovan woman, it would have been the ultimate compliment. But I am not Moldovan and I did not come here to be a ‘good house wife,’ I came to be a missionary. I am not here to make food, remember tea and cut bread; I am here to serve the church and seek the lost. I wasn’t sure how to respond: offended or pleased. I smiled as the other young men around nodded in agreement and soon left the table.

As I sit here writing this, I am not offended, but delighted. Moldovan women are strong, good mothers and excellent wives. And the men here are constantly bragging about them: their good looks, competency and skills. Sasha showed me respect. He sees the other Americans around and watches how I have learned, adapted and grown in my new country and environment. He was never trying to offend, but encourage. It is on this foundation of respect that influence and change can be brought about. And that is real missionary work.

Brother Vasile in Mihaileni

I spent the past few days up North in the village of Mihaileni. I have enjoyed getting to know the team that I will spend the next few weeks with, but my favorite part has been connecting with the Moldovans in that area. We worked on the walls of the new church building, painted, visited the poor and had services. I loved sitting down chatting with the men and women in the church working with us. The deacon and overseer of the church is a wonderful man named Brother Vasile. He is a man I respect and have learned a lot from. The thing that I love most about Brother Vasile is his blessings and words of encouragement. Every time I translated for him, he would be say kind words to someone on the team. He knew how to build people up. I look forward to spending time in that church again and in the meantime I know that Brother Vasile will be praying for me.

Taking to the Streets with Lola

Lola is my new Miniature Schnauzer. She is almost three months old. Because I live in an apartment Lola can't just go play in the back yard. So we go out onto the street almost seven times a day for her to go potty. She is learning and doing great! In the process, I am meeting people.

My neighbor kids love her, though a few are afraid of the six pound, tail wagging, nose licking beast! And the adult neighbors think I am crazy to keep a dog in the house. Dogs are for the streets and for backyards. Not many dogs live inside here; it is a new concept. That is why I am surprised at how many people stop, stare, ask questions or pet the puppy.

I have talked to grannies and their grandchildren, Jehovah's Witnesses, and business men. I had a long discussion about the Bible with the neighbor while he was cleaning out the garage. I talked to a college girl working on her thesis and we were joined by a lonely old woman who rambled for fifteen minutes without a breath. I was chased down the street by a man trying to over stuff Lola with some sausages he had in his bag. I kept telling him no, but he was very insistent.

But mostly I am stopped by people who want to tell me that I am not raising my puppy correctly. She is too fat, too thin, too young or too small to be outside. It is great fun to be lectured by those who have never owned a pet in their lives! Lola is a great tool and certainly a great way to interact with the world.

And she likes to bark at the hair dryer...which is really funny!

Home of Hope Container

Home of Hope

The Home of Hope is a home for women who have survived human trafficking. These women are often repatriated to Moldova and have are left with no options and no future. The trauma of the slavery alone has left many of them mentally unstable. There is a stigma in Moldova of women who have returned from such a lifestyle and many of them are rejected by family and friends. Some have children, some have HIV and all of them need Jesus.

The Home of Hope offers just that: Hope. This is a place of safety, recovery, medical care and job training. The women are offered a place for one to two years and are gently loved by workers and friends with the love of Jesus Christ.

I am excited and blessed to be a part of this home. It has been in the making for five years and in finally coming to fruition. Please pray for us at the Home of Hope, for the American and Moldovan workers and for the women.