On Friday, February 23, a group of over 25 people led by It Is Written ministry Partners Dr. Brad and Angela Emde landed in Moldova, the poorest country of Europe, to continue the evangelism that It Is Written began there a year ago. The majority of these volunteers are high school students from a small and comparatively warm town in Tennessee. They decided that they wanted their class trip to be about service and our Partners wanted to make that a reality. The team is focused on reaching the young people of the country for Jesus Christ. During the day, the students are assisting with a free vision clinic, giving out free eye glasses and doing other community projects. In the evening, the young people are holding Vacation Bible School-style evangelism programs.

Below are the first impressions from our team in Moldova. Check back regularly this week, February 25–March 3, 2018, for more updates:

Saturday, February 24

Angela Emde, group leader:

Today we went to church and were fed lunch in different people’s homes. Wonderful hospitality and great food! After being fed supper, some kids stayed to help with a vision clinic after sundown, and others went to recreation to play ball with some Moldovan kids. We saw 50 patients in the first vision clinic.

Camille, student:

After sundown tonight, we spent four hours in clinic with only one doctor, and we saw 50 patients!

Sunday, February 25

Hannah, student:

I worked in the vision clinic today, and we saw 126 patients. It was a great experience because I got to bond with people from the community. The people are so enthusiastic and nice.

Angela Emde, group leader:

Another busy day! Some students did community service…helping old, disabled people. Others worked in the vision clinic. Then in the evening we ran two VBS programs while our Pastor Alex preached.

It’s cold here. Most of these kids are used to getting out of their warm house into their warm car and darting quickly through the cold into their warm school. So that’s an interesting adjustment for these kids. We are all learning that layers are important! Everybody is happy.

Monday, February 26

Angela Emde, group leader:

Vision clinic is all held in one room, the church’s sanctuary! We have five stations and we saw over 150 patients today! One blind man can now see and many others can see better. Students who aren’t helping in the vision clinic are working in the community offering house and yard cleaning to people who aren’t physically able to do these tasks for themselves.

We have been treated with some wonderful local foods. Tonight, we enjoyed a dessert supper: little crepes filled with jam and layered with something that is a cross between whipping cream and cream cheese. I am hoping that being cold helps burn the extra calories!

In the evening, crafts are a favorite time of VBS program and Pastor Alex and our translator are presenting meetings for the adults. One person told me today, “These kids are lights in the darkness.” I praise God for the difference our students are making here – changing hearts and lives.

Katie-Jane, student:

Although there are many significant stories, one of my experiences in the vision clinic stands out: An American living in Moldova for the past two years came to volunteer as a translator for our clinic as her “father” came to get his eyes checked. She told me that she wished that more people had the same spirit of selflessness and generosity that our group showed. She said the doctors here are greedy and prescribe unnecessary medication just for money and to keep the patients coming back again and again. She thanked us for our spirit of giving and commented that she could only hope that others would share their resources unavailable to the people here. If anything, we have opened doors, and hearts are now clearly more receptive to the love and name of Christ.

Tuesday, February 27

Angela Emde, group leader:

Good morning from cold and blustery Romania! Today we took a day trip so that the students could visit the oldest building in Galati, Romania. Built in 1647, the building was first used as a fort and then purchased by the Orthodox church. I hoped that it would snow on this trip and it did! God answers little prayers.

Thursday, March 1

Angela Emde, group leader:

There is a lot of snow on the ground for this group of Tennessee students, but it’s not slowing us down. The vision clinic is full, and several students are making visits to homes in the community offering to do yard and house work. It’s awesome to watch the smiles on people’s faces as the young people pray with them and give them a hug.

Friday, March 2

Angela Emde, group leader:

This was our last day holding the vision clinic. We saw 787 patients and dispensed over 760 glasses! It has been a full and rewarding week! Every day has started around 7:45 am and ends about 8:00 pm. The kids are exhausted but happy.

Saturday, March 3

Angela Emde, group leader:

Our work is done. We had a beautiful send-off from these wonderful people at church today. One lady in church today shared that before we came, she and her husband had to share a pair of glasses. Now they both have their own pair.

The city mayor made a special appearance in church today to thank us for the work we have done. What amazing bridges we helped the local church to build in this community! The local pastor, Alex, had tears in his eyes as the mayor spoke. It was an emotional service.

Pastor Alex made an altar call, and many people came forward to give their hearts to Jesus — many of them were the children from our VBS programs. I sat there and watched these young people making decisions for Jesus, and I cried — I don’t mean tearing up. I mean tears were pooling under my chin as I looked at these people who we helped win for the kingdom. I kept thinking over and over, “We made a difference, we really made a difference!”