October 2010
Dear friends,
Last month I involved myself in a sadomasochistic activity. No-no-no! Please do not rush to the phone to call Campus Crusade HR department for them to consider termination or at least suspension! Please allow me to explain first.
I accepted an invitation to be involved in a 1-week long ministry project in Orlando, FL. I do not know how to spell a "good nite sleep" to begin with and then whenever I travel transatlantic I have a terrible time getting over jet lags. Usually takes me at least a week. I would go to bed around midnight and wake up in 3 am or so wondering what to do. So, this time around I barely got used to EST and then it was time to jump on the plane again to go back to Moldova.
BUT, despite this (rather minor) inconvenience my trip was a great spiritual and also humbling experience. I was privileged to help train new US Campus Crusade staff in support raising. Did I just write "staff"? I meant "faith heroes". At some point during my missionary experience I came to the conclusion that living and doing ministry in a place where I look different from the people I minister to would be a step of faith I probably am not ready to take (yet?). One good friend of mine referred to this experience as praying to God asking Him not to send her to the jungles.
I served in former USSR, Hungary, in quite a few other European countries, did some work in US, but I never traveled to places where I would be stared down as I walk down the street. During this week at the Campus Crusade headquarters I was privileged to help missionaries who have been and/or will be going to the places where we will never admit we have presence. I wish I could tell you all of their stories and how they are touching the lives of people in their communities, but I am simply not at liberty to do it. The fact that God used my humble efforts to help these guys get one step closer to the mission field blows my mind. Definitely made it worth it losing some sleep!
Another conclusion I arrived at was being in a place like Orlando with the Disney stuff all around you without my wife and especially my daughter was unfortunate. As much as Rebecca loves cartoons she would have loved the Disney World and other fun things. Well, maybe next time. I thought of going there by myself on the last day, but then decided not to thinking that a grown up man running around the Cinderella castle with a bunch of kids would look weird or even suspicious to say the least.
Please allow me to use this opportunity to thank you again for making this and other ministry experiences of ours possible! We may not be in the jungles, but we are still trying our best to make an impact all around us!
From Moldova with love,
Yuri, Olga and Rebecca Boldirev
October 2010
PS I am sorry if my humor in a recent email was too subtle. Yes, we are expecting another baby!
New Life Moldova
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