ACT Blessings

Right before we ate really delicious ribs. 

This past week, I had the opportunity to go to Belgium and Holland with my mom and dad. My mom had classes and a conference, my dad had a board meeting, and I had to take the oh-so-wonderful-and-totally-ridiculous ACT test.

Love my mom! Shopping in Amsterdam. 

I was a total wreck the week for months before the test and now I feel so unstressed and unworried. It is  an absolutely wonderful feeling to be done with it. By the time I went in to the test, I was relaxed because I knew God was with me and people were praying for me around the world. Of course, I had a huge headache by the writing part and the science was just awful, but I'm confidant I did somewhat well. Now I just wait for results.

Western Europe really is beautiful. I feel like I'm in a totally different world compared to Moldova.

Yes, I took that picture. Doesn't it look like a postcard?
And don't you love the solar panels on the house!

Look closely at the buildings...can you see how much they
tilt different ways? 

 I definitely ate way too much there. But it was all so good. Croissants, frites, Belgian waffles, lemon pastries, pain au chocolat, and stroopwafel. I definitely could not live in Western Europe and not eat too much.

      

 After my test, my mom and I had the weekend, so we went to the Netherlands to visit our good friends, the Dommerholts, who used to live in Moldova. We take any days we can get to go and visit them. We had such a wonderful time with them! On Sunday, I had a great time at their youth group. I loved seeing how it was done in a different country! The music band was awesome (about 75% of the songs were in English) and the preaching was fantastic--of course, I couldn't understand any of it, but he sounded like a really great speaker, and he had my attention.

On Monday, my mom, Noa (who was one of best friends when they lived here in Moldova), and her mom, went into Amsterdam.

We went to an antique market, which only happens on Mondays, and that was so fun! They had everything--from antique telephones to books, from converse shoes to Moldovan nesting doll ribbon!

We went into tons of "vintage," second-hand stores. They were all over the place. Some of the stores had really cool clothes, while some had stuff that I would never be caught wearing. One of the stores had a Girl Scout vest...for 20 Euros!! I should sell mine to them.

I definitely wanted this dress, but alas, I would never
spend the 80 Euros for it. 

 


We spent the day walking around Amsterdam. We enjoyed the time together with friends and had a blast seeing the sights and looking in stores.

My mother and Jeanine being totally subtle, NOT,
as I tried to take a picture of the musicians in the
background. We had already seen the 2 other
times that day in different locations! We are pretty sure
that they were following us. :D  

Loved my time with Noa! Those times are few and far
between. So glad that we are still friends. 

I loved my week in Western Europe, even though I had to go for not that great of reasons. Time with friends and with my parents is always great. I love visiting and traveling to other countries. I'm definitely glad to be back in Moldova though. So glad to see my sisters and Renée, who I've missed greatly. And the weather here isn't to bad either! Lovely barefoot, springtime weather.

The 5 Senses: Moldova Style

After living in Moldova for ten years now, I've experienced many weird, random, and wonderful things. Here are some that I'd like to share with you.

Seen: 

• I just cannot for the life of me, get that picture of the old man riding a bicycle down the road...in his speedo like it was the normal thing to do, out of my head. (I'm sorry, no pictures. I don't want to scar the rest of you.)
• People with stories to tell. 
  
• Freedom Home growing and saving lives. 

• Geese in a crate on top of a car, one horse open sleighs, and animal "traffic jams" are normal sightings in Moldova. 
  

Smelled: 

• Oh, that wonderful smell of body odor on a public bus that seats 15, but carries 40 or more...and they refuse to open the windows even in the summer. 
• How about that moonshine our neighbors make every fall? It smells awful. Even with the windows shut, you still smell it. 
• Outhouses, lovingly referred to as squatty-potties. That one word makes my body shudder. I swear, every time I have to go in one, they just get worse and worse.
    

Felt: 

• Mud, mud, mud. Moldova is sometimes referred to as Mudova. That is because when it rains, there is no escaping the mud. And it is not the sandy type of mud that doesn't stick. No, it's like clay. And when you walk, it continues and continues to build up. By the time you are done with walking through it, you've grown 6 inches! 
• The soft, silky lambs wool as I held a 6 week old lamb in the village...and then I felt horrified when they wanted to give it to me...after they butchered it. I had just held it! How was I supposed to eat it after that? 
• Love-that's the feeling I get inside of me every time I go to Freedom Home and see those precious kids. I just love their smiles, giggles, and hugs. 
  
  

Tasted: 

• Oh my, I wish I could bring you all here and give you a Moldovan peach. You have never tasted anything like it. Sweet, juicy, humongous, and amazing. I have to admit that when August comes, I eat about 10 peaches a day. They are just so good. 
  
• Moldovan tomatoes, apples, cucumbers, strawberries, cherries, raspberries, watermelon. When raspberry season comes around, we buy crates full. We have apple trees in our backyard. I don't think I'll ever love another piece of fruit as much as I love one that comes from Moldova. They are delicious. 
• Haladets (холодец) - You will never want to eat this. Our nickname for it is Chicken Fat Jello. Yep, now you understand why you wouldn't want to eat it. 

Heard: 

• Just imagine you are me for a minute--sleeping soundly in your cozy room. It's Saturday and you don't plan on getting up until 10. It's 6 AM, so you still have time to go. And then you hear this scary horrible, hideous, appalling (and the list could go on) sound. Now what could that be? Oh, it's just the neighbors killing their pig. The pig was definitely very alive as it met it's end. I just wish I had taped it and could insert an audio clip for all of you to enjoy. 

I hope you all enjoyed that little peek into Moldova. Yes, some aren't that enjoyable, but I love Moldova anyways!