Joy for Joi, Final Moldova edition

The sermon we listened to this past week (by Ethan Magness of Grace Anglican Church in Slippery Rock, PA) was based on this verse from James 1:2, "Consider it pure joy, brothers, when you face trials of all kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance."  

After talking through how counter-intuitive the connection between joy and trials seems, he affirmed that there is a mystery that we get but glimpses of, but somehow the suffering can be good.  As he said, oftentimes, the problems are actually the cure.  What pains us is what is healing us.  


This sermon came at perfect timing for Pete and me.  We've gotten rather grumbly lately about the little things that are hard here.  We know our trials are very, very minor compared to the ones that so many others endure, but they have been stretching for us.  We've been pulled and tugged on, foiled in many efforts, faced futility, and gone without a few comforts we're used to.  So for us, this feels like trials.  What a good reminder to find JOY in them -- because, hopefully, by the great power of God, He is using them to produce stronger faith and perseverance within us.


It was good to be reminded that joy can abound when things are hard.... it's easier to remember that joy can abound when times are fun, as well.  We've had some of each kind this week.

Here are a few of the highlights:

+ The boys getting to watch fresh fish from the lake, just caught by Tania and her boyfriend Maxim, be cleaned and cooked to eat. Even though Maxim speaks no English, the guys all got along swimmingly (hahaha):

Tania tells us the heads are good to eat because the fish are young...   I did not try one.

This still makes me cringe

+ Having one last, fun evening with friends -- a game night.  We have now successfully introduced our classic favorite, The Bowl Game, to people in Eastern Europe.

+ Listening to my sons discuss if they know any "pretty girls."  First Colsen got major points for saying that the prettiest girls he knows are Rayna and me. Then the discussion turned to Gilligan's Island and as they thought about the females on that show, Colsen concluded the prettiest one was not Ginger or Marianne, but the 60-ish-year old millionaire's wife.

+ Visiting with Liuba at the tuberculosis kindergarten one last time.  She says that I remind her of her daughter who died a few years ago, and she gave me some special spoons that she used to use for parties for her daughter.   I am very thankful for the relationship we've been able to form across the language barrier.

+ Hearing the kids get very excited about our upcoming trip to Austria.  And listening to them practicing the songs from "Sound of Music."

+ Eating chocolate-filled croissants for a final time (in this country anyway!)

and

+ Realizing God's great protection, and how His hand has been so powerful all around us.