DAY X

THERE IS A TIME, WHEN YOU CANNOT USE "BEHIND THE SCENCE"

The day X – it’s when we want plans we have to face life implementation. Usually it very important time in our lives. We plan this day so careful, in depth. However, often, this Day transfers to another one... and another...

I bet you’ve been to a similar situation when something or someone ruined The DAY-X plan! How do you feel in those moments? Want to fight, argue, scream???
A week ago, Dasha and myself went through exact feeling of disappointment.

Almost 6 years ago, I (Ghena) applied for Bulgarian citizenship. After waiting for so many years, I experienced real joy when I found out that I’ve been allowed to get my documents. To do that, I needed to go to Bulgaria. This should be a short trip directed to order my Bulgarian passport and to be able to travel in Europe with no visa! What a news... Awesome news!!!

Here is our plan: Go to Bulgaria for a week with our car; deal with Bulgarian citizenship issue and see my mom. Come back late June. Leave for Netherlands on July 05. Our Day X is June 22.

Applying for Bulgarian visa, we have been told to get our passports a week later - Monday, June 21. We have our visas for 10 days, which is just perfect for us. So, far everything works out perfectly! Dasha’s mom came from Saint Petersburg and is willing to babysit our boys while we are away. I have all needed documents, visas, some small gifts for my cousins in Bulgaria, etc... Our Day-X is June 22.

Late Monday, June 21, we found out that my brother is not back yet from his trip to Ukraine using our car! But he should be back on June 19!!! And there is no way to contact him... Our Day X is still June 22.
End of June 22... Our Day X becomes Wednesday, June 23.
End of June 23... Our Day X becomes Thursday, June 24.
End of June 24... Our Day X becomes Friday, June 25

How would you feel in this situation? I felt horrible. Waiting for more then 5 years, and loosing this chance to finish this long process in 7-10 days period just made me... mad!
Three days out of 7 we reserved for Bulgaria trip were DONE... Are you kidding me?! “- Dasha, I have no idea, why God allowed this to happen to us”, we have this type of conversation already couple of days. Logically, I could not grasp the reality. My mind is way to limited to “consume” thing like this... I am desperate...
Evening June 25. My brother calls me. Our new agreement for him to be back early Saturday, June 26. Our Day X becomes June 26.
He comes early Saturday morning at 5 am. One hour later we call ambulance – Milan is coughing so bad! This little boy was struggling to breath and we were scared to death. Fifteen minutes were way too long for us waiting the ambulance. With two shots Milan was taken to the hospital. Later we found out that his respiratory system was blocked, because of reaction on some sort of virus.

How would you feel now? Honestly, I reminded myself of Job’s story... But I didn’t know how to react, what to think. What is the right question to ask God for?

With this circumstances our Day X really became uncertain... We didn’t know when Milan will be better, and we really didn’t know if still should go to Bulgaria. Somewhere a long the time I could understand the difference between 5 years delayed answer and Milan’s life. The second was priceless. I could imagine us being in Bulgaria and Dasha’s mom dealing with our kids health issues – scary feelings...

The good news came Sanday evening. Milan is fine and he can go home! WOW... Our plan has been changed a bit. Now we would go to Bulgaria and on the way back leave for Netherlands from Bucharest, Romania. This option requires us to have all we need for Holland. Monday will be June 28 – and it became our New Day X.
Monday, June 28, at 6 pm. So, we jumped in our car having our suitcases loaded and... left for Bulgaria... What a moment of happiness!!! We drove about 5 km (about 3 ml) when The Reality hit us with “Big Bet right in the face” - the car was broken! Different thoughts were running through my mind... Bigest portion of those were not good! What in the world is going on?! it’s 6 pm and no one will check what is wrong with the car!!! I am more then desperate...

Tuesday morning, June 29, the car was on closest Auto Service for a check. Metal lever that helps stabilize the driving was half broken! Unbelievable! It took me another 5 hours to find needed lever and bring it for a replacement. Very same evening, at 6 pm we left Moldova...

Driving towards Bulgaria God started answering my questions. I am firm, if our first Day X would be implement we would crush somewhere in Bulgaria or on the way back from Bulgaria. The “broken lever” would cause way more troubles then a 7 days delay. It is very possible we could of been dead... How great is Our God!

We were driving all night. Wednesday morning, June 30, we crossed Bulgarian border. The ministry which is dealing with documents I need is working only three days a week: Mondays – Tuesdays – Wednesdays, from 10:00 until 12:30. We got my papers 10 minutes before closing until next Monday! Right now we are in Sofia, Bulgaria with my cousin Irina, who is model designer – she is in fashion business. Tomorrow, Saturday, we leave to see my mom in the other part of Bulgaria. Then Sunday, we will leave for Bucharest and next Monday leave for Netherlands...

ONCE IN FOUR YEARS

WHEN CHANGE IS EXPECTED

It’s a simple thing - just a ball and a goal. But once in four years this simple thing drastically changes the Whole World...

...It closes the schools, closes the shops, closes the city... Stops a war... A simple ball fills the passion and pride of nations. Gives people everywhere something to hope for. Gives countries respect, when respect is in short supply and achieves more then politician ever could.
Once every four years a ball does the impossible...
And if you are dreaming of anything - the World is about to Change...

Spending more then 20 years in Football, I know very well what every player tries to achieve today in South Africa.
The World is about to Change... Just think of this: Onсe in every four years a simple ball drastically changes the multitude... Stops school, shops,  even wars... Life is in a Pause – World Cup! A simple ball changes a World? I am praying that this ball could play for God’s Team... Just imagine, all these talented players will proclaim God’s Name! Dream Big... Dream with me... 

QUITE QUIET

SHORT BREAKS BETWEEN BATTLES

Children are sweet creatures - we all know that, but... Exactly, the post is about this "but".
Before you read following, let me introduce to you "the creatures".
Milan - 2 years and 7 months old (31 months), weights 14 kg (~31lb) and 92 cm tall (~3ft).
Martin - well, you have to imagine him. He is smaller, lighter and doesn't talk at all...
Our little son Milan. He talks all the time! Milan is so active that some times we can not put him to sleep during the day, because he didn't loose all his energy. On the other hand, we have Martin. This is another story... Martin likes being held almost all the time. He go to sleep easy. He doesn't talk but he is not a quiet baby. If Martin wants something - you'd like to know what he wants as early as possible! Believe me, you do not want this little siren for long - it'll blow your head out! The good news is, recently we began to feel the pleasure communicating with Martin! He is such "Teddy Bear" type kid.
You might ask: - where is your "but"? Ok, I will tell you now... We, no doubt, enjoy our kids. We see them eating, crawl, walking, talking. Basically, we see them grow. And we really enjoy them around. BUT, we enjoy short breaks too and it's so peaceful when they sleep!!! It makes our life quite quiet...

                Milan                                                       Martin

THE KINGDOM OF NETHERLANDS

MEETING OLD FRIENDS IS A JOY, ALWAYS!

In a month period Dasha and myself will see our friends in Netherlands (Holland). If you travel a lot, you know what a visa is. Maybe you are form a country that requires visa just for few places/countries on the World. To tell you more, for a Moldovan to travel is something very specific... We have to deal with invitations, visa application process, time consumption and going through all of it doesn't guarantee a visa!

Whatever, I believe, we will get our visas and everything will be fine. Oh, what an expectation! I see this time when we can have fun time, minister to one another. Everything will biuld our relationships. We are planning to spend 4 weeks in this beautiful country. The only thing that makes me sad - Milan and Martin. Both of our little boys will stay home with grandmom...

GratitudeHEART

A GIFT IS THE TRANSFER OF SOMETHING WITHOUT THE EXPECTATION OF RECEIVING SOMETHING IN RETURN

Do you like gifts? We all do, right?
Monday, May 17, I had 5 hour conversation with one of the guys I am mentoring. There were slight moments when refusal has made major point about his life. When I’ve tried to share something with him, many times Max felt uncomfortable to receive.
-Well, when you have hard time to receive, could be, you have hard time to give, I said to him. That was another turn in our discussion. This guy is going through difficult curve in his life. A lot of discouragements and no happy moments, this is what Max shared about him.
Later, home, I remembered our friends, who granted us a video projector for ministry! This piece of equipment made my heart praise God for this couple. The «Dream List» became one item shorter.
I thought of a «cheerful giver». Who is the «giver»? Is that a money or heart issue? What motivates the «giver», pleasing people or God? Am I the one, or someone who gives reluctantly or under compulsion? All these questions ran through my mind and I decided to express gratitude and joy through this letter.
I am thankful for all, Dasha and I have. Priceless and Cheap, Big and Small things we possess. The «gift» helps me understand - all we have belongs to God and He gave it to us for temporal usage. That helps me give, share, meet some one’s needs.
Thank you, for teaching me this wonderful lesson. My next talk with Max will be about joy as «cheerful giver»

TOXIC LIFE

SOME TIMES STRANGE THINGS APPEAR IN OUR LIVE. COULD YOU IDENTIFY WHAT IS TOXIC, WHAT'S NOT? THEY COULDN'T...

Tuesday, April 27, we all gathered to pray. The weather was nice, so we, Dasha and I, decided to pray outside. We set on the bench behind one of the building close by. Almost went through the list of requests we had when something draw our attention...
About 15 meters (40 feet) behind us, three teenagers were talking. Their moves were slower then usually you see a teenager. Nothing wrong, except strange plastic bags in their hands and glass half-open eyes.
They tried to run away when noticing us coming. «I do not want to chaise you guys, lets talk», I yelled to them. One of them jumped over the fence, but other two stayed. 13 years old Oleg and Ilya, who is one year younger shared their story. Two weeks ago, after school, one man came and offered each one of them a chocolate bar. Then he taught them something that is much better
than a chocolate - how to sniff a glue.
For two weeks, every other day, dope by dope Oleg, Ilya and Dima were practicing what the man said. Amazingly, but these three did not know that this stuff is a killer!
Dima, who is 15, was watching us for ten more minutes. Being convinced there is no danger, he cautiously joined our group. I asked Dasha to bring some magazines for these guys. She brought Max with her, one of AIA disciples. Max shared his life story, emphasizing the moments when his friends just ruined their lives with all sorts of dope. Some of them died because of drug abuse.
All three of them shared that parents are not really take care of them, school is boring
place. And you could notice it: they look simp, dirty hands, modest clothes and old shoes. No wonder when a stranger came, they could not handle properly this approach.
Then we shared The Good News. I highly suggested to read the magazine we gave them and if there are any needs, they could call me.
Please, pray for Dima, Oleg and Ilya. We do not know how they will handle the information they received. We do not know, how do they handle future situations with stranger’s approach... But we know, those are the teens, who will inhabit Moldova in future.
And I am scared...

I AM PERSUADED

...nor any other creature SHALL BE ABLE TO SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD, WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD

Just heard on the news what happens in States. Trust that you are well and sudden tornado did not harm neither you, nor anyone close to you (relatives, friends, colleagues). But, please, in order to reduce the level of anxiety, write us back.. Just few words might say a lot...
We are doing ok. Last week both our boys got sick. Milan was coughing and
Martin had high temperature 39,4 C (~ 102 F). Traditionally, Dasha “joined” them to accompany the “little orchestra” with sneezing, coughing and snot noses... Well, you can imagine sleepless nights! I bet our neighbors “like” us so much for that :‐) I know for sure, God loves us! And He loves you never less... 

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39

FAMILY FIRST

SO OFTEN WE HEAR PRIORITIES, PRIORITIES. WHERE DO YOU POUR YOUR LIFE?

Different countries, different cultures, backrounds, age, life style, people say same thing - Family First. Did you ever hear that? I hear it a lot... But it's so often Family issues overlap with Job, Friends, Hobby, Business, Ministry etc. Just basic situation is driving us crazy: - if I will not work, my family will starve... so, I have to stick to my priority - Job, because it provides money for all of us.
My wife tells me: - Ghena, our boys do not care how much money we have. They care why daddy is not home with us?

Obviously, we should have healthy balance between Family and other areas of the life. "But where is this balance?", wonder you. I was trying to ask this very question many people I personally know, from different countries. One time I got pretty honest answer: - Ghena, there is no balance, do not search for it. When you work at the office from 9-5 it's one story, but when you deal with other people - there is no balance you could put into a formula.

I was disappointed... I was looking for something that has been discussed a lot, but does not exist. Should I always struggle between time spending with Family or time doing my duty? Finally, I got to a conclusion. The key factor in my life is - God. Knowing Bible examples, Solomon, James and others, I am going to ask God for wisdom. It's not easy to admit my weeknesses (balance), but it would be more harmful for my Family and myself to stay proud.

WELCOME, MARTIN!

EARLY RUSH HOUR

That's how it all started.
-Oh, you say, it can not be so! "You're right, it all started way, way earlier... but, not to go deep in details and save your precious time. Do you remember famous film "Chelovek s bulvara Kaputsinov", where the actriss Alexandra Yakovleva says: Johny, I want montage too... So, in this case, I also suggest a montage.
All montage thing is about trading quiet early morning Saturday time, to a miracle that gave us God. I think that worthy of sharing. What do you think?

Meet Joe Black... Sorry, this is from another movie.
Meet Martin Milcev!
The trade took place:
Date March 07, 2009
Time 8:45 am
Weight 3.7 kg. (~ 8,15 pd)
Length 52 cm. (~ 20,8 in)

Mother and baby are at home and feel great, thank you for prayers.

NEW YEAR 2009

OUR FAMILY PHOTO AND CHRISTMAS TREE