But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. 1 Chronicles 29:14
“We don’t give because we have. We actually don’t have much. We give what we have because God gave to us.”
Vitaly Toucan in conversation at a Church Without Walls home group in Chișinău, Moldova last night.
Alex and Liudmila Belev and Pavel and Inessa Tokarchuk of Mission Eurasia hosted us in Moldova today. They took us to Old Orhei Monastery, north of Chișinău, where I took this picture. We talked about next steps for our collaboration.
Among them, it looks like an opportunity has opened up to serve workers from 15 Eurasian countries in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in October 2023. They invited me to teach about generosity as a lifestyle. It looks like it can work in my calendar to do this.
Then in the evening we met up with about 10 young married couples. Among them, was a young man named Vitaly.
Vitaly has an old small car. I am not sure of the model. But he told me that he is thankful that it has worked well for shuttling refugees from the border to Chișinău.nIt can make the trip to the border which is about an hour away.
“What should I say to people because it’s so hard to know how to help refugees?” Vitaly asked. “What has the Holy Spirit told you to say?” I replied, “Most of the time, I feel like saying nothing is best and sometimes I just ask how they are doing.”
“That’s beautiful.” I replied. “Do you have any other suggestions for me.” Vitaly asked. “Only one. Tell them why you are helping deliver them to a place that offers emergency assistance. Tell them about Jesus.” I said.
Vitaly replied. A few times, I have said, “We don’t give because we have. We actually don’t have much. We give what we have because God gave to us.” Speechless, I replied. Say that Vitaly. Say that to every refugee you serve.
Why do you give?