Students see God work miracles among Moldovan orphans

While they were distributing shoes in a Moldovan orphanage, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor students Melissa Ramsey and Kimberly Williams gained a new appreciation for the New Testament story about Jesus multiplying loaves and fish to feed a multitude.

Ramsey and Williams noticed they were running out of many shoes sizes. Fearful they would not have enough to meet the needs of the children who were eager to receive them, the students stopped to pray.

Once they resumed fitting the children with shoes, they discovered they had enough to provide every child shoes in the correct size.

Ramsey loves to tell that story when people ask about her experience as a student missionary.

Ramsey, a freshman business administration major, and Williams, a freshman nursing major, spent two weeks of their winter break as student missionaries with the Baptist General Convention of Texas Go Now Missions program.

They worked with Children’s Emergency Relief International—the overseas branch of Baptist Child & Family Services—in its Operation Knit Together project in Moldova, an emphasis to provide winter boots, warm socks, stocking caps and mittens for ophans.

Going to Moldova was no coincidence for the two UMHB students. Both felt a call to serve and met it with joy.

Prior to the trip, Ramsey said: “I was nervous going without really knowing anyone, and not fully knowing what I was going to be doing there. I was also very intimidated by the language barrier, but it turned out really well. I was able to learn some of the language and communicate with the people a little.”

Sign up for our weekly edition and get all our headlines in your inbox on Thursdays Email Address Translator, Peter, from CERI helps handicapped boy at a home for disabled boys in Orhei, Moldova during Go Now Missions trip to Moldova. (Kim Williams photo)

With the daily routine of traveling to three towns—loading and unloading boxes of boots, socks and pamphlets—time was scarce. But the woman enjoyed fitting the small feet with what they needed.

“We didn’t just hand out the boots,” Williams noted. “We actually knelt before these kids, took off their old, smelly, wet socks, and put new socks and boots on their feet.”

It broke her heart to take off one of the orphan’s socks and see his frostbitten toes, she recalled.

“He was so happy to get new socks and shoes. I can’t even describe the look on his face.”

The way the children smiled was a highlight for Ramsey. The orphans’ faces lit up when they received individual attention, she recalled.

The children were grateful to have dry socks and shoes to keep them warm. Previously, some of the children wore shoes held on with yarn.

University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Kim Williams and translator, Natalie Prokosheva, finish giving boots to a little boy in an orphanage in Orhei, Moldova. (Melissa Ramsey photo)

Although many of the orphans had little, they still wanted to give back to the students for their help. After the young women served at a home for disabled boys in Orhei, two of the boys at the home ran a long way to pick an apple for them.

“It amazed me that these boys had nothing … and yet they still went out of their way to give what little they did have to show that they really appreciated us.  I will never forget that,” Williams said.

Going to Moldova opened the students’ eyes to their blessings, they noted. Williams added God taught her about being grateful for the things she has and does not deserve.

Both women saw how the Moldovan culture and value of simple things radiated through their lifestyle. It redirected her way of thinking.

“I can’t even describe the way it feels to see someone’s physical needs met.  When you see people with true and desperate need, any service, no matter how big or small reaps amazing benefits and makes you feel so fulfilled,” Williams said.