The significance of the miniscule is truly enormous. One tiny word consisting of two small letters has had substantial impact on my mission and my missiology.

That word? “My.”

I don’t even know when that word crept into my missions vocabulary. It wasn’t always there, but its addition makes for meaningful change.

For when I now talk about Moldova, I ask people to pray for MY country.
When I share of the vision for church planting, I refer to Moldova as MY nation.
I want to be in MY country long enough to see it change.

I used to refer to Moldova as THAT country, as if it was distant and I was a foreigner and visitor. We were called to minister in Moldova, and we wanted to see THAT country impacted by the gospel of Jesus Christ. We cared about Moldova, but as THAT country.

But there is a world of difference with those words—MY (and OUR) and THAT.

As we have itinerated, I have shared about the needs in MY country. Moldovan girls who have been trafficked are OUR girls, OUR friends, OUR people. The needy children in the villages are OUR kids, the youth are OUR youth and the pastors are OUR friends. The problems in Moldova are OUR problems, needs that the Church seeks to change.

I am proud of MY country—and I want to see it change. I want to see God transform MY country, where each village has a church bringing hope to the community. I want to see MY nation’s children crowding the churches, finding hope for a future.

As long as Moldova is MY country, I will labor with blood, sweat and tears. If it becomes THAT country, my hands may be involved but my heart will never be.

As long as the problems in your community are THEIR problems, change will never come. If you talk about THAT bad side of town or THOSE troubled youth, your heart will never commit to reach them. If THOSE people designate either the opposite political party or the opposite side of the church sanctuary, neither peace nor civility will ever be found.

I pray that we may find our hearts fully committed to the needs in this world. May we see our nation’s problems as OUR problems, whether injustice, hunger or sin. May we see the needy as OUR brothers and sisters, whether black, brown or white. May we see the church as OUR family, no matter the music, style or appearance.

May our hearts be committed, not just our hands.

Praying for change in MY country—Moldova,
Andy Raatz

PS: We return home to Moldova in about 6 weeks. Thanks to all who have pledged support, committed prayers, or housed and fed traveling missionaries. You have blessed us this year as you have cared about OUR country. As we approach this crunch time of transition, we simply ask for:

Prayer—if you understand the unique pressure of international relocation, you realize the need for prayer.
Support—if you haven’t mailed in a pledge form, now is the time to do it! If you want to help with Home of Hope, Teen Challenge or church plant, now is the time to give!
Patience—if we don’t write back as quick as usual. “The Son of Man has no place to lay down his head” has a new meaning.