Beautiful blue skies, sunny and clear, with occasional outbursts of stormclouds. Today’s weather forecast? No…just a description the disposition of our three girls while we travel!

Probably the most common question we are asked is “How are the girls handling all the travel?” On Saturday, we drove 597 miles, on Sunday, 120 miles, and we finished off the weekend with 443 miles on Monday. Our three little cherubs crowded in our minivan and did the journey with us! They are troopers!

How do we do it? How do we keep our sanity? How do we keep from killing each other or driving each other crazy? It is not earplugs or threats, but focus and distractions!

Focus…God has called us to Moldova…as a FAMILY. Our girls are a part of that calling and they are excited. Yes, they have a few fears, but they are excited about learning two more languages, setting up our new home on the other side of the ocean. They have sacrificed toys, bicycles, their own bedroom, our two dogs, and the safety and comfort of small-town America. Yet they know our home is in Moldova. They know our lives are directed toward a different purpose, to help the church grow in the forgotten country of Moldova. Our focus keeps us on the road for two months straight, bouncing from motel to motel, house to house.

Distractions…Though God has called, as parents, we are not above distractions! The TV/VCR combo in the backseat makes the miles much easier. Our girls have never been TV nuts, but they now have Sound of Music memorized! They love the Wiggles, Mary Poppins, and Dora the Explorer. We have bought them a couple Polly Pocket dolls, a perfect toy for the road…small and entertaining. The girls were able to keep a few Barbies, thus there are Barbie clothes all over the back seat. Throw in a few lunches at local parks, and that is our life on the road.

We are proud of our three girls. Elissa is usually a model student with her teacher (Mom). Natalie wants to be in school too, but occasionally gets too interested! And Lauren…well…she naps a lot while driving, plays with some toys, and eventually hits the wall.

But all three girls are missionaries.

I am sharing a different perspective today. I am not sharing about myself or Moldova. I just want you to understand that a missions call impacts many people, foremost the kids.

Pray for them…for their health, for their learning, for their mother’s sanity as they wriggle in services, and for their little rear ends as they spend many miles in carseats.

Thanks for your prayers.
Andy Raatz