Who Am I That You Would Invite Me?

By Alivia Postman, JMI Program Specialist

Stepping off the plane at Chisinau Airport, jet-lagged from a day of travel, I felt completely out of my depth. Entering a country where I only knew how to say “thank you” and “I’m sorry” in the native language, I wondered, “Lord, what do you have for me here?”

Moldova is truly breathtaking. Patchwork quilts of farmland stretch across the hills, dotted with small villages. Fruit trees, grapevines, and crops fill every valley. In contrast, the city of Chisinau, home to nearly one-third of the Moldovan population, buzzes with modern restaurants, crowded bus stops, and people on the move from morning until late into the night.

I had come for a staff development trip with Chris Hardy, JMI’s Chief Programs Officer, and Nic Allen, our new Director of Strategic Partnerships. Our schedule was packed with meetings, time with Moldovan staff, and visits to the villages. I wondered how the Lord would meet us in the middle of all the noise. But as the welcoming Moldovan staff showed us their churches, provided meals, and translated for us, the joy of the Lord became our strength. Over and over again, He provided. In the midst of the busyness, we felt God’s hand in every moment.

This was especially true when the Lord opened the door for me to see all three of my sponsored children while in Moldova. At our Transitional Living retreat, I cheered on Dima, the teen I’ve sponsored for the past two years, as he played in a soccer match. This retreat was the first of its kind, but certainly not the last, and we thank God for making it possible.

After the game, we chatted through Google Translate about his love of football, his friends, and his family. I learned how he came to Christ and what he looked forward to in the new school year. It felt surreal. The boy I had only known through monthly letters and photos was now standing before me, flourishing in life and in the gifts God had given him. I was humbled that the Lord had invited me to be part of something so profoundly impactful.

I also prayed that I might see my two sponsored children in the southern part of Moldova. At first, it seemed unlikely, since their village wasn’t on our itinerary. But the kind JMI staff made it their mission to get me there. After speaking with the village pastor and his wife, they arranged for us to meet the families at their local church, which added an extra stop and two hours to an already long day. I am still overwhelmed by the generosity of that gesture and the way they sacrificially served me, allowing me to meet those precious families.

Meeting Sasha and Arina was one of the most impactful moments of my life. Their families welcomed me with open arms, and I was humbled to the point of tears by their gratitude and joy. Hugging them in person was incredible. Both mothers gifted me roses, and Sasha handed me a bag of hazelnuts from his family’s farm. His father told me that JMI’s sponsorship program was the reason their family of six boys could remain in their village. Since we all shared the same hair color, they called me their honorary daughter. Before we said goodbye, I prayed over us, and together we sang, “Glory, glory, hallelujah.”

Afterward, I wept, realizing how a small monthly sacrifice—the cost of just a few lattes—could have such a profound impact. To these families, it meant hope and the loving care of their Savior. Experiencing firsthand the daily work of Justice & Mercy Moldova reminded me how blessed I am to join the saints who have served, given, and labored alongside JMI through the years. In that moment, I wondered, “Lord, who am I that You would invite me into this holy work?”

It’s easy to think that when we give, that’s all we are, the givers. But again and again, I’m reminded that sponsorship and mission trips are also opportunities to receive transformation. Service makes us aware of our humanity and our need for Christ. It reminds us of our Savior’s humility, His hospitality, and His deep, unchanging love for His children. What a gift it is to be invited into His good and great works.

As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:9, as believers, we can delight in our weaknesses because they make more room for Christ’s power to fill us. When we cling to the comfort of what we know, we risk missing the transformation the Lord wants to bring, both in us and in the lives of others. On our own, we are powerless. But in His strength, we can move mountains and experience heavenly transformation, even halfway across the world.