letter from Moldova
‘Please preach for as long as you want!’
Donald J Morrison
Горячий христианский привет каждому читателю! Translated from Russian, this reads: Warm Christian greetings to every reader!
It is now just over 20 years since I made my first mission trip to Moldova writes Donald J. Morrison. One afternoon at the London Theological Seminary (LTS) compound in London, a Moldovan friend – with whom I was studying – asked if I would do him a ‘very big favour’. Sometimes we discover that swiftly saying ‘yes’ without any rational thought can have far reaching and widespread consequences! What was this ‘very big favour’? Would I drive a 15-seater bus, gifted by a London church, to his home town, Cahul in Moldova! Always open to a new challenge, I volunteered to go! The six-day epic journey was memorable – in more ways than one! After travelling through seven countries, and encountering mega ‘border problems’ we finally reached our destination, having covered 1,840 miles! Since then, we have been back many times. Before providing a report about my very latest trip, let me give you a brief overview of the country.
Rev John J. Murray 1934 – 2020
Donald J Morrison
John J, as he was affectionately known to everyone, was born in Dornoch, Sutherland. Brought up in the tradition of solid Highland piety, he exuded Christian warmth and generosity of spirit which was to enthuse many to share his passion for the Reformed faith, in Scotland and beyond.
The spirituality of Jonathan Edwards and David Brainerd made a deep impression on him, while he was also influenced by the ministry and writings of an eminent lifelong colleague, Professor John Murray, who he loved and respected. Converted in his teens, his first love in life, up until his death, was for his precious Saviour and best friend, King Jesus.
Mincaye Enquedi 1930 – 2020
Donald J Morrison
Very few people will know the name, and fewer still will mourn his passing, but Mincaye Enquedi passed away peacefully at his home in the tiny village of Tzapino, in April. The way he came to Christ is, however, well known.
Mincaye, meaning ‘wasp’, was born into the violent Huaorani tribe, called the Aucas or ‘savages’, in the Amazon Rain Forest of eastern Ecuador, South America. Historically, every encounter with this remote tribe had ended in death. On 8 January 1956, five American missionaries found this out, to their fatal cost, when they were tragically killed in the jungles of Ecuador.