One year on... !!

Hard to believe, but last Tuesday we celebrated 1 year since arriving in Moldova. So many new experiences, new places, new foods, new people, new culture, new languages, new friends….but we are different people because of this. We have survived…even more that that we have thrived and have no regrets about our decision to accept this appointment in the challenging country that is Moldova.

The beautiful colours of a European autumn have disappeared, and again the trees are bare, the landscape is stark, the days are short and the nights are long, as the cold of winter again sets in. The hats, gloves, fur-lined boots and long underwear have come out again! It has snowed twice already, albeit very lightly.. just a foretaste of what is to come.

Our last blog was so long ago…let’s fill you in on what’s been happening

Projects are a big part of the Salvation Army’s mission and ministry in Moldova. Approximately half a million dollars every year is given by sponsors to support projects of varying kinds aimed at meeting the needs of the most disadvantaged in Moldova. Ongoing projects include feeding programs for children and elderly, after-school / homework groups, medical assistance, work in the women’s prison etc. However in recent months it has been great to be involved in some one-off short-term projects that have really made a difference to the beneficiaries…

One sponsor donated almost $3,000 that we used to help make improvements at a village kindergarten in the southernmost part of Moldova. This kindergarten operates out of an old 2 storey building which has seen better days. In fact in Australia, no kindergarten would be allowed in such a building. There is no running water, no sewerage, inadequate kitchen facilities, and parts of the building are falling down around them. 100 children are cared for each day while their parents go to the fields to work. Many of them come from one parent families as often Mum or Dad have travelled abroad in search of work. We travelled down there recently to see the repairs that had been done, and the equipment that had been purchased with the money. Considering the state of the building, it is commendable to see how clean and tidy it is kept. It was afternoon nap time when we arrived and all 100 children were tucked up in bed, asleep, or pretending to be asleep! The staff had used the money wisely to have new windows installed and buy some nursery furniture, but as we walked around we couldn’t help but think it was just the tip of the iceberg. Perhaps the most confronting sight for us was the outdoor toilet the children were required to use…about 20 holes in the floor in a concrete building, with no distinction between girls and boys, and no heating. (Remember winter temperatures in Moldova can get down to about minus 20°C !!). But there is no town sewerage or water connection at this point in time, and the truth is these are the kind of toilet conditions they have at home as well…maybe even worse!!! The people were so grateful for our assistance and in true Moldovan style expressed their appreciation with food!!!

Where to wash your hands when there's no running water

Some of the new equipment purchased

Nap time at the kindergarten ( I think some were cheating!)

New windows installed upstairs

NOT a new toilet block! This was pretty gross.. but all the kids had available.

Some of the kindergarten kitchen facilities

Another more than adequate afternoon tea (burp) presumably prepared in the kitchen above!!

The Moldovan government is unable to provide adequate medical assistance to its people but those most disadvantaged are the elderly and the chronically ill. In recent months we received a request from the Diabetic Association. It was decided that we would help families of children with diabetes who are required to pay out crippling sums of money every month for glucose monitoring strips. (this averages out to about $100 per month and the average wage is about $200 per month). In one family we helped, 3 out of the 4 children have diabetes!!! The ProDiab Association arranged for the presentation of these materials in a park, in the dark on a very cold winter’s evening. It was difficult for us to fathom the rationale of the location, but nevertheless the families were grateful for the assistance we were able to give. We have decided that we will continue to support this group into the future as we are able. Just this week we will be delivering Christmas gifts to some of these families which will again hopefully bring some encouragement to them.

Packs distributed for kids with Diabetes

The other project that is in full swing at the moment is the distribution of 550 pairs of fur-lined boots to children around Moldova. This has been made possible through the generosity of sponsors in Norway and Sweden. It is expected that these will all be distributed to the children before Christmas.

Speaking of projects, it was great to have fellow Aussie Officers, Lyn and Ron Cochrane staying with us for a week while they renewed their Russian visas. They have responsibility at a Territorial level for projects and Child Sponsorship. It was great to share Vegemite and Milo together. They took the opportunity to see some of the projects happening ‘at the coal-face’. They travelled with us to the Kindergarten, to see our prison ministry, and of course to the Mobile Clinic. Part of this trip included negotiating a fairly treacherous uphill village 'road' as we set out to deliver a wheelchair to an old lady who had been bed-ridden for 2 years following a stroke. Such visits are very sobering…such a pitiful situation. At times one feels so helpless and overwhelmed by the plight of these people. It was moving to share in the Lord’s Prayer together, each in our own language. The return trip was a slippery experience going down another track to the main road.

We are also in the middle of distributing Christmas gifts to disadvantaged children throughout the country. we receive about 8000 simple gifts from Sweden, and these are distributed amongst orphanages, children who are identified by local government social workers, and those identified through the Corps networks. We also have distributed a lot of humanitarian aid in the form of medical equipment, furniture, clothing and other items to the different regions. This is a logistical nightmare, but we do it rather well with a good team of helpers.

After one year in Moldova we have decided to make a concerted effort at becoming more proficient with the national language – Romanian. We took on the challenge of an intensive 3 day course which was brilliant!! We came away feeling quite empowered and enthused to go further. It certainly gave us a kick-start and some confidence to use the language in our everyday dealings with people. Of course our sentences are very basic and faltering, but we have lots of willing helpers who give encouragement.

Another milestone, or at least the start of achieving one, has been the commencement of the new DHQ building on the current site where we work. This kicked off about 6 weeks ago, and it has been good, steady progress so far. I imagine not a lot will happen during the serious winter months of January/February, but foundations are down, and the walls have just been commenced. The prediction is a finish around June 2009. The plans include a Corps Hall and associated facilities, DHQ on the second level and 2 apartments on the 3^rd level, but I am starting to wonder if it will be big enough for us to fit in. Time will tell, and we may have to be creative, but it will be an improvement on where we are at the moment.

A lovely occasion occurred on Sunday 16^th November, when our grand-daughter Sadie was dedicated back to God by Matt and Clare. Unknown to our family, we had arranged to link up through the internet, and were able to watch the whole Church service live with the help of a web cam. At one point, they flicked over to the big screen, where we came up, larger than life, brought our greetings to family and friends, and had the opportunity of reading the Scripture during the dedication ceremony. There were quite a few tears shed, and it was a special thing for us to be able to be part of this special occasion in our family’s life. We are truly grateful for the wonders of modern technology.

Participating in the service from a distance

What an amazing day we had last Sunday… the whole gamut of experiences. We shared in a worship service at a Corps where there were almost 30 children and a similar number of adults crammed like sardines into a tiny hall (actually two adjoining rooms of a house). The Chief Secretary, Lt Colonel Alistair Herring was with us for the day. It was great to be part of this.

We then visited one of our Officers in hospital who has had an ongoing problem following a hip replacement late last year. We were required to ‘don’ white gowns before entering the ward, supposedly to help control infection. It seemed a bit of a farce, because during our time with him, we couldn’t help but notice the ripped lino on the floor, the grubby bed linen, the eight beds in a not so large room, and the leaking drip bottles which were recycled mineral water bottles. I don’t think our white coats made much difference. Such is life in Moldova.

To top off the day, we then proceeded to the Leo Grand Hotel (one of Chisinau’s finest!) where we had been invited to share dinner with the Australian Ambassador to Russia and Moldova, Margaret Twomey. The invitation came about as a result of her association with fellow Army officers who join with her in singing in an ‘expat’ choir in Moscow. She was visiting Moldova to meet the President, and rang ahead of time to arrange a meeting with us. Colonel Alistair Herring, our Chief Secretary, who was here for the weekend, came along and became an honorary Aussie for the night. It was a delightful evening as we shared our stories, and she has expressed a desire to visit again and to see and experience life in the villages of Moldova. It had truly been a day of contrasts.

This is our second Christmas in Moldova, away from our family and friends. The emphasis on Christmas here is far less than in Australia, in fact it is almost non-existent. December 25th is just a normal work and school day for most; however DHQ closes and some Corps have a service in the evening. We have only been confronted with the fact that it is actually Christmas a few times, mainly when we have sung carols at Church. There have been some decorations and trees going up in the main street over this last weekend. In some ways it is nice, because we are not bombarded with commercialism, and it is much easier to focus on the real meaning of Christmas in this context. We will celebrate the 25th endeavouring to make it special.

We take this opportunity to express our love to you all and wish you every blessing at this Christmas time. We feel that it is a privilege to call you our friends, and we thank you for the support that you give us in a variety of ways.

Until next time… (possibly next year!!) Lots of love from Ian and Viv xoxo

Celebrations and Chocolate !

Sunday evening and we are relaxing a little after attending Corps in Transnistria. It is such a humbling experience to share with these uncluttered people. Their testimonies to God’s faithfulness in the midst of life’s tough circumstances come with such rebuke to my own spirit at times. We celebrated harvest this morning at Cochieri. It was lovely to see the simple display of fruit at the front of the hall as they celebrated Gods’ provision for them.

Since we had last visited, the corps had received 30 new chairs that had been purchased with money given by an Australian friend to replace the hard backless forms. The young leaders of the corps had also taken it upon themselves to wallpaper and decorate the worship area making it more conducive to worship and also blocking out the cold draughts of winter. They were so proud of their efforts!

Before.....(hard, backless forms)

...and After !

Coloured lights add an interesting touch to the 'new look' worship hall

On the way home we again stopped to purchase the local fruits. At the moment its apples and grapes and mushrooms in abundance. All can be purchased from countless people who set up for the day along the side of the main roads of Moldova.

Last week there were a couple of significant occasions in Moldova.

On October 12, ‘Rainbow of Hope’ Corps celebrated their 5^th Anniversary. It was a great event with nearby corps swelling the numbers and helping them celebrate. We have been to 2 or 3 such combined events, and they all pretty much follow the same format…with lots of musical items and lots of talking!!! but no one seems to worry about a 2½ hour meeting – they enjoy every opportunity they have to get together in such a way. Commissioners Wim and Netty van der Harst made the visit to Chisinau as guests for the celebration.

Moldovans love to bring flowers as part of their act of worship.

On the same day Moldova celebrated its National Wine Day. Moldova is famous for its beautiful grapes and wines. People thronged to the main street, Stefan cel Mare, and enjoyed sampling the local wines and feasting on the shaslicks that were being cooked. The smells were delicious (but we didn’t taste the wines). Unbeknown to us, at late notice the President of Moldova declared the following day (Mon) a national holiday..we figure it was ‘National Hangover Day’! Anyway we didn’t complain too much and enjoyed the sleep-in and a bit of ‘downtime.

Traditional Moldovan dress.

Tuesday 14th was also a public holiday – ‘City Day’ where the different regions of Chisinau set up displays (again on the main street which was blocked off for the occasion). The wine companies were gone but there was still heaps of food and many cultural displays and traditional dancing in the streets. Ian didn’t need a lot of convincing to enter into the spirit of the occasion. These people do love to celebrate and music and dancing is such an important part of it. We left late afternoon but the celebrations continued on into the night and from our apartment we could hear the fireworks later in the evening. We are told that the evening entertainment is geared more to the youth.

Yep...they tasted as good as they look!!

Look out 'Dancing with the Stars'

Last week it was great to have Commissioners Wim and Netty van der Harst in the division for several days. They had expressed the desire to have a longer stay than usual with the intention of getting into some of the more distant areas from Chisinau. We covered hundreds of kilometres over atrocious road. The constant heavy vibration as we travelled was very wearing, but we had a great time catching up with officers, learning more about their Corps programs and inspecting properties.

The Commissioner giving some 'fatherly' advice to some young Corps Officers

We visited the Officers apartment and told them to go and buy a real bed!

The half finished hall at Cahul. The congregation couldn't wait until it was finished. The work has restarted, so its back into the old hall for a few months.

Recently I have thought that perhaps we should include a few more stories from our work. Let me tell you about a recent trip I had to Beltsi..

‘Adopt a Granny’ is one of the projects that we run in many corps centres. It is similar to child sponsorship, but the beneficiaries are not kids, they are pensioners. I think that on previous occasions we have mentioned how tough life is for the elderly in Moldova. The pension is about $10 per week! It is impossible for any one to survive on this amount of money. Families have to take on the responsibility of caring for elderly parents, but if you have no one – who cares!!! It is especially difficult in the winter months when you can’t get out for fear of falling on the ice, and the little money that you do have has to pay for heating.

We work together with Dorcas Aid International, a Christian relief organisation, to help address this situation, by assisting over 200 such people. "Adopt a Granny" provides basic necessities and medical care to over 1,200 elderly people in eastern Europe and Africa by asking sponsors, mainly Dutch individuals, to donate 22.70 euros, or approx AUS$44 per month.

The most needy elderly people in communities throughout Moldova are identified and then visited by a Salvation Army volunteer worker twice a month to deliver food and medicine and to assist with chores or paying bills etc. Equally important is the chat together – perhaps the only contact these folk have with anyone beyond the four walls of their apartment.

Last week I travelled up to the country with Theo, a gentleman who had flown from the Netherlands with the sole intention of meeting up with the elderly lady he sponsors.

After climbing the stairs to the 6^th floor of the apartment block, we were welcomed by 80 year old Stepanida into her sparsely furnished two room apartment. In the lounge room was a divan that doubled as a bed, a small table, kitchen chair and a stand for the TV. The other room was a tiny kitchen/food preparation area. I gathered that Stepanida spent just about every day sitting on the divan or kitchen chair watching a TV that had seen better days (about 20 years ago!) Her son who now lives in Siberia makes no contact. The only bright spot in life it seems is the visit by the Army worker twice a month!

As we sat and chatted for about an hour, Stepanida shared how she had been a teacher in Soviet times. She was a widow but couldn’t remember how long ago her husband had died (‘it was so long ago!’). Theo, her sponsor was a very kind and gentle man who remarked with great concern on the bad condition of her teeth and offered to pay for some treatment. Stepanida’s response was, ‘Thank you, but I won’t need them for much longer!’ Theo then presented her with the gifts he had bought for her: coffee, tea, soap, towels, and 3 blocks of CHOCOLATE. Her eyes lit up and she couldn’t express how grateful she was.

Then came the part of the conversation I shall never forget. Someone asked a fun question: “Do you like chocolate Stepanida?” and she responded, “ I don’t now. I can’t remember. I haven’t had chocolate since I was a child!!”

She then immediately proceeded to offer us some, which of course we all politely refused. It was soon time to leave and we wished her well, advising her not to eat all the chocolate at once!! Our only regret was not to have seen her take her first bite of chocolate. No chocolate for 70 years!! Some of us can’t survive a day!!

We are often challenged by such encounters and thank God for the privilege to be here at this time. The way we see the world is forever changed!

Until next time..... Lots of love from Ian and Viv xoxo