On the last weekend in April we celebrated Orthodox Easter and although there was no public holiday on Good Friday, DHQ did not open. Corps hold Good Friday services in the evening so that folk can attend after work, school etc. We attended a small gathering at Botanica corps. Even though it was all in Russian, the powerful reminder of the story came to us in new ways, and with new perspective, through drama, monologues and prayers. It is always moving to be in the midst of these sincere worshippers. The service then concluded with a light meal, as people had been fasting throughout the day.
A few days previous we had travelled to the regional town of
At midnight on the Saturday evening of Easter we took the opportunity to walk to the little wooden Orthodox church near our apartment to share in the orthodox Easter morning celebrations. We were warned that this would be about a 5 hour service. It commenced with the lighting of candles, then proceeding outside to walk 3 times around the church in procession, then we made our way inside. This procession carrying the candles and accompanied by chanting we are told symbolizes the growing light of the Easter morning. Once inside the service was fairly repetitive liturgy and chanting from a choir of women situated upstairs in a loft. The tiny churched was packed and we stood all the time. I felt sorry for the many old ladies who were there. Many had brought baskets of Easter food to be blessed by the priest at the conclusion of the service. They were going to stand for about 5 hours. It was also quite stuffy as there was also lots of incense. It was fairly repetitive, with priestly chanting, and continuous singing from a small women's choir upstairs. It was conducted in Romanian, but every 15 minutes or so the priest came in front of the congregation and said three times, 'Hristos in viata' (Christ is alive) and the congregation, responded accordingly each time. This began almost with a whisper at the beginning of the service and got louder as time went on. I must admit we didn’t see the distance to the conclusion and left at about 2.30am but while we didn't understand a lot, it was meaningful to be involved in this very ancient ritual.
Next year, we might go to bed early, wake up at 2am and then go to see how the service ends!!
The following weekend we were hosts to Commissioners Max and Lenora Feener (Territorial Commanders of USA Southern Territory of The Salvation Army). They were accompanied by Commissioners Wim and Netty van der Harst, who are Territorial Commanders of our
Visits during their time here included the Mobile Medical Clinic in a very poor village called Selemet, about 100 kms from Chisinau. Over 220 patients were seen that day in the community building that was provided for our use. The mayor of the village gave a special welcome to us. Once again, wheelchairs were provided, medications dispensed, baby formula give out. Once the clinic got underway we were invited to afternoon tea in the mayors office who again expressed her deep appreciation for the Army’s visit saying that for many in the village our 3 visits each year provided for most in the village the only access to medical care that they had.
Two TC's and a donkey. (The donkey is in the front!!)
The 'feed' in the Mayors Office afterwards
The closest Ian will ever get to being a Mayor!
The next day we travelled to Dubossari where everyday the corps provides food and assistance with schoolwork to the most disadvantaged children in the area. About 30-40 children gather in the tiny hall which we have told you about in previous posts. Dubossari offers an excellent example of incarnational ministry. In recent days we have arranged for improved heating so that there is now hot running water for the kitchen staff and the ability to make the place warmer in the depths of winter.
A friendly soccer match involving the youth of the Corps on the local 'oval'!
Nothing gets past these guys!!!
We also dropped in on other corps so that the visitors could see the property needs that exist for so many of our corps.
On Sunday there was a time of combined celebration for corps in Chisinau. It seems that no matter how hard one tries to keep the meeting a reasonable length, participants usually just do what they want to do. So the requested one song turns into a bracket of 3 or 4. Not so bad if it happens once, but everyone does the same thing. Anyway, no one seems to mind. They just love getting together and celebrating in worship.
The quintet from Checani in the service - they are brilliant!
Commissioner Lenora Feener
Commissioner Max Feener and Oxana from DHQ, who translated.We were encouraged by their visit and the promise of ongoing and additional support for The Salvation Army in
Love from Ian and Viv xoxo
