Driving through Moldova

As we have been driving to our various projects, I have been taking pictures of the countryside and villages. You will see in some of the pictures the yellow pipe running along the side of the road. This is the gas line that they run above ground. They do this because it is easier to fix. We thought it interesting! I have also taken many pictures of water wells throughout the country. These are shallow wells, and they are all contaminated. Three or four families get together and dig these wells, and thats what they use for water. We are excited for the opportunity to bring clean water into some of these villages. In Moldova a village is a little community that can vary in population but the buildings can't be over 2 stories. One of our water projects will bring clean water to about 4,323 people. I also have pictures of villagers selling their goods(milk, chicken, bread, nuts, eggs, etc). We have an interesting story behind these pictures. We were driving through the village and saw these people selling there goods, so we took a picture and then drove off. We had not gone very far when I said I should have bought something from them. We backed up and purchased bread, eggs, nuts, and our interpreter bought milk. They were so nice and grateful that we would buy from them. A proud grandfather wanted us to take a picture of him and his grandchild. We hadn't gone to far out of this village when we passed a frozen lake and saw men out fishing on the lake. One of the men was sitting on a chair in the middle of the lake fishing. I have also included pictures of 2 different orthodox churches. One was in a village, the other is in the middle of Chisinou. It has a big park all around it, and I am told it's beautiful in the spring and summer. We will have to post pictures of everything blooming in the spring. You will see a city marker indicating that this village was founded in 1439. (Before Columbus discovered America). This village is the home of the school for handicapped children without parents.

A New District in Moldova

On Sunday January 18, 2009 a district was formed in Moldova. Elder Wondra from the Quorum of the Seventy along with President Lunburg our Mission President came and formed the district. Three branches are in this district, Chisinou, Orhei, and Iasi. The Branch President in Chisinou was made the new District President, and Elder Hinson was called as his executive secretary. I was asked to serve a lunch for 15 to 20 people, but we ended up serving about 60. It was a miracle!(The fishes and the loaves of bread,I even brought food home and everyone was full.) We are all excited that the church is growing in this part of the world. I have also included pictures of our family home evening group, the church building here in Chisinou, and also a district meeting. We love our association with these wonderful missionaries!

Vera

How we met Vera is an interesting story and I think the Lord led us to her. When we were trying to get our green cards to stay here in Moldova we met with an offical who did not have a very good impression of missionaries or humanitarian works in general. He did not think that they really did what they said they were doing (helping people.) He said he knew this lady who lived in the same block as he did, and she lived in a bad situation and no one was doing anything to help her. This lady had a stroke 3 years ago, and was paralized on the left side of her body. Her husband was dead and her daughter who has also lost her husband was taking care of her. She was not able to get out of her room because her daughter could not lift her, and because they lived on the 9th floor of the block. She had not left her room in 3 years. She needed many things but everywhere they turned no one would help. He said she needed a radio, Quilt, and some food. Our interpreter said we would visit and see if we could help. We made an appointment with her daughter to go and visit. We had a good time shopping for a radio,food, and we had a quilt that had never been used in our apartment that we could donate. This sweet lady's name is Vera. When we walked into her room the 1st time we fell in love with her. She was so grateful that someone took the time to visit. She loved all the goodies we brought, but she was more grateful for a visit. The spirit was so strong in that little room. She asked us what our beliefs were about Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father. We were able to bear our testimonies to her, and tell her about the Book of Mormon. It was a wonderful visit for us all. We also determined the need for a wheelchair so she would be able to leave her room and apartment. We had to go back to see the same offical to approve our green cards, and he had talked to Vera. He was very greatful that someone had taken the time to visit her, and had a better attitude about missionaries. We went back to see Vera 2 weeks later and brought her a wheelchair, and seat cushion. We also brought her a Book of Mormon which she had asked for, and some other church materials. Her daughter doesn't know what to think about us. She doesn't believe that there is a God because so many bad things have happened to them. We hope that we can be a positive influence and show her that people really do care. We love these people and know that the Lord loves them to. We will visit them often, and we also have the sister missionaries visiting to.

Milestii Mici Basement Renovation

Milestii Mici Community Center
We just finished putting on a new roof and windows on this old building destined to become a community center for local villagers and disabled children. The Moldovan Government gave this building to the community. The only problem was that it was falling apart due to a roof with many missing and old tiles. Several rooms (noted in the slide show) are to be work areas for handicapped children to learn some worthwhile skills. These skills may be the only thing that helps them survive in a country where handicapped individuals are largely ignored unfortunately. In the basement area, we may have a follow-on project to take on. These rooms were community showers and bath areas 30 years ago. They are now in total disrepair with old plumbing that is useless. We may be able to get a new boiler and then partner with the community to install new plumbing. This would allow the villagers to take showers once a week. The walls and floors would be redone by local villagers donating their time. Over and over, Rodna and I find so many people without basic necessities that we have taken for granted so long. (God forgive me when I whine, I have two legs, the world is mine,,, etc.)

Bunatate-Textile Manufacturer

BUNATATE
This little company is one of our NGO Partners. They manufacture a number of clothing (winter coats, police vests, raincoats, railroad winter suits, etc) for the military, local police as well as life jackets for Italy. They also make our wheel chair seat cushions. This organization is part of the Moldova Society of the Disabled. This is a unique company since many of the women and men who work here or work in their homes are disabled. They occupy an old soviet era building with only selected rooms heated. Some of this building cannot be used during the winter because the rooms are too cold.
Liubovi Denusenco is the director of Bunatate. She is a Russian woman who is disabled herself. You can see her picture in the slide show. Don't be fooled. She is tough as nails and she works extremely hard to keep all of her folks employed. Money and jobs are scarce hear. Moldova is the poorest country in Europe and these disabled people struggle to survive everyday. We (LDS Charities) use this company as often as we can. By the way, they make beautiful quilts.

Clinic in Pitusca

Pitusca Clinic
The Pitusca Clininc is the local care center for about 7000 villagers in the surrounding area. This clinic is located about 50 kms from Chisinau. The one story buildings on this little complex today are mostly unusable. However, 2 doctors and 8 nurse's have set up shop hear and are trying to make it work. These people are truly amazing. These doctors still make house calls. They have a number of patients who are unable to get to the clinic, so they go to them. There is heating only in limited areas in the two building we saw. And most rooms are heated only if they are used.
Rodna and I got a call from a Peace Corps Volunteer and were asked to come out and make an assessment, which we did. They have no waiting room and so the hallway of an old school building is being used. Both sick and well mothers and children must wait here. There is no heat and the temperature when we visited was about 50 degrees. We are going to renovate an adjacent room to be used as a waiting room for the mothers and children. Our project will be to repair the roof, fix the ceiling, put in new windows and install a wood-burning stove for heat. We hope to have bids in next week. As LDS Charities, we are going to partner with the local community. We will buy the materials and they will provide the labor. (Rodna nearly fell through the floor as she was walking down the hallway) These floors are wood and are 40 years old. It seems like time has stood still in these remote villages over the last 40 years. You would have to see it to believe it. But Heavenly Father knows these wonderful people and so we have been sent there. It was truly a divine coincidence that we would find out about this place.

School in Visoca

Visoca School Northern Moldova
In one of the most northern villages of Moldova is the Visoca School for Handicapped Children without Parents. Visoca is some 200 kilometers north of Chisinau, the capital of Moldova. This little village is truly in the middle of nowhere. You must travel on an unpaved road about 6 kms to find this little community of about 2000 people. The school is run by Visalii Bicu and an assistant. This school is home for 80 children who are in school by day and live in the adjoining dormitory. This school is the only school we know of that takes in handicapped children left on the street without parents to contact. This wonderful man has run and provided this facility since 1973. He and his assistant are angels. Mr. Bicu has been formally educated in Math and Physics, but has devoted his life to these children. This schoold teaches them to be self-sufficient. They plandt and harvest much of their vegetables used by the school. They learn wood working and shoe making and repair. This facility is from the Soviet (late 60's)era and is in poor condition. But, the staff here keeps it very neat and clean. Rodna and I are trying to get a project approved to provide an irrigation system to improve their garden production and to install about 50 Sq. Meters of pavestone for their play area. We hope to have this completed by the end of the summer, 2009. On a personal note, while Rodna was visiting with some of the children in their class room, she had an opportunity to speak with one of the children. She was then approached by this boy's twin brother who asked her not to separate him and his brother. He apparently thought Rodna might become interested in him and take him and not his brother. This was one of those unspeakable moments that touch your heart and you are never quite the same again.

Soroca-Gypsy Town

While we were traveling to one of our projects, we took a detour (sightseeing) trip into Soroca. This town is the home of the king of the Gypsy's. He rules over all the Gypsy's and they pay him to keep them safe etc. In one of the pictures you will see cars that originally belonged to Brezhnev. The Gypsy king bought them from Brezhnev. The Gypsy's usually don't work for a living, but beg on the streets (women & children) for their income. The Gypsy's are not well thought of here in Europe, and are usually avoided. It was an interesting drive.

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Driving in a Taxi with 5 people

We have been learning how to navigate around Chisinau using Trolleys, maxi taxi, and taxi's. We had 5 people with us one night as we were looking at the beautiful Christmas lights here in Chisinau. Brother and Sister Telford, Fred and I, and our interpreter Argentine. We needed to get home fast because of a scheduled appointment, so our only option was to take a taxi. You can see how well we all fit! Life is good, and its fun to figure out how to do things just a little different than we are use to doing them at home. Love to all.

Chisinau Branch Christmas Party

Saturday Dec. 27 was our Branch Christmas Party. You are probably wondering why it was after Dec. 25, our traditional celebration of Christmas. The answer is because they don't celebrate Christmas here until January 7. It was a nice evening, and the whole branch participated. Each auxiliary either presented a skit, sang, or danced. The young single adults did a traditional Russian song and dance, and the missionaries were asked to sing an American Christmas song. After all the missionaries had performed, the branch gave each of us a gift of cookies and candies, and a Christmas hat. I am including pictures so you can see the hats we had to wear! Pretty funny.