Drochia Ariadna Mothers Shelter

Drochia Ariadna Mother's Shelter

This mother's shelter in northern Moldova is one of 3 shelters that assist women who have been victims of human trafficking. This is a major problem here in Moldova. Young women are enticed by what they think is an employment opportunity in another country. With the terribly depressed economic situation here in Moldova (the worst in Eastern Europe), many young women fall victim to those who would lure them out of the country for imaginary jobs only to be sold into slavery. Once taken out of the country, all their papers are taken, passports and any identification they have with them. This makes crossing borders virtually impossible. Their captors use this to isolate them and make their return seam hopeless. Many are kept in compounds so as to be available when needed. There are many young women who never return. Some of these unfortunate women make it back, but they have nothing, especially if it was their own family that initiated their tragic situation. This center plays a vital role for the few who make it back. They teach them basic skills as sewing, cooking and basic food preparation. Many will return with children, for obvious reasons. Their exposure to motherhood as you would imagine, was not a good experience.

The young lady in this slide show is Lynn (not her real name). She was taken to Russia where a group of Armenian men took possession of her. She left at age 17. She is now 19, with a small dark-skinned child to care for. Today, she has a chance to be reintegrated into as normal a life as Moldova can offer. Simeon, the director of the Drochia Shelter, is a former medical doctor who is now devoting his life to helping these women.

LDS Charities provided a donation to replace all the broken bed frames with metal bed frames for the adults and the children. New mattresses were also purchased. We also installed new cabinets and storage drawers for their kitchen area, where the mothers learn food preparation and how to properly care for their children.

Shoe Factory

Earlier this year we visited the Shoe Shop for the Society of the Disabled. We were so impressed with the work that these people do and the quality of the shoes they make on old antique sewing machines. We wanted to help this shoe shop and were excited when this project was approved. We were able to provide 5 new machines. (2 single stitch, 1 double stitch, 1 flat bed, and 1 skiving machine.) I have posted pictures of the old machines, and also the new machines. Constantine and his wife were so excited about the new machines. This will make their work so much easier, and they will be able to produce more shoes faster with better quality. By the way they can make any shoe you want, you just have to go in and have your foot measured.

Pensioners

On Thursday June 25, 2009 Elder Hinson and I were able to take the YSA’s from Chisinau Branch to Balti for a service project. We have been working with the Pensioners (retired individuals) organization to bring humanitarian aid to these individuals. The Pensioners live on about 50 dollars a month that they receive from the Moldovan government ( social security). The Mayor’s office allocated their organization 28 hectares of land (about 67 acres). Each spring they distribute plots of land among the elderly to farm. They depend on their crops to provide food to eat throughout the year. They also sell their excess produce for extra income. Our project was to bring a new Roto-Tiller and hygiene kits to the pensioners. We were so excited when this project was approved and thought it would be a good opportunity for our YSA’s to serve. We first had to go and buy all the hygiene kit supplies. What a job!!!! Without a car I wondered how we were going to accomplish this. There is a very special lady in our branch, and she is a great shopper and speaks 3 languages. Hripsime agreed to help me purchase all the supplies at the Piata (out door market). Her daughter Hasmic and Sora Telford also wanted to get in on the fun, and so we had a wonderful ladies day out shopping!!! By the time we had 100 towels, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, and shampoo we could not carry it all so we got a taxi to take us back to the church where we stored it until the YSA’s could put it together at their service project. On Thursday we loaded up the maxi taxi and headed to Balti for the ceremony. We drove out into the pensioner’s fields where they were anxiously waiting for us. They were so grateful for the Roto-Tiller which will make farm work so much easier. They were also so happy to receive the hygiene kits. One woman showed us her arms where the weeds and bushes had scratched them, and was grateful for the soap to be able to clean her arms. (These people can’t afford to purchase these items). We don’t appreciate so many simple things that we have. The young people (YSA’s) that went felt a wonderful spirit at this ceremony. 2 of the young people that went are investigators and were very touched by the acts of service provided for these elderly people. We finished the day with a great lunch at Andy’s pizza.

R.S. visit to orphanage

On Saturday May 30th the Chisinau Branch Relief Society went to an orphanage to deliver pillows that they had made at an enrichment night activity. It was a very emotional experience for me. Elder Hinson and I have not visited any orphanages while we have been here. The children we usually deal with have families (parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc.) that take care of them. These beautiful children have no one except those teachers who work in this facility. The R.S. brought the pillows that they had made, and also cookies, candy, juice, and other treats. These children were so grateful for everything!!!!! They hugged their pillows. It didn’t matter what color their pillow was because it was something that belong to just them. The children then each recited a poem, and when I asked what they were saying one of the sisters told me they were talking about their mothers. I just about lost control of myself! It was hard to see these beautiful children without loving parents to take care of them. I am always reminded to be grateful for the blessing I have been given, and to try harder to do more to help my fellow beings.

Spring in Moldova

As we drive through Moldova we are amazed at how beautiful the countryside is in the spring. There are so many wild flowers blooming everywhere. The hills are covered either in yellow or deep green. We have enjoyed spring after a cold dreary winter!