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Tony & Linda's visit to Moldova
This is my diary report from our trip to Risipeni in Moldova, February 2009.
What a blessing that airfares for Tony and I were paid by generous donations of airmiles and a cheque from church members.
Sunday 15th February
We were met at Chisinau airport by Sharon who took as to the local hotel to spend the night. We went out for a meal together and it was great to be with her.
Monday 16th February
After breakfast in the hotel we took a taxi to the station and caught a bus about 12noon. It was trying to snow and everyone was bundled up in hats, coats and scarves. Smoke a lot here - apparently cigarettes very cheap! Sharon is great with the language and communicates well. Whilst waiting for the bus to leave a child comes on board begging – he says “In God’s name, give me some money”. Sharon cannot resist his little face and gives him some.
The journey takes about 2½ hours – countryside barren, but it is winter. We then took a taxi to Risipeni (about 20 minutes).
Sharon’s flat very cosy – but a power cut when we arrived so very cold. Came on about 5.00pm.
We walked up to the shop and the mayor’s office to meet his secretary Nelli who said we could probably meet with the mayor on Wednesday or Thursday. We tried to see the Orthodox priest but he was not available (all week as it turned out).
Sharon looked after us well, cooking shepherds pie and it is feeling much warmer now.
Outside loo quite an experience!
Tuesday 17th February
We walked around the village and visited 3 elderly folk. Sharon had made a spaghetti dish for them and a flask of hot tea. Long walk through frozen, muddy lanes. Sharon does this twice a week – 5 elderly folk on each occasion.
We first met Anna – aged 86 years and found her wandering outside in her nightdress. She had 8 children, 5 have died and 2 are out of the country. Her daughter, Nina, lives in the village but never visits.
Anna lives in one room in the winter, about the size of our bathroom where she cooks, sleeps, etc. No heating until she lights the fire in the afternoon. Our project has bought wood for her and the four other elderly folk that Sharon visits. But they are worried about lighting the fire too early in an effort to conserve the wood. They do have electricity but cook on wood stove.
Anna is a Christian and calls God “ta-ick-well” (phonetic – don’t know how to spell in Romanian) which means “Daddy”. Anna is very lonely and didn’t want us to go. Such a lovely lady but so alone. How do they survive?
She loves Jesus and let Tony pray for her.
Next we visited Lisa (76) who is blind. Another one who would not light the fire until afternoon and was keeping warm in bed. She has been blind for two years and has no family. Her neighbours bring her a meal in the evening. Sharon gave her food and a hot drink. She doesn’t understand why God has allowed her to go blind. Initially she wouldn’t allow Tony to pray for her but she then asked him to pray for peace for her. Very sad, very lonely.
Next we visited Twarda (88), pictured here with a neighbour (80) drinking Sharon’s hot tea. One room again but warm and painted. He has lost his wife and three sons and has an invalid daughter who is presently having treatment in Chisinau and he hasn’t heard from her since November. A lovely man and him and his neighbour laughed a lot. We left food and drink.
All three were concerned about who would visit them while Sharon was in England for 6 weeks but she had arranged for a lady from the Baptist Church to visit them. The snow had made it difficult for Sharon to get around but today the snow is gone and it’s a lovely day – but still very cold.
Wednesday 18th February
Tony and Sharon visited the mayor and he agreed to set up a “Foundation” (like our Trust) for the Centre. Tony, Sharon, the Mayor and Nelli, his secretary would be the “Trustees”. Nelli would get the legal documents together and a special “stamp” would be needed for authorisation.
Sharon explained her vision for the project of changing the ground floor into an old folks home for 5 people – including the four ladies she visits. Sharon has drawn a plan and Nelli’s husband, Vaselli, local builder is going to cost it for her. A proper architectural plan would be useful but this might not be possible in Moldova. Sharon wants the home to be open in September so that the old folk do not have to endure another winter alone. It could also be open for the more able bodied to come and have lunch and enjoy acitivities. The Mayor thought the work could be done in 2 months (probably by more like 4 months!) Sharon will be able to bring the costings home with her. The aim of the meeting was to get the mayor “on board” with the project and this was achieved as he was very supportive.
Sharon’s flat is upstairs and the garage on the bottom right has been converted into a room in which Sharon tried to start a work with young people but it did not work. But it is set up with tables and chairs and can be used in the future.
The area to be made into the old folks home is located at the rear. There is garden on all four sides.
Wages are very low – schoolteacher probably earns about £66 per month and the Mayor’s secretary about £100. Money goes further than in U.K. of course, although market prices are becoming like England and there is about 15 of Moldovan currency to our pound (was 24 one year ago).
All water has to be collected from the well and carried in buckets back to the houses.
There are not many cars and the mode of transport is on foot, local bus or horse and cart.
Fire wood has to be found in the woods nearby and carried back to the house.
Life is hard here.
In the evening we caught the bus to Ungheni to visit the Pentecostal church. Three stories high and built by the young Pastor, George, himself. About 50 members but they have a school and feed 40 poor children every day except Sunday. Very lively church and they really love Jesus. Tony preached on Acts 2 about caring and sharing for one another and the community. This church already do a great job of this.
We went to Sasha, the associate pastor’s house for pizza. They have little but they give much. George drove us back to Rispeni which was most welcome and offered to take us to the airport on Saturday. What a generous man. It snow on the way back – about 4 inches!
Thursday 19th February
We went to the next village (Bocsa). We saw Amelia who has lost five children and her husband, and recently her sister, her only surviving relative. She is holding her picture of Jesus which she prays to every night. It is broken and faded – must get her a new one. Tony and I sang hymns to her while Sharon went to get fresh water from the well. We didn’t understand each other but it didn’t seem to matter as she just wanted someone to talk to. We just said “Da” (yes) in, hopefully, the right places. Gave her food and drink. We prayed with her.
Snow is about 6 inches thick now and we walked through it to visit Natalia. Her place is bigger and tidier and quite “palatial” compared to Anna and Lisa although still incredibly poor by UK standards. It was a long walk through mud and snow – don’t know how Sharon does this twice a week. She is amazing – I am full of admiration for her.
She has a son in Moscow who she hasn’t heard from in 7 years! These old folk are truly abandoned by their families. Its such a tragedy that they are so unloved except for Sharon. They obviously love her and are always hugging and kissing her.
In the evening we went to Elena’s for dinner. This is where Samantha stayed when she was there teaching for a year and where Sharon stayed until her flat was ready. Her daughter, Serena, was there together with Nelli and Vaselli. They were so generous and kind to us and cooked a wonderful meal of chicken, mashed potatoes and a wonderful tomato dish. They are all Christians except for Vaselli.
Friday 20th February
We caught the 7.00am bus to the markets. The snow was very thick and still snowing. The market was interesting with lots of clothes, pots and pans, fruit and vegetables. Not terribly busy – probably because of the snow and the cold. Not like England though – the buses still running! Stall holders still working although their goods are covered in snow. Bought a typical Moldovan tablecloth and Sharon bought a bucket, for fetching water from the well, for Amelia as hers is so old and dirty. Caught the bus back in time for lunch.
Spent the afternoon praying about Sharon’s vision.
Later in the afternoon we had a meeting with the Baptist Pastor in the afternoon who promised to help with the old folks homes and ask his members to volunteer to work in the centre. He took us to the church service in the evening. A very hair-raising ride in his minibus – got stuck in the mud and the snow and were swerving all over the place. I thought the bus was going to overturn a few times. Eventually made it! Service all in Romanian – but we were made welcome and had an equally hair-raising trip home!
Saturday 21st February
George came to take us to the airport but we couldn’t get out of the village because the hills were covered with ice and Risipeni is in a valley. We prayed for an angel and the Lord sent Nelli who phoned for a tractor who pulled us out. We just made it to the airport in time thanks to George.
It has been quite an experience and my admiration for Sharon grew by the minute. We pray that God will bring her vision for the old folks home to fruition and those dear people can have a place to live that is warm and comfortable for them.
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