The way back home

Alongside all of these exciting adventures, the reason I spent the 3 months in the summer of 2011 living and working in Moldova was to lead teams of volunteers from the UK as they used their summer holiday to renovate the house of one of the neediest families in the village. It was such a joy to see the volunteers journey through their two week experiences, learning about a new culture and throwing themselves into something really special. What a mixed bunch came along! One team was a youth group, whilst other teams were formed of retired couples who proved that at any age adventures can be had. One of the hardest things about a trip like this was adjusting to UK life upon my return and it has been a joy to re-live that summer by sharing it with all of you. Currently I am based in the Mission Direct offices, doing the behind the scenes stuff to facilitate other teams going overseas. Opportunities are available not only in Moldova but also in 11 other countries, across Africa, South America and Asia. If you would be interested in getting involved, feel free to call the office on 01582 589985. Alternatively, drop us a line on info@missiondirect.org 

Down-time in Bucharest

As we don’t fly home until the end of the week we decided to spend a couple of days in Bucharest. Although, we have been backwards and forwards from the airport with the teams all summer, we haven’t actually ever explored the city. It has worked really well as is a bit of a half-way house between life in the village and life back home in the western world. We explored the tree lined streets that have a historic Paris feel to them and are beautiful! Alongside this though is the communist influence and a darker feel as the more recent history becomes apparent. The city was bombed heavily during the war and in 1977 in earthquake destroyed many of the buildings. The Palace of Parliament which was built in the 1980s is the largest civilian building in the world and has over 1,000 rooms! We had the classic tourist tour which was an hour and a half and we didn’t even scratch the surface as we only covered 5% of it! Ceauşescu built it under his dictatorship but was shoot in 1989 before it’s completion. The best bit of the day was the restaurant this evening. Such character! All the staff we in local traditional dress and we ate downstairs in the wine-cellar with live music! It has been a real treat to have a bit of a holiday at the end of what has been a very eventful summer. 

Home Visits

With each of the teams we did some home visits to some of the most vulnerable in the village. We’d spend time chatting and praying with them as well as leaving them some gifts. One of the visits was to see two sisters. As with many Moldovans, their mother was working in Italy (as their are more employment opportunities there). The Father had been a soldier and fought in Afghanistan. Upon his return he suffered with post-traumatic stress disorder and there was very little support services available to help. Sadly, not long after the Mother left for Italy, he committed suicide. 

The girls are in their late teens and are now alone at home. It was such a difficult visit and I really wanted to spend some more time with the girls. They have a few animals as most Moldovans do, but I found out that in the time we were in the house chatting someone had stolen their prized possession, a cow. It really shuck me up to think our visit had provided the perfect distraction for someone to take it and to think that someone had been watching us. I felt so helpless leaving the girls at the end of the summer, but was able to leave most of my clothes with them, which put the most lovely smiles on their faces as they began trying them on and discussing who could have what. Such a simple thing, that will never make a terrible situation right again, but at least can bring a little bit of joy in a broken home. 

Poverty

Today, was one of the most challenging days I've spent in Moldova. We took a bus into the town and as always it was jam-packed. This usually adds to the amusement of the adventure but today I was utterly shocked. 

We stopped to take more people onto the bus (which was already full).  A mother helped her teenage daughter up the step. She was clearly very ill and in a real state. She began having a fit, losing consciousness with her eyes rolling back in her head. She kept throwing up and her hands couldn't stop twitching. It was so harrowing to see what poverty really means. If you can’t afford a healthcare you have to make the best of things. I don’t know where the mother was trying to get her to but she seemed so desperate. We were able to give her some water but, in a cramped bus you feel so helpless as to what you could do in what was clearly a very serious situation. You wondered what their story was and if she would make it to a hospital. Poverty really means a loss of dignity in appalling situations. 

Football

One of the Youth Leaders at the village church runs a football practice for the teenage lads early in the mornings when it’s still cool. It has been really special  to get involved with this and watch them practice. One image that has stuck with me has been watching them queuing at the well, taking turns to drink from the bucket after the game. A bit of a different from the Lucozade waiting on the bench for players back home. 

They have a ‘God Slot’ before practice and for many this is the only contact they will have with the Church. They then have a prayer circle which again was a striking image as they put arms round each other and form a circle in the middle of the dusty field. I felt so privileged to then be able to share my story with the boys and the only downfall of the morning was stepping on some glass on the field! 

Health

Driving through the village we pulled over to see one of our local friends. He had been having stomach pains for a few days and our driver wanted to drop something off for him. When we asked what it was he showed us an unlabelled bottle and explained that it contained berries from the Romanian mountains that have medicinal qualities. Moldovans are so much more open to natural remedies than we are here, focusing on western medicines.

Some of the volunteers had brought glasses to give to the local people. Today we set up a table and put them all out. It was lovely to watch the elderly folk trying on the glasses to find ones that made it easier for them. They were so thrilled and the uptake was staggering. 

Unwelcome guests

One of the joys of this trip is living with a local family. We have been welcomed with open arms and a comfortable bed, but we have had the odd unexpected visitor! 

Last week I pulled my shoes out from under the bed to find a toad in one of them! Today beats that hands down though. This morning I was just heading out the door when out of the corner of my eye something moved on a sheet that was covering some bags of grain. 

After a double take and a totally girly scream, sure enough I found a grass snake in the bedroom! In the shock (on both parts) it slid behind the bookcase and we couldn't get it out. The family were out for the day and we had arranged to go to lunch with someone in the village. Reluctantly we shut all the doors and left. 

When we got back we (as casually as possible) told our host family that we had a snake in the bedroom somewhere and did they have any suggestions as to how to catch it! The room was methodically turned upside down as clothes and suitcases were searched through. Long story short, the snake came to a sad end with a shovel. Just when we thought the drama was over the 9 year old boy we are living with thought it would be a laugh to chase me down the street with the dead snake, boys will be boys!