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It was already dark at the airport in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova, and the weather was cold and damp when flight 5F638 finally landed on Moldovan soil with a delay of almost an hour.
Brother Gerhard Wall and I, Simon Wiens from the municipality of Mettenheim, were warmly welcomed in Moldova by Brother Viktor Kulak, one of the bishops in Moldova and head of the project.
Relieved that the arrival was uncomplicated, we quickly went to our deployment location, Sarata-Galbena, where a lovingly prepared and delicious dinner was already waiting for us.
After dinner and discussions about the actual situation in each other's countries, the well-being of good friends in Germany and Moldova, and the work to be done in the coming days, we went to the local veterans' home, which the municipality had completed some time ago. There we moved into our rooms, as we were to begin work the next day.
The task on site was limited to electrical work on three buildings currently under construction, where the electrical work should be completed as soon as possible.
The reason for this was a second aid team from America, which was scheduled to arrive in the following days and was supposed to complete the drywall work in the buildings.
The first two days took place on a property that the Moldovan Brotherhood had purchased for seminars and children's camps. The plan was to convert an old warehouse into a dormitory. The drywall was already half finished, and now the electrical work needed to be done.
Even at this early stage, one could already sense how different the requirements in Moldova are compared to Germany.
While in Germany there is sometimes a shortage of electrical outlets, with outlets available "only" in every other corner, expectations are lower in Moldova.
Four electrical sockets on one wall of the room and a light switch – that's all that's needed.
However, this circumstance made it possible for the entire building, with almost 20 rooms, to be fully wired and prepared for the brothers from America within two days.
In the following days, the group went to two neighboring villages, Caracui and Lapusna, where they were to support the construction of two communities.
As in the previous days, the electrical work should be completed as soon as possible in order to accelerate the interior construction of the community center.
And here again, the stark differences between Moldova and Germany became apparent. While our German community centers are becoming increasingly professional and better equipped, in Moldova the focus was on keeping everything simple, primarily to avoid exceeding the budget. Thus, there was no complicated lighting system, no countless speaker cables, and no pre-wiring for a state-of-the-art kitchen. A few light switches and some electrical outlets for the kitchen were sufficient.
But here too, this circumstance allowed the work to be completed very quickly and the construction site to be prepared for the brothers from America.
After the day's work was done, we were able to attend the church services in Sarata-Galbena and also contribute a sermon there. Even during times when no service was being held, there were always small tasks that could be taken care of.
For example, we fitted the entrance door to the veterans' home with an automatic door opener, making it easier for the residents to get in and out.
Once the three projects were completed, I went to the community of Brother Oleg Bodnar in
Balti (Belzi), which is supported by our community in a project that works with children from impoverished backgrounds. Here they are offered hot meals, homework help and, during the week, extracurricular activities.
On Sunday, the opening ceremony for these after-school clubs was held, where children could register.
On Monday morning I went back to Germany, while Brother Gerhard stayed in Sarata-Galbena to support some other work.
What fascinated me during my time there was the zeal with which the brothers worked on these construction projects. One project after another was started and completed, and even as one project was being finished, the next ones were already being prepared.
But the dedication of the leading brothers is also admirable. Wanja, who supported us during our mission, shifted his working hours to nights in addition to his duties in the congregation and his obligations to his family, so that he could support us.
Furthermore, it was remarkable how God can work even in simplicity. God can work through Bose speakers on the wall, Rational convection ovens in the kitchen, and lighting fixtures on the ceilings, but He doesn't need them. He needs our hearts, our complete surrender, our love for Him and for our fellow human beings. Then God works, no matter how good or bad the circumstances may be.
Simon Wiens
Municipality of Mettenheim
More information about the project and the opportunity to donate:
https://cdh-stephanus.org/moldawien/
An old warehouse is being converted into a dormitory.
The entrance door to the veterans' home was improved with an automatic door opener.
The drywall partitions were already prepared for wiring.
The brothers Gerhard Wall and Simon Wiens with siblings from Moldova
Before the interior construction of the community center could continue, the electrical work had to be completed.
