Yellow safety vests and brightly coloured helmets

Moldova, Republic of | OM International

A team of 5 foreigners and 5 Moldovans are travelling by bike from village to village. With their yellow safety vests and brightly coloured helmets, news of the foreigners who come by bike spreads quickly through each village they enter.

On 1st July 2010, the cycling team leaves Straseni. A yellow chain of 9 people on their bikes runs down the main road. One person travels by car, ensuring that the participant's luggage gets to them when they arrive. It doesn’t take very long until the cyclists see a new village sign. They have arrived in Panasesti! The asphalt road changes into an unpaved road. The recent rain is visible in the mud that covers the road.  

"We stopped at the soccer field at the edge of the village," says one of the team members, "as we wanted to make a plan for that afternoon." As the local church had asked them to present a children’s programme, they prepare all kinds of games, songs, a bible story, a play and more games. Within a few minutes, the programme is prepared and only two more things are needed: some children and nice weather. 

"We can’t control any of this," the team member continues, "and so in faith we ask God to bless the afternoon. Before we meet for lunch, we cycle through the village. We soon find out that this village has a lot of hills, and with the combination of mud, it is quite a challenge to overcome! Our joy is great when we discover many children on the streets. Some of them are open to hear about the children's programme at the soccer field. Others cover their ears and refuse to speak to us."

The cyclists were a bit taken aback by the hostility of some of the children, but during lunch with Petru, the father of the family and founder of the Baptist church, we soon find out why. “The village is very religious and almost everyone is Orthodox Christian here," says Petru. "Traditions and rituals are very important. I was the first Baptist in this village. Over the past few years, some people have come to believe in Christ, but unfortunately most of them have since left the village. There are only a few believers left now."

Although there are many people in the village who still oppose Evangelical Christians, Petru has a good relationship with the mayor, who gives him permission to organise Christian children clubs. "This winter he (the major) allowed me to visit poor families and elderly to give them food parcels," continues Petru. "I’m happy with the relationship we have with OM Moldova. Last year OM Moldova sent us a team for one week, and this winter we could participate in the food parcels programme. Now we have the cycling team with us for two days."

Petru goes on to explain that every Sunday, they organise a children’s programme at the soccer field. International teams always attract a lot of children, and so they plan to invite the children to their Sunday programme too. "Do you see what a big encouragement this is for us?" he smiles.

One hour later, 28 children gather on the soccer field. Some participate in team games, while others sit at the edge of the field, pretending to be bored, but not missing a minute of what the team is doing or saying!

Credit: OM International
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