Empowering the weak for action: Moldova, Republic of

Country Profile

Empowering the weak for action

Moldova, Republic of | OM International

What impact can a tiny church of only three people have in a community? Though small in number, believers in the village of Hanaseni embraced the chance to be part of OM Moldova’s winter relief projects.

“It was a great possibility to reflect the character of Christ, who cares about the poor,” explained a church member. “We are only a small group, but this project was of great use to us! We brought joy through these gifts and had the opportunity to share about Jesus and how he changed our lives.”

This captures the vision of OM Moldova for the winter relief projects. By providing supplies of food, clothes and firewood, the goal is to help those in need, show the character of God’s love and enable local believers to strengthen their involvement in their own communities.

New school boots

Mihaela from the village of Bravicea had not been to school for three weeks because she had no shoes to wear in the cold and snow. Although her mother is working, she cannot meet all the family needs. They live with Mihaela’s grandparents in a small house that has no electricity. Two rooms are shared by seven people. It was a great joy when Mihaela received winter clothes and boots, allowing her to return to school and continue her education.

The best birthday present

In Anenii Noi, church members visited the home of two boys who drop by the church’s day centre. Everyone in town knows these children; they spend their time playing in the streets. Their mother is an alcoholic and has repeatedly locked the boys in the apartment, sometimes leaving them for days without food and supervision. When church members brought a food parcel to the family, it happened to be the youngest son’s birthday. He was excited to receive such a gift—the bag of food seemed the best birthday present he could have possibly been given.

An answer to prayer

In the town of Bender, church members gave a food parcel to an elderly lady looking after her two grandchildren. When she saw the gift, she began to cry. “This month my pension has not been paid out,” she explained. “We used up all our food. You are a response to my prayers!”

In total, more than 400 households received firewood for heating, 900 children were provided with winter clothes and over 1,200 families and elderly people received a monthly food parcel throughout the cold season—desperately needed gifts in a winter where February had record snowfalls and temperatures of below -30°C.

Please pray that the memory of the warmth of God’s love, extended through the winter relief projects, remains with these people and gives them a desire to know Jesus.