Lasting change

Moldova, Republic of | OM International

The development of a healthy self-image, an improvement in school achievements and a changed family: The story of 12-year-old Andriana tells of the longer-term effects of OM Moldova’s day centres for children from socially vulnerable families. The children are given a safe environment to develop and receive love, a warm meal, help with school work and spiritual input.

Andriana, a cheerful young girl, has been going to the day centre in Paicu since it opened in 2008. Along with her little sister, she used to attend the children’s programmes organised by local believers, who also helped prepare Andriana for school before the church opened an official day centre.

However, repeatedly the girls would not turn up because their family would not allow them to come—their father was not a Christian. Sometimes her mother attended church, but never her father. One day, OM workers visited their home to give Andriana a gift of school supplies. However, her father spoke badly to them and told them to leave.

Many times Andriana would say, “It would be so good if my father became a Christian!” The workers of the day centre prayed often with her, and a few months ago, her father started to attend church. Then he became a Christian! The leaders have seen change in his heart and life—since then he has stopped smoking and drinking, and every Sunday at the end of the church service he goes around to people saying, “Peace to you” and “God bless you”.

There is peace now in Andriana’s home. These days, she not only attends the day centre, but she attends with her father’s blessing.

The centre has positively impacted both the family and Andriana, who gets involved in church, is always ready to help and does well in school—a characteristic she shares with other children in the centre.

Credit: OM International
© 2012 OM International