Settling Into Moldova

Nathan and I arrived back in Chisinau Moldova about supper time on Saturday. Just before dark, we decided to walk in the direction of the city center, partly for simple exploration (we haven't been more than a few blocks away, except in a crowded van or bus), and partly to get our bearings. We were both confident that we are south of the center, so we started walking north. Made a kilometer or more, and seemed to be approaching the edge of town. Decided that our flat must be on the southeast corner, so we headed west, supposing that we would then run into more of the city. No luck. Turns out we are on the northeast side of town. We eventually made it nearly to the center, but still didn't quite find it, and with the help of a bus, found our way back to the McDonalds near our flat where we got our supper (today we finally found a city map, with which we feel much better oriented...we bought one each).

McDonalds is a bit different here. For starters, they serve beer. The other difference is the clientele. McDonalds prices are pretty expensive for your average eastern European, and especially so for residents of Moldova. So the only ones who frequent the place are the few who are wealthy (most everyone in Moldova is quite poor...but then there are the few who were positioned well to enrich themselves when the change in government came some years ago). On Saturday evening, it was full of the wealthy, as could be seen by simply checking the parking lot and watching the drive-thru: late model Audis, BMWs, Mercedes, and Range Rovers. We on the other hand had walked 4-5 km to get there!

They have better restaurants however. Today, just before the departure of Brace and Larry for their return to the States, the four of us went to a restaurant downtown where Brace had once eaten on an earlier trip. Nathan had lamb. I had pork cutlet and stuffed eggplant. All very good. The service was better than any restaurant I think I've ever been in. The customary greeting just inside the door is with cups of wine for men, and flowers for ladies (he seemed a bit aloof when we didn't take the wine). Napkins on the table forming little cones, starched beyond belief. Waiters who speak four or five langauges, dressed in traditional Moldovan costume. We had some extras such as special teas and desserts, and the bill for four was about $45. Still, we'll probably eat there again only once before we leave. It's just so far above the average Moldovan's ability.

Sunday morning we were outside at 6:40 am to be picked up by Second Serghei in his van, with First Serghei and his sister already on board. Nathan and Brace and I joined the group for the ride to Balti to meet with the assembly there, made up almost entirely by women. They meet in the home of Vera (sp?), the lady standing next to me -on a chair- in the photo. She is exuberant and a very likable person. Standing between Nathan and me is Serghei Corcimaru (first Serghei).

One big problem in Balti has been jealousy over the benevolence given to them by American brethren, through the hands of Serghei. Serghei is tasked with the difficult job of giving those funds to the various saints there and elsewhere according to their need, deciding who is really in need and who is not. Some appear to be more interested in the financial help than in spiritual things, and become jealous when they think they need something more than another. At least a couple of them are suspected by the others to be attending mainly for the purpose of getting this financial help. All this has created friction within the group, and in Serghei's description, the financial help turns their interest to physical needs and clouds their interest in spiritual things. On this Sunday, Brace presented a very good lesson on gratitude and serving even in difficulties, and I presented a lesson on the miracles of Jesus (a previous question of theirs), focusing on the idea that the real purpose of the miracles wasn't to solve all the physical problems of everyone; in addition to being evidence, those miracles taught something about the nature of the real purpose of Christ: healing our spiritual blindness, cleansing us of spiritual disease. At the close, Serghei made an annoucement concerning the benevolence he had been providing: that it must cease. He told them he would like to help them in both ways, spiritual needs and physical needs, but that the provision of physical assistance was interfering with their ability to receive spiritual help...and so he must choose one or the other; that being the case, he said his choice had to be spiritual assistance alone (except in exceptional cases). I could see in the faces of a couple of them that they were not at all happy about this (and at least one of those two is one whom the others suspect of being mainly motivated by financial help); but others seemed to understand.

Later in the day we were back here in Chisinau to meet with the local assembly, where Brace and Larry presented their final lessons before returning to the States.

Today, Monday, is in Serghei's words our Day of Rest. No studies. Thus the trip to the center and shopping, and the restaurant described above. This evening though, Serghei's nephew came over to the flat Nathan and I are sharing. Dennis (the English form of his name) is a very bright 14 year old, a Christian, and speaking English just about as well as Serghei himself. But he has never really learned to sing, so I had offered last evening to give him some singing lessons tonight in exchange for some Russian lessons, or as he calls them, our singing Russian lessons. He saw for the first time that he can sing and sound good, and is eager for more help in the coming weeks. Nathan had been writing on the computer a few feet away, when he surprised us with the flash of the camera while Dennis was helping me with Russian. One other note: Dennis led Nathan and me in prayer this evening, in which he included, "...and we pray for the kids who are on the street, and cold, that You will help them and comfort them, and let them be warm."