Moldova

Vasiliy Kaletnik met us in Odessa and escorted us to Moldova safely but very tired from traveling by bus all day. The boarder crossing was easy since we didn't actually go through the unrecognized and still very communist country of Transnistria. This country had a war with Moldvoa about 5 years ago so relations are not good between countries and neither are board er crossings. We understand that our trip to Kiev Sunday night by train will go around this country in order to avoid the crossing. Rail traffic through that country is not allowed. This means the train trip is 14 hours or more.

We have found Moldvoa to be poorer than Ukraine. Vasiliy Kaletnik's church has an attractive facility. It is in the center of the city of Falesti which has a population of 7,000 people. This is the central point for ministry in surrounding small villages.

The main church in the city of Falesti. Team members get water from the village well for the activities of the day. The well serves the church and other homes and businesses in the area. Note the new addition on the back of the church.

The village ministry the last two days has revealed more horse drawn vehicles than cars.&n bsp; P eople are extremely poor and glad to get about anything. Our team distributed clothing after one meeting and the people took every stitch within minutes including tghe boxes we brought them in. The new believers are obvious by their bright smiles.

Our team is doing well and has had a wide range of stretching experiences. Food is different most meals but very good....most of the time. Here in Moldova we have had fewer desserts and less meat. Water is drawn from a well by bucket.

Friday evening Nancy spoke to a "Sisters Meeting" with about 25 ladies there. I spoke to a "Brothers Meeting" about leadership with about ten men. Two young men repented and trusted Christ by the end of the evening. Thanks for praying. Almost all of the believers here are new believers.

Vasiliy organized an evangelistic meeting on Saturday in one village where a small group of people have been saved and a new believer (an older man) has given his small house for church meetings in spite of opposition from the Orthodox priest. (See pics) The Orthodox church is only two houses away from the man's home. The service was held outside in 40 degree temperatures in the yard before dusk. A group of 25 teens from a city church did an hour musical program first with a sound system to draw attention. Children and a various adults showed up. All went well until the Orthodox priest rang the noisy church bells for over half an hour to try to drown us out. Later the power went out during my message. People said the priest had someone cut the village electricity to discourage us. Yet one ma n did step forward to repent openly and pray to trust Christ. As we were leaving a rock was thrown by a young person at one of the two vans we were in.

Sunday we had a four hour morning service in which 5 people repented. This also included a baptism and communion service and an hour and a half concert...Wow!. Sunday night we had another village evangelistic service where some new believers have gathered. There were about 50 people there and 4 repented. The youth choir was also there for a concert.

We leave for Kiev at 2 a.m. Monday morning by overnight train and arrive the next evening. Thanks for praying for our mission trip. It has been a wonderful experience to all and we are excited to report in person.

Pastor Mark