Moldova-- Where We Are Now (February 2022)

We arrived January 25, 2022 in Chisinau (pronounced Kiss she now) We live in a lovely apartment behind the famous Soviet Architecture "Circus".

The Chisinau Circus was built in 1981 by Ala Kirichenko and Simion Shoyhet. It opened in 1981. It was the largest auditorium in Moldova. Because of economics the Circus closed in 2014. Windows have been broken and the steps have deteriorated. The bus stop is right in front of Circus and we walk up the steps to the right and to our apartment that is directly behind Circus. 

Catedrala Nasterea Domnului (Cathedral of Christ's Nativity) is about a 25 minute walk for us and the center of the city. It was built in 1830, but bombed during WWII. The bell tower (below)  was destroyed in 1962 and rebuilt in 1997. The people were prohibited from worshipping during the Soviet Era and the Cathedral  was used for exhibition purposes. During this period the building was completely "blank" inside but now it has the traditional gold and murals associated with an Orthodox Church. 

The Triumphal Arch was built in 1840. The clock was restored in 1973.

Ciuflea Monastery is a Moldovan Orthodox monastery. It is dedicated to St. Theodore of Amasea. It was consecrated in 1958. It became a monastery in 2002. 

Two brothers, Anastasi Ciufli and his brother Teodor Ciufli, financed the structure. They are both buried at the monastery.

The Red Mill (Moara Rosie) was one of the first steam mills in Chisinau. It was built between 1850-1860. This was the tallest building in the late 19th century. It had 3 floors and even an elevator. 

In 1901 a fire broke out and destroyed some of the floors. It was rebuilt using red fireproof brick, thus calling it "Red Mill". 

Over the years it became dilapidated. It is still on the historical list but boarded up. 

We just discoverd Valea Morilor Park  The park has a walking path around the lake. People can fish in the lake but not swim. 

The park also has significant archaeological importance due to the discovery of mammoth bones. There is also a summer theater. 

We Are In Moldova Till the Conflict is O're

We left Ukraine on January 25, 2022 and arrived later that night in Moldova. We will continue to work from our apartment. There are many projects in Moldova to keep us busy. We are just setting up house. 

We have wonderful contacts in Moldova that made the transition easy and painless. 

Moldova is bordered by Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east, and south. We are in the capital city called Chișinău (said, Kiss Eh Now) but we call it "Kiss She Now" Busses are going to be our main transportation. The City is in the RED ZONE (because of COVID) as of Monday January 24, 2022. 

More Information about our evacuation from Elder Alan Allred:

The Big Exodus

Humanitarian Visit to Moldova

Asociatia Obsteasca HOMECARE of Moldova is a non-profit, non-governmental, apolitical, and non-commercial organization, established on April 27, 2005.

A.O. Homecare groups located in 23 villages that receive A.O. Homecare support and services in addition to the main offices in Chisinau. Two villages have been provided with laundry facilities in a building outfitted with laundry equipment for the village and patients to use.  LDS Charities supplied disinfectants, cleaning supplies and other cleaning items are either distributed to the elderly/patients or are used by volunteers to use while visiting the elderly/patients to clean, cook and provide services in their homes. 

Toma Ciorba Medical Center is a medical center for infectious diseases. Besides COVID they mentioned tuberculosis is rising.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints worked with Toma Ciorba Medical Center in the year 2020 providing mask, gloves, disinfectants, protectant gowns, liquid soap, and medical coveralls. 

The project LDS Charities is working on now is providing Infusion Medical Stands, lobby benches, and medical cabinets. 

Facebook Page LDS Charities

The Institute of Mother and Child was founded in 1982. 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provided medical monitors for infants born early to detect problems. There are about 15-30 babies born in a single day. There were 7 infants in the intensive care unit. They also provide for infants born in other hospitals and use incubators to transport them. One had just arrived while we were there.

We met with Michael Margenyan, Director of the Society of the Disabled of the Republic of Moldova. LDS Charities has been working with this organization for many years to receive and distribute wheelchairs throughout Moldova.

Around 15,000 people are on the waiting list for the chairs. People wait around 3 years to receive a wheelchair.

Wheelchairs (Provided by LDS Charities) were sent to Moldova and distributed in 2019 were given out by trained technicians and volunteers.

With this society only there are 3000 handicapped people waiting for wheelchairs.

Moldovan Christian Aid was organized in 2007. 

LDS Charities just completed a project in 28 villages around Chisinau. They provided hand sanitizer, gloves, and masks.

They send the products to about 28 villages base upon need identification from local pastors and priests. The pastors, or priests gather volunteers from their Parish and distribute to the goods to the people.

The Public Humanitarian Association "Christian Philanthropy" is a nongovernmental, non-profit, non-political and philanthropic organization in 2013. 

Father Aga and his wife, Diana took us to the Romanian (Moldovan) Orthodox Church where he is the priest.

On the same property they are completing a home supporting the homeless and mentally handicapped along with disadvantaged youth.

The home is located on the property with the church. It is a 4 story building in progress. 

The 3rd level is a large sewing area where people can come and learn to sew. A company from Germany donated the sewing machines and other sewing related items such as worktable and embroidery machines. The people learn to make uniforms, ties, pillows, embroidered shirts and dresses, etc. They sell these locally to pay for more materials. They do not make a profit, the money goes back into the materials, thread, upkeep of machines, etc. 

The stairs were not finished, nor were the woman’s shelter rooms and bathrooms, and the main floor for the children’s room and youth room.

They have volunteers from their church to help in the home doing laundry, collecting clothes, distributing clothes, feeding the homeless and cleaning. Their vision is to help others to learn skills to get jobs at other places. They see a lot of youth who are unable or otherwise restricted to go to school. Their vision is help them learn skills for when they must support themselves.

Society of Large Families in Moldova: Founded in 2001 this organization is an NGO in Balti that serves approximately 120 families with large families (1,100 persons) per year. These families live within the area of Balti and surrounding villages. These families are particularly vulnerable because it is difficult to earn a wage in Moldova that will support large families. Often the children cannot go to school because they don't have money to buy clothes, shoes, and school supplies. Also, with large families it is difficult to provide their own food, hunger is not uncommon.

In 2018 they partnered with LDS humanitarian aid and received bales of winter clothes and bedding to help support these families. The Church provided 100 pairs of winter boots and provided training to to families to sew their own clothes. LDSC provided 3 sewing machines, cloth and notions and paid for an instructor to teach them. They have 8 volunteers who receive no payment to help distribute the goods. They provide food kits once a year. They provide their own transportation and storage facility. 

The Phoenix Centre has provided for children who have been hidden away for years with learning and physical disabilities. The facility is a repurpose kindergarten school. It has several large rooms, handicap facilities, handicap playground equipment, ramps everywhere and an elevator, a sensory room, a physical therapy room with equipment, and teaching rooms.

 Additions have been added on with senior living apartments, kitchen and dining room. The senior living apartments are rented out to provide for the disability center. LDS Charities provided a metal roof for one of the buildings in 2016. 

The home built a new pool for therapy of their disabled children. LDS Charities provided a pool pump/heater. The project started in 2019, but because of COVID it was put on hold and then they lost a contractor, so now it be in use on September 19, 2021 when they are holding an open house. 

They have 28 disabled children that attend day school. The organization provide to and from transportation from the children’s homes.  They generally see about 900 children for physical therapy per year, in an outpatient capacity.

“If we could dress one more family in warm clothes…if we could outfit one more home with proper windows or running water; if we could provide one child with sufficient food, with medical care, we would have Made A Difference.” (MAD-aid)

Founder: Vitoria Dunford CEO

Victoria Dunford

She has a book out that tells the reader about her adventures in starting this home in Riscani, Moldova called, "Get Mad"

Other places we visited: Curchi Monastery. 

Gheorghei, our driver, knew a monk at this Monastery and he took us on a tour through 3 churches that were on the complex. 

Curchi Monastery

Safari Restaurant Orhei, Moldova 

Safari Restaurant and Museum of Collectables

We hiked up to the Monastery and saw the caves.

 Old Orhei Monastery

The trip to Moldova was very successful and gave us an opportunity to visit with some old projects, new projects, and the partners LDS Charities have worked with over the years. 

As far as Moldova goes, we were very impressed at how nice the people were. We met many people and became instant friends, even though some of them we didn't know their names. 

We found Moldova to be charming and unique.