Magazins, stores are called magazins; there are two, small, convenient-sized stores within the village; to get to the supermarket we take a 15 minute “bus” ride to the next town.
Open Gates, Doors and Hearts, Their gates are always metaphorically open, they love hosting and provide conversation, food and drink.
Love, they have a love for each other that goes beyond the surface. They work together as a community to help each other out as best as they can.
Drip Showers, 1. Fill the tank with about seven buckets of water. 2. If you desire a hot shower, you can either boil water and let it cool or let the sun naturally heat up the tank. 3. Turn the nozzle and shower.
Outhouses, water closets are outside and may or may not be enclosed in a “house” of some sort. If you do not flush them with a bucket of water, you will regret it.
Vineyards, the country is known for their vast amount of vineyards and wine cellars.
Abodes, most houses here are humble in appearance. From the size of the house I would guess maybe one or two bedrooms max, a kitchen and a common area.
Moldova is the poorest country in Eastern Europe. Water has to be fetched from wells located throughout the village and many water closets, bathrooms, are outside and are manually flushed with a bucket of water.
We live in a quaint four room house, two bedrooms, a kitchen and a common room and do not have internet access or air conditioning. The shower and outhouse are outside. The showers are usually cold, unless you boil water or the sun heats up the tank, and the outhouse is merely a creaky wooden box, with a hole in the “wooden seat”.
Personally these accommodations, or lack of, do not bother me. I have to admit the first shower experience was weird, but it's reality. It's also a reality that I'm finding more joy in the important aspects of life, such as people and relationships. The locals value hospitality and are more willing to give to their neighbors.
The view from our front porch is spectacular. We can see a vineyard up on a hill and if you look to the right towards the bottom your eyes will capture a sea of yellow sunflowers. I would have to say my favorite scene thus far has been playing with the children at the end of the day, seeing their smiles, hearing their laughter and feeling the joy that radiates in that moment, as the sun is slowly starting to set.
This month my team and I are serving in Rassvet, Moldova, a village of about 250 people. Our main ministry will be working with the local children in the afternoons, playing games, singing songs, telling a bible story and teaching English. So far we have had a good turnout and the kids have had a good time. Due to the fact that we meet with the kids for about two hours a day, we are also looking for some other ways to serve the village but haven't found one yet.
