A summer of faith

OM team members in Moldova were joined by 190 participants from 19 different countries, who served alongside local believers to share Christ’s love in practical and powerful ways. 

The children’s programme was a vibrant and welcoming space that combined dynamic activities with clear biblical teaching. Each day, the children learnt Bible stories and experienced them through skits, crafts, songs and memory verses. The programme was designed to be engaging and interactive, with games, recreational activities and snacks — and at day camps, lunch was also provided. 

A team member explained, “On the first day, the children learnt that God is the creator of all things, and that they were all created with love and a special purpose. On the second day, we addressed the entrance of sin into the world, demonstrating that disobedience has consequences and results in separation from God. Through a play, the children learnt the story of Lucifer, his fall and the temptation of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. We then discussed how sin still affects our lives today, while also highlighting the hope offered by God's plan. 

“On the third day, we explained that only God could repair the damage caused by sin and restore our relationship with Him. A skit showed how Jesus took on our sins and opened a new path back to God. On the final day, we emphasised Jesus’ love for all children. The skit showed how He welcomed the children, even when the disciples tried to stop them coming to Him. The children experienced Jesus' care in a personal and meaningful way, which reinforced the message that they are precious to God.” 

Love in action 

As a way of showing God’s love in action, many homes were visited and the team distributed 265 food parcels during the outreach. 

One of the homes visited was Ecaterina’s*. Her father abandoned the family before she was born, so she was raised by her mother and grandmother. Her mother then died, leaving Ecaterina in the care of her grandmother, who had a severe disability. A year ago, Ecaterina lost her grandmother as well, leaving her completely alone without any family support. 

In the meantime, she had married, but her husband abandoned her for another woman, with whom he had two more children. At 23 years old, Ecaterina now finds herself raising her two children alone: a three-year-old girl and a one-and-a-half-year-old boy. Because of the children’s young age, she cannot work and lives in extremely difficult conditions. The house is in an advanced state of decay, and the shortages are many and pressing — sometimes they do not have enough food to last through the month. 

Seeing her desperate situation, the pastor of the village church and a social worker intervened to ensure she received social assistance. With God’s help, the state now provides her with monthly financial support of 4,000 Leu (about $235 USD) to help cover the basics. 

Despite the trials, Ecaterina’s face lights up when she hears the Word of God. She has an open heart full of faith and hope. The team blessed her with a food package and prayed with her and her children, entrusting them to the Lord, who can bring light even in life's hardest moments. 

'We survived because of prayer'

In another village, the team met Ana*, who is 91 years old. “She told us about her grandmother, who had a strong faith, and her parents, who were community leaders,” a team member shared. “Because of their status, the entire family — three generations — was arrested and deported to a labour camp in Siberia when Ana was 12. With tears in her eyes, Ana shared her stories with us: how they travelled by train in a closed cattle car for 22 days; how many elderly people and babies died along the way; and how little they had to eat during those years. She was put to work on the railway and later cutting down large trees in the forest. 

“She eventually grew up and got married at 18. Her first baby died, and her second baby was only two months old when they were finally allowed to return to Moldova. Their land, house and possessions had been confiscated, so they had nothing and had to start again from scratch. 

“When we visited with the food parcel, we were inspired by Ana's strength. As we talked about faith, she reflected on the fact that her family had lived through so much over the years. 'Maybe we survived because of my grandmother's prayers,' she reflected."