It is happening!    What was to come to Moldova, finally, it has come.

One week ago Sunday, Moldova had election and present communist regime has won.

People did not think so!  Especially young people wanted to protest.

Subsequent events told us the Communist regime had something to do with

voting.

We need your prayers for Moldova and Moldovans. To help you understand a little bit better, I will forward you my “Mission Report on Moldova” dated September 2008. I will change or delete names to protect individuals and you will not see my name either. I am called Congoyang or a Missionary to Congo from now on.

Several articles with photos will be emailed to you. These are unfiltered, unedited articles by volunteers on internet and internet has been shut down allegedly by Moldovan government.

While our churches have no part in this, we hope they are safe. I have reported to you of young Moldovans having a deep faith in Christ and mission minded. Moldovans had underground seminary during Stalin KGB days, and over 200 of them are now preaching and spreading Gospel in Russian spoken territories. 

Thus, we need your concern, prayers so that young people will not be hurt and soon justice will be done in Moldova.

Your friend in Christ,  a Missionary to Congo DR.

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Mission Report Part-1:   “Mission visit to Moldova”.
 

“What has a Korean missionary to Congo in Africa got to do with Moldova?” is the question that many would ask. And knowing that it was the question that many Moldovans asked themselves, I wish to answer this crucial question.

More than two years ago, I heard that a SDA Seminary was closed down in Moldova. That closed down seminary afterwards had been used as a training school for missionaries  the Good News to the “White Areas”, places where the Adventism had not been introduced.

I wanted to go and visit this closed seminary but then  was denied a Visa. Time passed by and one day, I met Pastor Hus (pronounced Hush!). Then, I have learned that half the number of the present ordained pastors (30) will be retiring in a span of 8-10 years. I was told that someone has made a plan called “Moldovan Pastors Refill Plan”, to encourage young students from Moldova to study at the “Cirnica SDA Theological Seminary”, located just outside Bucharest in Romania. This is to help refill the places of these pastors who will retire soon.

Finally I received my Visa to Moldova two years later and went to Moldova for Mission Visit.

Where is “Moldova”?

In case you are acquainted with the Map of Romania, Moldova is at <1 through 3 o’clock> direction adjacent. Otherwise it is straight up from Istanbul, Turkey, across the Black Sea. (Please refer to the attached 3 maps, also clearly indicates trans-Dniester)

Population:  4.3 million, without counting 750 000 working overseas, and 500.000 living in Trans-Dniester.

Land: 33,000 km², a land-locked country, formerly known as “Bessarabia”.

Approximate ethnic groups in Moldova: 78.2% Romanian; 8.4% Ukrainian, 5.8% Russian, Gagauz 4,4%, etc.

Religion: Eastern Orthodox; 98%, Jewish: 1.5% ( Adventists 11,200 , 152 churches, 72 pastors, 35 ordained)

Historically; Greeks, Romans, and Huns invaded Moldova. And in 13C Moldova was part of Mongolia. There is a painful memory of 185,000 Jews who disappeared in Trans-Dniester. Through 1942-44, it is alleged that invading Romanian soldiers then allies of the Nazi were responsible for disappearance of the Jews.

After world war II, Moldova became “Soviet Socialist Republic of Moldova”, it then went through  “Russification” or “Russianization”, a Soviet idea of communism referred to as collectivization in the name of multi-ethnic purification and thereby a suppression. More than One Million Moldovan Elite were deported to other parts of Siberia. It is reported that only a small number survived to date.

The Soviets brought in a small number of elite from Russia to take numerous leadership positions in the government and the society. That situation made the Russian language to become the language of those who wish to advance in life. However, 85-90% of the Moldovan population are able to speak Romanian which is their mother-tongue.

The present president, His Excellency Voronin is a member of the Communist party.

In the attached map, you will be able to see some vertical lines at right extreme, these are rivers called “Dniester” and thus this region is called “Trans-Dniester.”     In this region of Moldova, the Russian elite 14^th Army viewed as the strongest against the NATO forces is stationed there against the will of the Moldovan communist regime.

A Russian paper, “Kommersant” reported in Sept 24^th 2008 issue that “Russia forces the federalization of Moldova”. Also Moldovan news paper “Adevarul” reported that Russia insist on the agreement between Moldova and the separatist region of Trans-Dniester. What this means is a fait-accompli of Russian army stationed in Moldova packaged in an agreed format of Russian style. The paper further commented that Russia wanted to clear its reputation concerning the Georgia Conflict before the meeting of NATO foreign ministers.

What is the Economy of Moldova?

Moldova has no mineral resources except those found in the Trans-Dniester. This country was worst hit by the Russian financial crisis in 1998, simply because the Moldovan economy was Russia oriented and/or dependent.

This country is agricultural and has rich soil therefore nobody starves. But unfortunately there is no money left after  the basic living. That is why the SDA church is suffering today. Moldovan are hard working people and do not expect anybody’s help, perhaps it is due to the fact that nobody ever helped them. But for sure, they are brave and courageous people.

According to the Human Development Report in 2005 says GDP per Capita is $ 2,100- per annum, but the World Bank in 2006 said the GNI of Moldova per capita is $800-per annum hence ranking Moldova the poorest country in Europe.

May God bless you all and receive the peace of Christ.

A missionary to Congo