Moldova has suffered particularly badly in the Covid pandemic, coming as it did on the heels of a severe drought and disastrously poor harvests in 2020, which added to the already heavy burdens of the poor and vulnerable.
Poverty is endemic in large sections of the populace, and its consequences are evident not only in material terms but in the realm of relationships, and particularly family life. This scenario is common in a number of East European countries. Families are poor. The parents cannot find work to sustain their children and their homes. They take the decision to go to other countries where work can be found, and children are left in the care of ageing grandparents who themselves find life difficult and challenging. Often this results in children growing up without adequate parental guidance and discipline, and falling prey to many dangers and temptations, including addiction, sexual abuse, and even human trafficking. It is no exaggeration to say that chaos is evident in many family situations.
There is profound and widespread concern in the evangelical churches for those caught in such circumstances, and a deep desire to address the needs of children and young people in an effort to protect them from potentially disastrous influences in their lives. The usual comprehensive camp programmes of the churches, catering for thousands of young people each summer, are not possible, but believers are neither sitting on their hands, nor merely wringing them in disappointment. Instead, church leaders and youth workers supported by SGA[UK] are organising ‘day camps’ – a daily programme of events, activities and Bible talks in many villages and small communities. The only missing ingredient, by necessity, is the residential element. Instead of the young people ‘going off’ to camp, camp is coming to them, carefully planned and enthusiastically supervised and carried out in multiple locations across north Moldova.
Encouraging reports are already filtering through of God using this initiative in the neediest of places – in extremely poor villages where no children’s work has ever been previously undertaken. Workers on the ground speak of unexpected numbers. In some locations up to 80% of those attending come from non-Christian families. It is clear that the Lord has been answering prayer. The work will not end with the summer programme. Pastors and Christian workers have planned a sustained follow-up ministry which will maintain and make the most of new friendships forged and contacts established. Pray that, despite the chaos of their family lives and the disruption caused by Covid, many young hearts will be opened to Jesus and families transformed through the power of the gospel.
www.sga.org.uk
Mission Without Borders (MWB) is a Christian charity that has been working in Eastern Europe for over 60 years, lifting families out of poverty and sharing the hope that is found in Jesus Christ. Mission Summer Camps for disadvantaged children are a major activity from May to the end of August.
Last year, lockdowns and restrictions due to the pandemic forced the charity to adapt plans for week-long camps into a series of one day summer activity days and this year’s camps were only given the green light in late Spring. Still, staff and volunteers have rallied round, and the charity anticipates around 3,500 children will have gone on Mission Camps by the end of Summer.
MWB UK Country Director, John Chamberlain, commented: ‘Summer Camps can be a lifeline for children facing anxiety and isolating poverty. It gives them the opportunity to make new friends, have fun, learn skills that will help them in everyday life, and hear about Jesus’.
This year, thanks to support from donors, the Mission has been able to hold a Summer Camp for the first time in Donbas in eastern Ukraine. Sadly, this region has been impacted by the conflict with the Russian separatists which has devastated the economy, killed 13,000 people, made another 1.5m people homeless and created a deep emotional and spiritual depression.
One Mission Co-ordinator stated: ‘We are desperately sad for the families we have seen in crisis. Camp was a chance to have a wonderful rest in a beautiful place. For many it was the first experience of such a kind for them and a huge contrast to their daily lives.’
Words from one child are very moving: ‘At Summer Camp I learned about putting others before myself and I found it really fun. The Bible lessons and the example of Camp Counsellors showed me that serving others is the most satisfying and best way to lead your life.’
