The Dyers are HERE!!!

We are so so so happy to have Preston and Genie here!!! Spending time with them is so refreshing. They came bearing gifts from the School of Social Work and Joy's mom!! We loved the cards and the goodies! THANKS so much everyone! You have NO idea what a Grandaddy Preston hug will do for you once you have been away from home for a month :) We have developed a Sunday night ritual with them. We go over to Alex and Lucia's, eat some yummy food, and visit for a few hours. Too bad this will only last for 3 weeks. I feel so blessed to be a part of a learning community that allows you to develop relationships that promote growth and learning on so many levels. I feel as though I have a dozen mentors. The genuine concern that the SSW professors have for us, as students and people in general, is touching.

Last Tuesday, we joined their research class at the College of Theology and Education. Is it crazy for me to say that I actually miss the classroom setting?? Well, I do. The day actually flew by and it was probably a much needed refresher as we look towards writing up our research this semester. Genie had to remind Preston to not get ahead of the translator, it is no wonder that they were famous for their team-teaching abilities. They are adorable!! I am also getting a few marriage tips here and there from the wise, happy couple that they are. I wish they could stay with us for the rest of the semester, I bet they will be ready to get back to good 'ol Baylor though.

More to come soon...lots of stories and pictures to share. We are missing everyone. Much love from Moldova :)

Balti

Let me just say, I am so sorry that it has taken me this long to update, things have been crazy busy here. Which is such a good thing, right?? On Friday, January 31, we took a day trip to Balti (pronounced Belts) for a wonderfully productive day. Leah has been working with the transitional living program that CERI has developed for children who are “graduating” from the orphanages. The participants of the program must be enrolled in high school or a professional school to be involved in the classes. The program hopes to teach the children life skills as they make the transition from the institution to independence. Leah was telling us a story about a child who literally had no idea what an egg looked like. They knew what it looked like after it was cooked and served to them, but they had no idea that an egg had a shell. They had never seen a fresh egg. How can a child who could not even identify an uncooked egg be expected to survive when they all the sudden at the age of 16 have no guidance? In response, CERI, with the amazing help of our Leah, hopes to prepare some of these kids to live happily and successfully following their release from the orphanage. Leah is so great at this too. From choosing a good roommate to budgeting, Leah is equipping these youngsters with some great information.

I had the opportunity to join Connie and Svetlana to go visit a foster family in a rural village close to Balti. This family has taken in four beautiful children. Their mother died last year from Tuberculosis and the children have been in multiple institutions from the time of her death until now. Connie was very involved in the conversation with the mother and only had time to translate parts of their interaction for me. I was forced to catch on to the dynamics of this family using non-verbal cues. It was an interesting experiment for me, especially when my assumptions were confirmed by Connie. The children seemed happy and safe in this home and the mother’s eyes and obvious concern for the well being of these kids warmed my heart. I was so ready for some time to love on kids. I love the work that I am doing, but I spend so much time researching and writing, I needed to see the energy and love that people have to share.

Pictures of Biesti

Biesti

In partnership with Moldova Christian Aid, I will be working on a community development project in the village of Biesti. My emphasis will be on the social development side. I am so pumped about this work, it is totally community practice in a nutshell. Joy will also be doing some work to raise awareness and knowledge of and in the disabled population of Biesti. Currently, they have no idea how many persons with disabilities are living in this community. Joy wants to find out so that these people can obtain the services they need. We are not totally sure where this will take us, but trust that we will learn and grow so much. I want to share some of the facts that we DO know about Biesti:

- 25% of the children are social orphans - many parents migrate out of Moldova to find work
- 1% of the population has access to centralized water, the remaining 99% rely on 2 functioning wells
- 0% of the homes in Biesti are connected to gas
- High rates of unemployment, alcoholism, morbidity
- High dropout rates in school, especially post-9th grade

These are merely a few of the shocking issues that the people of this community face. MCA is already working to promote the economy (with special attention to the farming population) and they are working with a number of experts to secure a water supply and sanitation system for this community. There is great enthusiasm and participation from the local authorities and the 3 NGO's that are active in the community. As far as social development goes, we are full of ideas. Hopefully with the resources we have access to, a purposeful and sustainable plan will be developed in the next month.

Pictures to come...

A Quarter of a Century!!!

On January 19, 2009 Leah Francis Smith turned 25!!!! Joy and I woke up and made her breakfast, the ladies at the CERI office brought cake and told Leah their wishes for her in the next year, and after a long day of internship, we went to celebrate at El Paso. It is a Mexican food place here in Chisinau!! Not exactly the Tex-Mex that we are used to, but it did the job! We had a great time celebrating with Leah. Leah looked so cute in her PARTY HAT and Jon even went to dinner with us. Good times. HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEAH, we looove you!

Pictures...here and there

Dr. Jon Meyer...he is our field supervisor. He is a great man. We give him a tough time for being a scatter-brained, absent-minded PhD. I have a feeling he likes us being here :)

Leah and Eli - Eli LOOOOVES music.


Hot new boots!!!

We love eachother!!!

The Turlacs

This is Oleg, Natasha, and Roma. They are such a precious family and we are so blessed to have them here!