Since it's inception in 1999, the North Carolina-Moldova Bilateral Partnership has continued to flourish. Last Saturday, the Partnership Committee met in Raleigh, NC. At the invitation of Secretary of State, Elaine Marshall, Crossroads Compassion Project had the opportunity to share a little of what we have been up to in Moldova. We would like to thank Secretary Marshall and Moldova's Ambassador to the United States, Viorel Ursu for the opportunity to share our work and our vision for the future.
If you have ever traveled to Moldova by air, you have surely flown into the capital city of Chisinau. Well...last week, a major change was announced. Up until January 18th, the Chisinau Airport code had been "KIV". The old airport code dates back to the Soviet Era and refers to the Russian spelling "Kishinev". As of last week, the airport code for Chisinau is now "RMO". So...if you are coming to see us, make your plans to meet us at RMO (Republica Moldova). Same place...different name! Hope we see you soon.
Here is the story from Radio Free Europe. *Radio Free Europe is third party source and we do not necessarily agree, disagree, support or endorse any content on their website. https://www.rferl.org/a/moldova-chisinau-airport-abbreviation/32741609.html Christmas in Moldova is going to be a little sweeter for a lot of kids this year! Crossroads Compassion Project, has been working with Open Gate International (OGI) and Christian Alliance For Orphans (CAFO) to minister to needy and vulnerable children this Christmas season. Our young people have been volunteering their time to assemble and deliver special Christmas gifts for 3500 at-risk children. We are so grateful for the working partnerships we have with OGI and CAFO that allow us to collectively serve the vulnerable and impoverished in Moldova. For more than 20 years, the 2nd Sunday in November has become known as Orphan Sunday. Tomorrow, November 12th, is Orphan Sunday - 2023. This is not just something that we at Crossroads Compassion Project recognize each year, it is the core of who we are and what we do!
According to UNICEF, there are an estimated 153 Million orphans worldwide. It is also estimated that 5,700 children become orphans each day. There is no question that there is much work to be done! David Platt, in the book Radical, makes this observation: "Orphans are easier to ignore before you know their names. They are easier to ignore before you see their faces. It's easier to pretend they're not real before you hold them in your arms. But once you do, everything changes." Orphan Sunday is a day, set apart, to recognize and reflect on the plight of orphans around the world. But more importantly, it is a call to action! James 1:27 tells us of our responsibility to care for orphans (and widows), while not allowing the world to corrupt us. At Crossroads Compassion Project, our middle name is literally "Compassion". And we often say, "In order for compassion to be real, it requires action." So here is the challenge: Orphan Sunday is a day of recognition and reflection. But just like James 1:27, it is also a call to action. How will you respond to the call? If you would like to know how you can help bring awareness to our global orphan crisis, visit Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO) and see how you can help raise awareness where you are. https://cafo.org/ Finally...We would like to give a huge THANK YOU, to our ministry partners, who help us serve. But let's not forget about all the adoptive families, foster families, and workers in the Foster Care Systems and Child Protective Services around the world that serve the vulnerable. THANK YOU for all you do! While we were in Moldova recently, we had the opportunity to finally meet an AMAZING lady who is doing great things in Moldova. We have collaborated with Victoria in the past, but we had never had the opportunity to meet face to face.
Victoria Dunford is the Director and Founder of MAD-Aid. MAD (Make-A-Difference) - Aid is a UK based NGO that is doing incredible work within the special needs community and in the medical community as well. MAD-Aid has touched the lives of hundreds if not thousands of people in Moldova. They have provided medical equipment to hospitals, clinics and hospice facilities, as well as wheelchairs and adaptive equipment for people with disabilities. They have been heavily involved in emergency relief and assisting refugees from the war in Ukraine. They also operate the Phoenix Center in Riscani, located in Northern Moldova, serving elderly and disabled people on a daily basis. The Phoenix Center is a favorite place for many of our Crossroads Compassion Project family to serve. Here is a link if you would like to know more about the Phoenix Center: https://www.phoenixmd.org/phoenix-home MAD-Aid is currently working on a project to renovate the surgical ward of the Children's Hospital in Chisinau. There have been no renovations to the facility since 1986 and quite frankly, the conditions there are deplorable. Tiles were falling off of the walls, and smoke was coming out of electrical sockets. The place that was supposed to be helping children had now become a threat to the very ones they aim to protect! Victoria truly has a burden to make this place safe for children again. And they are not cursing the darkness, they are lighting a light! We visited the hospital and saw first hand the work that has begun. This is no small project and there is still much work to be done. Crossroads Compassion Project was not able to do much, but we could not NOT do something! If you are interested in learning more about this project, or if you would like to help, here is a link to the project. Please pray for Victoria and MAD-Aid that they will reach their financial goals and see this project completed and reopened to serve the children of Moldova. https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/onouaviata On October 11th, we were invited to the offices of Serviciul de Asistenta Parentala Profesionista (The Professional Parental Assistance Service) in Chisinau. The purpose of the meeting was for them to express their gratitude for the cooperative work we have been doing, to assist them with caring for children in the Foster Care System. Crossroads Compassion Project has been helping by providing resources for children who need additional tutoring because they have fallen behind academically, due to the many other challenges of living in the Foster Care System.
The certificate reads: "Letter of Gratitude" "The Professional Parental Assistance Service within the General Directorate of the Protection of Children's Right expresses its gratitude and thanks to you for your contribution and involvement in supporting children placed in the families of professional parental assistants. We sincerely thank you for the financial help granted to carry out the instructional-educational process that will facilitate the school adaptation of SAPP beneficiaries. We appreciate your openness and opt for an effective collaboration in the future. With Deep Respect, Lacramioara Costivjanschi - Service Manager" They are an amazing team and it is obvious that these people truly love the children that they serve, and it is our privilege to partner with them to assist these young people and their care givers. Happy Birthday Chisinau! October 14th is a day of celebration marking the founding of Chisinau. The city began as a monastery village in 1436. In 1918, Chisinau officially became the capital city of the Moldavian Democratic Republic.
Here are some photos of this beautiful city, and we hope that some day, that you can experience this city and the wonderful people of Moldova for yourselves. This past week the Christian Alliance For Orphans (CAFO) had their 2023 summit in Oklahoma City, OK. In addition to her work with us at Crossroads Compassion Project, Alina also is the leader for CAFO in Moldova. The timing could not have been better. Just after completing her certification as a TBRI Practitioner in GA, Alina was invited to Oklahoma City to participate in the summit. Alina was invited to greet and to pray over more than 2000 attendees. She also participated as a speaker in "Soul Care for Foster & Adoptive Moms".
Crossroads Compassion Project is so blessed to have Alina on our team. And we are extremely proud of her and grateful for the impact she is making in the lives of so many people around the world! BRAVO Alina!! CAFO 2024 is coming up in September of 2024 in Nashville, TN. Here is a link to the 2024 summit if you would like more information. https://summit.cafo.org/ We are so proud of Alina for the incredible work she does for us at Crossroads Compassion Project! Alina has devoted her life to serve vulnerable, at-risk and traumatized young people in Moldova. She (as well as her family) has given up personal comfort and freedom and made significant sacrifices to minister to many young people over the last 11+ years. If it were not for Alina and her desire to love and serve these young people, Crossroads Compassion Project simply would not exist.
Alina has now taken it to the next level. For the last week, she has been in Rome, GA, training to become a Certified Practitioner in Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) through the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development and Texas Christian University. TBRI is a proven and effective means to help children suffering from the effects of early trauma, abuse and/or neglect. This training, along with sound, biblical teaching, prayer and counseling will better equip her to minister to those we serve in Moldova. She also takes this knowledge and these skills back to Moldova where she can now equip others who also wish to help these children. Please join us as we say THANK YOU!! and CONGRATULATIONS!! To Alina “Momma Bear” Druta, Certified Practitioner (TBRI) We recently became aware of an interesting article in Southern City, a publication of the North Carolina League of Municipalities that highlights the Bilateral relationship between the Republic of Moldova and the State of North Carolina.
|
|