Organic farming is a key industry in Moldova.
If you were to drive through the country,
you would notice farms covering vast stretches of the landscape.
This farm in particular is owned and operated
by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Iorie (yoo-ree) and his wife are in charge of running the farm.
Iorie studied agriculture
and now wants to use his knowledge as a way of reaching people for Jesus.
They are starting a new agricultural school,
and they hope to attract people from the local community
who are interested in learning organic farming skills.
We are serving the needs of the people.
Most of the people here have land but don’t know how to grow.
We want to educate people to be self-sufficient.
While a lot of the planting is done in the fields,
gardening in greenhouses allows them to grow year-round,
even in the coldest winter.
Through this program,
people are connecting with Adventists in this region.
We realized that Jesus spoke about agriculture a lot in His parables.
We found that when we are teaching people to grow these plants,
we can’t avoid talking about Jesus as we work.
The farm is part of a large piece of land owned by the Adventist Church.
This site was created during the Soviet Union
as a recreational area for the people who worked in the nearby city.
It was an oasis for people to escape the stress of working
and the challenges of daily life.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union,
this property was abandoned and it seemed to be forgotten.
For years, Adventists in Moldova
struggled to find a place to hold camp meetings,
retreats, children’s events, and training programs.
Plans were always determined by weather and the availability of rented buildings.
So when they had the opportunity to buy this property, they did.
Some of the original structure still stands,
but a lot of work has been put into this building
to make it safe and usable.
The lower floors have been finished,
but the upper floors are still under construction.
Church members dream of the day
when they can use this building to meet together.
The youth want to hold fellowship events
but usually run into problems with housing arrangements.
Currently, they sleep in tents on the property,
but it rains so often
they are forced to change their plans or endure the harsh weather.
We are standing on the site
where the rooms will be built for the youth and children.
Before, we had to worry about rain and weather.
We look forward to the day when we have better sleeping arrangements,
and the offerings will help to construct this.
This building’s purpose is mission.
Before, it was for rest and relaxation.
We still want to use this place for people to come rest,
but we also want them to meet and know God here.
This quarter, a portion of your 13th Sabbath Offerings
will help finish the living space for the dormitory area of this building.
The youth will be able to schedule events with certainty.
They will be able to host
missionary trainings, health and educational programs,
and other events to invite the community to get to know the local Adventists.
Programs like these will foster a sense of missionary service.
Moldova is one of the smallest countries from the former Soviet Union.
Maybe people around the world have never even heard of it.
But we are so happy that the whole world Church will be involved in this project.
We are very happy that people will pray
and help accomplish our goal this 13th Sabbath.
It is also a challenge and responsibility for us to make it function
because you are putting your faith in our work.
Please pray that God will allow the ministry in Moldova to grow.
Thank you for supporting projects like these through your mission offerings!