Our principal project in 2008, 2009 and 2010 was to refurbish an old shop building in the town of Chircani. It will function as a newly 'planted' church in a community that previously had no Christian witness. The building was purchased by one of our volunteers in 2008 for the mission work of Gotesti Baptist Church. It has been badly damaged by rainwater leaking in through the broken roof, and services are currently held in the only watertight room.

Our Involvement:

Volunteers have worked hard to make the whole building sanitary and fit for purpose. Amongst the work undertaken they have:
- Cleared the building of water damage and rubbish
- Scraped the walls of old paint
- Removed old heating pipes and shop fittings
- Cleared the land surrounding the site
- Secured the site with a two metre high boundary wall 
- Renovated the land behind the building to be used as a volleyball court for local young people
- Removed and repaired the external fascia of the building including new windows

Outcome:

Along with regular church services, the Church will be able to offer a number of outreach projects, placing them at the heart of their community:
- an evening youth club twice a week
- an outreach for vulnerable children whose parents work abroad leaving them with extended family
- Sunday school classes.

The following is a typical story of how we work with local widows in the Gotesti area:

Sasha had been forced into one room of her house after serious damage to the roof and walls - walls originally built with a mixture of wood and straw. Although not a church member herself, Gotesti Baptist Church offered her help, working with Mission Direct and a building contractor from the church.

Our involvement:

Mission Direct volunteers worked with the contractors to renovate the house:
- Stripping off the old roofing material and removed the damaged parts of the house walls
- Repairing the mud walls
- Installing a new roof
- Painting the house throughout and providing a new floor covering

Outcomes:

The house is now wind and watertight, and the new roof should last for at least 25 years. Sasha now comes to the local church and sometimes brings her friends.

Sasha is by no means the only individual we have helped in Moldova. In 2011, teams worked to renovate Catia's house. Catia is a member of the church community in Gotesti and we were able to renovate her home and provide a safe and warm living area for her and her family.

The head teacher of a local kindergarten school approached Gotesti Baptist Church with a request for help: Department of Education inspectors had told her that the kindergarten would close unless she could replace the current unsanitary toilets. Sadly conditions meant that standard WC facilities were not possible.

Our involvement:

Mission Direct was able to find suitable replacements that did not require full plumbing, but were still hygienic.
- We sourced a suitable Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) toilet design for the kindergarten.
- A volunteer team built the whole structure in 10 days.
- Team members also decorated several of the kindergarten classrooms.

Outcomes:
- The school was able to reopen.
- The head teacher allowed the Church's Pastor Mark to lead several of the 'moral lectures' required by the national curriculum
- The Head Teacher has attended the Alpha course at Mark's church.

The Baptist Church was in possession of a disused church building in the nearby village of Constantinoka.

Our Involvement:

- Mission Direct volunteers cleaned and refurbished the internal rooms
- Painted the external walls of the building
- Repaired the boundary fence and gates
- Cleared the site of rubbish.

Outcomes:

The building is now in use by the local community, and local Christians are able to extend their witness into the community.