Today, we interviewed a recipient of a wheelchair provided by the LDS Church. We called yesterday to tell them we were coming they were so excited to have us come. His name is Simion Condrea. He is 54 years old. His wife is 50.
They live in the village of Chistelnita, in Telenesti District. It is a 2 hour drive from Chisinau. We arrived in the village at about 11:00 a.m. It took us a while to find them. The roads were full of ruts and some places were washed out. We went down a road to the top of a hill, wrong way. We talked to Simion several times. He sent his wife out than he said he was out on the road. We finally found him on crutches about 1/4 mile from his house. We followed him home he didn't want to ride. He told us to park at the top of the hill because the road was so bad we would have to walk the rest of the way to his house. As we got out of the car his wife joined him and she hurried on down to the house. We walked with Simion. The road was pretty bad and a little muddy because it had rained 2 days ago.
We arrived at the beautiful home. In the front yard was a huge rototiller hooked to a wagon. I have been trying to get a picture of these modes of transportation for a while. I took some pictures. The house had flowers in pots and in the ground along the front of the house. They took us up to the side porch and we were going to sit there for the interview but they decided to take us inside. They have what my Mom called the Visiting Room, where no one went to play or do anything. It was where we entertained guests. Their room had beautiful curtains. This country has beautiful curtains everywhere.
In one corner was a display of pictures of Christ and things to remind the family of Christ. I saw an oil lamp, a cup, a dish. Simion said there was something very old over there but we couldn't figure out what it was. Along the wall was a big wooden cabinet with pictures of their 5 children and it had their dishes, glasses, and some drawers held their important papers. On the next wall was a large panel of needle work. On the other wall was a beautiful tapestry. It was heavy and like a carpet.
They sat us around the table that was covered with a white lace table cloth. There was a bowl of cookies and candies on the table for us to eat if we wanted. This is were we did the interview. Doina ask him the questions in Romanian and he gave his answers so Walt could wright them down. He was very kind to answer all the question about why he needed the wheelchair. He had his leg amputated.
He used to work but is not now. His wife works at odd jobs to bring in some money. They have a son in Russia who sends them money. Their youngest child is in 3 grade, I think. The village has water but they don't because he had to have surgery on his leg and they didn't have money to hook up to the water. Their lives have been made better because they have a wheelchair. He can help with the chores outside. They have a cow and 2 goats, chickens and a garden and 12 bee hives. He can also go to church easier and visit with family and friends. They so appreciate the wheelchair.
After the interview Simion's wife started to bring in food. It started with bread and sausage that they bought for us. Then came chicken that they had raised it was very tender and juicy. Then came some potatoes and sauce. She also brought out some home made bread. Then their was homemade tomato juice and apple juice. They said we don't have much money but life is good. We are so happy. They love to have people come and visit them. They are very generous and kind to us. We were there about 2 hours. We finally said we had to go. So they walked us out to the garden. Then they remembered the bee hives. They got their smoker and opened a hive for us and removed a rack and took it to the house where they took the honey and comb and put it into 2 bowls and covered them with plastic bags for us to take home. One bowl was for us the other was for Doina. They gave us their nice bowls! Amazing people. She walked us to our car and he stood at the gate and waved at us as we left.
On the walk to the car we saw turkeys, that were strutting their back feathers into a big spray. They were beautiful. I didn't know turkeys could be so pretty.
It was a very nice day and so good to meet new people and make friends with them. Their is a loving reverent spirit in their home. Moldova is a nice place to be.
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