Where to begin?
My wife, Sandy, and I both retired a few months ago and as I looked around for something purposeful for us to do, I stumbled across the Refugee Support Europe website. We applied to volunteer for four weeks at the Dignity Center Chisinau, were interviewed, and subsequently accepted.
Now that it is over and I reflect upon our experiences, these are the thoughts I have:
Maybe it was the genuine heart-felt “Spaseba” that we received from every person who obtained subsistence goods from us – even though we wished we could give them more.
Maybe it was the very close and personal relationships that we formed with all the workers (regardless of our ages) who came together to selflessly support a common, purposeful cause. People that I will consider friends for the rest of my life.
Maybe it was the dedication of Livy and Vasya, the two locals who daily interceded for us when we had difficulty communicating, and who were indispensable to our operation.
Maybe it was the professional demeanor of the leaders who assuredly worked diligently to solve problems and provide our clientele with the best service possible. In the four weeks that Sandy and I were in Moldova working at the Center, we had three leaders (Corrine, Natalie, and Paula). Although all three had different leadership styles, all were there to ensure a smooth operation, and all proficiently provided the leadership necessary to accomplish our mission. Thank you, Corrine, Natalie and Paula.
Maybe the time off on weekends to socialize with team members at group dinners, trips to Old Orhei and Cricova, and other group interactions helped enhance our group solidarity and camaraderie.
Perhaps it was all of these things that made the Moldova Dignity Center a genuine sacred site to me and made our four weeks there a sacred experience. At least for me, that is how I can best express my feelings as I am still reflecting on the events of our short month there.
