Hearing stories and visiting the past

Me + 2 ex-orphans down unlit corridor

Well, my time here is coming to an end.

Tomorrow afternoon Leanne and I will leave Moldova for Romania, and then back to the UK where we are based out of.

The last few days have been a bit of a rollercoaster. I’m kind of glad that Mia (Stella’s house big sister) organised the State run orphanage visits to be over the last few days, and today we heard some of the rescued kids testimonies this afternoon... it’s tough seeing what these kids have been through, and meeting the ones that ARE living there now, but finishing with seeing those that have got a better life, and hearing it from them, is awe-inspiring.

So, lets see a few facts to set the scene:

• "Approximately 13,600 Moldovan children are in orphanages or state boarding schools....Annual funding for the orphanages covers only about 55% of operational expenses.  Young adults leaving orphanages or state boarding schools are at a heightened risk of falling victim to poverty, drug abuse, and human trafficking."- U.S. Department of State, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs 2007.

• Statistic data show that 40 per cent of children (in Moldova... not just Orphanages) were subject to physical abuse, and 8 per cent are subject to sexual abuse. In many cases violence against children in applied repeatedly.
• Around 35 thousand school children remained at home without parents as a result of their [parents] migration abroad”.



The first orphanage

•  There are 61 residential childcare institutions in Moldova at present.  Forty of them are financed by the state, while the rest with money from local budgets. 

We had already seen photo’s from the providence orphanage from before the renovations, and we were heading to another that has had a little outside help and renovations... but is still well below the level. Originally they welcomed outside help, but it is believed that because they were gaining attention because of this, the government threatened to stop funding them, which forced them (as obviously you can’t depend on western societies or groups which only visit every few years to throw a bit of money around) to turn a bit of a cold shoulder to help, in order to keep the little consistent funding they had running.

Outdoor toilet, you cannot imagine the smell...

The conditions were really bad, but the feeling surrounding the places is worse. These kids are told they are worthless and beaten by their families before they even get to the orphanages, where often the same thing occurs and they spend their energy just trying to survive.

Our three guides were girls who had actually come from the orphanage, the eldest was there 3 years ago, the most recent only last year. THAT really makes it a reality. Hearing the stories of the girls while you walk down dark concrete hallways (no electricity), them pointing out the rooms of mean teachers who would eat lollies in-front of the orphans who had to go the whole school day without food (and the food was only soup and bread). The school was only for orphans too, so the bad teachers obviously used their status when telling them off, although the orphanage is slowly shrinking (due to the govt trying to get into the EU through handing kids back to abusive poor families) it used to house 900 children, and it is NOT big.

The younger children sleeping ... the wallpaper etc is new

One of the girls spoke of how they were made to wash and clean the orphanage and told things like “clean it well because your kids will probably be here soon”, others who were hungry would clean for the cleaners who would give them a piece of bread for their work.

A girl told of how her and her sister shared a bed when they had just arrived (and there was no room) there was a hole in the middle of the mattress, so they slept one on each side of the one bed and hurt their backs trying to sleep.

Bench where Phillip had to choose three girls to save.

We saw the park benches Phillip Cameron (Stella’s House) talks of... when he visited on a day they were letting all the 16yr-old girls “go” with their $30, unqualified and hopeless into a world that despised them. He was forced to choose 3 of 15 girls, as he only had room for three in the house built. Those are the eldest and the ones now making their own impact in the world and speaking out... of the other 12 girls only 1 was found later when there was more room in the house... I imagine we don’t want to know their stories.

The conditions... there was an outdoor toilet with five or so open toilets (holes in the ground) which smelled putrid, we were told of how water is so hard to come by the orphans have only one shower a week, and usually live in the same clothes day-in-day-out.

One of Stella's girls visits her younger sister who is still at orphanage

The rooms had been wallpapered and the windows replaced for the winter, but the conditions by NZ standard would be so unacceptable. We saw the downstairs crèche, where it was nap time and a bunch of the really young kids were all sleeping about three or four to a big bed. The women taking care of them looked nice, but tired, and suspicious of us. One of the girls commented that she came “here” that young. And although it was really bad there, it was better than being at home (her father lives just up the road and even has a job). What she remembers from home was an abusive alcoholic father that spent all his money on alcohol, and her sick mother (bedridden for 3 months in hospital, then at home couldn’t do anything) her mother got sicker as her father didn’t take care of her or feed her, and would beat her when he got home and I think tried to kill her at some stage... one day it was so bad she said she ran into the street screaming for others to help.

We heard the testimonies of a few others this afternoon and this seems like such a common story... with a lot unspoken I feel too. Children shouldn’t have to deal with a life like this, when they are born innocently into a horrible place, by what seems like chance.

Where the girls used to live together

I really felt terrible about myself on the drive to the second Orphanage (mentally challenged kids). I kept thinking how unfair it was that I had been born into a beautiful country, of wealth and equality, where women were treated well... where I had a loving supportive family. And these children and the Moldovan people had the polar opposite to deal with. I felt guilty for the clothes I was wearing, for the warm shower I’d just had, for the savings I had in my bank account, all of it.

Then I really felt like I was being told strongly that it wasn’t my FAULT, both that I was born with so much, or that they were born with so little, those in the past were responsible, and all of the evil that is each human being (greed, anger, lust, jealousy e.t.c. that has gotten the world to where it is today) BUT to whom much is given much is expected... and now that I have seen, I it my responsibility to change what is, and to make it known and strive for equality in the world.

I can’t change it all, but ONE life and one changed future is worth it. Because a human being in their fullness and filled with life is worth more than any sum of money, or expensive car, or carrying a handbag with a brand that other vain humans think is important.

The challenge will be now seeing those kind of people... and trying to convince them that their Gucci bag means nothing when you have 5 seconds left to live, but that the money and time spent choosing the bag could be invested in changing another’s life.

But people don’t like that realization, and ignorance really is bliss.

A boy at washing his clothes

Urgh, sorry guys I’m getting a little too introspective I think.haha. Ok, well the good news was the second orphanage had recently been completely renovated by a German company and was really nice (by the Moldovan Orphanage standard, I mean) and the assistant director who showed us round really had a good heart for the children, and loved them. I was surprised at how normal the children were... although quiet they seemed just like the normal kid, which was when I found out that kids sent here might only have mild issues, like ADHD or dyslexia, or just a little slower at school. The director spoke of how they are being forced to reduce numbers and send the children back to their homes with no replacement school or way to be educated (they trained the older children in cooking, sewing and woodwork to prepare them for jobs). They expect the govt to close them down in 2015, which almost feels as if all the good that’s been done is for naught.

Sweet girl who seemed to quietly read your soul...

He spoke of the old conditions, of the ladies cooking the food for all the children in one large pot outside, even in the harsh winter. They still were forced to choose between water being brought in, and medicine, food and clothing for the children... meaning if one was chosen the others suffered because of it.

For me I was so happy to meet a Moldovan man who was kind and smiled, and loved and treated children well... I was beginning to lose hope in his generation, but it’s good to see that there are a few strong ones that resist the social norms and are good men worth respecting.

I think this blurb is long enough for today :) Hope you’ve got a wee insight. I also hope that you want to help and change things because of it, whether in NZ or the country you live in... or over here ;)

I’m actually going to be doing a Charity Cycle in England soon to fundraise for the company I’m interning with... so keep that in mind if you’re thinking you would like to help. Or contact me any time.

Muah, love you friends and family... I appreciate you so much more now :)

Thanks

Birthdays and awakening

So this trip really has been a once in a lifetime.

I'm SO grateful that not only I am here, but also for the country I have come from, and the family that brought me up. I guess I've been thinking a lot about why I am who I am... and how it is that I have found myself all the way in Moldova, visiting Orphanages, and becoming involved in the middle of the human trafficking wars e.t.c.
I think a lot of it comes down to (as always) nature and nurture. I've always found myself observing the world and with a heart for people... which is often hurt by seeing those in terrible conditions for no apparent reason other than a difference in birthplace or time. But my parents were great, they travelled with me and answered my questions thoughtfully and provoked me with seeing and experiencing other cultures.

Me in Aitutaki at a friends house, they had a trampoline!

Aitutaki has a lot to do with who I am today (for those of you that don't know this about me I spent the beginning of my childhood on a small island in the pacific, that had a lot of poverty on it-this is like 18 years ago now- where there were very few white families). I learnt not only what was important in life; like family, happiness and freedom, but also how irrelevant money was to the success of all of these things. I didn't wear shoes when I walked, I had second-hand toys, and TV was a VHS tape replayed in black and white (The Lone Ranger being my favourite show at 5yrs).
BUT being one of the only white children (an outsider) made me flexible as I had to adapt, learn the language and adjust. The freedom and close-knit family community made me value people and love.
And that is why I am who I am... and why I always take a doggy-bag away from restaurants no matter how flash they are (to give away or eat later... because I just can't bring myself to waste good food) :) haha.

So, back to the present.

The little girl who asked me when I would be back... :(

The last few days have been "intense". I think that's the best word to use here. After sending that last blog I had lunch in the orphanage dining room (consisting of Moldovan soup, chicken and some ground corn- which looks like mashed potatoes), then as it was a little cold outside I played indoor soccer with a ball that LITERALLY fell apart as we played. hee hee. It's kinda what ended the game to be honest... there were pieces of foam ball everywhere by the end of the game as we all departing sweating and laughing.

Me and Leanne then said goodbye to some of the older girls we'd made friends with and gotten along really well with. Most of them came from the orphanage themselves, though from before Phillip Cameron arrived, when the conditions were horrible and there was no hope or laughter.
One of the girls (Galina) has actually found herself not only back in the orphanage she never wanted to see again, but as the assistant director at 23yrs of age. She is small in stature but has this incredible strength about her... she is really a mother to all the children, and has the difficult job of playing both father and mother to them, and dishing out punishments when needed e.t.c. our conversations would constantly be interrupted by a child (usually an older boy on behalf of a group) asking for something or checking if what they were doing was ok. It was incredible the respect she had, with just a nod or a no her word was final and accepted. I think she has enormous respect among the children.

Some of the kids, outside the fron tof the new orphanage

Saying goodbye to the kids was so hard. Even in a day and a half we had begun to know some better than others, and had those we'd played with most. One little girl gave me a broach, which appeared to be revered by her, I tell you, that little broach meant more to me than any of my numerous possessions back in NZ.
It took a good half hour to get from our room upstairs into the car to leave, because we just kept hugging and kissing the kids goodbye. They were so lovely, it's hard to fathom the backgrounds they have come from and to think their families chose to abandon them, or worse.
One little girl asked in Romanian when I was coming back (urgh, that terrible heart-breaking moment) I had to have translated that "I could promise I would, but I want to". Reality, what a killer.
I really do hope to.

The village where the orphanage is... this is the town

One of the other girls from the orphanage, Irina came back with us as it was her birthday the next day (turning 20) and she wanted to see her sisters in Stella's House (she was one of the first rescued). I got along really well with her, and hope we can be good friends in the future... soon she will be going to the US to study business at University, and told me she hopes to come back to Moldova to help here and to improve the economy and provide jobs for the orphans rescued. At the moment Moldova has 80% unemployment and the percentage of which is much higher in the small villages.
This basically means everyone has a small field, with a few chickens and maybe a goat if they're lucky, and this keeps them alive and allows them to trade for the little else they need. Generations live and will live like this unless something changes.


Anyhoo, on a drive to the Child Protection office in the city (to pay the guards which have to patrol the orphanage to protect those inside) a young woman with no hair and a baby walked past. Mia recognised her as a woman who had been housed for a short time at the orphanage as a young mother... as she was saying hi and chatting Irina explained how the mother had no hair since birth (and thus was ridiculed/getting a job was impossible) her child too had the condition which had meant no father or income. Unfortunately she was extremely thin, and it was explained to me this was because she spent the little money she had on alcohol, and this was why she had left the place of support early... because she didn't like the rules (taking care of your child well, not drinking excessively etc). Sad, sadness everywhere.

Taking a walk around with Leanne and the US girls

I skyped my parents after getting back and found my Dad had researched stats on Moldova and found (unsurprisingly) they have the largest alcohol consumption in the world which has risen by 900% in the last few years, to an unbelievable 18.2 Litres (talking pure alcohol, not the added flavours/water). I asked Irina what the drinking age was and she just shrugged... anyone can drink.
There is so much needed here. And unfortunately the country, in search for independence (only gained in '91) and "western culture" has only latched onto the worst of our worlds, drugs, alcohol, sexual exploitation and vanity... the gap between rich and poor expands, and corruption rules over all.
it is a big battle, but the truth is always exposed, and those who live lives of lies and deception always tangle themselves in their own nets. Eventually.

Okay, sorry, I'm rambling... I'll tell a few stories then must get on with the day.haha.

One terrible and one good, so you will know which paragraph to miss if you want a more pleasant view of the world as your reality. Ooosh, I'm a little harsh... it must be the environment, though I won't apologise for it.

The turn-off sign to the orphanage (or town where it is)

Story 1: About a girl Phillip Cameron and his wife tried to adopt. In the very early stages of their visits they really began to love this young girl from the orphanage who had a slightly Asian look to her (every now and then you see someone who has a bit of Mongolian or some kind of Asian background), she was one who had family but was both not wanted and from a terrible background. They asked her if she would like to become part of their family, and she did, so they approached her family and begun the paperwork. For her to be adopted the parents had to sign her over, the mother agreed to do it for one bottle of whiskey.
The girls grandfather (who was also bad news) was angry at this so he told the young girl that she was only being adopted for her organs and that they would chop her up and sell her as soon as they adopted. Sadly trafficking for body parts happens too, and Leanne even had a woman tell her quietly at church one day that her and her mother got into an unmarked taxi one day, only to stop around the corner where three large guys with knives jumped in and drove them out into the country... they began praying and crying and for a reason we will never know they were dropped in a forest... she is sure to this day they were after body parts from their talk. Anyway, the young girl got scared and so they stopped the adoption. Later she got a boyfriend who sold her to traffickers where she was prostituted out, she then went crazy and assaulted a policeman (or so the story goes) and is now either in a Moldovan prison or mental institute... which I can imagine are some of the most terrible places on earth.
This really broke the Cameron's hearts, to see what could have been and what was. And since then they have never tried to adopt again, though most of the girls who call them Mum and Dad go by the last name Cameron.

Story 2: When the Providence orphanage first opened a year ago, they had an open day to show the families and children that they were good people and had no hidden agendas. One little boy begged his grandfather for weeks to come see the orphanage, and so him on the open day. They had a look around the place (which would have been like nothing they'd ever seen before) they hadn't eaten properly in three days and so when they ate lunch with the others, they just had plate after plate, and the grandfather loaded his pockets with oranges and biscuits to take home. After this the boy decided to stay right then, in the clothes he was in, and waved his grandfather goodbye without tears.
He was then given a little "welcome bag" with a teddy bear, a hat, scarf and gloves... he smile just kept getting wider and wider.

Russian dolls at the market in Chisinau

He then was taken upstairs by the house parents (they live in family settings with a couple and like 7 kids, to try and make a family atmosphere) where he was showered and put in PJ's. He then was taken to a room to choose his own clothes and shoes. This was pretty overwhelming for him, and he picked shoes that were 4x too big, because that was how he thought you chose shoes (so they would last longer), many of the kids have never worn fitting shoes until they come, and find it strange wearing them.

He's been there for a year now but still has trouble in school because he was used to working in gardens with his grandfather (seriously, the kid is a maximum of 8years old... generously), and still goes working for his grandfather in the school holidays, coming back with bleach blond hair from the sun and working all day.
It really is a happy story though, because he now has the opportunity to go to school, has clothes and food and a future... soon he will be speaking English and dreaming of what he wants to become. This is success.

Most of the kids have to go back to their families in school holidays, because their parents want them to work or earn money for them. I found out yesterday that the government (to earn money) lets people rent orphans in the holidays at 80c a day... I feel sick just thinking about it.

I wanted to finish on a high note but today I think will be the hardest of all as we are going to see two state run orphanages, which are like the providence orphanage before it was fixed up.

Wooden Magnets at the markets in the capital city

It's not ALL doom and gloom though, the kids made it worth it. To see the young kids playing and happy and with futures is evidence that lives are being changed, and each child had such an effect on the future, in changing the opinion of their society, investing hope etc. The older kids who are going to university and have a passion to help others and change their nation really impress me.
And the biggest one is the fact that this all was started and run by one American family who couldn't turn away and wanted to help. through them and fundraising for the kids, all this has happened. And it is incredible and changing lives, Moldova, and is an example for the world and others...
It goes to show you what is achievable when you are focused and you are driven for a good cause.

So glad I'm here, I feel incredibly blessed to be a witness.

Having lunch with Irina on her 20th Birthday...From left: Leanne (Next Level International), Mia (Stella's House Big sister), Amy (Big siter intern), Irina (heading to US soon) and me (Kendra)

On to Moldova

Well the Organix conference (youth leadership) was great... I met some awesome young people who are really emerging and wanting to help and change their country, and those around them.

It was a really good thing for me to see, it was a different side of Romania. The old communist influence, the fear and depression which is ingrained in the older generations from their darker days, isn't there in the young people. They seem to be the new hope of the country and its future.

They're just like normal teenagers and young adults, studying at University, trying to figure out what to do with their lives, they have iPhones and know all of the latest movies, they're into fashion and exploring the world- I even met a guy that had recently climbed one of the Carpathian Mountains with a group of friends. LOVE IT!

The conference was great, lots of wisdom imparted on the leadership side of things. And some great stories and examples of lessons learnt by those leading sessions. 

The three day conference was held out in the country, which was about and hour out of Oradea, a city in the north west of the country. I had a day to walk around and see the city a bit before leaving, and it seemed more modern and less restrictive than Bucharest had been somehow. The city centre was really quite beautiful with a canal running through the centre and a lot of old churches and synagogues. Kevin, Leanne and I managed to all meet up from our various travels within an hour of each other and got a bit of a mini-tour around with a local. I found the history most interesting, particularly about WWII and the darker side of the story. The city had once been populated with many Jews, who helped the city thrive, though many of these were evacuated to camps during the war. There were a few amazing old Jewish buildings, one in particular that was abandoned and falling down but had so much character about it... like it was defiantly still standing having seen humans, governments and regimes come and go.

The country was very different. Filled with small villages, horse and carts, old and young ploughing fields, haystack piles and small vineyards. It really was quite beautiful, though very dull brown because the earth is recovering from the harsh winter. Coming form New Zealand it’s hard to imagine the people get the produce they do from the ground… though I’ve heard the soil is particularly rich here.

I went for a few walks in the small village, and  was greeted by the locals each time, a smile in response to mine and “Bona Dimenatza” [good morning] in response to my own. I think just as it is in NZ, the country and small town folk are friendlier.

I got incredibly sick right after the conference, and was bed-ridden for the 20 hrs before the flight to Bucharest (where we were getting the Visa to fly to Moldova). I felt really bad because we went out for lunch at a local tavern as a goodbye for the three American speakers at the conference. I started feeling really sick during this time which was NOT FUN. Thankfully I woke up the morning of the flight (20hrs later) feeling normal again. Our trip back to Bucharest was fine, we flew over the mountains, which were a spectacular view.

The next two days were spent trying to get a visa for Leanne and I. We chased where “google maps” said the Moldovan Consul was… and it wasn’t, we then did a step-by-step (or By Numbers for you Navy folk) on getting to see someone at the Consul. That being: wait for the guard to tell you to go through the gate (15min), wait to ring the doorbell (10min) wait to open the door (5min) wait to see a human (10min)… only to be turned away and told we were too late that day and  needed to come back early in the morning to hand in paperwork… and to collect at 3pm (we needed to be at the airport at 4.25pm and the airport was a wee way away).

Eventually got it all though, and in the time inbetween got to explore “the Old Town” of Bucharest, which has a ,lot of French influence and is very beautiful (though very expensive) and got my shop ON at the large cheap Malls in the city. All round an excellent use of waiting time :)

We flew into Moldova that afternoon and it was dark by the time we reached the airport on the other side. We were picked up by two lovely American women/young ladies who have been at Stella’s house volunteering for between 3years and 7 months. Both very friendly and we shared stories of how each of us found ourselves all the way in Moldova, and Leanne and I got to hear a bit about the country from an outsiders perspective and about Stella’s house from those who live there. Really great women doing great things.

That night we moved into a very comfortable room (sharing a bed as always :) that is used by guests at Stella’s House. The building are really nice, and inside look just like big American plan houses, though the bedrooms have two bunks (princess style wooden frames) in each to house all the girls, with communal dining rooms and lounges, and a porch where they told us the eat outside in summer. The girls were happy and laughing and it really felt like a big family. Each girl we met had some kind of talent, either music or sewing/designing, painting or a dream for University etc. Most spoke really good English, which helped me in my poor Romanian.haha.

We hung out for a while in the lounge just chatting and seeing the girls before we decided to call it a night after the travelling etc. The next day I went for a wander around the houses, which seem to be in a wealthier street in the area… the rest is dirt roads and the cliché concrete apartment blocks that are everywhere here.

After that we headed into Chisinau (the biggest city in Moldova) to sign in with our Visa’s which was a drama where they first of all told us we had the wrong visa and I believe wanted us to pay for a different kind. Thankfully avoided.  Took a look around the large local markets which reminded me a lot of Asia, except the clothes were really expensive due to importing. The afternoon brought us to Providence, the Orphanage that was taken over by Phillip Cameron and his team. We saw pictures of what it did look like, with rotting and water leaking in the bedrooms and terrible bathrooms/toilet facilities, one shower (outside… which you can imagine in the snow in winter) which they would share between 5 orphans at a time. The American woman [Mia] who is like a big sister to the girls, told me it was the worst she’s seen in Moldova, which is obviously a big deal when you see how the normal people live. The comment was made that Phillip’s changes to the orphanges here made a big commotion, because for the first time during the winter, there were no deaths.

Playing the game "Heart" really fun team maze game :)

There are lots of stories to tell, so I think I’ll just tell one or two and then some more next blog. One of which is that the government wants to join the EU, but because they have too many poorly run orphanages, they won’t be accepted, so they have begun shutting them down. Most of the kids in the orphanages actually have living relatives, but they are just too poor, or abusive or alcoholics, so the children were sent to a “better place”. Shocking.

Two sisters in Stella’s house now was in this position, and the authorities begged her family to take her back though they didn’t want to her father said he would for 15 chickens (one girl) and 15 ducks (another). Obviously once he had these, he decided he didn’t want the girls, and sent them to their mother in the city, though she couldn’t take care of them/wouldn’t.

They now are in school, doing incredibly well and are happy normal teens… but you can’t help but wonder where they would be if not for divine intervention and those that care.

When the orphanage was taken over, with the vision to love and teach the children. The whole place was renovated and is now really wonderful, big play areas, bunk beds with colourful duvets (which the children make neatly each morning), clean separate bathrooms, spaces to play and a small playground by a field to play.

Me and Amy playing/tussling with the girls

Unfortunatley the Moldovan people do not trust that it is free, and think that there is a hidden agenda, because nothing is free in this country, and often those who appear nice and generous are the worst and are so corrupt. Many people (even that we have personally met) have told stories of those forcibly taken into either work, prositiution or taken for their organs (one girl we met actually began praying  and crying in the van she was taken in and for a reason she will never know, they stopped and dropped her on the side of the road in a forest… which saved her life).

The orphanage takes both orphans, children in child protection circumstances or those in abusive/harmful families. They also take care of very young mothers and their babies for half a year and help them to find a job. It is scary to see the young mother playing volleyball (like we did yesterday afternoon) with the rest of the kids (and blending in) and then  stopping mid-game because of a crying child nearby… they seem only children themselves.

One of the mothers here was left alone by her family very young, and so to survive began living with an older man at 14yrs, he was bad news and was stealing and horrible, and ended up killing a man and being sent to prison, leaving her pregnant and having a child at 16. Her little boy is the happiest smiling, bouncing little boy… but what a start to life.

Ok, I need to go play as they’re back from school now :)

More to come…

Oradea, Romania and youth leadership conferences

The build up to my second trip to Romania (with Next Level International) was slightly less fun... that being I was really terribly sick with the flu for a good three days straight, and probably sick enough that flying and travelling weren't the best idea.

But you know me... once I'm commited there's no turning back :)

This trip is one I was paying for myself too, because I had already chosen the two trips I was to join on, but such a great oppotunity came up in Moldova, that I just wouldn't let myself pass up. I figure, how often in a New zealander in this kind of position, you never know when you could be turning down a once in a lifetime opportunity :)

That is of course, a trip from the 14th-27th, the first week of which is the third module in a Youth Leadership Conference in Oradea, Romania. Where about 60 young leaders attend and have a week of learning and activities.

The second week will be spent in Moldova, visiting Stella's Voice, or the houses, girls and people who began the initiative.

I spoke earlier in my blogs about these people, originally a man called Phillip Cameron visited the country (poorest in Europe and still largely effected by communism and its effects) who was shocked by the conditions he saw in orphanges in the country, the restraits placed on them later, and the statistics of human trafficing. The quick blurb off an Next Level pamphlet about it is: "There are about 52 orphanages in Moldova.  They house approximately 12,500 boys and girls. The most these children can look forward to is being released after their 16th birthday with $30.00 and a bus ticket to “home”. They are easy prey for human traffickers. They are sold into slavery. They are turned into prostitutes forced to perform sex acts 30-50 times a day. In this environment they have a life expectancy of about 3 years, yet earn about $300,000.00 for their captors."

Not very pleasant, but the very distgust we feel over reading such things isn't really enough. Action is. 

Whether it's in actually going and doing, helping, supporting or raising awareness... Trafficing could be eradicated if the world, and it's occupants realised they had the power collectively to achieve this and so mach more in just a few years... but sadly most shy away from the things we are ashamed of, those being the things done by our own kind (human beings) to each other.

ANYHOO, Leanne my new Australian friend (and the Romania Country Leader for Next Level) and I are going to see the people and houses Stella's voice have built to house the young vulnerable girls. And where they are taught they are worth something, are encouaged and educated etc. it's been extremely sucessful, so much so the moldovan Government asked them to take over a dying orphanage, which they transformed into something great and full of love for those who had never felt it before.

Here's the video again though it's below.

So, I have about 10 minutes to quickly write so I'll just fast track the journey. 

I spent an afternoon and night travelling on varous buses and trains from Southport to Luton Airport, staying in the SMALLEST hotel room of all time (where the shower and toilet overlap!?!) and where you can rent a remote for the TV by (I quote) 24hrs, 3days or 1 week... Seriously? If you could survive a week in that room I salute you ;)

No hassles on Wizzair, which is unheard of, the last few times I've travelled with them flights were delayed on average between 2 and 8 hours. Arrived in budapest, Hungary with one phone number and the first name of a Romanian guy who was to pick me up.... When I saw a guy holding a sign with "KENDRA" written on it I was so releaved and introduced myself and jumped into the car with the three Romanian men (who spoke little English).

About one and a half hours out into the Hungarian country-side I recived a txt from the number I knew to be the guy who was supposed to pick me up, saying "where are you?"

I immediately had that gut-wrenching feeling, and jumped to the conclusion that I'd been kidnapped and OH HOW my mother was going to be angry about this... Then I started thinking about how it was you were supposed to jump out of a moving car.haha. LUCKILY I acted a little more calmly and soon discovered via questioning that he was a friend of the man who was to pick me up, who couldn't make it.... THAT would have been an interesting "awkward moment" had I G.I. rolled out of the car spontaneously! hee hee.

OK, to be continued...