Signed Water contracts for Firdaleni Village

Went to Firladeni to answer villagers questions about bringing clean running water to their homes and then sign contracts with the Mayor and Lidea,our contractor. Big celebration! Currently they get all their water from community wells. They should have running water by October 2010 and we'll go back and celebrate again!

A Van to Use-Just in Time!

Jerome and his wife Lindsay came from Utah to visit Jerome's parents; Suren and Sona. While here Jerome decided to purchase a van for his father to use for making extra income. He bought a blue Opel van. One way to make extra money with the van was to rent it to us. We really liked that idea! We were able to rent it all this week to purchase and deliver clothing, shoes, and hygiene kits to about 300 children that have been displaced because of the flooding along the Prut River. It runs on Maton natural gas (never heard of it before) so it is less than 1/2 the cost to fill the tank. Jerome replaced the AC before he gave it to his dad and boy were we excited to have it during the 96+ days we had this week. Jerome, his dad Suren, and Tom got out the maps right away to start planning all the places the van was to go. What a blessing to us, Suren and Sona, and the people of Moldova. Jerome and Lindsay will be blessed for their generosity!

Colabasi Got Running Water Today

The great mayor of Colabasi gathered us to review the original water plans then we went to see the tanks and visit some homes to see their running water. The people were so very grateful. We washed our hands in the school running water then went to the "masa"(meal with never-ending food)to celebrate. This is such a great job!

Tom Working Hard on His Mission

Prut River Flooding Entire Villages

We have been able to develop a relationship with a Deputy Prime Minister who called us in to his office to ask us to help the children victims of the flood. Many of the children are staying in schools and summer camp grounds apart from their families. We have been shopping for emergency hygiene kits, cloths, shoes, pajamas...they have lost everything.

Mayor of Taraclia de Salcie Comes to Our Apt

Primar (mayor) Ion Carjan heard that we bring water to villages so he kept searching until he found us then took maxi-taxi's until he got to our apartment in Chisinau. He wanted to know if we would consider bringing water to his village. He has such a big heart for his people. We committed to come visit and see if his village qualifed and if it does then we'll apply for approval for 2011.

Piata (Pee-yat-sa) Shopping Takes All Day

4th of July at the Aikens

Pause & Enjoy the Flowers of Moldova in June

Natural beauty is everywhere here! Although landscaping is not well manicured there are flowers every where you look. Rose gardens are in front of businesses, in road round-a-bouts, in front of village homes, in parks, in flower boxes, in ponds, and even wild along roadsides. Highways are lined with walnut trees or flowers. Flowers are given for every concievable reason. People at the airport bring flowers to greet their friends to Moldova, guests bring flowers to dinner, newly baptised members get flowers & plants. With such a poor economical situation here it is great to see the richness of the land. My father would have been very happy in Moldova where people are so close to the land; growing their food and flowers and their animals. The flowers remind me of God's gentle blessings.

"Good bye Elder Benson"

Good bye Elder Benson. We wish you the very best as you return home to resume your language studies and get back into real life. You've been such an excellent example of what a true servant of Christ should be: loving and teaching others, and serving people at every opportunity you saw. You were always obedient to mission counsil and always had a smile on your face. We so much appreciate you helping us learn some Romanian, getting the best ink pens from the Piata, and telling us where to buy "American" grocery items. You are awesome and we will miss you terribly. We expect the Lord will bless you greatly for all your service in Moldova. Good luck!
-Elder and Sora VanWormer

Follow The Son

Traveling to southern part of Moldova we passed hecters and hecters (acres & acres) of sunflower fields. They were so beautiful that we stopped to run through them. Our translator, Katea, had way too much fun with the camera! Thought: "if we follow The Son all day long like the sunflowers follow the sun...we'll be alright!"


"Let's Follow THE SON"