A piece of paradise — that’s how Moldovans describe their small Eastern European country located at the crossroads of East and West.
“One story that [Moldovans] often tell each other is that when God was giving land to different people groups, he missed [Moldovans],” said Baptist youth minister and professor Oleg Turlac. “They then asked God to give them the best land since He did not give them any, and He gave them a piece of paradise.”
While this former Soviet republic is normally associated with intense poverty, illegal organ trading, human trafficking and communism, it also has those paradise-type characteristics that Turlac described.
Isolated villages nestled in lush valleys carry on traditions from long ago. Gentle rolling hills burst to life in the springtime as the world-renowned vineyards bloom. Fields of sunflowers decorate the landscape. Amazingly friendly people invite you into their homes and share their culture, food and families.
The fine arts are very much a part of the culture. Moldovans grow up learning and appreciating all forms of art.
Moldova’s folk music and dance companies, troupes and orchestras are well known. The Orchestra of Moldovan Folk Music and Dance was founded in 1949. The orchestra plays Romanian, Russian, Ukrainian, Polish and German music.
One well-known dance troupe is Jok, an academic dance company. A jok is a celebration that includes dances as well as the part of a town where the dancing takes place. Moldova has 12 professional theatres.
The influence of the arts even makes its presence known in Baptist churches. Many church choirs sing complicated choral pieces such as Handel’s “Messiah.” Normal Sunday morning music often sounds like a professional chamber music concert. While in other churches, traditional folk music instruments such as the accordion and pan flute accompany congregational singing.
Dramatic readings and skits are often scattered throughout the worship service. Youth groups use drama as a learning activity with impromptu skits depicting the message behind their featured Scripture passage.
Looking at any given youth group would also demonstrate the variety of people that make up the country. Moldova represents a blend of several ethnic groups. Moldovans constitute 78.2 percent of the population, followed by Ukrainians (8.4 percent), Russians (5.8 percent), Gagauzians (4.5 percent), Bulgarians (2 percent) and Jews (1.5 percent). Moldovans take pride in the fact that all people get along.
Past difficulties
In the early 1990s, however, that was not the case. Violence erupted when two areas declared their independence: the Turkish Gagauz and the Russian-speaking Transnistria. During this time, a bloody civil war left more than 500 people dead. Now the two regions are considered autonomous states of Moldova. Transnistria even has its own currency, hymn and flag.
Like many other former Soviet republics, Moldova has experienced economic difficulties. At independence in 1991, it started out as a middle-income country. Now the World Bank classifies Moldova as one of the poorest nations in Europe.
Moldova is also home to one of the few Communist majority governments in the world. The majority seats in Parliament are held by those belonging to the Communist Party. President Vladimir Voronin describes Moldova as a “European Cuba.”
The constitution of the Republic of Moldova guarantees religious freedom. Each citizen has a right to share any religion to spread his or her faith, as long as it does not contradict the constitution. This freedom, however, may not continue. Valeriu Ghiletchi, a former member of Parliament and president of the Union of Christian Evangelical Baptist Churches of Moldova, said a new draft of the religion law will come to vote in 2007. On the new draft is a law prohibiting proselytizing. This law will prohibit evangelism, a top priority among Moldovan Baptists.
Having freedoms given and taken away is almost normal life for Moldovans. The country’s location has made it a historical passageway between Asia and southern Europe, as well as the victim of frequent warfare. It has been conquered by many countries, the latest being the Soviet Union. Moldovans are known for their ability to adjust and go on with life, keeping government issues from affecting their day-to-day lives as much as possible.
Facing the future
“We don’t know how it will be tomorrow,” Alaa Dubchak said. “Today we have good times but tomorrow we don’t know. So we just go on living and pray that God will change our country.”
This country may be a living museum to Europe’s lost ways, but Moldova is also definitely modern and boldly strutting into the future. (WMU)
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