OUR NEW CENTER FOR PERSONAL INSTRUCTION

The first 10 months have been like a blur as we have tried to get momentum going in each of the 4 areas of responsibility that President Ivory has placed on us:

  1. Public Affairs for the Republic of Moldova

      2. Establishing a Self-Reliance program and opening a full         service center in Chisinau

      3. Serving in the Branch Presidency

      4.  And, continuing to support members and leaders

The work has been difficult on all fronts.  First, because there was so much to do and second, because there were so many fronts we were asked to move forward at the same time.  The people have been wonderful, but many are very preoccupied with their own challenges and there are very few people we can rely on to get things done.  That leaves us to start things on our own so we can see progress and then hope we can get a few members to take over.  There is also the issue of 2 languages and 2 cultures in this country.  It makes for challenges in two of our callings-Public Affairs and Self-Reliance (employment).  Both of these require us to work with all 4 branches (2 Romanian and 2 Russian speaking).

Miracles

So I believe we have reached a tipping point now in Moldova after 10 very hard months of work.  There was a book written by Malcom Gladwell titled “The Tipping Point” (how little things can make a big difference).  The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.  It only takes a small number of committed people to get this to happen.  That is what we hope for in Moldova.  President Ivory refers to it as the “Moldovan Miracle”. 

One point of reference for us has been the miraculous approval for us to open a Self-Reliance Center in Moldova.  

    1.   Before we got here the Europe Area Office would not approve a Self-Reliance Center for Moldova because it was too small-only 2.5 million people (600,000 in Chisinau, the capital where we are) with less than 350 members in the entire country.

    2.  President Ivory called us to be Self-Reliance missionaries (employment and support services) and gave us 3 other callings to balance it out.  Then we went to work training and establishing a footprint within the District (branches make up a District) and helping to prove out that the concept would work here.

    3.  Then he convinced Germany that in order to lift Moldova out of its condition of poverty, we needed to open a center that would primarily be for those not of our faith!  Members would be invited, but likely only be a small minority of people served (350 members, 2.5 million people). 

    4.  Two months ago he told us to start looking for an office to open up in the middle of the city-I thought it would never be approved.  A month later we found some options and the Europe Area Presidency approved it in record time.  We are now ready to open a center next month!  It is 1,000 square feet in a brand new building.  In this we will offer employment services, advanced English lessons, leadership training and small business consulting.  All for no charge to anyone who wants to come.

The Center for instruction!

                                          Center Lobby

                                                                                                  

Our Conference Area

 

President Visitiv's office

             In the next month we will receive the furniture, interior décor, equipment, etc. At the same time, our Public Affairs planning for an open house in mid-October will take place. We will set up the Face Book page, web page, billboard advertising and local advertising through media.

Power of Media

The next miracle is that after many months of trying to meet with local Media outlets, we have had some successful meetings. We go in with our Ad Agency (or a local leader) and meet with the top executives and tell them “our story”.  It includes a discussion of all the Humanitarian Services the church has provided to Moldova (no one has heard of this here) in the last 14 years. They are amazed that one church could do so much and ask nothing in return.  Then we tell them about Self-Reliance services we provided, then English, etc. and they are so impressed. They then ask, why we are meeting with them, what can they do to help. We finally tell them if they want to help, help us tell our story.  Come to one of our Humanitarian Projects and tape if for the national news.  In one meeting we said, how would you like to show an American movie, a documentary about members of our church in different places in the world?

 This month we now have two of the top TV Stations in Moldova who are willing to show “Meet the Mormons” on national TV in Moldova. Coming in October right after our Self-Reliance Center opens. It will show 4 times, two in Romanian, two in Russian starting October 18 four consecutive Sundays. This is a huge event.  We had to go to Salt Lake for approval and they informed us that this has never been done in on network TV in any country in the World-including the US. Our little Moldova is making HISTORY.

Our Branch

Our little Branches in Chisinau are growing. Attendance is up about 30% since we arrived and the Branches were split into Romanian and Russian speaking.  English classes are blossoming, we now get at least 200 students in each of several classes in a 4 week session.  Many of these students are now taking the missionary lessons. We hosted 3 teaching lessons this past week in our apartment.  Even those students who don’t take the missionary lessons have a favorable impression of the church. We show them “Meet the Mormons” on the final night and provide material about the church.  It is truly inspiring to see what is happening as the people are exposed to a church they have never heard of. They are amazed at how open members are. It is unlike anything they have ever experienced. We remind ourselves it wasn’t that long ago this was a Soviet Satellite country.

More Blessings

In January Moldova will be getting the first ever BYUI Pathways group going. It will offer to many young adults and adults the opportunity to get a US quality degree and not even have to leave the country. They can go online and the price is less than they would pay for a degree in Moldova. This will help us keep more of our members here in the country.

Next year before we leave, President Ivory will bring the University of Utah Business School Entrepreneurial program to Moldova. We hope for one or two graduation groups by then.  If successful, we will be training hundreds of Moldovan's how to start/grow their business. This will boost economic activity to the country and create jobs that will give young business people a chance to build a future in their own country. We hope and pray for the Moldovan Miracles to keep happening.

 District Self Reliance Missionaries

Republic of Moldova

We hope this gives you an idea of our MISSION here in Our little corner of the world MOLDOVA

Elder and Sora Cooley