In Moldova, Convoy of Hope’s local partners run integrated programming with Convoy’s Children’s Feeding, Women’s and Girls’ Empowerment, and Bee programs. The initiatives are making a difference in the villages and inspiring a desire to give more, so partners planned a Convoy of Hope Community Event.
A Community Event is a one-day push to strengthen the community and build bridges between Convoy’s local partners and individuals. It is an investment in developing long-term sustainable community transformation by helping program centers in impoverished areas, offering provision in villages with a lack of food resources, and bringing awareness to the other programs being offered through the local church.
In the village of Vulkanešt, on the morning of the first Convoy of Hope Community Event that Moldova had seen in years, rain began to fall. It didn’t just fall, though. The amount of rain that poured down on the village that one morning was the same amount this area of Moldova generally receives over a span of six months.
Though the weather raised doubts within the community that the event would be successful, Convoy’s local partners were prepared for this one-day investment. Around 20 volunteers, all with the desire to see their community transformed, set up the event tent in the rain and prepared to host Guests of Honor anyway. As the rain fell, children playing in a nearby field — and their parents — saw the tent and decided to make a run for it.
And so the Community Event began. This wasn’t what the partners and volunteers had in mind, but it worked. People showed up, and they were cared for and encouraged. Even the local pastor couldn’t believe his eyes — the majority of the parents there were fathers, and the pastor had never seen fathers attend something with their children in the 25 years that he had been pastoring.
The Guests of Honor enjoyed the Community Event completely free of any charge. Families had portraits taken and could take them home right away. Guests snacked on cotton candy and popcorn, and the children enjoyed many activities. Over 200 families who were in need received groceries.
In a powerful example of the transformation and sustainability already taking place, local beekeepers from the Convoy of Hope Bee program showed up at the event to give back to their community, giving away 10% of their honey to those who attended.
What seemed hopeless in the bad weather was the very thing that brought hope. What seemed pointless ended up blessing an entire community, despite the rain and doubts. Because of the dedication of the local partners and volunteers, this Convoy of Hope Community Event will have a lasting effect on the village of Vulkanešt. Hearts are being stirred, hope is being found, compassion is being experienced, and lives are being changed.
