| How does the Moldovan culture view Americans? The first interview was conducted with one of our Russian teachers, who is a believer. Semfira said that many Americans do not express their dislike of something, but will just drop their associations with someone offering a particular service when they are not happy about it. They are often unable to say what they do not like about the service. This relates to the verbal abstract thinking that is related to the mindset of people with dichotomistic thinking. Often we can not show or express what we do want. She felt that some Americans were not honest and open. I notice this in myself that I do not have a specific picture that I can clearly express to someone and often want their approval rather than trying to express my own feelings and face rejection. I know when I do not like something and what I want it to look like-black and white, but can not clarify it for others. Pavel, who lives with us is from a Pentecostal family, but not particularly interested in spiritual things. He said that our work here was important and he recognizes the need for it. He sees the roles of missionaries as necessary in Moldova to teach the members of the church how to think concretely and preach on themes. We also discussed how the pastors of their church will discipline the youth if they laugh or show too much joy or do not follow the rules set up by the leaders. He also noticed that we, Americans, always need to know and understand things clearly whereas Moldovans are more into waiting and seeing what will transpire. We like to have an action carried out and completed. He also noticed the freedom that we have in our relationships with each other and in the church. He noticed that we speak more loudly and openly. Ex. Pavel came to stay with us and sat for 11 days waiting to hear about a job. He only called one time each day and never went to the office since the people he had relationship with were out of the country for that time. He waited for his relationships not necessarily trying to develop any others and not needing concrete answers. He said that all jobs here are built on who you know. If you simply try to enter a firm and ask for a job with out knowing someone working there, you probably will not get the job. Some Moldovan neighbors, especially one family, only contact us when they need financial help. They see us as Cash Cows (our assessment). Their material needs are more important to them than our relationship with them spiritually. They sometimes act as though they are Christians and believe they are, but only when it is convenient to get what they need. They rarely have other friends that they interact with and say that we are their closest acquaintances. We have tried to show them the picture of standing independently, connecting to other stronger national believers and depending only on Christ and searching for more work of any kind, but this is foreign to their communal minds and lifestyle. They examine the circumstances and see each instance as a struggle as oppossed to looking for a solution to the whole of their lives to reach their dreams. They were wealthy during Communist times and now have little, but feel they should live at the standard they had before and only work in the field that they studied earlier. They are not open to new options that may be difficult to obtain. They were a part of the Pentecostal church for awhile, but when it became difficult for them to be involved because of other problems, they became dissatisfied with the rejection they felt in the church and went back to the Russian Orthodox church which laid no rules on their communion and baptism as members of the church. Some Moldovan non-believers we spoke with on the streets see that our form of Christianity (Evangelical) may be viewed by them as a passing fade not relevant to the history of their country and the way they were raised in Russian orthodoxy. Our Christianity to them is a western religion that is not relevant to them and their struggles. They see their struggles and poverty of this country as so depressed that they must depend on others constantly. The Baptist church on the other hand has always been here and always will be and they have seen many American missionaries come and go quickly which to them is another form of passing fade. They often see that the things that some American Christians have done in Moldova have not been long-lasting and of eternal value. Sometimes Americans can become a minor disturbance in the space time continuum, in that we have a minimal impact while we are here. Does what we do have eternal significance? -If it is not relationship, it is not eternal. Only people are eternal so if it involves people it is eternal. |
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| Cultural Information and Writings About Moldova |
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| Key product of Moldova--John 15 The grapevine |
| Interviews with Moldovans--ie. Ministering Cross Culturally By Harriet Caldwell |