Since our trip in August volunteers have been busy collecting a large amount of aid. Various cmpanies, schools, charities, churches, individuals and organisations have donated general items and with the help of the Shoe Box Appeal we now have enough to provide an aid drop.
Thursday 31st Dec 7 am - The Departure
Roads were really icy and lots of snow. It was only a matter of time until we saw our 1st accident on M20 - delay as we had to watch debri being removed
Friday 1st January
France, belgium, germany, austria - 2nd accident
Monday 2nd Jan
7pm Hungarian Border
Tuesday 3rd Jan
Travelled into Romania
Arrived at Robert Cole Centre and met Adrian and locals of 2nd floor from our trip in August
Wednesday 4th Jan
Delivered shoe boxes to children of Robert Cole Centre and food/clothes for the adult residents
Installed computers we were unable to bring in August
Visited sister betty at Casa Luminia delivered more clothes parcels for her special needs children
Picked up new job deilvering some shoe boxes we had left to a Aids hospital in Bacu
Thursday 5th Jan
Disaster! Our contact in Moldova had failed to let the authorities know we were coming and we were stuck at the border and it was closed for public holidays until 11th!!!!! After much negoiation we were allowed to continue as long as we went to the Border Crossing in Balti. Arrived at hospital late evening
Friday 6th Jan
Early start unloading shoeboxes, food and clothes parcels etc.. Its now very obvious we will not be going home on sunday!
Saturday 7th Jan
Met Aliona and Romeo our interpreters and loaded van with shoe boxes, tv's, playstations, videos etc... for Albinetul Vech (a village 40 mins away) to play Father Christmas at the school as today is Moldovan Christmas Day! Each child had their own present mostly donated by a church, a school and pensioners in Rob's home town of Clacton on Sea, UK. Unfortunately couldnt stay long as had to get interpreters back to families for Christmas.
Sunday 8th Jan
Met aliona to take more presents, food and clothes to a remote village called Marashetu - population 217! 40 children, 30 pensioners all got presents donated by 2 Scooter Clubs. Word gets about as when we got there everyone was waiting for us - panic hits "have we got enough". The food we brought was basically all they had to eat over christmas. They showed us their surgery, desperately needs help - possible future project or help??
Monday/Tuesday 9th/10th Jan
We are left alone as our interpreteres have deserted us for their families. Visited local market. Contacted a english lady "Sharon" setting up a home for the elderly near by. Sharon had seen our website and knew we were in Moldvoa, she showed us her retirement home and visions of what it will be when finished.
Wednesday 11th Jan
Everyone back to work so we are alone again, time to do paperwork and help setup playstatsion/tv's etc.. as not much else we can do to help.
Thursday 12th Jan
Finally we receive some paperwork but now the lorry load (freely handed out) is worth $40,000 with an import tax of 20%!?! More paperwork submitting an appeal - reverted back to humanitarian aid.
Contacted Sharon as we had some extra presents and paint she could have.
Friday 13th Jan (surely things cant get worse?)
Visited Sharon, roads were terrible and we had to get tractor to help us up a hill. Drop 30 presents off to local school
Saturday 14th Jan
Veronica from Ora International a massive charity with over 80 projects looked over paperwork to see if she could help - travelled to Chisinau to talk. Drive back too dangerous so stayed over night
Sunday 15th Jan (now a week late leaving for home)
Drive back from Chisinau - 5pm paper work finally arrived thanks to help from veronica
Monday 16th Jan
Collected lorry from impound - paid fines
Tuesday/Wednesday 17th /18th Jan
Travelling through Romania and mountain driving in Hungarian
Thursday 19th Jan
Through the Austrian Border - flashing lights after collecting "go box" we are pulled over as its not working properly.
Friday 20th Jan
Germany, Belgium and France
Saturday 21st Jan
HOME!
Here are a few photo's from the journey
