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Teens' Moldovan mercy mission
A GROUP of teenagers travelled more than 1,700 miles on a mercy mission to a eastern European country – and met a friendly face from back home.
The 12 youngsters, who attend All Saints Stranton Church's Youth Fellowship and St Luke's Young People (SLYP), both in Hartlepool, flew to Moldova, which is situated between Romania and the Ukraine.
While there, they carried out building work at a care centre for elderly people in Rispeni, which is run by former Hartlepool woman Sharon Eason, 56, who moved to Moldova three years ago and set up her own charity.
Youth and children's worker for Stranton Church, Peter Hart, who accompanied the young people, said: "Sharon is a very inspiring person.
"I suppose you can't live somewhere like that for three years and not have lots of stories to tell.
"She told us about the many difficult things that happened to her while trying to build up the centre from nothing."
But Peter said despite obstacles, including the initial language barrier and being looked down on because she was a woman in the male-dominated country, Sharon perservered.
"The young people were impressed by how determined she is. She set a good example," added Peter.
Sharon had appeared in the Mail last year, describing her work, and she posed for a picture with the young people, who are aged 15 to 18, while holding the article,
The group, had been put in touch with Sharon, who grew up on the Rift House estate, through the Urban Saints organisation.
They spent months raising 9,000 for the trip through charity events, including an abseil down the tower of All Saints Church and grants from Hartlepool Power Station, Cleveland Police and the Grant-Givers.
While in Moldova during the two-week trip last month, they helped to build a chicken coop and two fences and to dig a fire pit.
They also ran clubs for village children, where they laid on activities including hair-braiding, games and a party.
They stayed in two houses belonging to local villagers and left behind tea and coffee, as a small jar of coffee can cost 5, while the average monthly wage is just 50.
Peter said: "This trip was very challenging for everyone concerned.
"It involved a 36-hour journey, including a 10-hour sleep train across
the Romanian/Moldovan border.
"All the young people learned a great deal about how much we have in
our country, that even the poorest people in Hartlepool can rely on clean water from taps and a decent toilet, while we were using the outdoor 'facilities' and collecting water from wells.
"We have all come back more appreciative."
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Weather for Hartlepool
Monday 28 May 2012
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