A loaf of bread a day

“Some poople are so hungry, that the only way God can speak to them is through a loaf of bread!”

Poverty and not having enough to eat is a reality for many people in Moldova. Many live with very little resources.

During the very few first years, bread was transported from Romania to Moldova. The bread that was donated was leftovers that came from hotels and restaurants. But as the need grew, something had to be done on a local level. That was the actual call to establish a bakery so that bread could be distributed on a bigger scale that was more cost effective. It meant more bread to more people.

A local foundation with the name O Paine pe Zi, that translates to a loaf of bread per a day, was also founded to organize the distribution and handle its affairs.

The bakery is renovated and upgraded
Our trip to Glodeni in the summer of 2010 resulted in a fundraising project to help renovate the premises and replace the existing, worn our equipment. The renovation included new  insulation on the interior walls, new surfaces, apart from the floor, new power lines and a new fuse box, new ventilation and a new front door. The equipment included a yeast oven and a bake oven. We also invested in new work benches. The bakery was re-opened in December 2010 and has since then produced bread on a continuous basis. Today 2023 the bakery feeds about 200 people with bread.

Since then, we have financially supported the production of bread on a monthly basis. The bakery operates at a 50% capacity, much due to logistical factors. The bread has to be delivered when it is freshly baked. Distribution is done through neighbors, people attending church services, but is also delivered to those who are unable due to age or being disabled.

The bread is baked every other day to make sure nothing is wasted. On a monthly basis the bakery produces about 2 000 loafs of bread.

The bread that satisfy a double need
The significance of this bread goes beyond what we would normally think in respect of a loaf of bread. We know from stories we hear from them that are the recipients, that this bread not only meets a physical hunger, but also a spiritual hunger.

The distribution of bread has softened many hearts and made them receptable for the Gospel. As people have come to understand that they are not left alone with their worries, but that there is someone willing to listen and that really cares about their most felt need. Also, in addition to the bread, when visiting people’s homes, each and every one is prayed over.

Through this bread many have meet the unconditional love of Jesus through the hands of Pastor Igor and his wife. An elderly woman shares her testimony in these words:

“When I hold this bread in my hands, I no longer feel any hunger.”

The bread of life
Over the years, we have come to understand the impact this bread has had on the people receiving it. Many go hungry, sometimes for several days. So, without this bread, those most vulnerable would not have lived. We have seen this hunger with our own eyes. We know that this bread in the truest essence of the word, that saves lives. It is, in its truest and purest sense, the Bread of Life.