Sandwiched between Romania and Ukraine, Moldova is one of the poorest countries in Europe; children are often abandoned by families trapped in poverty with no hope. Moldova  still suffers from a Communist legacy and has a large foreign debt with high unemployment. It is heavily dependent on Russia for energy supplies and Russia has not hesitated to take advantage of this fact as a way of exerting economic pressure. The Orthodox Church has strong political influence. Preaching and planting churches in traditionally Orthodox villages is opposed, frequently with violence. (Pray-Europe reports that 800 villages still have no Christian witness.) Two-thirds of Moldovans are of Romanian descent, the languages are virtually identical and the two countries share a common cultural heritage. See also: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17601580