Postcards from Romania

Fireworks seen from our front yard.

Today was the beginning of the Theater festival, which goes through next week-end. These pictures are of things I participated in or observed. The last pictures are of the opening night’s  fireworks show - seen  from our front yard. Just a sample of what it is like during the summer in Sibiu.

Last week-end there was a festival on the Piata Huet. There were  food booths and demonstrations of several different types of crafts. In amongst all these activities a bride and groom were having wedding pictures taken. It was a cold windy day, but the bride was bare armed. Anything for just the right picture.  Sunday was a better day. 

Recently my friends Joel, Susan and I went to Paltinis, one of the ski resorts around Sibiu. We had a 90% chance of rain but decided to brave it any way. As you can see the wild flowers were beginning to bloom. The bus ride alone would have been worth the trip - a lovely ride through one of the villages and then up a switch-back road. The bus driver did a great job. There were times that I wondered how we were going to make the turn the curve was so tight. The view of the mountains on the ride was spectacular and breath taking. It is amazing how close these mountains are to Sibiu and what a short time it took to get there. The rain, well as we stepped on the bus to leave, it began to rain. Someone was taking care of us that day.

This last Friday I was once again able to join the team distributing Easter gifts. We went to the same villages that we went to at Christmas. I recognized some of the people from the visit in December. Michael, a young American from Wisconsin, was assisting one of the local pastors with the Bible Clubs. He had been here for 3 months and will be going home soon. It was a surprise running into an American in the villages.

At the poorest village, we had a list of people who were scheduled to receive the food. When we finished with them, there was an equal number of people who had not been scheduled but were then allowed to get the foods packages. Then there was a 3rd group. Unfortunately we were only able to provide food packages to part of this group. The people came up to us with tears in their eyes and thanked us - The faces are so beautiful and my heart will always be warmed when I think of these visits to the villages.

Today I went with the American Team to four Centers to distribute Christmas gifts to the children. Two of the centers were for Children with varying handicaps. Children lived in one of them and the other was a day center for them to come before and after school. They get their main meal of the day and help with home work. The other two were placement centers. I have been to the Placement Center in Agarbiciu several times and have been very impressed with their staff and the staff’s dedication to the boys. I am acquainted with  one of the boys and first knew him when he was in foster care. He asked to go to a Placement Center and we didn’t think it would be such a good idea. However, he was placed in Agarbiciu and has flourished.

The children were all so great and so appreciative. They sang us songs and gave us cards and a gift.

I wish all the children could be in families; but if  they can’t the places we visited are good alternatives. In each and everyone the children are valued.  The placement centers we visited today are a million miles away from the awful pictures we saw in the 90’s.

For lunch we were the guest of Jenny and her husband. I first met Jenny two years ago when I heard her story of how she and her family survived under communist rule and was able to continue to practice her faith. Our lunch was wonderful and while we ate Jenny’s husband played the piano for us. What a treat.

It is my hope that the description of the past two days gives everyone an idea of why I love being here.  The children are wonderful and the older people are courageous. My days are so blessed by being here and being able to witness such loving people.

On Wednesday I had the pleasure of going with an American team to deliver Christmas “gifts” to families in four villages. It was a rainy cold day and we stood outside to pass  things out. When we arrived at each of the villages, families were already standing out in the rain waiting for us. I cannot begin to tell you how appreciative everyone was. Included for each family was a bag of beans, flour, rice, corn meal, large package of seasoning, cooking oil, tub of butter, tea, a pair of adult cotton gloves, bananas, oranges, a loaf of bread, and for the children Christmas candy, a small book, bracelet and in the poorest village there were gloves for the children. In one of the villages one of the boys who has come to camp for the past several years invited us to visit his home. He proudly showed off their pig, rabbits and chickens. In the home, there was a very small kitchen, a medium size room with sleeping for the 6 boys and a smaller room for mom to sleep in. It was so clean and they were so proud to show off their home. In another village, we went to the home where a bible club was held to give out the gifts to the children. In the room where they met the glass in the bottom half of one of the window was broken out and there was some cloth covering the window and the wind was coming into the room.

The last village  was the home of Bianca and her family. Bianca lives at The Home of Hope so that she can attend the University. Her parents were so great and obviously very proud of Bianca.

My wish is that each of you would have such a great opportunity. On Thursday we will visit four placement centers to distribute small gifts to the kids.